Good Moves

So, as predicted, I switched chain lubes, from the Zefal Pro Dry Chain Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/zefal-pro-dry-lube  to the Weldite TF2 Ultra Dry Chain Wax https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/weldtite-tf2-ultra-dry-chain-wax which also led to closer interrogation of chain length. 

I decided to prune the KMC by another few links, which made for crisper shifts but without putting the rear mech under undue load. Ironically, the Weldtite TF2 Ultra Dry Chain Wax also coordinated with the celeste Jagwire Pro Road Brake Kit https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/jagwire-pro-road-brake-kit cables and See Sense Bar Bag’s cargo net. 

April has been markedly drier and quite sunny, compared with previous months, so the cleaner running dry wax seemed an obvious choice, entering May. It’s one of the cleanest, temperature stable wax formulas I’ve used. Meanwhile, Steve has been putting Rock n’ Roll Holy Cow Chain lube through its paces https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/rock-n-roll-holy-cow-chain-lube     

During a moment of (lockdown?) madness, I contemplated adding another (22-24 tooth) 94 BCD ring to the old school LX crank and wiring up a front mech (probably the Microshift centos).  

Yes, I would’ve had an even greater range. Gearing with enough grunt for riding up down and along the Great Wall of China, with low slung trailer en tow. However, the faff of trying to get a road front mech to play nicely on a frameset intended for top pull front mechs (Yes, I know Problem Solvers make a fetching adaptor), the added weight and complication means it's staying on the drawing board.     

A subsequent 20mile loop affirmed trimming chain length paid dividends.  It also confirmed switching to those Continental’s nigh on slick tread have improved my tubby tourer’s responsiveness, while providing a supple, magic-carpet ride, ironing out washboard and more overtly pock-marked tarmac.  

Just how much speed and ride quality preside over puncture resistance remains to be seen.  I’ve also been playing musical rubber on my fixed gear winter/trainer. This time, we have these 60tpi Kenda Kwick Journey KS+ in 32mm sections. Slightly narrower than my 35mm default but frees up some space at the rear triangle.  

In common with some old favourites, these employ a 5mm thick puncture resistant belt. That said, it only covers the centre strip, rather than running edge to edge, which might leave them more susceptible to sharps.  Thus far, they’re reasonably swift and corner better than I’d expect. Mucky, gritty stuff and stones get impacted within the tread, leading to that annoying tick-until it’s ejected, or extracted. Those folks who are particularly puncture prone might like to bolster otherwise sound tyres with the Tannus Insert Armor https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/tannus-armour   

Having resurrected those Scott Sport shoes, I was surprised to find the sole’s lip coming adrift. Thankfully I had some suitable glue, you know, the one for the toughest jobs on the planet...However, I couldn’t find a way of binding it to the upper... Enter, this old nylon toe strap. So, hang on to them if you’ve gone clipless, they’re surprisingly useful. The glue had seemingly set two hours later but much like the lube, I left it curing overnight-just to be sure.150 miles in and it’s holding up just fine.  

Lasting Impressions

 Temptation was to set up another blog and call it “The saddle diaries” but in practice, it boils down to sit, ride and ultimately, rejoice when the traditional leather saddle finally conforms to your own shape. With every twenty miles, or so now, I can feel the hide doing just that. A friendly acquaintance and former editor commented that he successfully “broke in” a Brooks B17, on a very wet 400km endurance ride.  

Concurs with my own experiences of the B17-a classic design, and justly so, but a little too broad for me, personally. The more personalisation the better. Not only from the perspective of riding comfort/pleasure but also, the more distinctive the machine, the harder it is to sell on.  

Despite the lockdown, cycle and motorcycle theft remains prolific and the UK’s police force neither have the resources, or inclination to tackle it. My hypothesis is that people are so used to seeing white commercial vehicles making deliveries. Well-equipped thieves can scout, then target homes/garages at a later point, with impunity.  

This is nothing new, and sadly, likely to rise as the economy turns. These thieves come prepared with power tools and will often slice through any solid, immovable object bike(s) are locked to, load machines into their vans, and tackle the locks, elsewhere.  

Strip parts and sell everything on via online auction/selling sites. Sometimes on an industrial scale. Much of this is just another branch of wider, organised crime-stolen cars, drugs, fraud, extortion, people trafficking etc. Motor/cycle theft has always been “small beer” to the UK police, even when resources were plentiful.  

Four penneth delivered, on to the fixed. My fixed gear winter trainer to be precise, although in some respects (perhaps controversially) it's perhaps more accurately described as a Tracklocross bike. Afterall, its essentially a cyclo cross bike with track ends and rear spacing... However, purists will deliberate, since it’s running (and will retain!) a front brake.  

Though I miss the Bandit, I’m rekindling my rapport with the Geonaute G-Eye2 Action Camera and am likely to do some further fine-tuning of the cockpit. Experience with the out-front mounted Apeman also suggests, being visible, it influences driver behaviour for the better. https://www.facebook.com/sevenday.cyclist/videos/2292754937686957/  

Since I’m not likely to run a bar bag (although there’s ample room for the See Sense Handlebar Bag https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/see-sense-handlebar-bag I may well repatriate it beneath the bars for a sleeker aesthetic. Those who want to distribute their luggage more evenly than I, might be interested in a topo tube bag, such as this Zefal Z Adventure Ti Top Tube Bag https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/zefal-z-adventure-t1-top-tube-bag 

I’m left in no doubt that the Acros Silicone Wrap Handlebar Tape https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/acros-silicone-wrap-handlebar-tape offers superior damping, purchase and control, regardless of conditions. However, the embossed texture accumulates grime with frustrating ease-most notably, petrochemical stuff-transfer from oily hands.  

The worst will shift with a medium soft brush dipped in a mild, warm, sudsy bucket but thankfully, it also responds very well to machine washing-something I’ve now resorted to, on a quarterly basis. A year in, it’s still looking very fresh, better than the very cheerful Genetic Flare Silicone Bar Wrap https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/genetic-silicone-bar-wrap (but then I’d expect so, since the Acros is almost twice the Genetic’s ticket price)  

Elsewhere, I’ve run the double helping of Pro Gold Pro Link Chain Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/pro-gold-pro-link-chain-lube to the point where the rollers are filmy and the outer plates/jockey wheels a little gungy. Reached my conclusions and have switched to Zefal Pro Dry for the meantime.https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/zefal-pro-dry-lube  

Another low-friction, super runny lube and one I rate, especially given the asking price. Being another, drizzle and go blend, its super convenient to apply, although since the weather is remaining stable, chances are, I’ll start testing a summer specific wax blend in the coming weeks.   

Cable specific lubes might seem a bit specialist. Afterall, super runny lubes, including the Zefal will perk up sticky, reticent inner wires, ditto aerosols, such as Juice Lubes JL69 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/juice-lubes-jl GT 85 All Purpose Lubricant https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/gt-85-original-multi-purpose-lubricant etc. However though arguably better value on the versality front, Steve reckons Rock n’ Roll Cable Magic https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/rock-n-roll-cable-magic does the business and lasts a good deal longer.