Remember Tomorrow

Widespread, seasonal resurfacing has turned local roads to gravel tracks. Perfect conditions for the Univega, and its Scwalbe Marathon Mondial tyres. Rubber designed for the demands of unmade roads and track, without feeling overly ponderous. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-marathon-mondial-tyres

Every so often, a rogue chipping will embed itself into the grooves, resulting in that faintly annoying, intermittent whirr, when you’ve reached smooth tarmac. However, I’ve appreciated their superior traction.

Full length chrome plastic guards are another boon in these contexts, protecting rider and paintwork from being shot-blasted by stray aggregate. Once these have been impacted by trucks, vans and similarly hefty vehicles, the roads will resemble a huge cat-litter tray.

At that point. I’ll switch back over to my fixed and 700x35c.  Meantime, these conditions have presented the ideal opportunity to reflect upon the build. Sheer mileage, in all conditions have meant a revolving door of components. Specifically, chains, cassettes, braking, cables, bearings.

Frame aside; only the front cable guide remains of the original build. Lighting and other accessories have evolved to meet need but ultimately, it has morphed into precisely the all-terrain machine I lusted (and day- dreamed over) during my school daze.

Arguably a custom build might be lighter, dare I say better and I occasionally toy with the idea of a titanium fork (At the right price) and even with the new 1x10 setup, there’s some very minor compromise. Nonetheless, compromises that can be eradicated with use.

A change of cassette-within 3,000 miles, front ring/both. Oh, and the new Microshift Centos setup is behaving impeccably, across the range. We’ve had some very wet spells recently, which has meant Steve’s been keeping these Oxford Bright 2.0 Overshoes close by. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/oxford-bright-2-0-overshoe , That said; I’ve opted for touring shoes and these Prendas Ciclismo Bordeaux-Paris Coolmax socks  https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/prendas-ciclismo-1

Wax type lubes have become much “stiffer”, so a more realistic option for more changeable conditions. Univega’s FSA chain dressed in the Zefal Extra Dry Premium Chain Wax, I managed forty-five miles along waterlogged roads, by which point, these had flushed the lubricant properties out, and the orange taint set in.

Interestingly, the Zefal is reckoned to cure, ride ready in an hour (4-8 is more typical in my experience). Potentially a practical choice for touring and commuting. Having dried the chain, I have since reintroduced three thin coats, leaving thirty minutes between each coat.

In common with other, low friction, super hygienic blends, such as Weldtite TF2 Ultra dry chain wax, it makes easy transition to Jockey wheels and other metal to metal interfaces. However, I don’t find wax, or emulsion types the best options for hesitant cleat/mechanisms.

This cured to a very rich, white state before turning a scuzzy black, within the first (predominantly dry) road miles. Once compounded with crap, it scabs away, leaving a protectant layer behind. Thus far, we’re only 65 miles in but this seems the way forward. 300 the number to beat https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/squirt-long-lasting-dry-chain-lube . Friction and cleanliness are pretty much what I’ve come to expect from this genre, so we’ll see.

 So, where does “Remember tomorrow” tie in with all this? I am referring to a song, from Iron Maiden’s first album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RiWRHNXswQ  One that I acquired in 1990 (during the height of this bike lusting in class business.). I was sitting my GCSEs at the time and aside from all things two-wheeled, I was contemplating my life, love and the road to happiness-in a holistic sense.  

In some respects, it’s interesting to see where I have been, what I have done in the years since. 29 years hence, my son also finds himself at the close of his school career. Neither of us were “Star Students”, we certainly didn’t mirror the school’s definition.

Learning, attainment and development have always been held dear. However, school was not the right environment. I’m hoping he can plough through this final phase, secure his provisional college placements, and continue to expand his horizons. An end of an era too, for John & Jane’s Tandem Trike https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/love-resurrection-john-moss-s-tandem  After almost 40 years in their ownership, it’s found a new and hopefully, loving home. No, not with me. My elderly feline might move out in protest!

  

Tempered Frustrations

With the arrival of my thirty-ninth year swept some serious introspection and longing for greater professional achievement, while still grounded in the reality that temping remains a necessary, albeit sometimes deeply dissatisfying part of my economic diet. Petty frustrations have been eroding my resolve and self-indulgent as this sounds, the prospect of having to attend an organisation awash with consultants and managerial competence broadly on terms with the long defunct British Leyland certainly isn’t helping.

This is tempered by economic pragmatism and softened with the steady stream of very fetching kit gracing my doorstep in recent weeks. Leather saddles and accessories such as this Derwent from Harrogate based SPA cycles; commuter plus lighting from Blackburn, Cat-Eye, Electron, Knog and Lezyne have all been keeping the Univega and I churning through the lonesome lanes. Some divine force must’ve been looking upon me favourably the other evening since I’d left said tubby tourer outside all night (!) but thankfully found it still resting by the garage door come the morning…Things could’ve been so different and I can’t think how I’d forgotten to tuck my two wheeled friend safely away. 

Commuter plus rechargeable lighting designed for suburban saunters by day and faster paced road outings come the evening have been a notable growth market in recent years, with ever more lumens and sleeker styling to boot. Tipping the scales at 183g (including li-on battery) this Swedish Silva Pave’ lamp belts out 550 lumens in top for back road scratching, yet has a standard and flashing settings ideally suited to sub/urban contexts. Intelligent light is another term that’s been banded about for a few seasons too.

We’ve commonly understood this to mean a system that automatically kicks down to conserve power, thus greatly reducing incidents of unexpected failure. However, in this context, it refers to the deployment of both flood and spot beams simultaneously. Despite some initial scepticism, it’s pretty close to being best of both worlds and works particularly well atop a lid. Slightly underpowered as a main lamp for singletrack duties, it’s bang on for the sticks and offers decent economy between five-hour mains charging.  Continued, positive feedback in relation to my interviews and similar magazine development is another positive facet that bolsters my mood.

Joshua is presently contributing to this earlier sense of anxiety, having disengaged from the school curriculum and seemingly entering a parallel, Lego derived universe (similar in nature to my legendary teenage two wheeled classroom escapes). Prolonged but generally constructive discourse with his class and head teachers confirms they too are acutely aware of his academic potential but cannot fathom this particular set of behaviours either.

   

Mathematics seems to be a major mental block and in my view, the catalyst but I’m at a loss how to help him overcome his sense of panic aside from encouraging him to talk to me on the one hand, while incorporating very small components of applied numerecy in everyday and sometimes cycling contexts. Having indulged in some new camera equipment, I’ve passed an old Fuji to him-there’s plenty of creative scope and he’s certainly engaging with it for sustained periods-mostly in semi automatic P setting.

This leads me nicely to these Mac Wet sports gloves, not cycling specific but highly suited to the great outdoors, they’re increasingly developing a strong following amongst the photographic community thanks to their wind and water repellent fabrics. The latter, known as Aquatec also ensures leach like grip when conditions turn distinctly soggy but mercifully also breathes; thus avoiding clammy digits. Padding is virtually non-existent so not ideal for long outings over inclement road surfaces, although double as neat liners for breathable winter gloves. Right I’m off to chase the blues away, put some more miles on the Nidd and lights through their paces.