Taking the Biscuit

No, thankfully, I was able to hold onto these Cappuccino flavoured offerings to complement my diesel strength coffee consumption. I’m referring to some time wasting charlatans who were on a fishing expedition, rather than intending to purchase skills and services. They will be receiving an expenses invoice in the coming days. I’ve never suffered fools gladly and have no intention of starting now.

Milder temperatures have seen roads saturated as water oozes from swollen ditches and boggy farmland-ideal conditions for overshoes and other weather cheating kit. The TF2 extreme wet is staying put, although migrating to the outer links, which I have now concluded is largely attributable to my fixer’s stainless steel KMC X1 chain...

True, lubes tend to collect along a chain’s side plates but regardless of their characteristics, this is much less apparent on standard nickel plated or even, galvanised models. Moan aside, there’s been no call for topping up, or indeed, cleansing the side plates as yet.   

I have nothing against the turbo trainer per se. When I led a strictly road biased diet, I spent many winter hours whirring away at 6am on a simple, 5012 blue powder coated Tacx fan cooled unit. Well made, albeit crude and noisy, timber framed outbuildings amplified my efforts to the extent extremely tolerant neighbours asked if I was running a diesel generator.

One was a life-long distance road runner, so could empathise with this particular hamster on his wheel. On other occasions, there was something to be said for sitting in the garage, whirring away with the door open for ventilation and watching the horizontal rain.   

Walkman and turbo-trainer tapes coaxed me into the zone and kept me there.  Sweat nets, periodic re-greasing of contact points and regular waxing kept rider-generated coolant from inducing component seizures and frame damage.

A great outlet for “A” level and similar angst...These days, even budget lights can seemingly turn night into day, although the quality of output varies greatly. While there’s no doubt we get considerably more light for our money, the old adage of getting what you pay for remains unchanged.

Back then LEDs hadn’t hit the UK scene, so aside from hefty Lead acid systems; most lights were of the halogen glimmer type. This included the Union bottle (tyre driven) dynamo system used on my Holdsworhy Butler working bike that ferried me back and forth from FE college. Nonetheless, there was something distinctly satisfying about generating my own light; I saved a ton of cash on batteries too.  

I’d always been smitten with mountain biking but as the 90’s progressed, there was quite a bit of dirt in my riding diet and less call for riding inside.

I always liked the sense of escape, the ability to explore muddy backwaters, forests and fields. A more relaxed,” taking our fun seriously” ethos lured me into competition. During this time, cyclo cross became more mainstream with several mountain bike brands, including Kona getting in on the act.

The short racing season and the machine’s geometry mean that ‘crossers make brilliant four seasons’ working bikes. The internet was also becoming increasingly ubiquitous, meaning easier acquisition of spiked tyres and other goodies, once restricted to US/Canada and Scandinavian audiences. 

Therefore, winter became something to rejoice in. Add product testing into the mix and there’s all the incentive you could want for venturing out.           

Continuing this theme, we’ve a six month test of BTwin 700 cold weather cycling gloves http://www.sevendaycyclist.com/btwin-700-cold-weather-gloves and an interview with cyclo cross legend Mick Ives who, at 78 will be riding this years 100^th Giro d’italia http://www.sevendaycyclist.com/mick-ives-rides-again .

Hmm, talking of incentive, with the Univega’s metamorphosis complete, I feel another project coming on. A revision of, rather than addition to the fleet, seems to involve a disc up front and gravel bike flavour. Despite the blurring of genres, I’m of the opinion that there comes a point where a cross country mountain bike trumps the gravel bike when the going gets really gloopy.

Neither am I convinced the complication and additional weight of suspension to said ‘cross derivative will genuinely bridge this gap. In any case, my revision will remain little more than a component list and design concept until I have secured a move and shifted some unwanted stuff...  

Steve has been reflecting on his freshly enamelled bespoke steel tourer and its spec. From the joys of 853 tubing, mechanical disc brakes and full compliment of braze-ons to the trial and error stuff that only becomes apparent mid-way through.

Plenty of people can build frames by numbers in their/mate’s garage but when problems present, only a seasoned frame builder’s skill and lateral thought can arrive at a satisfactory solution. http://www.sevendaycyclist.com/going-bespoke-tech-stuff

On that note, I’m off to top up the Univega’s Waxoyl...          

The Great Escape

I’ve no doubt that cinematic institution will feature over the festive telly season (if it hasn't already) but in this instance I’m referring to 125psi roaring from my Ilpompino’s front tyre with frightening haste while piloting it through a series of twisty, freezing, mulch strewn back roads at 23mph…Remaining composed, I drew to a halt and concluded shouldering said fixer that final mile home was best, especially since it’s 29mm rear was just succumbing to similar fate.

Both sported Kevlar belts (1 and 2.5mm thick, respectively) and were defeated by two shards of indicator lens burrowing vindictively inside. Some will argue this stab vest staple is now looking decidedly long in the tooth, superseded in technical terms by Aramid. However, in my experience puncture resistance is by degrees-roll over that nine-inch nail with your name etched into its head and belt composition becomes pretty academic.

Wafer thin butyl certainly didn’t help, although fortuitously their pinpricks were easily repaired from the comfort of one’s kitchen. Rule of thumb suggests a new tube, the injured parties kept as spares. Therefore, I introduced a 35mm Kenda thorn-resistant “builders hose” to the 29mm rear and a common or garden 25mm CST up front. Nonetheless, continuing the thrifty theme, I’ve ordered industrial sized replenishments of patches and solution.

Lo and behold, Moore Large (www.todayscyclist.co.uk) has generously sent me these 32mm Kenda Bitumen reflective. 85psi and 60tpi iron-cap casings indicate rugged, rather than racy persona, though hopefully this will put paid to dead-of night deflation paranoia and see us cruising through spring and a fair while beyond. However, credible comment requires a good few hundred miles in varying conditions, so I’ll reserve judgement until January’s swansong.

Christmas usually presents copious remit for serious fettling and I’ve decided to resurrect some deep-section Miche hoops. Originally shelved on account of recurrent pinch flatting, there’s no indication of structural damage, thus I’m convinced that employing Effetto Mariposa rim tape (primarily intended to convert standard hp wire ons to tubeless service) will resolve this (as it has on my Univega’s spare Weinnman/NX30 front hoop).

Said holidays are equally conducive to reflection and moreover trying something different. It’d been a while since I’d seen some grass roots cyclo cross racing and Coventry Road Club’s 60^{th annual} meet at Kenilworth common proved too good an opportunity to pass up. Ironically, the common is a nature reserve but CRC secured special dispensation, part of which requires riders compete on UCI legal 700c ‘cross mounts. http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NTI0MDY&LangId=1

Such stipulations don’t apply to the under 10/12s who are welcome on mountain and even balance bikes. However, anyone inclined to sample the grinding climbs and swooping technical descents beforehand risk having their entries voided. While enjoying phenomenal continental popularity, it is oft forgotten that ‘cross had a similar post war following here, riders attending on old pared to the essentials touring bikes with hand-me-down components.

Fast forward several decades and a more glamorous, dare we say, continental image, the inclusive, accessible spirit remains phenomenally strong. First up came the seemingly irrepressible under 10’s whose competitive vigor was tempered with a refreshing sense of discipline and genuine sportsmanship.

Despite relaxed rulings and the odd smattering of fancy dress, most thundered past on junior ‘cross builds. Occasional, slow speed tumble with terra firma aside, mishaps were thankfully conspicuous by their absence. This theme remained consistent throughout the under 12’s event, entrants negotiated the senior laps with commendable panache, although by this stage in the morning's proceedings, damp, nagging chill had permeated my exposed fingers, inducing unwelcome camera shake.

Mick Ives provided commentary for the main event, which progressed at a frenetic pace, meticulous organisation/intelligent marshaling optimising rider and spectator safety. However, one rider sustained sufficiently serious injury to require air ambulance rescue, illustrating that even these standards of event management cannot entirely eradicate risk.  

Hmm, I’m getting a sudden desire to organise an altogether different category of ‘cross racing, requiring entrants present on rigid mountain bikes with dropped bars…Fancy collaborating? Drop me a line: roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com