Stems & Other Pleasant Surprises

This Vecnum freeQuence Suspension Stem arrived to distract me from the UK’s unbraked descent into terrifying in chaos. It’s a spring/elastomer parallelogram design, intended for riders between 50 and 120 kilos (110 to 264 lbs). There’s more than passing similarity to the Kinekt Suspension Stem KINEKT SUSPENSION STEM | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) that Steve and I remain fond of, too.  

However, at 285g a fair bit lighter, and adjusting the tension doesn’t require opening the stem or swapping springs (not that this could ever be described as a hardship with the Kinekt). Simply introduce an Allen key and gently turn clockwise to increase tension, checking as you go.  

Convenience aside, this does away with the need for “lock-out” and similar engineering to overcome unwelcome travel. Vecnum list the unit as self-lubricating, which is arguably another bonus. However, it employs fit and forget bearings, which will ultimately require professional servicing/refurbishment once worn.  

Vencum also recommends applying gripper paste (the stuff typically employed when fitting carbon components) to the fork steerer. Good practice for this genre of stem generally I’m thinking, although I’ve never had any issues with the Kinekt or Redshift Sports TEST & REVIEW REDSHIFT SPORTS SHOCKSTOP SUSPENSION STEM (sevendaycyclist.com) Shock stop Suspension Stems.  

30mm (about 1.18 in) travel is 20mm (about 0.79 in) positive, 10-degree negative, rather akin to a suspension fork. Again, in common with the Kinekt, it’s designed to be progressive and not affect the bike’s geometry. Regardless of bar height, or positioning- whether you ride on the hoods, tops, or drops. It's beautifully machined, extruding that industrial beauty that I’m deeply drawn to. Formative impressions are very favourable but we’re in the honeymoon phase at present. Only time and real-world mileage will tell.  

I’d recently switched the fixed gear winter/trainer’s Cane Creek Thudbuster G4 for its G3 predecessor TESTED: CANE CREEK THUDBUSTER ST SEATPOST (sevendaycyclist.com) when I opted to return to this Pro Turnix Gel saddle, which continues the weight saving without sacrifice narrative. I went for the Peaty’s Bicycle Assembly Grease PEATY'S BICYCLE ASSEMBLY GREASE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and took this opportunity to replace the seat post collar boot- made from scrap mtb inner tube.  

I’m deeply endeared to both generations of the Thudbuster ST, but I must admit, I’m not overly keen on the G4’s single-bolt saddle clamp design. Not that I’ve had any real-world issues these past two years or so. However, this seems a curious design for one intended to support riders weighing up to 150kilos.  

 

For those unfamiliar with the Thudbusters, upon hitting a bump these work downward and reward, so force is absorbed at the same rate. This prevents the saddle from bouncing around and robbing rider power. Aside from Mtb and gravel audiences, in my view, they have a lot to offer tandem stokers who don’t always get warning of the lumpier stuff until they’re experiencing it first-hand.  

I also remain a big fan of Redshift Sports Shockstop Suspension Seat post REDSHIFT SHOCKSTOP SUSPENSION SEATPOST | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), although not everyone is sold on the industrial aesthetic and length means its best suited to road biased, rather than semi/compact mtb builds-Ursula being a case in point. There’s not much between them weight-wise either. Something may not be to my tastes but that certainly doesn’t make it inferior, just not the right fit.  I’d noticed some unexpected judder under heavy braking with the new rotor and pads.  

Closer inspection revealed the obvious culprit- a soiled rotor. A simple cure with some Green Oil Clean Chain Degreaser Jelly GREEN OIL CLEAN CHAIN DEGREASER JELLY (sevendaycyclist.com) and some vigorous scrubbing with their Bike Brush. Clean, but not sterile is a rotor’s preferred state. I’d confirmed this by switching back to the SL9 wheel and Swiss Stop Catalyst Pro Disc Rotor  Swiss Stop Catalyst Disc Rotor | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) I’d also discovered a pinch flat and since one thing always leads to another, I’ve switched to Specialized’s Road Sport Tyre and now that roads are getting wetter, I’ve reverted to Motoverde PTFE Chain Lube on the fixed Motoverde PTFE Chain Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) For now, I’ll stay with something dry/waxy to keep Ursula’s drivetrain clean and wear pedestrian. I'll close with Steve's review of the Ravemen LR1200 front light Ravemen LR1200 Front Light | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Fact & Friction

180 miles in, and I’m bonding with the 38 tooth Raval oval ring, the improved mid-range has given a better spread of power, improving cruising and climbing prowess quite considerably. It’s worth noting that oval/elliptical rings require careful consideration and favour a smooth, relatively high cadence. For these reasons, I (personally) would be inclined to shy away from them on a purebred MTB. 

Otherwise, there is the temptation to turn a taller gear than ideal, which can result in a jerkier pedaling motion, inducing precisely the knee and back strain the concept was intended to alleviate. Shimano’s bio-pace was originally marketed at tourists and time Triallists but over time, marketing shifted to novice and returnees. By the mid-90s it had fallen out of fashion, meaning decent cranksets with said rings were plentiful and very cheap. 

The Pro Gold Pro ink chain lube is also proving a reciprocal compliment to this setup, although I’ve decided topping up around the time its ¾ spent stage (150 miles, or so, during a dry spell) is the best means of appreciating its qualities, rather than allowing it to become a thin film. I’ve also applied it to the fixed’s new KMC HL710.  

I also discovered, on our first outing, that I’d got the tension too tight-this wasn’t obvious on the work stand but immediately apparent, when I headed out, on Sunday morning. It remained a little agricultural, so I’ve switched back to the PC1, using the Topeak All Speeds Chain Tool https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/topeak-all-speeds-chain-tool. One thing led to another and in this instance...A lower headset bearing strip, cable strip and re-lube, then I found another 35mm Zilent https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vee-tire-co-zilent-mark-2-tyres, so popped that up front.   

Elsewhere, Redshift Sports have sent me their Shockstop Suspension Seatpost. Available in either 27.2, or 31.8mm diameters, it’s likely to sit pride of place on the Holdsworth. Not the most obvious choice perhaps, given the bike’s minimalist “enough parts to make it stop, go and handle in good proportion” persona and those relatively compliant plain gauge 531 tubes but we’ll see...Since we’re on the subject, here’s a seatpost overview...https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/a-guide-to-seatposts  

Set up is more involved than some, so set aside some time to familiarise yourself with the instructions- their youtube video is particularly insightful. It’s pretty low maintenance from then on. No need to lubricate the moving parts (although the internal preload spring may require occasional re-greasing) and obviously, regrease the post periodically, if you are pairing it with a metal frameset. 

Elsewhere, Buff has sent me their new, improved original Buff, which is now made from 95% recycled Polyester and their Pack Bike Cap. Pleasant, funky and very welcome surprises.    

https://www.facebook.com/sevenday.cyclist/videos/2275936309368820/ 

Roads remain quiet with most people broadly adhering to the UK’s lockdown policy-at least in this part of the South East but there’s a palpable, simmering restlessness. I can envisage the present administration banning all exercise, and that includes going out, into the garden. (Yes, and you thought the turbo trainer would sort this!)  

However, there are two potential scenarios (a) They won’t since they will not want to experience a backlash at the ballot box (b) People will simply flout this in bigger numbers. Indeed, many will argue an under-funded police force will not have the resources.  Therefore, even with drone and similar remote technology, enforcement, beyond major cities, will prove extremely difficult. My hope is that people will behave sensibly and responsibly, without recourse to further curbing of freedom.  

If you do fancy a read, this link will take you to a book review “The Story of A Bike” The Lotus 110 bike and its 108 predecessor https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/the-story-of-a-bike