Grabbing life By the Bars

 

Bar tapes (grips too) are very personal matters. Testing aside, my preference has changed over the years from the Bike Ribbon glossies and Grab-On foam touring pieces to polymers and more recently silicones. Some riders change seasonally, although this is often within racing circles, coinciding with cable switches and similar prep.

Makes good sense, given the demands of racing and ultimately the need to have everything bang-on. Arguably tapes should be more frequently on bikes regularly ridden on indoor trainers, since sweat can seep in and, ultimately, induce corrosion related damage.

 As I'm always saying, contact points are very personal things, but tape ranges from inexpensive to decidedly steep, depending on preference. I've been sent some Cinelli Classic Road Bar Tape, which retails at an uncharacteristically wallet-friendly £12. I recall a time-my early teens, specifically, where the only Cinelli I could afford was an Italian made water bottle emblazoned with the Cinelli logo. Ironically enough, this was 1987, the year Cinelli introduced their cork tape employing EVA for damping.

Corks offer warm, natural, wicking properties.  This is black, which arguably compliments, or contrasts pretty much any existing colourway, although there are eight alternatives.  It’s described as a medium thickness and at 2.5mm, I’m inclined to agree. At 250cm long, in theory there’s ample for most bars, including the big curly gravel types with generous amounts of overlap, or indeed gel underlays, which would be the route I’d go, if venturing off road.

 I returned from a ride on Denise, decided I’d “just” switch the Maxxis Ravager rear that was serving as a control (while I was gaining familiarity and comparison with the Continental Terra). However, this led to one of those infamous fettling orgies. Having switched the tyre, I found the rear mech’s inner wire was fraying, so replaced that and the final section of outer cable. Predictably, this cured some intermittent phantom shifting, led to a sudsy bucket wash and ultimately, me stripping and regreasing the Hollowtech II axle. Credit to the Zefal Pro II Grease, it was holding out well.

However, I wanted to see how effective the Muc-Off wax Chain Cleaner was on other, stubborn lubricant.  Surprisingly so, although warm water, stiff bristled brush and a couple of rinses were needed to strip the Zefal Pro II Grease Zefal Pro II Grease | cycling-not-racing.   dressing the Holdsworth’s bars in the Cinelli, adding two Garmin-type mounts since I was in the flow. One for the Coospo CS600 Coospo CS600 GPS | cycling-not-racing, the other for a compact light- Magicshine’s Allty 400 in this instance, since it has a very effective daylight flash.

The sun was shining and now was the time to enjoy my beloved sunny day’s plaything.  I’m arriving at the conclusion that corks have much wider horizons than 80’s road bikes with pencil thin stays. They’re very relevant for daily drivers, winter bikes, cyclo cross rigs and indeed, touring lorries. Nonetheless, they fit best with traditional drops with uniform diameters. Getting the Cinelli logos to line up on the Holdsworth’s Carbon Coefficient Wave Handlebar COEFFICIENT WAVE HANDLEBAR | cycling-not-racing which has plenty of curves and varying diameters proved a little challenging. Thankfully, the adhesive backing is tacky, rather than sticky, so very tolerant of being re-wound.

Cork responds best to a firm, uniform pressure, it also gives decent feedback before it comes close to tearing.  I had plenty left over, so used some to dress this Genetic Neuron Accessory Bar GENETIC NEURON ACCESSORY BAR | cycling-not-racing. The aim was to provide a grippy, secure host for action cameras and lamp mounts.

100psi apiece in the tyres, out on the Holdsworth, I’ve found the tape provides excellent grip and reasonable damping from low level vibration over washboard surfaces. Brilliant for charging hills and enjoying the bike’s spirited side, while improving comfort on rides exceeding three hours or so.

Given the bars unusual profiles, I’ve erred towards silicones, which can give a slightly chunkier look but offer phenomenal grip and damping.  The frameset is made from plain gauge 531 and coupled with the 28mm tyres, carbon bars and titanium stem suggest a sprightly, yet compliant ride. Broadly true, although tempered by the deep section rims and large flange hubs. These accelerate quickly but can also feel quite direct, given three hours or so.

Thus far, the pairing is proving a good fit, but we’ll see how the weeks and miles pass.  I also took the decision to introduce a Genetic Neuron Accessory Bar GENETIC NEURON ACCESSORY BAR | cycling-not-racing since I wanted a sleeker aesthetic. The 70mm “perch” was also wrapped in some leftover Cinelli Cork for grip. I stand by my statement regarding length, but have managed to mount the Allty 400 and ORP Smarthorn TESTED: ORP SMART HORN together and without issue.

I’d received an 18 tooth Halo fixed sprocket, so decided to whip Muffin’s wheel out and check how well the Zefal pro II Grease was faring after some very soggy, wintry months. Using the Feedback Sports Cassette Pliers Feeback Sports Cassette Pliers | cycling-not-racing both 16 and 17 tooth fixed sprockets released readily. Ample grease remained on the threads. A fresh lick of grease on the threads and I spun the 18 and 17 tooth sprockets fully home. This also presented the opportunity to give Muffin a deep clean. Yes, including beneath the Mudhugger Gravel Hugger Mudguard MUD HUGGER GRAVEL HUGGER MUDGURADS | cycling-not-racing and rear triangle.

Dried, I applied a quick dab of primer to two stone chips, reinstated the wheel and set the chain tension. Not done there, I noted the front brake needed a quick tweak and was suddenly gripped by the urge to substitute the 287 V for an Evo V. Before I knew it, the tape was off, cable disconnected, 287 on the bench. Ten minutes later, Evo V and new cable in situ. Modulation and feel were good with the 287 but seemingly superior with the Evo.  I’ve switched to this Genetic Hi-Grip Black tape, since it arrived on my test bench.  For time being, I’ll stick to enjoying some seriously spring-like weather on the Holdsworth.  I'll close here with my review of the Muc-Off Wax Chain Cleaner Muc-Off Chain Wax Cleaner 500ml | cycling-not-racing and Steve's review of the Castelli Espresso 2 Jersey Castelli Espresso2 Jersey | cycling-not-racing   

I'll Just...

 

January is a tricky month in every respect. The festivities forgotten, replaced by an unsettling silence. Some folks await the fiscal hangover, others plunge themselves into projects and traditionally, it’s a time of year when I disappear to the garage, fuelled by those nights where an idea can evolve into the ONLY idea.

I was recovering from a sudden, unwelcome seasonal lurgi and feeling infinitely better, (save for an infected tooth, spotted by my dentist during a routine checkup) decided I’d switch Denise to gravel rubber and complete testing of the Zefal Shield G50.Zefal Shield G50 Mudguards | cycling-not-racing Wheels fitted, tyres inflated to the desired pressure, I then discovered the rear Kore cantilevers were dragging. Hmm, just a case of changing the inner wire and a quick tweak of the balance screws.  

No joy. After some deliberation, I concluded the Tektro RL520 must be pulling too much cable, so after a quick rummage of the spares boxes, I recovered a silver RL340 designed for cantilever and side pulls and made the switch. Closer, but definitely not right.  By this point, we were coming close to midnight- I’d planned to have everything sorted and safely tucked up in bed long beforehand. Firmly in the zone, I discovered a missing balance screw, so decided to strip them from the bosses and switch to another set. This also presented an opportunity to regrease the cantilever posts with Zefal Pro II Zefal Pro II Grease | cycling-not-racing.

Refitted, snugged tight, some minor tweaking of the balance screws- sorted. Ok, so a few localised squirts of MO94 were needed, since I’d forgotten to flush the outers through in my diagnostic phase. The RL340 and 520 levers have slightly different profiles, apparent when looking down at the hoods but close enough aesthetically. Moreover, I had a fully functional rear stopper.

 Once-overs completed, bars redressed in the Ergon Orthocell Ergon Orthocell Handlebar Tape | cycling-not-racing it was 1245. Still, I’d diagnosed and cured the fault, so off my list and out of my head. A test ride the following morning confirmed all was well. Quit while ahead. Weeks and many miles hence, the Zefal Shield G50 continue to impress with their rattle-free construction and impressive protection- on and sans asphalt.

Definitely the best clip-on guards I’ve ever used and by some margin. I’m still mightily impressed by Mudhugger’s Gravel Hugger, but these are a more permanent design- none the worse for it, but slightly different. The Gravel Hugger are also incompatible with rim brakes. Fine for contemporary gravel, or bike packing framesets and the coverage is also impressive.

However, incompatible with bikes running cantilevers, or linear pulls. Talking of which, I’ve upgraded Muffin’s brake cable with a Jagwire CGX 5mm outer and stainless inner. Not on par, with their top flight Jagwire Road Elite Jagwire Road Elite Sealed Brake Kit | cycling-not-racing, but a tangible improvement. The Fibrax and bog-standard stainless inner fitted during the initial build has served well enough in the “use what you got” sense. Now it was due replacement, hence the opportunity to upgrade. A few months down the line, I wasn’t surprised to discover the MPart Primo Anti Slip Silicone Gel Bar Tape M Part Primo Anti Slip Silicone Gel Bar | cycling-not-racing had weathered. In fairness, it was re-useable and the adhesive backing still up to the job, but the finishing strips were really stubborn to remove. Should get another few months regular use before retirement. Switching to the Spa Aire Titanium has also brought a new level of bliss. I’d broken it in years ago but forgotten how comfortable it is, especially on a bike with similar positioning and geometry as Muffin.

Mercifully, save for testing, worn consumables and the odd tweak, I more or less have the fleet optimised. Major revamps and overhauls are off the table.  Invariably, when I’ve fallen down one of these rabbit holes, some other expenditure has presented, whether it be cars, dental treatment, or similar priority.

I should point out that while brutally diminished by successive administrations, we do still have the burning embers of universal healthcare, but there is still a fiscal contribution to be made. Universal healthcare makes sound economic sense. The healthier your nation, the more productive. There is an argument in favour of contribution and I can see this, but only so long as it's proportionate and based upon the ability to pay.

There is a large swathe of the UK’s population who enjoyed increasing prosperity across the board-even those in lower-skilled, dare we say “dead end” work. High quality affordable housing, good schools and other public services. Housing was about community, not assets, educational attainment and life chances were more closely associated with the communities, parents and peers surrounding you.

Nonetheless, upward social mobility was very much a lived experience. Something that progressively waned through the 1980s onward, as industries and communities died. Those that could, left and pursued new lives, those that didn’t were left behind, largely ignored. Easy prey for the populists who offer slogans, emotional dynamite but no solutions to inherently complex and ingrained problems.