Weathering Storms

 I continue to carefully work through and rationalise the spares bins, taking stock of what’s still relevant/required and what can be released. Much of this boils down to contact points. For example, I ride exclusively with recessed SPD/pattern and Time ATAC systems. No sense in clinging on to Keo patterns.  

Nothing wrong with them per se.  Rather, I prefer the convenience of being able to walk (rather than the undignified hobble) without chewing the composite cleat, or gouging holes in expensive linoleum. 

With that in mind, I’ve just taken delivery of these rather fetching Wellgo M)94B 9/16 SPD Shimano Cleat Compatible Sealed Bearing Pedals.  These are the silver versions, which should also keep their looks longer than a black, or similarly painted counterpart. Some painted finishes tire quicker than others. 

Powder-coated versions, including these XLC can prove very hardy, others can flake away, with repeated entry/exit. Much of this boils down to price I.e. quality of powder coating and process I.e. properly blasted bodies given a high-quality zinc-rich primer coat fare best. 

Saddles are another component that can require re-homing. 

Older/cheaper models can go, higher-end/genuinely compatible models, stay. Switching to the Pro Turnix has proven a wise decision. More supportive than the Stealth, 2g heavier than the otherwise very agreeable and cheaper BBB Echelon. However, the Turnix offers plenty of support, without any loss in pedaling efficiency.      

Flooding and similar life-changing destruction has been a theme in some parts of the UK. Here, though blustery, winds have ranged between 27 and 40 mph. The former proving passable, albeit still challenging riding conditions.  

Save for some very cold nights, there’s no hint of the snow, assured by the “red top” tabloid press for several months now. Spiked tyres have remained slumbering in storage.   

I have a love/hate relationship with waterproof socks. The truly impervious TPU lined versions are genuinely impervious-right to the cuff-line.  

However, they also tend to become unpleasantly clammy. Boiled in the bag feet, leading in some instances to athletes’ foot and similar infections. Fabrics which aren’t completely waterproof but highly water-resistant and fast-wicking are my preference. For these reasons, the Oxford Products Ox Sox https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/oxford-ox-socks  have proved extremely agreeable.  

They’re not cycling-specific, which isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, it adds to their versatility in many respects. However, more traditional touring shoes and MTB booties are as snug as you’ll find compatible.  

The relentlessly wet conditions require more frequent maintenance. I’m still running the White Lightning Extreme Wet lube and I’m past the 300mile marker on a single helping, with little sign of it relenting. Hardly prodigious perhaps, 400+isn’t uncommon from a stodgy wet formula.  

Motor and chainsaw oils are surprisingly effective and extremely cheap. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/cheap-as-chips-chain-lubes provided of course, you’re very vigilant when it comes to cleanliness. i.e. wiping the side plates, rings, derailleur cages at least weekly. Otherwise, that sludgy grinding paste will consume chains and other drivetrain components at a rapid rate. Its reckoned 10spd chains should be retired by the time wear registers .6, 11 speed at .5.  

Chain checking tools are sensible investments (although wear can be accurately assessed using a very accurate ruler). Basic chain checkers can be had for £3, or less. More sophisticated digital fare carries a commensurate price tag but their improved accuracy may recoup monies longer-term i.e. not retiring chains just in time-not too early, or too late.  

Theoretically extending the longevity of more expensive components. During my rationalization, I uncovered this electroplated BBB model. One that I’d had since 2007 but that had been AWOL for a few years. It had fallen from the tool board and beneath the chest freezer.  

Arguably the simplest of this breed, it has a couple of unique features. See the two cutouts? One is designed to remove valve cores, the other is a 5,6 and 8mm box spanner. Not the most useful functions on a contemporary build perhaps but better than dead space.   

Anyhow, the chain function is incredibly simple to use. Place between a designated length of chain, if the teeth sink into the links-low enough that it sits horizontal, the chain is shot. My Univega’s Sram is showing moderate signs of wear but not pensionable just yet. A few hundred miles-three weeks at the current rate before I switch to an FSA I have in stock.  

Chopping n’ Changing

At the close of last week, my working fixed was struck with an infuriating phantom squeak. Cranks snugged, tight, stem bolts freshly greased, seat post cradle stripped and lightly greased, chain still sporting a filmy layer of lubricant…Still, something piped up, unannounced, and slightly unnerving.

I had wondered whether the UN55 was beginning to sing its swan song. Some gentle tugging suggested those single-sided Tiagra, pedals might be to blame. Will strip and re-grease, when time presents.

Meanwhile another grope around in the pedal box unearthed two sets of Wellgo RC 713 (Shimano SPDR homages) which feature buttery smooth, sealed bearings. One for the fixed, the others spun aboard my Univega’s cranks.     

Single sided designs aren’t the most obvious choices mixed terrain riding and less practical for click n’ go getaways on the fixed. Not that ground clearance is an issue on either machine but some additional won’t hurt. Could be one of my five-minute wonders…May even go old school, back to some first generation Shimano SPD from 1990. Watch this space…

On the testing front… There’s my test of the Vee Tire Co Baldy https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vee-tire-co-baldy-tyres  while I rack up the miles on their Zilent cousins and of course, the Soma Supple Vitesse.

150 miles, or so in, and I’m warming to their swift, yet very compliant charms. The ride quality is very reminiscent of tubulars, gripping the tarmac liker a leach, while soaking up those light, washboard type imperfections, majestically. All without the gluing and stitching drama, associated with tubs.  

The unrelenting soggy spell consumed the finish line 1-step in 160miles, which isn’t bad for lube at the lighter end of the middleweight scale. Given the bike was grotty, I took the opportunity to strip the remainder using some neat Crankalicious Pineapple Express.  

I’m revisiting Smoove Universal chain lube to see how it performs in less taxing conditions https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/smoove-universal-chain-lube . We were also very pleasantly surprised by Crankalicious Science Friction ceramic chain lube. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/crankalicious-science-friction-cera

The frameset’s accumulated filth, easily dismissed with a dilute, though custom variant.

I hold the belief (and, some would say, an almost religious observance) that cleaning is part of riding. To be done regularly and providing surfaces sport a decent quality, protective wax, we’re talking 20-25 minutes start-to finish, no drama.

 Although fighting the compulsion to fettle and tweak, often sees this task expand, to fit the time available...

A few months back, I was looking for an IRO Rob Roy frameset for a single-speed cross project but drew a complete blank. More recently my urges tugged me in the direction of Genesis Day One.

However, these are not available as a frameset option. So I’ve decided On-One’s Pompetamine, complete with disc mounts, is the next best thing. These had a fairly short production run. Bottom line, I’m looking for a sound, if cosmetically tatty example, at the right price. So, feel free to get in touch if you’ve a large, in need of a good home. 

For those of you who’d rather be out riding, Seven Day Cyclist has teamed up with route you https://www.routeyou.com/en-gb/route/view/5046397/recreational-cycle-route/to-tan-hill-and-over-the-stang

A sudden shift to summary weather presented my first opportunity to pluck the Holdsworth from hibernation, for some serious skinny tubed, skinny-tyred fun.  

Swapping hats a moment, models continue to come to me for port-folio building/development. Jersey Jones booked me for a glamour/boudoir session, with a bit of fashion mixed in last week.

Krystal J got in touch to refresh her port-folio. Another really pleasant, 3 hour shoot.  With the wedding season just around the corner, I’m also getting approached in the context of Punjabi and other South Asian events. Contact me (Stenningphotographic@gmail.com) if you’re a model, or bride and want to discuss your requirements.

  

STEPPING UP

While politicians peddle their very stylised, polished and heavily choreographed campaigns in an attempt to woo a cynical electorate; we’re busily evaluating the options for everyday riding and putting several walk-able step-in systems through their paces.   

Various manufacturers/distributors have been extremely forthcoming but anything sent via a certain logistics company is guaranteed not to arrive. This appears attributable to a new breed of “lifestyle” parcel sorter/courier, seemingly supplementing theirs by “intercepting” packages. They even sign for them on your behalf, so show up as delivered on the tracking system (!)

In common with other kinds of pilfering, this behaviour is justified on the twisted logic of entitlement “it’s insured; so no victim”. My heart sank when I saw a large online retailer was sending my camera equipment via this firm, though thankfully our local postie arrived clutching it under his arm. Talking of which, I must pursue ebay purchases that haven’t materialised…

Other couriers have delivered these rather striking dual sided Genetic and composite bodied Time ATAC. Testing aside; the simplest approach is to choose a particular system and adopt it throughout your bikes. 

Designs may be different, reflecting riding purposes/genres and require at least two pairs of shoes-one specialist, the other for everyday. However, it’s one less distraction when getting ride-ready.  

Twenty years back, Shimano and Look were increasingly becoming the dominant systems, though several manufacturers were still offering their own unique cleat patterns. I snapped up a couple for silly money and enjoyed their build quality but replacement parts; cleats in particular were rare as the proverbial rocking horse dropping.  

Look’s ARC and Keo patterns were once my road bike default thanks to copious float and support. However, even the Holdsworth has now switched to SPDR for sheer convenience. Something of a homage fetishist, I’ve acquired some Wellgo RC713-cosmetically identical to Btwin’s now discontinued “Automatic Touring Pedal”; right down to their inscriptions.

I suspect they are genuinely identical, since VP and Wellgo supply a wealth of other brands too. Their magnesium bodied MG8 were more intriguing but unavailable at the time. Small surface areas work best with uber-stiff soles and offer improved ground clearance, which comes in particularly handy on a fixed. However, I find broader platforms more comfortable given 60miles or so’s steady slog.

Elsewhere, Mr Gandolfi’s widow has been in touch, thanking me for my tasteful photographic coverage of her late husband’s funeral in January. It was an unusual request and a tricky assignment to conduct-the last thing I wanted was to intrude upon mourner’s grief, or appear ghoulish; hence my use of a CSC with 50-200mm 5.6 lens.

I also found time to visit Rutland Waters in Leicestershire. We’d gone to explore the viability of potential venues for another significant occasion-one was ideal but thwarted by the other’s mediocrity. However, it boasts a superb, traffic-free 25mile circuit, where cameloids, walkers and riders co-exist harmoniously.

This reignited an interest in mtb derived production tandems. Hmm, I’m thinking along the lines of a low mileage mid 90s Dawes Kickback II would be ideal but there’s a serious storage issue. Something with S&S couplings would be better but hiring one as- and- when is the most practical solution for now.

Back down south, I tackled the Ka’s other sill and dropped in on Col Velo collective at the Church St HQ. Col Velo is a small but expanding club founded by Rob Harwood and Will Morgan in October 2014. Their ethos is upon inclusivity-people bonding over their love of cycling, bikes, coffee and other stuff. Regular rides through the still relatively picturesque North Essex/Anglia regions are underpinned by a strict no-drop policy.

Velo Café is run by Rich, an extremely experienced mechanic who wields spanners for recycle during the week. Classic frames adorn walls and ceilings and there’s even a beautiful, unrestored road/path bike with period components in the workshop window. The traditions of eclectic machines and members means there’s plenty on offer, assuming you didn’t harbour racing pretentions.

    

It Just Burst!

My puncture plague continues to the tune of three in one day-spread evenly across the Holdsworth, Teenage Dream and the Univega. The latter was traced to a dodgy valve and there’s obviously a rim-tape or similar issue with the Holdsworth as the Halo Courier rubber is pretty much bullet proof in every respect. This leads me conveniently to the Teenage dream (a spare folding tyre now nestles quietly beside the spare tube in the seat pack). Reliving the summer of ’91, we were bowling along the back roads, carving into corners and generally revelling in the bike’s handling prowess. Sweeping over the bridge and into another bend, our roller-coaster of reminiscence was obliterated by a deafening bang- the tyre roaring from the rim. Two seconds passed before I’d fully comprehended what had taken place. Man and beloved machine remained firmly upright, the spare tube saved the day but the exact cause remains a mystery. Thankfully the supple Vittoria have moulded to shape over the past couple of months, so consequently much simpler to reinstate. Similarly, the very fetching Zefal midi pump breezed 90psi effortlessly inside when the chips were down. Ordinarily, I’d exceed a hundred but we were five miles from Stenninggrad and eager to finish our twenty-mile circuit on a high note. Up on the work stand, I noted a very modest nick in the sidewall-promptly treated to a precautionary lick of superglue. So to happier things. Joshua’s confidence aboard his solo took a giant leap recently when, after a rocky start, he managed to ride unaided at a reasonable pace. Ironically enough the breakthrough was realised in the throws of frustration and self-pity. Unbeknown to him, I’d relinquished my grip of the bars and he was perfectly poised as we continued along the deserted farm track. After an hour’s sustained practice he’s more or less there but the OEM grips are a little fierce on his palms so I’ve ordered some dual density Odi to encourage this newly developed confidence-green might not be textbook coordination with his bike’s black and silver livery but frankly, it’s a little personal touch and moreover, his choice. With pedalling very much on the agenda, the arrival of these MKS Prime Sylvan track has resulted in a swap around. They’re deluxe versions of the Sylvan quietly popular among traditional tourists but increasingly embraced by the uber chic urban fixer/singlespeed fraternity. Prime basically denotes polished internals and better weather seals but slightly arthritic bearings. These benefit enormously from a strip and liberal coating of marine grease. Basically Campagnolo Pista copies, access is via the dust cap using either the dedicated MKS pattern (or Campagnolo) tool.

Undo this and flood with grease-complete dismantling isn’t called for unless you’ve run them through a harsh winter. If all this seems too much hassle, the bearings become smoother of their own accord given a hundred miles or so in any case and the seals keep the nasties out. There’s a choice of three anodised cage colours but the tasteful electric blue blends perfectly with the Holdsworth’s. Mine are topped off with NJS approved mirror polished stainless clips with leather scuff protectors and tan straps for that period feel. Elsewhere, this state of euphoria sees the Univega wearing the magnesium BBB until such time I can decide whether to revert to the SPD (arguably the most practical/sensible option), the Genetic track type or indeed the dual sided commu-tours. The latter are the most obvious choice in many regards-aside from limited cornering prowess…

Returning to chic once more in the form of this jacket from Dhb, a justly popular UK clothing brand that delivers excellent specifications for the money and their Southsea jacket continues this tradition, following others into a practical, stylish genre of technical clothing combining cycling specific performance with sharp styling off the bike. It's the sort of clothing you can wear in a business or social context without feeling remotely out of place-dare I say conspicuous in more civilian settings. Like most of this ilk, it’s made from very sophisticated waterproof polyester with tapered seams, pockets, zip/press-stud (popper) closures and a brushed outer layer. Unlike most, it gives change from £70! At the time of typing, the wow factor hasn’t subsided, nor sufficient miles accumulated to pass comment of any validity but I’ll be back in a few weeks and five hundred miles or so. Elsewhere, this gizmo measuring 4.5cms long and made from a choice of brass/anodised aluminium, the aptly named bullet is an adaptor designed to ride on a key/bag fob ready to convert a presta valve to Schrader. The self- righteous amongst us will crow about never leaving home without their mini or frame-fit inflators and in some cases a CO2 cartridge for good measure. However, it’s a godsend should you flat, slip in the spare tube only to flashback, remembering the pump’s holidaying on the kitchen table. Needless to say mine sits pride of place and ready for action beside the bottle opener. Washing and polishing the Holdsworth has revealed a potential crack around the bottom bracket shell- could be something and nothing so rather than developing paranoia, I’ll make a few enquiries/obtain a few quotes for brazing in a new bottom bracket shell. Obviously we’re talking in terms of a re-spray too and this will be just the moment for some bottle mounts… Preliminary figures are around £60 for installing a new shell, £10 for bottle bosses and from there we need to go the blast and paint route so around £130 all told- half the price of a new replica frameset and considerably less than a bespoke offering of similar quality. Lugged and brazed framesets are the least labour intensive and relatively speaking, cheapest to repair whereas a lot of builders (contrary to urban myth) won’t perform any torch work on TIG welded chassis beyond say fitting/replacing braze-on guides, additional bosses, pump pegs etc which doesn’t bode too well for the Univega’s eventual conversion. Wonder if Paul (Vincent) fancies a challenge?