Spin Dizzy: Fresh Freehubs & Other Wheel Woes

Despite the rescue attempt, the Halo Spin Doctor’s Freehub had succumbed to pawl spring failure. Ison-distribution were characteristically incredibly helpful and empathetic, sending me a replacement the next day. I’m hoping this will be a long-term cure. However, I bought another XT hub as a precaution, while opportunity and favourable pricing presented. 

I’d been enjoying a succession of very mucky outings aboard Ursula, I succumbed to a sudden and unwelcome rear blow out and a minor wibble in the sturdy Sputnik/XT wheel. This ultimately meant a six mile walk home and led me to retire the basic but generally likeable Maxxis Ikon Maxxis Ikon Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 2,500 mixed terrain miles down the line. Doesn’t matter how well built a wheel, or how sturdy your tyres, catch that sharp, or that hole with your name on it and something’s gonna give.  

 

A couple of riders slowed and offered help-as is the standard code for us and understood there wasn’t much that could be done at that stage-the spare tubes had also failed. I thanked them and we went our separate ways. I was mortified when a middle-aged woman stopped her Nissan Qashqai and asked if I needed help, or a lift somewhere. I was touched on the one hand and made clear I was grateful. However, I’m also very wary of people and their motivations and often find accepting help very difficult.  

 

At that time, I also wanted to be alone with my thoughts and to reflect. I’ve replaced the rear Ikon for a Continental Cross King Shield Wall (26x2.3) which promises to handle well on most surfaces and a puncture- repelling belt also promises greater reliability.  I left Mick Madgett to work his magic with the Rigida/XT hoop and build another wheel based around an XT hub as a second/spare since opportunity presented and my faith in the Spin Doctor had waned. 

 

Though quite different, removing the spin doctor freehub cast me back to the old Maillard Helicomatic system from the early 1980s. I had one on a bike bought in March 1988 primarily for the frameset and ultimately, converting to a fixed gear. Rebuilt pretty much and racked up many miles in the four years of ownership. Daylight where head and down tube met signalled the end. I salvaged the good, transferable components and ported them over to a geared winter/training frameset in the summer of ‘92.  

I toyed with the notion of running it as a 1x6spd and bought another Helicomatic Freewheel- a very close ratio, knee-busting block, since that’s all I could find and in my impressionable teenage mind, it would be fine…Point being, it was incredibly easy to switch these blocks, compared to a traditional screw-on freewheel. However, it was one of those concepts that wasn’t fully embraced and ultimately, the freehub system became dominant.  

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it featured on some early 80’s Peugeots. I digress. I’ve decided it's now time to switch the Holdsworth’s BBB Razor for the Smanie GT137 saddle, which is 137mm wide, 257g and features hollow Cro-Moly rails. A little wider than the mighty Razor but may offer a little more support and, all right, I fancied a change, ahead of the Spring when hopefully the weather will be nice enough for some fast blasts.  

By that point, I’ll switch the fixed gear winter trainer’s KMC Z1 for the half-link Gusset Slink. For the uninitiated, the latter is a beefy model that will add some further girth but in my experience is great for getting chain length bang on and they’re super durable too. Despite suggestions, the Blub Ceramic has been surprisingly stoical despite some persistently wet, muddy lanes.  

I returned a good 280 miles in these contexts before giving the bike a seriously deep clean and deciding the gungy beard of mud and contaminant needed purging too. Having got everything respectable, I found myself spinning the wheels and discovered a very loose spoke.  

So loose that the nipple had retreated into the rim. I whipped off the tyre, tube, and rim tape, only to hear the nipple orbiting the rim and then vanishing. Never to be seen again. Another email to Ison and they graciously sent me some brass14g replacements. 

I overcame my 37-year fear of the spoke key (some might draw parallels with the android’s fear of the screwdriver cited in Channel 4’s 1984 tongue- in- cheek sci-fi drama “They Came from somewhere else”.) and wound a new one in, judiciously snugging the spoke taut, plucking the others to ensure uniformity. I’ve said this before, but this long-standing terror came from one summer afternoon in 1987.  

 

Armed with a rather basic spoke key, a cherished copy of Richard’s Bicycle Book and a vague notion of turning the spokes, I got busy with my Holdsworthy Butler’s front wheel… Transforming the 3mm wibble into a samba dancing hoop.  Sure, I’ve tweaked the odd nipple I desperation miles from home, but it was always with a sense of acute trepidation. Never trusted my own wheel building and over the years from chatting with other riders anecdotally, I’m not alone. 

Two rings good...

Given that I haven’t gone the mullet route (at least, not since 1989/90 and I’m not admitting to that) with Ursula’s drivetrain, switching to the Maxxis Ikon has meant much more dirt in our diet and more time spent on the Deore’s inner (26tooth) ring-especially exploring green lanes.  

Though not unduly heavy at 714g (about 1.57 lb.) apiece by my scales, they’re a little heavier than the Maxxis cited as 592g (about 1.31 lb.) and present palpably more resistance on tarmac, compared with Kenda Small Block Eight DTC.  

However, it’s worth noting that the Kenda features 120tpi casings and can be run at 80psi, while the Ikon is 65psi tops. These factors mean greater use of the front mech and more frequent shifting generally. No, this is not the precursor to a triple crankset. Aside from anything else, three rings tend to be a chore to keep on song, four seasons round. 

 

Back to the Ikon...Hit firm bridlepath or green lane and the transformation’s instant. Oodles of traction and a very sprightly, magic carpet ride. Our first foray came during the bank holiday weekend when I was less time taxed than usual. I was having a general, 5am meander along deserted lanes, forming some first thoughts about their tarmac manners when 9 miles out, I spotted a fabulous example of green lane and chucked a left.  

A little caution is needed, since these things aren’t always accurately signposted, resulting in a detour through someone’s back garden. This happened to me while putting a cyclo cross bike through its paces at 3am one December day in 2007.  

Hurtling along a gently reclining slope, my euphoric bubble was pricked by the sight of two wheelie bins. A smart about-turn and pacey retreat followed. I was reminded of this some 500 metres along when I happened upon a cottage with cars out front. My gut and some hoof prints told me to carry on.  

I laughed and attacked the swooping single track, pleasantly connected to nature and surprised by how well the Ikon bit into softer (but not soggy) surfaces. Since we’re talking tyres and trails, here’s the link to my review of the Topeak Gravel 2 Stage Mini Pump Topeak Gravel 2 Stage Mini Pump | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

  

Curiously, I’ve managed to wear a hole in the inner right thigh section of these Triban Men’s Road Cycling Bib Tights RC500, which might be a bit of a mouthful, but budget models that I’m particularly fond of. Being a test pair, I’ll have to put it down to experience (otherwise, had I bought them, I could’ve taken the warrantee route).

This photo also served to remind me my legs needed a good shave, especially since it's milder and I’m getting more miles in, on the Teenage Dream. Now, I continue to be impressed by the CST Cito and learned some interesting facts from their UK distributor. Much to my surprise, they’re designed for a maximum payload of 70kilos-which means, me and the operating pressures range from a very modest, mini pump achievable 80, right up to the cited120psi. Was expecting 90-120 if I’m honest but nice to know they can be run a little lower.  

After several weeks reprieve, the rains returned, albeit in passing. This resulted in derv and other light, slippery spillages being flushed from the verges and mixing with bovine dung and similarly slippery organic stuff. I happened to be sweeping into an S bend on the fixed. 

 

There was a momentary loss of traction from the front Maxxis Refuse but sufficient feedback bought me time to get things gracefully under control again. This appears an isolated incident-in more typically showery and rainy contexts, they’ve not missed a beat, allowing me to concentrate on a steady, 90rpm tempo. Again, their sweet spot seems relatively low at 65psi, but they can be run at 50, if conditions dictate.   

Thursday morning at 4am, fuelled by a constant flow of adrenaline. I was midway round the loop when I suddenly became conscious of resistance, spiking a rush of catastrophising, convinced the rear Re Fuse had done the unthinkable. Thankfully it hadn’t but the sense of urgency had me fighting for breath, but my legs felt surprisingly fresh, cranking out 100rpm until I arrived home.  

 Elsewhere, I’ve decided to stock up on KMC Z1X chains- this time with the silver finish. These feature the marque’s EcoProTeQ Coating (EPT) Anti-Rust technology, which also promises smooth and silent running. I’ve found the blue versions perfectly serviceable but lacking in outright refinement. Aside from dependable rubber, chains, and sprockets are not something I’d want to skimp on, when it comes to fixed gear builds, since there’s a lot of loading on these components.  

I’m not suggesting paying boutique prices. I also recognise the value of beveled sprockets for achieving accurate chain lines on conversions. There are other ways round this. Halo Fix G HALO FIX G TRACK HUB | Seven Day Cyclist Tourin Tests Commuting employs spacers to achieve this and I’ve even seen an eccentric bottom bracket, like those employed on tandems. However, I’m highly unlikely to go the eccentric route given I’m happy with the fixed gear winter trainer’s Genetic Tibia GENETIC TIBIA TRACK CRANKS & RING | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and the Holdsworth’s Stronglight Track 2000.