All Terrain

 

 

Tyres switched to trail specific, I’ve been getting some decent mileage on Ursula, exploring some fresh bridleways and unmade roads, far from the maddening crowd. A great opportunity to drop a few gears and assess the Lomo Zephyr Waterproof pannier’s mounting hardware...is it more, or less secure compared with Rixen Kaul Klick Fix along lumpy, bumpy sections...  

It’s a design seemingly identical to that employed by Brae. They seem very compatible with 10mm rack tubing, but I was interested to note they’ve been marginally more secure on the Topeak Uni Super Tourist DX Disc, compared with its standard sibling. Topeak Uni SuperTourist 2.0 NonDisc Rack | cycling-not-racing       

Lomo don’t cite a weight limit, but I’ve added this beefy Masterlock, bringing the present cargo to 5 kilos. Raising the saddle height by a few millimetres was another inspired move. The Peaty’s Link Lube All Weather continued to prove compatible with its Link Lube Dry stablemate, although it’s important to note I’d applied the All Weather once only trace amounts of Link Lube Dry clung to the links, rollers and cassette.  

Then of course, I found one of the KMC chain’s side plates beginning to splay, which was communicated via an intermittent clicking which initially suggested my right foot wasn’t fully engaged with the Shimano XT Shimano Deore XT PD-M8100 Pedals | cycling-not-racing cleat mechanism, thankfully, this struck at the close of, rather than mid-ride.  

I’m forming the conclusion that it's best to buy budget to mid-range chains pre-cut.  Again, an easy fix, pop the old link out and slip in another- a five-minute job, ten taking into account checking the other links for any potential damage, or obvious weakness.   

I’m still toying with purchasing a set of chain link pliers, which make cutting and joining chains that bit faster but only at the right price. Funnily enough, I’ve found the chain breaker on this Pedro's multi tool unusually accurate and ultimately pleasant to use.   

I decided to thoroughly degrease the drivetrain before applying some Motorex Chain Wax to the chain, since I fancied something lighter and cleaner. It's closer to a dry lube than a traditional wax but still requires several hours to cure-overnight is my default, though the visual clue is when it becomes a clear glaze.  

Temperatures were too low for the Blub Wax Lube Blub Wax Lube | cycling-not-racing  to cure effectively and as I’ve said before, it will require reapplication if the bike’s been resting up longer than 48 hours or so.  

My love for Shimano’s MW7Shimano MW7 (MW702) Gore Tex MTB Shoes | cycling-not-racing booties is well versed but generally drier conditions have seen me return to gravel shoes, specifically these Shimano RX6 Shimano SH RX600 Gravel Cycling Shoes | cycling-not-racing  . These have a similarly stiff sole, which is great for efficiency but without impairing walking, or running prowess.  Hedge clipping season signalled another flat-Ursula's rear Continental Cross King succumbing a mile or so from home.

That annoying, demoralising hiss and wet “futting” as I whizzed through the wet, muddied lane...No biggie- spare tube, check tyre casing, replace tube and reinflate. I always carry a pump of some kind but have been increasingly smitten with mini compressors. My favourite to date being this CycPlus AS2 Pro Max E. Pump CycPlus AS2 Pro Max E.Pump | cycling-not-racing which lives in Denise’s  luggage along with the Muc-Off Air Mach Carbon Pump Muc Off Airmach Carbon Pump | cycling-not-racing 

However, a decent hand pump is a lifeline, should the battery tank, or maybe you’ve had a couple of flats during a ride and before opportunity to recharge the mini compressor, or you’re out of CO2 cartridges. I’ve reached the conclusion that a frame fit model, such as this Topeak  Road Master Blaster Topeak Road Master Blaster Frame Pump | cycling-not-racing, or Zefal HPX (which is rumoured to be discontinued). Both will comfortably manage 100psi.  I’ve resurrected this Specialized Air Tool Switch, which at 25cm is compact enough to slip into a rack top bag, away from spatter and other destructive, wet gritty stuff.  

The Cross Kings do seem a little vulnerable to sharps, so I am contemplating a more resilient option at the rear- a look through my tyre stash will doubtless turn up something suitable-use what you got, after all. On the flip side, this new phase of hedge cutting provides ideal opportunity to evaluate the Pirelli Cinturato's puncture resistance... 

  

Spring=Tweaks & Trails

 

Sometimes it's not the nice new shiny kit that brings the most joy, nor a personal best, or an epic ride. Sometimes, it's getting a wayward, recalcitrant component to behave. Ideally from the comfort of home-an outpouring of relief usually follows the latter scenario.  

 

Recent little victories include getting Ursula's Microshift bar end shifters to play properly with the old girl's STX and Tiagra mechs, upgrading Denise's Hollowtech II preload to an aluminium alloy 10mm Allen key, meaning I can largely forget about the little plastic tool bit that invariably gets lost behind the workbench, or similarly inaccessible area of your workspace.  

 

Last but not least, there's the wired Remote for the Magicshine Ray2600, which means I can whip the power up and down more readily on the fly-great for exploring the lanes in the dead of night. 

 

After an unexpected cold snap prompting me to default to Ursula and the spikes, things thawed a little and I revisited the idea of Denise and gravel tyres. I’d stuck with the Continental Pure Contact, which have proven themselves incredibly dependable in all contexts, meaning I could just hoss along, confident I’d return from a ride without flatting-particularly welcome when pressed for time. Extra UK have sent me some Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M (700x40c).  

 

These are a tubeless ready mixed terrain gravel tyre designed for mixed conditions, wet, or dry-hence their appeal. The Cinturato Gravel M employ the Speed GRIP compound, which promises mechanical resistance, chemical grip, and similarly important, impressive puncture resistance. This is a nylon belt that runs bead to bead, rather than just the centre strip, so I’m hoping they deliver, not least since hedge cutting season has returned with a vengeance.  

 

They were surprisingly easy to sweep aboard the Ryde rims-read thumbs, no tyre levers, pressure ranges closely mirror those of the WTB Nano WTB Nano TCS Tyre | cycling-not-racing, as does the tread pattern. They’re 14g heavier at 513g, but still a very respectable, dare I say reassuring.   

 

Given a marked shift to milder conditions, I also took it as my cue to switch Ursula back from the Schwalbe Ice Spiker to the Continental Cross Kings. Doing so also revealed a little slop in the Hollowtech II bearings, which may have also contributed to temperamental shifting- out came the Oxford Torque R10, which tackles most jobs nicely, including those with higher torque fasteners-no issues removing the crank pinch bolts. A judicious turn of the M20 preload and these were nipped snug, then fully home with a torque wrench...Time to hit the lanes and trails   

 

Wouldn’t you know it, the front mech was misbehaving again. I released a smidge of tension from the STX’s pinch bolt Ursula’s front mech, then released the Microshift bar end lever’s tension fractionally- bingo up and down without missing a beat. Nothing serious, but these units seem more highly strung than their Centos 4700 counterparts. I also raised the saddle by a few millimetres, which seemed optimal.  Talking of tools here’s Steve’s review of the Oxford Torque Slimline 12 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/oxford-torque-slimline-12-co2-multitool 

  

The milder conditions have allowed ¾ lengths It’s not been sufficiently mild for short sleeve jerseys and arm warmers, but layering is the key to enjoying early season and autumn.  

 

The ability to whip a layer on, or off to counter a sudden change in weather is good at any point- micro jackets will protect against unexpected showers and sudden, chill winds. Lighting is also very necessary since while nights and mornings are getting longer and arriving earlier, it's easy to get caught out. Six months or so hence, I’m suitably impressed by Shimano’s most recent incarnation of their Nexus Dynohub.  Shimano Nexus DH-UR700-3D Dynamo Hub | cycling-not-racing 

  

Though less mucky than midwinter, the early season still calls for regular bike cleaning. Oxford Products have sent me this huge cleaning buckets, which makes cleaning a big fleet (and indeed, other vehicles) a more time-efficient task.  

 

The bucket has a grit grate to stop gritty, muck stuff being redistributed around the bike (or another vehicle), there’s also a wash mitt and microfibre cloth. I’ve already given the KA and Micra a good wash n’ waxing to purge the witches brew of slurry and road salt and the 20-litre bucket makes the job much quicker-no need to run indoors to fill mid-way through.