Ruggedly Dependable

 

Yes, that statement could be applied to me in some respects, but I’m talking winter components. After some deliberation, I decided to switch Muffin’s Continental Pure Contact for the Contact Plus. No particular reason, save for the fact I was going to be cleaning the chain and applying the Muc Off C3 All Weather, so thought I’d switch rubber since opportunity presented.  Planet X advised that there was clearance for 43mm, so I’ve reached for the bigger, 40mm Continental Contact Plus TESTED: CONTINENTAL CONTACT PLUS TYRES  .

These are a wire bead model, adding some significant grams over the folding Pure Contact but they roll surprisingly well for a big tyre and are seriously dependable when it comes to cuts and ultimately, punctures. Flats happen and will claim even the most dependable pneumatic rubber at some points, but I’d sooner not be tending one on a cold, dark, wet night.

Interestingly, the Contact Plus are much easier to mount and remove and seem to offer a bit more room at the rear triangle- when both are inflated to 70psi. Anyhow, that’s all academic, the Contact Plus are staying, at least for winter.  

The Muc Off C3 All Weather seems a little slicker than its base counterpart Muc-Off All Weather Chain Lube | cycling-not-racing and indeed, Weldtite All Weather Lube Weldtite All Weather Lube | cycling-not-racing , although that’s less surprising, given the price differential. Mot much between them on the cleanliness front, if a diet of muddy, greasy lanes is any gauge.

The Weldite is drizzle on, wipe and go, whereas the Muc-Off require four hours to cure. I’ve tended to leave it overnight but as you’d hope, have also tested the four-hour claims.  Seems so in temperatures between 11 and 14 degrees, although tanking temperatures may sing a different tune.  

 Storm Claudia gave ample opportunity to assess its staying prowess, not to mention that of the Sidi Algor. Thus far, both are holding out against the waterlogged lanes and driving rains, which is very welcome. However, I’ll need some sustained cold to assess the latter properly-afterall, Algor literally translates as “cold”.  An unintentional ejection of the Gaciron Cetus Gaciron Cetus 1700 Underneath Bike Light | cycling-not-racing front light, into a deep puddle suggests weather sealing is very good. True, it’s not full-on submersion but still impressive and there’s been no lasting effect, or damage.

Wetter periods are also leading me to conclude the Ergon bar tape is understated on the grip front and reassuringly easy to get along with-no slipping, no white-knuckle rides and, unlike some, surprisingly straightforward to keep clean.

A quick shot of bikewash, lathered up with a medium stiff brush will shift mucky, ingrained spatter with nominal effort. Plenty of mixed terrain riding suggests the 3mm Orthrocell padding is very effective over longer distances but without looking unduly bulky. Less important on a gravel bike perhaps, but great if you were looking to dress a more traditional road specific winter/trainer, or tourer.  Until recently, temperatures have been mild enough for mitts. This is significant because it enabled me to assess the texture and purchase against bare skin. The woven surface texture is slightly reminiscent of cotton tapes, although without the sogginess when it’s raining dogs.  

     

Having tweaked Denise’s rear mech tension slightly, curing a modest but annoying shifting glitch midway along the cassette, I returned from a particularly wet ride, to discover a tiny but annoying amount of play in Denise's one- inch Stronglight A9 headset. 

 

An easy fix, although less convenient when you can't locate those large wrenches. I found my BBB Headfix but then recalled I only had a single 32mm and needed two. Couldn't locate my cherished Campagnolo but thankfully was able to remove slop and get everything bang on with a single wrench-seems as if the cable hanger worked as a useful buffer, preventing the bearing race moving while I snugged the locknut down. 

 

One of those periodic, rather than regular tweaks but reminded me how convenient the Aheadset systems are by comparison.  Two Allen keys-4mm for the pinch bolts and a 5/6mm for adjusting the pre-load. An easy job mid ride, or indeed tour-assuming bearings and races are otherwise in good health.

Servicing using stout grease and protecting the lower race from water and ingress. Obviously, mudguards (fenders) make a huge difference, but this isn't always practical.  A boot made from scrap butyl inner tube is another additional defence, extending their life and to some extent, service intervals. Especially on gravel and mountain bikes seeing hard service. 

After a very ambient start, November has awoken and with wet roads and temperatures dipping below zero, I decided to dust down some 35mm Schwalbe Winter Spikes- I really didn’t want a repeat of last January, claiming a jersey, tights and Denise’s Tektro RL520 brake lever. Not to mention some pride... The Marathons can be stubborn to fit, and these are no exception, claiming a composite Park tyre lever and causing a pinch flat.

 Minimum pressure is cited as 35psi, max 85, so I’ve gone for 65-70, offering a bit more grip but without unduly compromising rolling resistance.  Minus 2 on our first outing and the bike handled as if it were on rails, the spikes biting into the ice beneath and providing that beautiful traction. However, caution and sense are still called for- the elements can catch us out and other road users may slide, or experience difficulties. Something I was reminded of when a large Honda overtook, slid and then mis-shifted.  No harm done to either party but a reminder none of us can afford to be complacent.  

  

 

Freeze frame

 So, temperatures tanked again. Not an issue for me, since I’d left the Schwalbe Marathon Winter/Plus After The Gritters Went Home | Seven Day Cyclist/TESTED: SCHWALBE WINTER SPIKED TYRES (sevendaycyclist.com) in situ and carried on hustling along the lanes at a steady 17mph, Ursula never missing a beat, handling as if on rails and allowing me just to relax and enjoy the ride. I will occasionally tweak the specification, say when parts wear out, or in the case of tyres, to suit seasonal changes/conditions. Once this icy spell passes I’d quite like to go the Schwalbe Billy Bonkers route...  

While the Schwalbe winter/Plus tread pattern is designed to sweep snow away (whereupon the tungsten carbide spikes bite into the impacted ice beneath) but it’s also very capable on greasy, impacted mud, forest trails and bridlepath.  Days are getting slightly longer but it’s still predominantly dark, another good reason for prioritising reliability over outright zing. It’s also great for testing lights.  

Bob Elliot &Co Bob Elliot Co Ltd - Suppliers of high quality bicycle supplies to registered traders (bob-elliot.co.uk) have sent me these two Ravemen units. The CLO5 and CLO6. These employ sensors that are apparently unique to them. Rather than increasing the light progressively as dusk creeps in, it senses approaching vehicles and produces a warning flash, so theoretically reinforcing rider presence.  There is also the option of switching this function off, say during daylight (which it isn’t intended for).  

The CLO5 pumps out a maximum of 30 lumens, the CLO6 50. With a few notable exceptions, the lumens race seems to have tapered off a little in recent years. Several months down the line, I still love the Magicshine See Mee family, particularly the 200 and 100 models.  

As I’ve said elsewhere, the 200 and 100 refers to lumens in “braking” mode, rather than output per se. The 200 pumps out 30, 70 and 140 lumens, the 100 18.36, and 72lumens. A good range that caters for most riding contexts. My yardstick for town/suburbs is 10-15 lumens, 30odd for unlit backroads. However, optics also play a big part.  

The advances in lens and diode technology means even relatively low numbers are still quite useable.  Lezyne stick drive rear light being a primer example. It pumps out a maximum of 30lumens, staircasing down to 4, which is genuinely quite useable around town. Its 12lumen flash 3 option covers most other bases, as a default.  

Admittedly, I still prefer something more retina tickling for regular saunters along dark, mysterious lanes. Professional/commercial contexts aside, I’m someone preferring to be under the radar but riding at night, I like being as conspicuous as possible.  

Staying on the topic of lenses, I received this Sony HX60 compact camera. I like carrying a compact camera on rides, means I can capture things, record significant points regarding product performance, etc. It replaces another little Sony that developed a stabiliser/lens fault-beyond economic repair, after three years.   

Image quality is good, especially by compact standards, thanks to the sensor size and manual control, although it only shoots JPEG, not RAW. Measuring 110x64x40mm and weighing around 200g, its quite substantial, but still fits inside a breast/nelson type pocket, so meets my requirements nicely.  It also captured another, unexpected side benefit of the wider, trailer hitch skewer.     Talking of compact, here’s Richard Peace’s review of the Cube Compact Hybrid e-bike CUBE COMPACT HYBRID | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Y wrenches are another lasting favourite tool of mine. I have a 6, 8 and 10mm socket version bought for a few pounds, thirty years back. Super-convenient, I’ve just acquired a 4,5 and 6mm Allen key version.  

Ergonomics mean it’s more convenient than a fully loaded multi-tool, especially tackling Aheadset, seat collar and, cable pinch bolts etc. Ergonomics are another consideration when it comes to brushes, a nice, efficient design means keeping bikes and their drivetrains, less of a chore. Zefal ZB Multi Brush ZEFAL ZB MULTI-BRUSH | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) has some nice features and decent, knuckle-sparing length.