Mudguard The Mighty

Having repacked my fixed gear winter trainer’s headset with fresh Park PPL-1 Grease, then adding a DIY boot to protect it from winter’s worst, I turned to my Univega’s Stronglight unit. Full length mudguards (fenders) extend service intervals but I’d recommend stripping, inspecting and re-greasing headsets annually. Especially on working bikes.

I’d re-greased the Univega’s bottom race, using Muc-Off Bio Grease https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/muc-off-bio-grease-long-term-test  when I’d switched to the bike’s freshly refinished, original forks. However, I hadn’t inspected the top race in a good while. Since it’s cream makeover, in fact. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/after-the-gritters-went-home .

I wasn’t surprised to find everything came apart effortlessly. However, the top race’s grease was fast reduced to a filmy gunk. Dismissed with a rag dipped in solvent, I replaced it with the Park PPL-1 and was reassembling everything, when realisation dawned- I’d forgotten the butyl boot! Big MTB sections (26x1.95 or wider) make ideal candidates.   

Fork out, another section of scrap Schwalbe was peeled into place, aided by some greasy overspill. Theoretically PPL-1 is safe on rubberised components, so shouldn’t eat it. 

Fasteners reinstated, fresh front brake cable nipped tight…I swung the Soma Condor bars back and forth, rejoicing in the steering’s buttery smoothness.

Then I noticed the mighty Tortec Reflector mudguard had succumbed to a fatal fracture. 

Thankfully this didn’t strike when I was riding along. Seriously solid chrome plastics. Ones that have survived ten years’ four seasons, hell n’ high water riding. Not a hint of tarnish on the stainless stays, and other hardware, for that matter.

Still, this provided an ideal opportunity to research my Univega’s pedigree a little further. Having found the frame number (and wished I’d noted it down properly, while the frame was at the blast stage of refinishing, back in 2017 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/after-the-gritters-went-home  I discovered it was built in 1997, not 1996-as long believed.  

My Univega is a joy to ride and has evolved into a (relatively) lightweight go anywhere machine. One that responds and handles in excellent proportion, on and off road. laden and otherwise. I’m also drawn to the slightly unusual/esoteric. I always liked Axiom stuff and Axiom Road Runner A2 MTB 26 seem a very good fit.

While I research and acquire a replacement set of guards, I’ve switched over to my fixed gear winter/trainer. An ideal opportunity to see how the Juice Lubes Ceramic Chain Juice performs on a fixed transmission, and in slightly drier, colder contexts.  

So far, it’s holding out rather well, with a nice blend of lubrication and staying prowess. 100 miles in, and I’m really warming to the 32mm Schwalbe Road Cruiser, which are providing a surprisingly swift, yet compliant and grippy ride. Not bad for £19.99  

Long, dark nights bring about a very different focus and helps me reflect. Not just on products being tested but other projects and ventures. There are some things, some experiences that I have found very difficult to process. Not the sort understood by the civilian world.

Those revelling in melodrama would refer to them as demons but I wouldn’t give them that sort of credence, that power. Exploration through fiction and third-party characterisation is the most constructive outlet. 

Not that it’s a philosophy I subscribe to, but observation suggests people are disinterested in the struggles of others. Unless of course, they follow a “rags to riches” narrative. Those looking for a good midwinter read for themselves, or a cycling friend might be interested in Emily Chappell’s book “Where There’s A Will”.. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/where-there-s-a-will

Strip n’ Sniff

No, things haven’t taken a sordid turn. If you’ve come looking for that, I’m delighted to disappoint. Having swapped the dynohub wheels over, I decided it was time to strip, inspect and ultimately re pack, my fixed gear winter/trainer's headset. Park PPL1 polylube is a tried and trusted formula, well suited to these applications. An obvious choice too, since it was already plugged into my grease gun.

One thing led to another and I exchanged its Torus Titanium stem https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/torus-titanium-stem  , for The Redshift Sports Shockstop Suspension unit https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/red . Timely too, since the titanium stem and Soma bars had formed a surprisingly stubborn union. For some reason, I’d forgotten the all-important, light coating of assembly paste…

Thankfully the Gods of galvanic seizure were feeling merciful and the swap straightforward. Trench helmet is another thing that doesn’t strike very often but I had been haunted by a faintly funky odour. While tethering this Sigma Buster 700 front light, to my Bontrager helmet, said funk was attributable to the lid’s padding.

Off to the elderly Miele it went!

The Buster is proving an interesting light. A little under-powered on paper, for serious backroad, let alone trail antics. However, the actual beam quality is good enough (as a sole source) for rural navigation at 17/18mph on a clear night and seemingly, a big step up from its predecessor. Four modes might not get pules racing, given the race for tunability.

However, they’re easy to locate. Standard is 350lumens, certainly enough to be seen with and adequate for navigating less taxing, semi-rural roads. Low is 170 lumens, which is sensible for the suburbs and town (assuming you didn’t want to slip into flashing).

Flashing is impressive too, easily good enough for use as a daylight running mode.  The ability to “dip” straight down from 700 to 170 lumens, with a quick, double prod of the switch cum battery life indicator, is another definite plus. Composite construction saves a few grams, so its less obtrusive than some, worn atop a helmet.

In this context, it’s proving a welcome, compliment to my Univega’s Shimano Ultegra/ Exposure Revo MK1 dynamo setup. The Revo produces a very credible 800lumens, at relatively low speeds. In fact, its probably the only dynamo lamp, good enough for moderate trail duties. Or at least, the only one I have come across to date.

Temperatures are turning more typically autumnal range and my middleweight winter tights are becoming a more frequent sight. Issues of Tendonitis etc aside, to some extent, legs (especially when riding fixed) are perpetually in motion.

Blood’s circulating nicely, and (assuming it’s not raining dogs, or dipping below single figures) we’re still temperate. 

Hands, head and torso are relatively static, so layering/warmth is more critical here. Steve (co-editor) has been very impressed with Stolen Goat Climb & Conquer Grid Winter Jacket https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/stolen-goat    Recent weeks have proved mild enough for me to chase along the lanes in long sleeve base-layer and technical jackets, sometimes a gilet has been sufficient.

Late October, through to mid- November, it hasn’t dipped below 13 degrees in these parts. That said; I’ve opted for full finger gloves and with some minor misgivings, these Lusso Windtex Terrain Red gloves are delighting my digits.  

Windproof, water resistant and breathable, they’re reckoned to deliver in temperatures between 0 and 14 degrees. A tall order and one begging for bluff-calling. I always prefer garments (gloves in particular) that are weather resistant but wick fast, over “impervious designs”.

Same goes for socks, which in my experience results in athlete’s foot and similar fungal nasties. Unpleasant but caught quickly, easily dismissed by pouring alcohol-based mouthwash over the affected areas. Talking of socks and with Christmas just around the corner, Steve’s been pleasantly surprised by these https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/bridgedale-waterproof-socks   

I also unearthed these Scott sport/casual SPD shoes and this Pro “Sleeping” hub while on another mission. Extensive mesh precludes the Scott’s service, for a while but the “sleeping hub” will come in handy during deep cleans and other jobs, dictating wheel removal.

Finally, an update on the “Motor oil challenge”. True to expectation, the 5W/40 is collecting a bit more gunk and grime, compared with more sophisticated ceramic types. However, nothing a weekly cat-lick of the side plates, doesn’t sort. Its also a necessary duty, with more traditional, hell n’ high water, bike specific wet lubes, including Weldtite TF2 Extreme wet https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/weldtite-tf2-extreme-wet-chain-lubr