Aside from being a product tester/reviewer, I’m something of a perpetual fettler, so fitting and switching components comes with the territory but I stick to horses for courses, seasonally appropriate-tyres and lubes being prime examples. Substituting the fixed’s rear Maxxis Re-Fuse in favour of The CST Xpedium Level 6 700x35C Single Compound 60tpi Wire Bead CST Xpedium Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) proved a good move. The Xpedium are a surprisingly compliant, grippy tyre, the level 6 with a very comprehensive puncture-repelling belt. I’ve quickly warmed to the Enve Handlebar tape, too.
Winter might be a time when the best bike(s) go into hibernation but for me at least, it's also a time of quiet, but purposeful review. I found myself toying with switching the fixed’s D-Riser back to the On One Midge- a big, wide, swoopy drop whose buxom charms I first fell in love with back in 2005.
Those were 25.4mm diameter and a little whippy, compared with the 31.8 and like a lot of lasting loves, it was initially slow burning but ran very deep. I’d sold both sets of Midge during the pandemic on the basis I’d had a glut of bars and was best served recouping money and space. Undoubtedly the right move but I was genuinely tempted by another set of Midge-black of course.
However, chances are their greater width would necessitate longer cables and similar faff. More so, had I taken Ursula that route. Ruled that out on the basis the Soma Condor 2 hit the all-rounder sweet spot by a country mile. Besides, I’d just replaced the brake lever and cable and for time being at least, l am leaving the Souma leather handlebar tape in situ.
I wouldn’t describe myself as someone on the peripheries, or on the margins of society but beyond a certain point, I’ve never felt a compulsion to “fit in”. Sure, I’m diplomatic and emotionally intelligent in my dealings with people and commercially, am something of a chameleon. Outside of that, I am very particular about my circle of influence, or who consumes my time/energies. I have learned to be kind, but for want of a more fitting expression, take no shit.
We must navigate through these and other rabbit holes to recognise who we are, our motivations and values. Some people travel through life never knowing. Others are heard animals, simply going along with whatever is presented before them and without critically evaluating anything. Rebelling against something simply because lots of others are doing it, is equally myopic. Being in a relationship where there is coercion, control, and generic abuse to feel “normal” is a classic example of this. I contemplate all manner of things while I ride but there are (and always have been) some definite constants.
As mucky, dark, and superficially bleak as winter can feel, the darkness can be very liberating. Once upon a time, some hardened riders advocated “running a cold out on the road”. A practice widely rebuffed as dangerous now, but I have been known to cast my darker thoughts, more malevolent demons throughout a ride and along deserted roads. In my early teens, cycling was my escape, from school, from bullying and anything else I didn’t want to confront head-on. It was also a means of cultivating self-esteem, a sense of clarity, and a fascination with whatever technology would improve the experience.
I’ve long concluded that bullies are cowards. Some who I allowed to bully me subsequently developed heroin addictions rather than confront their own demons. One developed a heroin habit and served a custodial sentence rather than tackle his own sexuality. An illustration of how going against who you fundamentally are serves no purpose. Hard though it is to admit, I chose to marry someone unsuitable and paid an extremely high price, emotionally and financially.
However, these things also taught me a great deal about myself, honed and about trusting intuition. It’s what we take and employ from these experiences. She too was a bully and ultimately, I received the spanking some would say I needed. Yes, I have some very tangible regrets, some that hit most mornings as I wake but similarly, I’m not bitter. It's not about seeing the worst, I just read people, their intentions, and situations very carefully.
People can leave us, and we have only moderate control over this. Marriage's end-either in death, or divorce, we must cultivate the skills and healthy coping mechanisms to navigate these and other of life’s challenges. I digress...
450 miles along, it was time to check Ursula’s chain, especially since I’ve been running stodgy wet lubes. These tend to attract mud, grit, and indeed light amounts of aluminium oxide from the rings.
Aluminium oxide is the stuff of grinding discs, so said cocktail’s a recipe for accelerated wear. The Birzman Chain Checker is registering just below 5, so I’m hoping I’ll get through January before I’m reaching for another 106 link KMC.
I’ve also switched from the SKS Lube Your Chain TESTED: SKS LUBE YOUR CHAIN (sevendaycyclist.com) to some Silca Super-Secret Chain Lube that arrived with the tape and Wolf Tooth Precision Bike Grease. Timely for re-packing hubs and headsets, in particular. Most stiff greases tend to be long-lived these days, but I find six-monthly inspections useful-especially during a very wet winter and if you’ve been venturing off-road. Time I was dipping my fingers in the pot...
