Wet, Wintry and Wonderful?

 

I long ago switched off from tired cliché’s about life being what we make it (primarily since it’s a blanket statement and life is far more nuanced). Afterall, if this simple rhetoric were true, the hardest working people would have the biggest rewards…

This also the season for boiler bother and I found myself needing to tweak our Grant combi to bring heating and hot water back on track. Well, I had to clean the fixed seemingly every other ride, courtesy of wet, greasy and increasingly cold conditions…Much as we’d expect from later November onward.  

This environment also consumes things like brake pads and chains with consummate, dare we say frightening ease, so I decided it was time to stock up on some more pads, chains and the odd tube and batteries before Christmas. They’re bound to reach retirement while the shops are shut.  

Wheels and tyres are also taxed, since wet, freezing conditions contributes to road erosion potholes, sharps and other nasties are more readily worked in as we ride. For this reason, I err towards reliability and overbuild on working, mountain and winter bike wheelsets.  I want to enjoy the ride with nominal mechanical issues and in due course, stay temperate.  I’m very fond of Muffin’s Continental Contact Plus and Vittoria Adventure tech paring and given the risk of icy conditions, the Schwalbe Marathon Winter spikes stay on Denise’s hoops.   

It should be obvious that this is not a substitute for regular cleaning, inspection and maintenance.   

I’ve added a cable tie to the Sidi Algor’s zipper tags, which has made drawing the zipper fully home significantly quicker and easier. I’ve also needed to adjust the rear Zefal G50 Gravel guard slightly-just a question of slackening the two 5mm Allen screws, moving the guard slightly and snugging down-2.5nm (or bottle cage screw territory). Talking of bottle cages, I also decided to switch the bottle cages again and like the red on teal contrast. 

 After 330 miles, (260 on the fixed) the Muc-Off C3 Ceramic All Weather Lube was still doing its thing, albeit a bit filmy. I’ve given side plates a wipe with a rag dipped in solvent and topped up, leaving it curing overnight, rather than the four hours cited.  I was also pleasantly surprised by how little gunge clung to the derailleur jockey wheels. 

For more intense drivetrain cleaning, I’m a big fan of brushes, less so chain baths, which can work very effectively but are fiddly. Besides, chances are, especially during winter, you’ll need to clean the rings and cassette too. Aside from the obvious need to remove congealed lube and potential contaminant, a lot of lubes can react badly with each other, if there are traces left behind. I'm quite impressed by this Oxford Chain Brush Pro Oxford Chain Brush Pro | cycling-not-racing  

The Castelli Competizione Castelli Competizione Men’s Bib Tights | cycling-not-racing bib tights have become an unexpected default given the changing conditions and fluctuating temperatures. They’re best in cool, dry contexts, although there’s similarly priced competitors offering a DWR (Durable Water Repelling) coating, which can extend comfort on wetter rides. I did add a wash-in product, while washing some Gore Tex and this has extended the time I’ve remained dry, so that’s also an option.

It's also worth saying that not all permanent DWR coatings are particularly effective. I also prefer highly water resistant, breathable garments, those that might allow some moisture through, yet wick quickly. Back in the late 1980s, I used to be happy enough with waist tights, but bibs are definitely the way forward, offering seamless comfort and protection to the vital organs.  

No issues of chill getting in, should a jersey, or base layer gather slightly while you’re hunkered low on the drops, battling those gusty winds. There have come and gone in the last couple of weeks, reaching 60kmh at certain, exposed points.  

I love booties during the winter months, although they can feel a little cumbersome around the ankles and cadence slightly remote, less so with the Shimano MW702 Shimano MW7 (MW702) Gore Tex MTB Shoes | cycling-not-racing slightly more so with the Sidi Algor. This is quickly forgotten in the saddle and while the Algor have some quirks, I appreciate their water resistance, grip and temperate inner climate. The soles are also stiffer than their rating might imply, without compromising the ability to walk gracefully. Staying with winter clothing, Steve has been impressed by Castelli’s Estremo Gloves Castelli Estremo Gloves | cycling-not-racing

 

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.