Sore Points Fixed With Subtle Tweaks

I made the schoolboy error of whipping the Pro Stealth Saddle in situ, making cursory visual inspection and checked alignment with a straight edge (rather than a spirit level). Subsequently, I paid the price, 20 miles into our maiden voyage, my sit bones were screaming. 

However, being a seasoned tester of traditional leather saddles, I persevered. Fifteen miles into our second outing, my inner thigh was feeling decidedly raw. I concluded, mid ride that the saddle height was fractionally too low, with the Stealth. 

This, (coupled with the padding density) in turn was placing additional pressure, causing this discomfort.   Relieved to be home, time for a more detailed analysis. I produced a 5mm Allen key and raised the seat post by a few millimetres, then took a spirit level to things. Not far out but sufficient…Loosening the cradle bolt, tilting the saddle fractionally downwards, snugging the cradle bolt tight (while keeping a sharp eye on the level) cured this.

My Univega was sporting a fair amount of slimy, salty road filth and the Juice Lubes Ceramic Juice was looking a bit filmy. This prompted a quick cold-water rinse, followed by a sudsy bucket and drivetrain cleansing 

 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/juice-lubes-dirt-juice-chain-cleane

White Lightning Extreme Wet was the most obvious, default replacement. No curing time, plenty of staying prowess-should last through February. Delivering a few squirts of Juice Lubes JL69 Bike Maintenance Spray https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/juice-lubes-jl to cables and pivot points concluded said fettling episode…

Then I spotted some nasty looking sharps that had penetrated its rear Schwalbe Marathon Mondial Double Defence Tyres https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-marathon-mondial-tyres. Deflated the tyre, extracted the flints using nail tweezers, then filled the holes with superglue.

Oddly enough, some Tannus Tyre Liners had arrived for testing (although these were 700x32, so went to the Schwalbe Road Cruiser https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/scwalbe-road-cruiser-tyres Fortuitous too, since the Schwalbe had also succumbed to a flint induced flat.

Liner protectors work like another layer within the tyre, preventing thorns and similar sharps puncturing the tube. I recall Tuffy Tape from the late 80s. Some swore by it, others at it.

Those taking a more moderate (dare I say, rational) stance suggested they could work well but recommended checking their alignment periodically. This was to prevent them inducing precisely the flats they were intended to eliminate. 

These Tannus are less convenient to install than heavy duty butyl. They cite an additional 40 seconds. Maybe with assembly line familiarity but I took another 2/3 minutes first time round. Still, at 200g apiece, are considerably lighter than the Kenda Thornproof tubes (which have been my defaults during winter’s worst for nigh on a decade).

Retailing at £29.99, the Tannus are pretty much the going rate for liner technology. That said; money would be better spent on upgrading tyres, if you’re running unreliable budget rubber, or a higher end set are past their prime.  Tannus also reckon it’s possible to limp home on an otherwise flat tyre, without damaging the rim.

Taking this a stage further, this theoretically allows tyres to be run at really low pressures, say for additional grip on the trails, or a really icy road. Personally, in the latter context, I would’ve reached for the Schwalbe Marathon winter https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-winter-spiked-tyre, or comparable spiked tyre.

Back to saddles, I was still feeling a little raw, so switched exclusively to my fixed gear winter trainer and the Selle San Marco Concor SuperCorsa for a few days. Now, as I’ve said before, in some respects, it’s an old saddle but serves to illustrate that classic designs are still very relevant.

Yes, 320g might be a touch portly for some (those with bikes on Calorie controlled diets, in particular) but what’s a few grams if you can sit in comfort all day?  Arguably, black would’ve been a better fit with my working fixed’s colour scheme. I reckon the tan’s a nice contrast.

The Genetic D-Riser 4 Bars continue to impress me. For gravel/cyclo cross I’d stick with their D-Riser 16 siblings https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/genetic-d-riser-bars, which still perform very well on asphalt. 

However, I have been surprised to find the D-Riser 4 feel that bit sharper on relatively smooth roads-sweeping around S bend descents that kind of thing.

I haven’t noticed any real difference, when ascending and as with its sibling the 20degree rise is subtle but welcome, especially through congested traffic, or relaxing on a long day ride.   I'll do a few hundred miles more with these contact points, before reaching any firm conclusions.

Beast From The East

Swooshing along the snowy backroads, I bit into a somewhat al-dente chocolate bar, broke my tooth and promptly swallowed it, complete with crown! There isn’t much tooth remaining, which presented my dentist with a dilemma.

Mercifully, its salvageable. He’s proposing to use a series of metal pins to provide a framework for a replacement crown. I also need a filling but frankly, I’m just relieved any damage done is fully repairable.  

Aside from mourning my lost smile, the remainder of this week’s riding was pleasantly uneventful.

Tuesday’s conditions threatened to be more adverse, so I switched over to the 118 spike Schwalbe https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-winter-spiked-tyre . The carbide spikes are showing signs of wear, not enough that I’m worried about going rubber-up. Nonetheless, I’ll invest in a new kit, before we hit skid city.

Weather forecasts, here in the UK at least tend to overplay any incoming front. Anecdotally, I suspect this stems from Michael Fish’s failure to predict the storm of October 1987. However, the “Beast from the East” arrived with a vengeance, bringing considerable snowfall. The sort that Land Rover defenders take in their stride but sees SUVs spinning their wheels, and drifting.

The Schwalbe active winter may be their baseline, spiked model but there’s nothing low-rent about their performance. Bustling along the backroads at 18mph, while their chevron tread sweeps away the deep, virgin snow along completely deserted lanes. Spikes biting into the ice beneath, providing traction and inspiring confidence.

Tainted smile hidden behind my North Wave balaclava and hands toasty in BTwin 700 cold weather gloves https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/btwin-700-cold-weather-gloves  , I was certainly grinning, despite the mercury struggling to hit minus 2. Monday was colder, thanks to the ruthless wind-chill, which in real term translated as minus 6. Its been a good deal colder overnight.  

Over the past few rides, the SKS lube has turned a sticky black but seems relatively tenacious, clinging on very convincingly to the links, despite these very wintry conditions. Other observations include its readiness transfer to hands, something I’d expect from a wet blend… Anyhow, 130 miles, as set by the Smoove Universal chain lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/smoove-universal-chain-lube  is the number to beat.

Talking of dry types, the Weldtite TF2 ultra dry clocked up 105 before being completely stripped by the elements. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/tf2  Once the SKS (and the present climate) starts receding, I’ll switch to Finish line 1-step cleaner and lubricant and for the fixed, Finish Line Ceramic Wet.

There’s an old belief that winter bikes need better prep, since they’ll get less maintenance. I see the argument for stiffer greases and lubes, since bikes get exposed to harsher conditions. I had toyed with stripping and re-greasing the Univega’s bottom (headset) race.

Chickened out-on account of the cold, its sporting full-length guards and I delivered a healthy dollop of ceramic stuff during its revamp last January. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/after-the-gritters-went-home  Pencilled this surgery in for next week, when things thaw out a little.  I’m firmly of the opinion that bikes should get washed regularly, to rinse away corrosive salts, grime etc.

Debate rages about the most appropriate sorts and seems polarised between those who like bike specific washes and those erring towards household detergents. I’m not fond of the latter but sudsy car wash n’ wax formulas are a useful default, since they impart a layer of protective wax, which also saves time.

Some bike washes are designed to react with water i.e. on contact with a wet frame. In my experience, this isn’t necessarily any better or worse, in the grime shifting stakes. There’s also an argument that visually foaming formulas give the impression of working faster, when in fact, less lively potions bite into and, dissolve the grime more efficiently.  

Either way; rinsing bikes with cold water first strips anything caustic. Using hot simply accelerates the corrosive nastiness. I’ve been sent Guy Martins’ Proper Cleaner for review in another publication. Too early to comment on its performance, relative to others, but the subtle formula has shifted  the week’s accumulated spatter, with minimal user effort.

 

Positive Changes

Change your weather; change your luck, then I’ll teach you how to…find yourself. Well, perhaps not quite that profound but I managed to slip away to the midlands for a few days and return with a renewed sense of purpose.

Perspective and priorities realigned, copy that had felt baggy and lifeless was swept into shape Mary Poppins ‘ fashion. Piles of creativity sapping drafts, notes and calling cards ruthlessly expelled through the shredder, leaving behind a relatively clean workspace.

Timely then that another tide of tasty test goodies should lap at my shore, including these Time Alium (shaving a further 226g from the Ilpompino), a quirky yet remarkably competent Selle Royal Perch and this ultra chic weatherproof, breathable jacket from Urban 34. Their entire range is really seductive, so scooting moderate distances to work and looking instantly presentable upon arrival (save perhaps for some tell-tale helmet hair) is now a reality.

Admittedly, driven by messenger chic, street styled threads have been coming on tap a while now but these folks and Oregon based “Showers Pass” have brought it to a new level. Early impressions are extremely favourable and I’m revelling in the ability to break away from the keyboard, pop out for a ride, passing by the bank with a few cheques and making other business appointments without feeling underdressed or compromised in the saddle.

Elsewhere, Joshua returned from a quick, unaccompanied blast announcing his solo’s tyre had exploded (!) Closer inspection suggested the resplendent hiss was merely a common or garden puncture (the god of blowouts was merciful this particular morning, clearly recognising I was clean out of 20x1.75 tubes).

Persuading the non-descript knobbly from its steel hoop required the combined efforts of three tyre levers, agricultural language and superhuman thumbs. Having extracted the tube, chasing round the tyre carcass uncovered a particularly gruesome shard of glass and another sharp burrowing inward. However, rim tape was sound and the tube easily patched.

Ironically I’d just written a puncture prevention and repair piece, so emailed photos sequentially to him should it strike again. I’m not overly keen on children having potable devices per se, not least since firewall and similar security software lags ten years behind that of desktops. That said; I also recognise their benefits when used carefully. Refitting was markedly easier, although puts a not too distant future tyre upgrade and workshop quality tyre fitter on the cards.  

My first puncture struck when I was thirteen. Haring round the sweeping back doubles aboard my Holdsworthy built Butler, there was this sudden slow but audible procession of air escaping the front 25mm section Hutchinson.

A local farmer took pity on me and tried to help, reasoning it might just be a leaky Presta valve. He belted what must’ve been forty odd Psi inside courtesy of said steeds’ bargain basement frame fit AFA in the hope It’d hold the last mile or so.

It didn’t so I walked home and sought solace not from my father but Uncle Benny’s- he’d had a 531 framed Dawes road bike in his teens and was more mechanically minded. Continuing the tyre theme, I’ve managed a few brief outings with those spiked Schwalbe to ensure they don’t shed the spikes during the first wave of icy weather.

Modest weight and their more generic winter design brief translates into a friskier ride than comparable models I’ve tried thus far-although obviously remaining upright takes precedence over warp-speed hossing in these conditions. Hmm, coupled to mono-wheel trailers and I’m starting to feel another seasonal, niche’ sport coming on.

Been pleasantly surprised by this Weldtite TF2 wet lube too.

A little still goes a long way but middleweight consistency looks to offer similar protection without succumbing to stodgy shifts or pied piper gloop enticing tendencies. Wonder how we’ll fare two hundred miles down the line. On that note I’m off to craft another caffeine fuelled first draft… Assuming my home brewed kettle de-scaler’s done its job.