Shot Bolt, Sinking Feelings & Reprieves

 

I go through phases of tweaking saddle height but before any of you have visions of me constantly fettling mid-ride, a ’la Mr Rottler (who was so renowned by his teammates for perpetually adjusting his, they named a spanner after him), mine usually coincides with a change of seat post, saddle etc.  

Getting those precious late summer miles in on the Holdsworth, I was conscious of my saddle being a little low, suspiciously so.  

Having concluded the ride, inspection revealed the Crank Brothers post was indeed creeping very slowly into the frame. I traced this to a fatigued seat bolt- an easy fix. Replace and snug down to the correct tolerances. Seat collars, at least, the modern types are around the 6nm mark (but do check, they can be lower). Sensible, given the popularity of carbon fibre posts.  

However, it would seem more traditional binder bolts and metal posts are 9-12nms. This lower default may also explain the steady downward creep. Either way, I replaced the electroplated Cro-moly binder bolt for another, added a lick of Peaty’s Bicycle Assembly Grease PEATY'S BICYCLE ASSEMBLY GREASE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and snugged that down to 10nms. Tweaked the headset bearings by a fraction of a turn, since opportunity presented. Two little jobs off the list.   

With this and roads carpeted in dung and agricultural mud, I’ve switched to racking up the miles aboard Ursula and those Schwalbe Smart Sam tyres. Farm tracks, unmade roads and bridlepath have been our 5am playgrounds. While primarily designed for dry, hardpack conditions, they’re proving less ponderous than might be expected, suggesting the raised centre strip does offer some tangible benefits on metalled roads. 560g apiece also helps in that respect.  

Schwalbe suggests they’re suitable for touring. In the broad strokes, mixed terrain sense, with the emphasis upon trails, I’d agree but models like Specialized Crossroads Armadillo and indeed, Maxxis Overdrive Excel Maxxis Overdrive Excel Tyre | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) are better choices for longer spells on the road and gentler off-piste meandering.  

I wasn’t surprised by the amount of dust clinging to the Smart Sam and Ursula’s frameset given the extended hot, dry spell, although, the falling leaves now serve as a reminder autumn is fast advancing. I’m sticking with waxy-type chain lubes for the moment, since they’re much cleaner and will flake off, taking contaminant with it.  

However, I noticed a very clean chain and faint metal-on-metal tinkling sooner than expected, so strongly suspect I’ll be switching to a middleweight blend next time. Weldtite TF2 Performance All Weather TF2 PERFORMANCE ALL WEATHER LUBRICANT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  is something of a default for me but (and while it may seem an odd choice, given the season, Muc Off-50 Chain lube MUC-OFF -50C CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) makes a surprisingly good everyday blend-it's a little lighter than the Weldtite TF2 Performance All Weather, and doesn’t contain PTFE.

  

Talking of unusual choices, I’ve discovered carbon gripper paste has also proved highly effective at securing electric toothbrush heads...For context, I bought some replacement, genuine heads for mine and they’re what might be best described as a “pattern” fit. A sudden flash of inspiration saw me reaching for this Weldtite Gripper Paste and this gut feeling paid off.    

Elsewhere, there’s been plenty of mist, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well the Infini Sword Infini Sword Super Bright Light Set | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) have performed in these contexts, the rear as my sole light.

The flashing modes are ultra frugal-Infini reckons 200 hours and I’ve come within a few minutes of this.  Brilliant for marathon night riding and as a dynamo companion. Peripheral prowess is better than a slimline profile would suggest, although when conditions have been in pea-soup territory, I’ve felt that bit safer with the Ravemen TR200.  

As the name suggests it delivers a maximum of 200 lumens and has a sensored 100-lumen “braking” function, which really brings the 40 and 20-lumen steady modes to life along the backroads. Alternatively, in the back of beyond, disengage the “braking” function, select one of two 100 lumen flashing settings and save some juice.  

Inflated Egos & Lowered Expectations

 

If there’s someone you know who loves you but is taking it all for granted, they may lose you someday... Bread’s “Everything I Own” (Covered by Boy George and others) reworked -a song resonated very strongly with me for a good 35 years. The years have taught resilience and self-reliance. Sometimes very brutally. A few have come to my rescue in ways I cannot begin to repay-at least not like-for-like but otherwise, I have a fiercely independent, survival streak. One that serves me very well, thank you.  

Given last week’s “ordeal” I was rather touched to discover Extra UK Extra UK had sent me this Topeak Road Master Blaster model, a traditional frame fit reckoned capable of an eye-watering, bicep-busting 160psi. It also mounts nicely along the top tube, sheltered from the silt, water and generic ruinous nastiness.  

They also sent me the Topeak Nanomaster Duo Fixer CO2 cartridge kit, which will hopefully help with the rapid get up n’ go following those hopefully infrequent flats. Most reading this will undoubtedly be quick to point out Co2 escapes butyl faster, so there’s a good chance the tyre will be pancake flat come the next day. Don’t panic, whip out the track pump (or bike-mounted inflator, if you’re mid-tour/bike packing escape.) and inflate to taste.   

Talking tyres, I’m looking forward to exploring some of the more technical forest trails, bridlepaths and unmade roads with the Maxxis Ikon, when they arrive. Not to mention seeing how well the Mud Hugger Evo and budget rear guard perform in these contexts.  

Both have met my expectations thus far and the former’s low-slung aesthetic belies decent mud clearance and I’m not expecting any clogging hassles. The wallet-friendly rear hasn’t turned to blancmange either but then, given its price, I had lower expectations.  Closer inspection revealed the Axiom Oceanwave City+ Seat Bag AXIOM OCEANWAVE CITY+ SEAT BAG | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) had been aligned slightly downward, rather than being level, so took this opportunity to correct. An easy job, thanks to the Rixen Kaul  

I’m also keen to try the 700x32c Maxxis Re-Fuse-on my fixed gear winter/trainer. Allegedly they “refuse to puncture”. Specification promises good wear and puncture resistance.  

The 60tpi single compound casings employ the brands’ silk-shield technology (used in the Overdrive Excel) runs bead to bead and is boosted by an aramid layer.  

Will be interesting to see how they compare alongside old favourites such as the Kenda  Kwick Journey KS Plus Tyres KENDA KWICK JOURNEY TYRES | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com).  the Kenda is cheaper and “only” feature a 5mm (about 0.2 in) puncture repelling belt along the centre strip, but I only succumbed once in several thousand miles. 

1200 miles down the line, I’ve hit my third puncture with the Maxxis Overdrive Excel Maxxis Overdrive Excel Tyre | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) in fairness, the two were on the same occasions and caused by very sharp flints that had pierced front and rear casings. I pulled these free and superglued the cuts. Replaced the tubes with fresh and repaired the wounded, consigning them to spares.  

When it comes to winter, working and competition bikes, reliability is paramount- Sunny days playthings and other “best” bikes are a little more nuanced perhaps. Talking of which, I’m hoping the weather and infrastructure are going to improve, so I can get some miles in with the Teenage Dream and the recently mounted CST Cito. It’s still rather soggy, changeable at best.  

I’d crossed the 480-mile mark with the Zefal, before replenishment called (which is around 200 miles more than the Muc-off Wet lube in comparable contexts). Now it shouldn’t be inferred that the Muc-Off is a poor lube-it's not, rather it serves to illustrate the difference between a most conditions, year-round “every person” wet formula and a hell n’ high water blend.  

This coincided with the two flats, and I took this opportunity to give Ursula a good clean and strip the residual Zefal in favour of the Motoverde  PTFE Chain Lube Motoverde PTFE Chain Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  However, headed off-road, I’d shy away from river crossings and waterways, since PTFE and similar forever chemicals are very harmful to aquatic life and the ecosystem generally. Talking of bike cleaning, here’s my review of the Finish Line Easy Pro Five Brush Set Finish Line Easy Pro Five Brush Set | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Bob Elliot & Co have sent me these FLR F70 PRO MTB 250 and appropriate, given the mtb theme Safety Labs E-Bahn 2.0 'MIPS' Urban Inmold Helmet in Black. It will be interesting to see how this compares to the Lazer Chameleon Lazer Chameleon Helmet | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)