Urges...The Digital Devil Made Me Do It

 

 

While engaged in an orgy of online Christmas shopping before prices, availability and other headaches start kicking in, a USE SUMO post snared my attention-New Old Stock, and the starting bid was £20.  

This was want, not need, so I wasn’t going to engage in a bidding war. Serendipity saw I was the only bidder, leaving me convinced it was meant to be mine. I had also been quick to check, while watching the auction, that I could acquire a suitable shim and at the right price. No room for “White Elephants”.  

Fortunately, these were still readily available, so £33 all told, including postage. I’d decided I’d go the 27.2 shim route and had earmarked it for the fixed gear winter/trainer, since I was happy with Ursula’s Kinekt 2.1 KINEKT 2.1 SUSPENSION SEAT POST | cycling-not-racing and Denise’s USE SX. I’m certainly not going the “boing” route with traditional pared to the essential's road build. The Sumo, in common with the SX and Redshift Sports has a preload tucked within the post, requiring removal to set, or adjust the degree of bounce but arguably a cleaner aesthetic.  

Given it had been in storage for some time, I suspected any grease had degraded to the point of being ineffectual, so took the opportunity to clean the spring and elastomer components and delivering some Peaty’s Speed Grease inside to lightly lubricate. I was tempted to go for the strawberry jam flavour of Muc-Off Bio Grease, but I’ve been impressed by how well the Peaty’s perked up the SX fitted to Denise.  

In common with the SX, I found the saddle cradle something of a faff and not something you’d want to approach in a rush, yet dependable enough. I’ve added a lick of Oxford Mint Assembly Grease to the fasteners before snugging everything tight with my torque wrench. 

I’ve switched the Ritchey WCS saddle from the Carbon Cycles eXotic Carbon Ti Seatpost Carbon Cycles eXotic Carbon Ti Sea | cycling-not-racing and left the Selle Royal Respiro Sport (281x143mm, in case anyone wondered) adorning the Cane Creek, should I feel the urge to switch things around again.   

While uncovering and fitting the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Tyres | cycling-not-racing to Ursula’s Ryde XT and Ryde SP SD8 SHUTTER PRECISION SD8 HUB DYNAMO | cycling-not-racing wheels, I happened upon a pair of Schwalbe Marathon Winter Spikes 700x35c, which would comfortably fit Denise’s clearances should we suddenly get another “Beast from The East” or prolonged period of icy, slippery weather in the coming months.  

Chances are, I’d simply stick to Ursula for such a period, but it’s nice to have the option, especially if I’m testing kit, or just fancy taking Denise out. These were the base model with 120spikes, which still gives some definite bite. I also had some Continental Nordic Spike (120 spikes) which are another reliable choice but at 42mm, the absolute comfortable limit for Denise.    

Given a choice in these matters 35-37mm is my preference since you’ll need clearance for snow, slush and slurry. 120 spikes are at the lower end of the spectrum, 240 is my benchmark for snowier conditions and/or deeply impacted ice but 120 still offer dependable bite on slippery surfaces.  

Kenda Klondike is another long-standing studded choice. The 700x35c feature 30tpi casings and 100 studs, which again, are a better bet for when its icy, rather than snowy. There’s a 26x2.10 version with 252 spikes and a 26x2.35 with 400, which would be an interesting comparator to the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Tyres | cycling-not-racing  There’s still a few helpings of WTB lube left, so I’m staying with it for now but will probably reach for the Peaty’ Link Lube Premium All Weather PEATY'S LINK LUBE PREMIUM ALL WEATHER | cycling-not-racing since I want chains fed something stoical, yet still relatively clean running.    

The roads remain very muddy and the trails less so, although I’ve stuck to the mighty Shimano MW7 booties, which continue to impress with their efficient power transfer, temperature management and water resistance. Shimano MW7 (MW702) Gore Tex MTB Shoes | cycling-not-racing 

I’ve erred toward waterproof socks more often now the seasons changing and leaves carpet lanes and trails. I’m also increasingly endeared to the Gorewear C5 gloves. I’d experienced some unexpected discomfort in the left hand, but this tempered after 60 miles or so, suggesting the padding settles given a bit of time.  

A relief too, given the asking price. However, doing an impressive job of keeping vibration, chill and wet firmly locked out. Oh, but wait a moment, they’re not waterproof in the submersible sense, so if you’ve jettisoned a bottle and it’s landed in a stream, you’ll get a soggy hand retrieving it. Though not as nimble as some, for a deep winter glove, they’re surprisingly dextrous. I keep coming back to the old saying “No such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong kit”. On that note, here's Magicshine's Black Friday PromoBike Cycling Lights & Gears for Night Riding | Magicshine – Magicshine Lighting

Spares, Upgrades & Resurrections

 

Having been out green laning and generally enjoying Ursula’s new configuration, it occurred to me I needed to bolt a disc rotor to the spare Ryde/XT rear wheel along with a cassette. My intention has always been to keep two sets of wheels prepped, one with cross country mountain bike rubber, the second shod with spikes for when winter turns decidedly slippery.  

 

Luckily, I’d a six bolt 160mm rotor and mounting hardware sat in their storage pot and just whipped everything in situ. I opted for a new 12-25 cassette having spotted some NOS offered at a very tempting price. Slot that aboard the freehub with a light lick of assembly grease, snug tight, slot in a skewer and mount the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro, ready for when the weather turns.  

  

The Oxford Mint Assembly Grease continues to impress with its corrosion inhibiting and seemingly tenacious properties. A few months down the line, these cleats released easily and without need for replenishment. Cleats and hardware lead hard lives and are easily neglected. Over the last thirty years, I’ve only had to drill two sets out although this was also down to dog eared threads, rather than corrosion alone. Galvanic corrosion (where two metals of different parentage e.g. steel and aluminium alloy, or steel and titanium chemically bond together) can prove more problematic.  

 

In some respects, titanium compatibility was already being tested, courtesy of Ursula’s bottom bracket cups, but I also found myself with a seat post conundrum, wanting to switch the fixed gear winter/trainer back to the SQR Carradry. I’d received this 6 litre Topeak Backloader, which was pride of place on Denise’s USE XCE post, saving a few grams, compared with the venerable SQR Tour.  Grams aside, though I love Cotton Duck, it’s trickier to keep clean, at least compared with the Carradry series, which can be wiped down with a damp cloth. 

  

Contenders were Torus titanium Layback model. This is made from plain gauge 3AL-2.5V tube, has 15 degrees of layback and is 350mm long. There’s an inline version too, for time trialists and others who want to be positioned directly over the bottom bracket for optimal power transfer. My default, as I’ve said before. Then of course, there were the boingers. I had a Redshift Sports, the Thudbuster ST G3TESTED: CANE CREEK THUDBUSTER ST SEATPOST that seemed ideal candidates-similar weight and travel. This would add a little extra comfort without too much added heft.  

 

The combined weight of SQR luggage, mount and post was around that of the Topeak Super Tourist DX and the MTX Trunk bag…Decision made, I plumped for the G1, switched the Ritchey WCS perch over, applied some Zefal tape where the SQR clamps would rest against the post. Nylon straps from other luggage had worn through the black anodising at one localised spot and I didn’t want further erosion. I’d bought some new stainless-steel fasteners for the block since they were inexpensive. No sense going this far, only for fastener fatigue to strike at the least convenient moment.   

 

Having slid the SQR block in situ, I introduced some Mint Assembly Grease to the fasteners, then snugged these down. Post out, I delivered a quick blast of waxy corrosion inhibitor inside the seat tube, since opportunity presented. A final light coating of grease to the Cane Creek and I slid everything in situ. At this point I discovered too little space between SQR luggage and Gravel Hugger Guard. Hmm...  

 

In the zone, adrenalin flowing and overriding hunger, I decided this Axiom Oceanwave City + AXIOM OCEANWAVE CITY+ SEAT BAG | cycling-not-racing was the way forward. Where’d I put the mount...To my surprise, I’d fitted it to the rails of Ursula’s Ergon SR All Road Men’s Saddle Ergon SR All Road Men’s Saddle | cycling-not-racing . Switched over and fixed gear specific tooling, tubes and spares transferred to the Axiom, I decided it was time to quit while ahead.         

  

I noted some light abrasion damage to the underside of the Carradry bag, so covered this with some high-quality, very stretchy, strong, and sticky Duct tape, nipping any further potential deterioration in the bud. Black also complimented the original area, so not a glaringly obvious repair.  

 

With temperatures beginning to tumble and conclusions reached regarding the Madison Trail Gloves, I’ve been grateful for these Gore Wear C5 Gore Tex Thermix Gloves. Black might not be the most obvious colour given the season but ultra-practical I every other respect. These are a thin pile design for dexterity, wind, waterproof and breathable, which sounds like Nirvana but as ever, real world, potentially snowy miles on and indeed, off-road will reveal more.   

 

I’ve been defaulting to the Wolf Tooth WT-1 All Conditions Chain Lube  Wolf Tooth WT-1 All Conditions Chain Lub | cycling-not-racing for the last few months and have run the first bottle dry, so will be interesting to see how long the second lasts through winter. One the main benefits aside from durability, is that it is self-cleansing, so hopefully this will extend chain and ultimately drivetrain life without undue involvement on my part. Right, I’ll close here with my review of the WTB Exposure Road Tubeless Tyre WTB Exposure Road Tubeless Tyre | cycling-not-racing