Pruning, Tuning & Distraction

 

I resisted the cable pruning urge for all of 24 hours. Weary of bum and brain, I shuffled from my office chair and headed to the garage. Cursory inspection and some double-checking later, I’d marked the cut point and removed the front mech's inner wire. Measure twice, cut once; I performed a final check, snipped the outer cable and refitted. Save for pulling the inner wire through trimming, and restricting the front mech’s throw- done in five minutes.

Oh well, might as well…I was compelled to adjust Ursula’s rear brake. The cable had stretched slightly, which also saw me realigning the calliper.  This phase was a little more perfectionist- some might say obsessive. Having pulled the inner wire through a little further and snugged tight, I slackened the calliper mount, then used a rubber O-ring to bring the brake lever fully home. Theoretically, aligning the calliper, while I tightened it evenly. A technique that ultimately proved successful. No tickling, or rub, just smooth, progressive stopping. Yay! 

I’m a big fan of Topeak’s Uni Super Tourist 2.0 DX Rear Rack. Being a two-tier design, there’s no issues combining panniers and rack bags, whether their MTX Trunk Bag Topeak MTX Trunk Dry Bag | cycling-not-racing, or something more universal, such as my long serving Carradice. You can still pair these on a single tier design but whipping them on and off is more convoluted.

The rack is highly adjustable-great for various frame sizes and designs, regardless of whether they run discs, or not. 25 kilo maximum payload caters for most contexts, and the factory powder-coated finish is generally hardy.

My one minor niggle (aside from electroplated fasteners) is the rack’s design can hinder access to disc brake calliper mounts. A moot point tackled with a workshop, ball-end type but potentially tricky with some multi-tools. Singular L-type 5mm keys, or slender tools, such as this Oxford Torque R10 Mini Ratchet Set Oxford Torque RT10 Mini Ratchet Set | cycling-not-racing seem the best fits.   

250 mixed terrain miles on and the All-Mountain Style Miami Glide Chain Wax is also performing very well- clean and yet seemingly resilient. I’ve concluded that letting it cure for 7-8 hours reaps best reward-I sensed I was chancing it at three hours but was keen to take Ursula for a shakedown ride and it’s the sort of thing we’ve all done now and then.  Much the same story with Muffin’s KMC chain.

One thing led to another while I was contemplating the world and my place within it. Curious to see how compatible (or otherwise) Slick Juice was with titanium; I switched the super plush Sumo for this Torus. This also presented opportunity to top up Muffin’s frame preserve and having torqued everything correctly, I gave the post a polish and applied some protectant. Given the grease’s composition, I’m not expecting any issues with galvanic corrosion, but there’s only one way to find out.  

As the miles rack up, I’m increasingly impressed by the All-Mountain Sports Miani Glide Chain Was. Specifically its lubrication and temperature stability. It seems to penetrate and coat the chain’s pins and rollers, resulting in silent, crisp shifting, doesn’t attract grime and runs cleaner. In fairness, several waxes I’ve tested over the last year or two haven’t become a gooey mess when the mercury’s creeping beyond 23 degrees but some are definitely better than others. It's also proving quite effective on cables, cleat mechanisms and other metal-on-metal interfaces that we might want to lube “while we think of it”.

Leatt have graciously sent me some shoes and shades to play with. Now, I've defaulted to twin bolt gravel shoes for the past five years or so, on and off road since they strike an excellent balance of power transfer and walkability. Grippy soles offering excellent traction off the bike-even if it's just dis/mounting on an icy morning. Prior to this,  cross country mountain bike and sportier touring shoes were my go-tos. I'm still a big fan of these Quoc Pham, which are still going strong after thirteen years. Leather uppers are easy to care for and resist the elements very well-wipe clean with a damp cloth and treat with hide food, or shoe polish to keep them supple.

Back to the Leatt. These are the Trail 6.0, a trail shoe, which features a longer cleat channel, offering greater adjustment. Forward, for a more aggressive, dare we say, racy stance, further back for trail, all mountain and endurance genres. A little different. Synthetic uppers seem rugged, although means mesh panelling. Once upon a time, this meant very soggy feet when the heavens opened. However, the slightly wider fit means they are readily paired with thinner waterproof socks, such as these Muc-Off, which are firm favourites of mine. 

Leatt also sent me their  Ride Viz Sierra Sunglasses. These employ "Biopolymer" frames with stainless steel temples. Polycarbonate lenses employing polarising technology, promising to eliminate glare and therefore, eye strain are something we've come to expect. Their casual, slightly classic design looks less aggressively technical, so theoretically a good fit off the bike. The Rebound employ carbon fibre frames and arms, keeping the weight low and rubberised grippers offering tactile tenure. 

Technical kit doesn't have to look overtly technical. Some brands still offer more relaxed "touring" shirts and shorts, although this is a smaller market, which seemed to almost reach a point of extinction, but made a quiet comeback thanks to gravel's rise in popularity. Prior to that, messenger subculture had a fleeting influence between 2005 and 2009. I'm still fond of "messenger knickers" which were nicely cut, looked stylish off the bike-perfect when meeting friends for lunch and similar social contexts. 

Looser fit mountain bike clothing is similarly practical. Endura Humvee remain popular (justly so, in my view) and cross, trail, touring and gravel genres very capably. Pockets and stash points means they're also ultra practical, won't look out of place on a mountain bike, tourer, gravel, or road bike.  Great for everyday riding where Lycra is inappropriate or frowned upon.   Hmm...Might that be why the Shetlands are shunning me ... I'll close here with my long term review of the Topeak Uni Super Tourist DX Rack Disc  Topeak Uni Super Tourist DX Rack Disc | cycling-not-racing

 

 

Panniers & Other Practicalities

 

Decent panniers are not simply for touring, they're great for commuting and general lugging duties. I've been particularly impressed by the Lomo Zephyr, which seem rugged, and well organised, without being overly prescriptive. The roll top closure, welded seams and fully waterproof construction are ultra-practical and impressive for the price. Waterproof is a term begging for contradiction, and nothing is truly totally impermeable. For these reasons, I often line panniers with a bin liner to keep clothes, or anything potentially perishable from getting damp in a torrential storm, or should a visually shallow crossing prove otherwise.

 

In the more mundane sense, the last thing you want is to arrive at work with soggy clothes and food, reinforcing the unkempt cyclist narrative. Halfords have sent their Advanced Waterproof Pannier. Another budget model at £30, it boasts a twenty-litre capacity, roll top closure welded seams, reflective detailing and a carry strap. The single compartment might seem a little low rent on the one hand and won't suit those looking to segregate laptops, folders and other stuff but also means you can just bung stuff in and scoot off.

 

There's the usual Rixen-Kaul pattern mounting hardware and it feels reassuringly solid.  Let's see what the lanes and trails say... For loads exceeding 10 kilos, I err towards the trailer. However, it's worth noting that panniers can be more practical for extended touring, as Teagan Philips outlined in an interview some ten years back MY BIKE : TEGAN PHILLIPS' SURLY DISC TRUCKER.  Similarly, some folks prefer frame mounted for improved aerodynamics. I can appreciate that, especially in a more competitive gravel, or bike packing context. When it comes to trailers, single wheel designs are the most practical for singletrack and generally speaking, track better behind the bike, thus have less impact upon handling.

 

However, be mindful of not going into autopilot, forgetting the trailer. Especially when tackling roundabouts, more densely trafficked areas, or tighter sections of trail. I've had my Yak homage trundling behind the fixed from time to time, the lack of a steadying rear brake gave food for thought when negotiating descents. Oh, and momentum's a must on the climbs! Reminds me, I've been contemplating an 18tooth sprocket for Muffin, which would smooth out the climb without inducing spin-out on the descents. Halo produces a very affordable example. 

 

Staying with brakes and solos, discs are great (hydraulic the best) but so are well-honed cantilever, or V brakes. Gearing is also a consideration of derailleur setups. Largely a moot point on contemporary touring lorries and gravel grinders but ensure you've a bail-out option, should you find yourself needing to winch along a one in four with twenty kilos trundling behind.

 

While I've found both genuine Yak and homage's wheels to be rather low-rent, they're functional enough- although I'd upgrade the tyre at the earliest available opportunity and be inclined toward getting a better wheel built ahead of a big tour My homage's mudguard was trickier to get along with, hence I dispensed with it early on.  The dry sack is another one of those useful-gets-you-going offerings that will pay for itself. However, while the fabric is waterproof, stitched construction means it will allow water to penetrate. Again, I'd upgrade to something like this Lomo but as an interim measure, taping, or indeed gluing the seams might serve. 

 

I've found this, coupled with the bin liner method reasonably effective. Though by no means essential, radar-type technology comes in very handy with trailers-at least along open roads, giving audible and visual proximity of an approaching vehicle. The Coospo TR70 Radar Tail Light Coospo TR70 Radar Taillight | cycling-not-racing  will communicate with a head unit, whether a computer, such as their CS600, or a handlebar mounted smartphone up to a distance of 10 metres (30 feet) practical for tandem and trailer duties, too.

As an aside, the Coospo TR70 appears to have an edge over the BBB Signal Radar, when it comes to accuracy, although both are genuinely useful. No substitute for regular glances over the shoulder, but particularly welcome when battling rain and wind.   Another product that has impressed me long term is the Orp Smart horn TESTED: ORP SMART HORN. Mine are still very functional almost nine years down the line, although the "whale tail" buzzer is wearing, thus only capable of producing the louder 94 decibel option-although when deployed at a sensible distance, ideal for alerting dog walkers and others of my approach. Again, particularly in blustery conditions.  

 

Elsewhere, I've been running the Continental Terra at the upper end of their pressure range-65psi (34-72psi) and have been impressed by their swift acceleration and seemingly low rolling resistance. Cornering prowess and dry weather grip are also reassuringly good, but I wonder how they'll perform when the rains come-especially since they're primarily intended for dry hardpack. Puncture resistance is another area I'm yet to explore. We're at that formative "getting to know you" dare I say, honeymoon phase, so their true persona and limitations are yet to be revealed. I’ll leave you with my thoughts on Ursula’s makeover eighteen months along…Ursula Makeover & Mod Pt IV | cycling-not-racing

Suited and Booted

 

Perhaps I should be imagining lottery numbers and other things of significance…. How so, Michael. Well, I’d been contemplating bar tape replacement. I would be keeping Denise and Ursula’s silicones (for another time) but pension off the fixed gear winter/trainer’s ENVE Enve Handlebar Tape | cycling-not-racing.  

 

A week or so down the line, an editor sent me this Deda Loop and Josh from Saddleback this Wolf Tooth Supple Bar Tape (both the 5mm and 2.5mm versions). The former is a natural silicone, no adhesive backing needed and easily rewound, should you need to replace a cable, swap bars etc.   

 

Denise is sporting the 5mm version, which proved surprisingly straightforward to apply, allowing for the fact its 40mm wide and 5mm thick. Wolf Tooth recommends maintaining a consistent 2.5mm overlap for best overall effect. Oh, (and this goes for silicones per se) do not pull too taught while fitting, or run the risk of tearing, or unsightly tan line type fading. Uncut, and including plugs, it tips the scales at 187g.   

 

After some resistance and initial reluctance (I really like the Acros Silicone Wrap Handlebar Tape’s LONG-TERM TEST: ACROS SILICONE BAR WRAP | cycling-not-racing orange contrast- with both bikes, though Ursula in particular) at the close of a filthy, drivetrain chewing ride, coinciding with a deep, sudsy bucket clean, I switched the Acros for the 2.5mm Wolf Tooth, which was also lighter-107g uncut, including plugs, the Acros 163g.        

 

Josh also sent me this WTB Rocket, a cro-moly railed model 142mm wide and with medium density padding, comfort zone pressure relieving channel. Reminiscent of a Specialized saddle I had some years back, albeit a diet version.  

 

I’ve popped this on Ursula, switched the Ergon SR All Road Ergon SR All Road Men’s Saddle | cycling-not-racing to the fixed and left the Ergon Core Comp adorning Denise’s cradles.  75 mixed terrain miles in, I’ve slid it very slightly further back and found the padding and pressure relieving channel incredibly effective. I’ll plonk myself on it for another 500 or so miles before casting more concrete opinion.  Other unexpected revisions come in the guise  

 

 

of these 700x40 Continental Pure Contact which are reckoned to be highly dependable commuter rubber but at 587g apiece without the heft of some favourites. These have been slipped aboard Denise, given the clearances and to evaluate how well they’ll cope along the mucky lanes and battle-scarred tarmac.

80 miles down the lanes later, I’m warming to them. The compound seems very grippy, the water channeling grooves have been shifting water and slimy stuff surprisingly well and even at 65psi, they seem very compliant... The Continental Pure Contact are also reckoned capable of handling some light dirt and meet 8 on their scale for puncture prevention-I’ll be happy to test these characteristics and claims.  

 

That said; the Continental Contact PlusTESTED: CONTINENTAL CONTACT PLUS TYRES had similar characteristics and perform surprisingly well along unmade roads, too. However, at 978g apiece for the 35mm sections, they are considerably heavier than the Pure Contact and while I’ve appreciated the Contact Plus’s dependability, their heft is also quite palpable. 

 

Given the milder temperatures, I’d switched Ursula back to the Continental Cross Kings since the icy/snowy conditions went as quick as they arrived. I’ve gone back to a rack with the fixed gear winter/trainer.  

 

In this instance, the Topeak Uni Super Tourist 2.0, which is a smidge lighter (879g against 917g) on account of the traditional non-disc design and single tier pannier rail. It’s reckoned capable of 26kilo payloads, which should be enough for most people’s needs. I’ll not be going anywhere near that in the everyday sense, not least as I wouldn’t want to be hauling more than 5-10 kilos on the fixed.  

 

Rule of thumb, 15 kilos upwards and I’m reaching for the trailer. There’s a reason touring bikes have a wide spread of gears, erring on the lower side after all... However, I like the versatility and options that a decent rack affords, especially on a winter/trainer where temperatures can vary and you might want to remove, or add another layer, change of gloves, additional food/similar goodies on longer rides.  

 

There’s also the option of dropping by the supermarket and picking up some essentials. Elsewhere, I remain pleasantly surprised by the Lomo Bike Packing bag, which is not only very waterproof and surprisingly easy to port between bikes, but surprisingly stable-something I attribute in part to the internal stiffeners. It’s worth noting I’m still running the saddle rail frame, and I’ve not filled it to full, thirteen litre capacity yet Ending on a Grave note, here's my review of the WTB Nano SG2WTB Nano SG2 Gravel Tyre | cycling-not-racing