Payloads & Playtimes

 

When it comes to racks, four point and 20 plus kilo carrying capacities are my defaults. I’d tried and indeed tested beam types in the past but found they had a tendency not to manage the loads promised very effectively. However, the last was over a decade ago and the river of technology moves at an incredibly rapid rate.  

Not everyone can or wants a rack “permanently” mounted and they add scope for longer day rides and trunk bags, provided you had sufficient exposed seat post. Carbon seat posts remain non-starters. Frankly, I wouldn’t tether anything heavier than a wedge pack and rear light to a carbon, or composite post. This Topeak RX Beam Rack coincided with my interest in Topeak’s RX Trunk Bag DXP, which is aimed at road, rather than trail audience.

Made from heat treated 6061 aluminium alloy, it tips the scales at a surprisingly stout 665g and in any colour you like, so long as its silver. Beefy welds have an industrial beauty, rather than refinement but are neatly executed and inspire confidence.  The collar is relatively shallow, requiring less exposed post and somewhat reminiscent of an Ahead stem, courtesy of the twin bolt closure. This promises more reliable tenure than the in my viewed, flawed quick release closures.

Complete with shim, this supposedly means a universal fit-at least on round models between 25.4 and 31.8mm. In practice, I’ve needed to brew my own using redundant butyl tube, but that’s the thing with the phrase universal, it’s always begging for contradiction.

You’ll not I’ve given the fasteners a liberal helping of grease-in this instance   Oxford Mint Assembly Grease Oxford Mint Assembly Grease | cycling-not-racing since its very stoical and I had it to hand. Torque to 8nm.  

The maximum payload is 15lbs, which is modest, but practical for day riding, and, with careful calculation, gives scope for a fairly stout lock. As for the RX Trunk Bag DXP, this is made from 600 Denier Polyester complete with a DuPont Teflon Coating claimed to offer improved weather resistance.

The main compartment features “aerodynamic” foam walls and coupled with the drop down-side panniers and expandable main compartments equates to 7.1 litres- very useful for day rides and those who want more carrying capacity than a wedge pack but without the bulk and indeed wind resistance of traditional panniers.  I’ve managed to slip a decent amount into the main compartment-three spare tubes, tool caddy, spare tyre levers, Pedro’s Trixie, separate multi tool, cable ties and a patch kit.  

I was curious as to whether the Trunk Bag would also prove compatible with the marques Uni Super Tourist DX top plate. Spoiler alert, I was pleasantly surprised to discover it was, so left it mounted to Ursula for a few wintry outings.  Interestingly, the MTX Dry Bag Trunk Bag doesn’t seem compatible with the RX Beam Rack.  Rounding off this impromptu mid-afternoon fettling session came bottle cage replacement, I liked the contrast of the composite cages, which worked better in practice than I’d expected. However, they were prone to collecting grime, so I went for some black Elite Cruissi homages.

As for Ursula, my hunch that the trailer quick release would provide greater rigidity at the frame ends, eradicating any disc tickling under load proved correct.  Sometimes it’s those little victories that give the biggest lifts.

 I’m also pleased with Muffin’s Selcof Sterrato V2 bar switch, although they’re slightly narrower than the Genetic D Riser 4 they replace, but there’s still ample control and no skittishness. From an aesthetic perspective, it makes mounting lights and other little gizmos, such as this ORP Smart Horn that bit easier. I also suspected I would miss a left dummy lever for parking my hand when cruising. Some Dia Compe 138 with colour-coordinating black hoods turned up. I’m planning to pop the Cane Creek on the Holdsworth (since that runs a Tektro and the mutually compatible hood shape means everything will align nicely with the spirit level). Ha!      

Leatt have sent me their Pro Clip 6.0 Endurance shoes, which they say are “designed for riders who want dependable performance and all-day comfort without the race-focused stiffness”. Formative outings suggest they’re onto something here.

There’s a roomy toe-box, which is supportive and roomy enough for waterproof socks-a good move, since there’s acres of cooling mesh-essential for the warmer months given the synthetic uppers. The MOZ/Leatt lacing system will be intuitive to anyone familiar with the Boa types and allows for great, hassle-free tunability.

A Nylon shank is designed to offer the right blend of stiffness and support while allowing easy, comfortable walking or running sans bike. The ride grip outsole is suitably aggressive and grippy. They’re not as stiff as the Shimano RX6 Shimano SH RX600 Gravel Cycling Shoes | cycling-not-racing (and a little heavier too at 790g for the 45) , which remain a firm favourite of mine, but stiffer than Shimano’s MT701 GTX   Shimano MT701 GTX SPD Shoes | cycling-not-racing . Goldilocks but without the bears? Time, roads and boggy wet trails will tell.   Meantime, I’ll leave you with my review of the Castelli Unlimited Rain Jacket Castelli Unlimited Rain Jacket | cycling-not-racing and perhaps more fittingly,. Steve’s review of the SKS Infinity Urban Trunkbag XL SKS Infinity Urban Trunkbag XL | cycling-not-racing

  

 

  

Suited and Booted

 

Perhaps I should be imagining lottery numbers and other things of significance…. How so, Michael. Well, I’d been contemplating bar tape replacement. I would be keeping Denise and Ursula’s silicones (for another time) but pension off the fixed gear winter/trainer’s ENVE Enve Handlebar Tape | cycling-not-racing.  

 

A week or so down the line, an editor sent me this Deda Loop and Josh from Saddleback this Wolf Tooth Supple Bar Tape (both the 5mm and 2.5mm versions). The former is a natural silicone, no adhesive backing needed and easily rewound, should you need to replace a cable, swap bars etc.   

 

Denise is sporting the 5mm version, which proved surprisingly straightforward to apply, allowing for the fact its 40mm wide and 5mm thick. Wolf Tooth recommends maintaining a consistent 2.5mm overlap for best overall effect. Oh, (and this goes for silicones per se) do not pull too taught while fitting, or run the risk of tearing, or unsightly tan line type fading. Uncut, and including plugs, it tips the scales at 187g.   

 

After some resistance and initial reluctance (I really like the Acros Silicone Wrap Handlebar Tape’s LONG-TERM TEST: ACROS SILICONE BAR WRAP | cycling-not-racing orange contrast- with both bikes, though Ursula in particular) at the close of a filthy, drivetrain chewing ride, coinciding with a deep, sudsy bucket clean, I switched the Acros for the 2.5mm Wolf Tooth, which was also lighter-107g uncut, including plugs, the Acros 163g.        

 

Josh also sent me this WTB Rocket, a cro-moly railed model 142mm wide and with medium density padding, comfort zone pressure relieving channel. Reminiscent of a Specialized saddle I had some years back, albeit a diet version.  

 

I’ve popped this on Ursula, switched the Ergon SR All Road Ergon SR All Road Men’s Saddle | cycling-not-racing to the fixed and left the Ergon Core Comp adorning Denise’s cradles.  75 mixed terrain miles in, I’ve slid it very slightly further back and found the padding and pressure relieving channel incredibly effective. I’ll plonk myself on it for another 500 or so miles before casting more concrete opinion.  Other unexpected revisions come in the guise  

 

 

of these 700x40 Continental Pure Contact which are reckoned to be highly dependable commuter rubber but at 587g apiece without the heft of some favourites. These have been slipped aboard Denise, given the clearances and to evaluate how well they’ll cope along the mucky lanes and battle-scarred tarmac.

80 miles down the lanes later, I’m warming to them. The compound seems very grippy, the water channeling grooves have been shifting water and slimy stuff surprisingly well and even at 65psi, they seem very compliant... The Continental Pure Contact are also reckoned capable of handling some light dirt and meet 8 on their scale for puncture prevention-I’ll be happy to test these characteristics and claims.  

 

That said; the Continental Contact PlusTESTED: CONTINENTAL CONTACT PLUS TYRES had similar characteristics and perform surprisingly well along unmade roads, too. However, at 978g apiece for the 35mm sections, they are considerably heavier than the Pure Contact and while I’ve appreciated the Contact Plus’s dependability, their heft is also quite palpable. 

 

Given the milder temperatures, I’d switched Ursula back to the Continental Cross Kings since the icy/snowy conditions went as quick as they arrived. I’ve gone back to a rack with the fixed gear winter/trainer.  

 

In this instance, the Topeak Uni Super Tourist 2.0, which is a smidge lighter (879g against 917g) on account of the traditional non-disc design and single tier pannier rail. It’s reckoned capable of 26kilo payloads, which should be enough for most people’s needs. I’ll not be going anywhere near that in the everyday sense, not least as I wouldn’t want to be hauling more than 5-10 kilos on the fixed.  

 

Rule of thumb, 15 kilos upwards and I’m reaching for the trailer. There’s a reason touring bikes have a wide spread of gears, erring on the lower side after all... However, I like the versatility and options that a decent rack affords, especially on a winter/trainer where temperatures can vary and you might want to remove, or add another layer, change of gloves, additional food/similar goodies on longer rides.  

 

There’s also the option of dropping by the supermarket and picking up some essentials. Elsewhere, I remain pleasantly surprised by the Lomo Bike Packing bag, which is not only very waterproof and surprisingly easy to port between bikes, but surprisingly stable-something I attribute in part to the internal stiffeners. It’s worth noting I’m still running the saddle rail frame, and I’ve not filled it to full, thirteen litre capacity yet Ending on a Grave note, here's my review of the WTB Nano SG2WTB Nano SG2 Gravel Tyre | cycling-not-racing