December’s slippery start
coincided with the complete and extremely audible implosion of the Univega’s
rear M475 hub. Slightly tickly shifting was the only warning that something
might be wrong. Thankfully the cheap but relatively cheerful unit held together
long enough to nurse it the final five miles home.
Some mouse action and a few
emails later secured a complete, machine built wheel turning on a more refined
NOS, pre disc Deore hub. Something of a workmanlike groupset, I was also very
fond of its STXRC predecessor.
This also boasted decent
performance and was inexpensive enough to replace should you come a cropper.
Anyhow, concluding this eulogy to the dearly departed M475, here’s a strip and
overhaul piece in Seven Day Cyclist http://www.sevendaycyclist.com/rub-a-dud-hub.
Better sealed and arguably
built than the M475, general consensus suggests to high quality greases and
regular servicing is crucial to their performance and longevity.
I have a love/hate
relationship with many things, though limited daylight can be a drain; I remain
strangely endeared to winter. Not least since it provides the ideal opportunity
to see how greases, lubes, polishes and bike washes cope with the blizzard of
slush, slurry, salt and slime.
I’ve tended to err towards
daily drivers and winter/trainers rather than specific winter bikes per se.
However, a simple, well-dressed, season specific machine can be seriously good
fun to ride.
In fact, it’s incredibly
liberating because you’re focused on enjoying the ride, rather than being
pre-occupied with thoughts of expensive composites and brightwork being under
siege.
Regular washing (rinse salty
bikes with cold water first, since hot will simply accelerate the caustic
component destroying process), cleaning and re lubing save wear, expense and
hassle later on.
Another editor has left me
to play with a selection of lovely degreasers, some high octane, super
flammable but ultra convenient aerosol types, others (including Pedro’s Bye
Grease Degreaser) are biodegradable pump spray formulas. Pedro’s, like many
other brands are decidedly tight lipped about its composition.
In these circumstances, I
err on the side of caution and don disposable inspection gloves, keep recipient
bikes/components away from plant/animal life and the contents from entering
waterways. Pedro’s recommend it as a general gunk removing potion, not just for
transmissions.
Like Fenwicks’ FS1, it’s not
a visually lively brew but supposedly breaks down contaminant on contact and
dried, ingrained stuff within a minute. Despite the fanfare, I felt a little
cheated since it requires some concerted stiff brush agitation before making
inroads, even on more basic mineral oil/ISO wet lubes or 5w/30 semi synthetic
motor oils.
Nonetheless, it’s otherwise
pleasant to use, kind to surfaces and skin alike. Siphoning off 20% and diluted
with water, it makes a mild bike wash, dismissing organic and lighter
petrochemical gloop with similar panache as other eco-friendly blends.
Finish line wet is something
of an institution among wet lubes and in many respects, still cuts it 22 years
on. Made from “a blend of high viscosity synthetic oils, water repelling
polymers and advanced anti-wear additives”; it works out very cheap and so long
as you’re prepared to give side plates, jockey wheels and derailleur cages a
weekly cat lick, it doesn’t turn into horrendously gloopy component gobbling
mess.
Bikes on tarmac only diets
can get away with a trace amount on every link, enough lubrication and
corrosion inhibition yet minimises the amount of contaminant collected and
ultimately, cleaning frequency. During a mild to moderate winter, expect to
replenish with trace amounts on a fortnightly basis. Wet lubes of this ilk also
double as nifty grease substitutes on fasteners, cantilever posts etc.
I’m not sure whether it’s the
shortage of daylight, pre Christmas mania, or a combination of both but
people’s road craft seems to nosedive the deeper we get into December.
Just this past week, I’ve had several
uncomfortably close encounters, despite being lit up like a Christmas tree on
acid. A disturbing number of drivers seem distracted and unable to execute
competent overtaking manoeuvres, often passing with inches to spare, then
braking hard to avert collision with an oncoming vehicle.
Some have clearly been preoccupied
with online shopping apps, others applying makeup but I’ve even noted one van
driver playing a banjo while at the wheel! On that note, I’ll leave you
with a few more shots of Tanya Atherton from last week’s studio session.
