Torque & Spring Tuning

 

I like torque wrenches and if not essential in the life and death sense, they’re increasingly necessary when working on modern bikes. An overly stressed component can snap at best leaving you out of pocket or resulting in a potentially nasty accident. This wallet friendly MPart Torque wrench has been my faithful workshop companion for several years now and highly intuitive to use. It caters for most of the fleet’s needs.  

However, there are some parts that require a little extra. Back story done, Oxford sent me their Torque wrench with a range between 2 and 22nm. Obviously, this won’t entertain cassette lockrings and square taper crank bolts, which need closer to 50nm, but otherwise, this range caters for everything from a bottle cage, mudguard mount, or derailleur jockey wheel to old school quill stems.  

Made from hardened chrome vanadium steel, setting the torque is simple, just a little counter-intuitive, coming from the M-Part and induced speedy referral to the (thankfully included) instructions but essentially boils down to turning the base/handle clockwise until it aligns with your desired torque. In common with the MPart, the wrench itself is ratcheted, which is super convenient from the perspectives of speed and efficiency, especially in tighter spaces.   Ursula’s front mech turned temperamental again, a quick turn of the adjustment screw and a gentle pinch of the front mech’s nose cured this, the chain skipping from big to small rings without missing a beat once more.  

Spring is synonymous with seasonal fettling and usually involves a good washing and hard paste waxing of some sort. Having done so, I decided it prudent to put some dead butyl to good use, dressing Denise and Ursula’s top tubes to avoid dings (should the bar end shifters catch in a tumble with terra firma, or the bars swing back with force).  

This also presented an opportunity to dress Ursula and fixed gear winter trainer’s Topeak racks to prevent further abrasion from pannier hardware. I also tweaked Ursula’s rear TRP Spyre, gave both bikes a good clean using this BBB Bio Ready Wash Bike Shampoo, finishing off with the brand’s Bio Gloss Bike Wax Polish (since they’re also on my test bench).  The ready wash, as its name suggests requires no water and isn’t designed for lightly soiled bikes. Spray on and buff to a shine with a microfibre cloth. Great from the convenience standpoint.  How it compares to something like this Motoverde Waterless Wash & WaxMotoverde Waterless Wash & Wax | cycling-not-racing remains to be seen (although it’s worth saying the Motoverde is also a good bit dearer)   

I’ve switched the fabulous Lomo ZephyrLomo Zephyr Waterproof Panniers | cycling-not-racing for this Altura Thunderstorm City Pannier. It’s another roll top design, meeting IPX6 for water resistance but a little smaller (20 litres) and claimed to have a ten-kilo maximum payload. It employs Rixen Kaul fitting hardware for limpet-like tenure to most diameters of rack tubing-easily tweaked with a few turns of a Philips screwdriver.  

I also like the closure system, which lacks the outright speed, dare I say convenience of a quick release buckle, but is more readily repairable, should it fail. A small thing, but I also like the light loop and the subtle retro reflective flecks. Oh, if black’s not er, your bag it also comes in a more stereotypically “commuter”  fluro yellow. 

Internally, it also employs sleeves to safely arrest and segregate 13-inch laptops and similar tech, or indeed, other items, such as a U lock. There’s a stiffener at the wall (where it rests against the rack) but unlike the Lomo, no scuff protection around the base- not unusual and an observation, rather than criticism. I’ve had a few off-road excursions with it and even moderately laden, no rattles and the mounting hardware has held 10mm tubing like the proverbial limpet.   

It has also been a good time to check butyl stocks, and I’m pleased to report several have been successfully patched, so could rejoin their respective panniers. A decent quality patch kit and patches are another of those unsung heroes of the toolkit. I pension tubes off after three patches but am firmly of the persuasion that I want the best chance of the patch and ultimately repair time effective. Right, off to play with the CST Patrol again...         

Road to Christmas Recovery

I was suddenly struck by the seemingly inevitable and unavoidable seasonal Lurgi. One that left me bedridden for the best part of two days and asleep for 18 hours straight. I’d struggled to remain alert for 6 hours and managed 75% of a draft alongside some other generic admin. Sabre Tooth Man-Flu is a force to be reckoned with.  

Retrospectively I’d felt it charging full force on Sunday when I was switching wheels and giving the fixed gear winter/trainer a seriously good sudsy bucket clean. Neighbour had struck up conversation, while affixing Christmas lights to their wooden fascia and I was struggling to maintain a decent tempo of routine work and response.  

Night terrors are another obvious sign for me. There are people my rational mind knows I could not help and for the most part, their deaths were beyond my control, but the world and human experience are not necessarily rational. Sometimes, during these nightmares, I will meet the figures at the end of a long tunnel. Other times, their decomposing entities can be sat at the foot of my bed, seemingly begging my attention. Sometimes they are benevolent and kind, other times vengeful and malevolent. Not where we’ve been and done but what we do with these experiences, I guess.  

Two days later and I was back in the saddle- the fixed gear winter/trainer’s to be precise. This proved a little “previous” and I was struggling to move. For context, I slept 18 hours, during the first phase of this germ fest and was fooled into feeling better. Predictably in retrospect, I succumbed to a second helping. One synonymous with sinus headaches and similar pain. I ultimately reached for the paracetamol and lemon mix, which seemed to loosen the mucus floodgates and the intense pressure that dogged my ability to function. Sometimes enforced rest is what’s needed.  

I’m sticking with the Halo Aerotrack wheel and 15-tooth Ti sprocket, which with the 35mm CST Expedium and 42 tooth 165mm Genetic Tibia cranks translates as 76.1-inch gear. Some would suggest a little lower-72 maybe, but in practice, I’m not spinning out, or indeed, struggling to winch myself up the climbs.  

Saddleback, Feedback Sports UK importer graciously sent me the brands’ Reflex Torque Wrench. Ita a mini torque wrench, designed for mid-ride adjustments-adjusting saddle tight, tightening a slipping stem bolt etc. 5nm is the maximum, too low for things like Shimano Hollowtech II cranks, so you’ll still want to carry a traditional multi-tool (although you should anyhow, since torque wrenches are only designed for assembly).  

Prevents unintentional damage of carbon fibre components and indeed, aluminium alloy components. Exceed the 5nm recommended on a seat collar bolt at your peril- I’ve seen the bolts snap/ shear clean off. Not what you’d want 20 miles from base.       Last bucket wash, I’d gone for a proper drivetrain clean and opted for the Zefal Extra Wet Nano Ceramic Chain Lube ZEFAL EXTRA WET NANO CERAMIC CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  (a) It was to hand (b) I’ve found it stays put and requires negligible time to cure.  

Ursula’s sticking with the Silca Secret Formula Chain Lube. Was relieved to get a call from Mick Madgett saying he’d replaced the Halo Spin Doctor’s Freehub. Upon collection, conversation turned to the hub’s internal composition and specialist tooling e.g. circlips.  

Apparently not. However, it took two of them to release the defunct freehub-knew there was a reason I outsourced that job! I put a lick of Wolf Tooth Grease on the free hub and cassette lockring and spun everything back together- tyre too. Will give the XT/Ryde pairing a few runs for the time being. They’ve also got the spikes on, which may come in handy, depending how conditions turn in the coming weeks.  

Regardless of how wintry the lanes have been, the Shimano MW501 have kept my feet dry and very temperate, the sole offering plenty of grip on slippery stuff and generally improving my riding experience through these dark December days.  

The heel cup and nimbler feel means they’re quickly becoming my favourites. I was very endeared to a pair of Lake, which lasted many years. However, the Shimano’s fit feels closer to that of a cyclocross/gravel shoe than a traditional mtb bootie, which for me, is more agreeable.  

The Madison Roam 2 jacket is also proving a well-conceived garment for not a lot of money. Decent fit, sensible pockets, useable hood and Velcro cuffs for a convincing seal against the elements. I prefer removable hoods but thus far, the Roam’s hasn’t made a nuisance of itself, when not required. On that note, I’ll leave you with an overview of clothing for the cooler, wetter months...WINTER WONDERLAND TWO (sevendaycyclist.com)