Remaining Conspicuous

 

Been an extremely busy few weeks, testing kit, preparing for winter; talking to Tegan Phillips and being invited to the odd, impromptu photo shoot…Having reached some definite conclusions about Pro-Green MX triple pack  

http://www.sevendaycyclist.com/pro-green-mx-triple-pack    I’ve turned my attentions

to this Pro Viz reflect 360 helmet. Despite widespread acceptance, helmets still divide opinion. Though, I almost never ride without one, I fiercely oppose compulsion and that contributory negligence card, so often played in cases where someone has sustained serious injury.   

Like most other bike apparel, purchase power means standards and to some extent, expectations are higher than ever before. Some respected sports chains are offering extremely well finished models for £20. Admittedly, these are made in the Far East, where production costs are lower and savings can be passed to the end consumer.

The reflect 360 is made in Germany, meets the usual CE 1078 and though branded as a road design but the peak and insect net, suggest love child consequence of a passionate tryst between road and trail lid.  

Like many others at this price point, it comes complete with an “intelligent” adjustment system which allows precise alignment and theoretically, improved protection to the skull’s occipital region. 

This works to the same principle as a car roll cage, preventing twisting injuries that can result from bouncing along tarmac. I was a little disappointed to discover the EPS liner exposed around the rim, leaving it vulnerable to knocks and dings but we’ve not crossed into deal-breaker County.

Now to their patented K star technology. This apparently took two years to develop.

Millions of tiny mirrored glass beads are impregnated within the outer shell; then sealed under a lacquer top coat. Theoretically this also serves an amplifier while safeguarding against peeling, or otherwise getting stripped under normal use.

Pro Viz says the depth of illumination is superior to any other helmet on the market. It’s certainly brighter than any I’ve tested to date. Aftermarket helmet retro-reflective neoprene, halo type bands are a cost effective option but even these don’t come close to the K star system. 

Talking of illumination, I’ve reverted to carrying a spare AA blinkey, especially on longer rides. I know run times are generally pretty accurate these days but I’ve had a few unexpected power downs lately. 

I was chancing my arm a bit with the Cat Eye Rapid X (it had been pulsing away for about three weeks without refuelling) but a Lezyne KTV and Moon Comet X both powered down unexpectedly, fifteen murky miles from home.

Thankfully, I’d had the sense to clip Moon Shield X auto onto my jersey pocket. Not that Cat Eye’s rapid micro rear could be considered impotent-it’s a lot brighter than 15 lumens suggest and will hold its own around town. However, by my reckoning, more bite is required for regular rural riding.

Personal favourites include Topeak Redlite mega and the almost iconic ½ watt Smart complete with elastic band type rubber seal. Cheap as chips, this one’s been a faithful standby for several years now. Replacing depleted dry cells promptly and giving contacts a quick lick of Vaseline seems the secret to its long and productive life.

Technically, we’re still in late autumn here in the UK, gusty winds are stripping trees and hedgerows of their, rich auburn leaves, which blow across the wet roads before forming a slippery carpet. We all have our favourite tyres but arguably there is no definitive model, perfect for every condition.

Generally speaking, I’m a horses-for-courses man and I often slip on spiked rubber when the iceman, or indeed maiden cometh. However, daily drivers call for an all rounder.

We’ve been putting a series of rugged commu-touring models through their paces at Seven Day Cyclist and though one of the coarse 28tpi casings succumbed to a nasty cut (sealed with a healthy dollop of high quality superglue), these 1.6 section Vittoria Street Runner are proving surprisingly sprightly, yet dependable four seasons’ budget option.

Having retired the Vittoria Randonneur trail (which amassed phenomenal mileage before finally succumbing to a series of savage and ultimately, irreparable cuts) the street runner have been coping handsomely with tarmac duties. Even along those mulchy lanes at 25mph plus, they’ve never shown hint of turning bandit and I’ve only punctured once-during the first, relatively moderate month’s testing.      

With Christmas just over a month away, most people have no problems buying presents but not everyone’s so good at presentation. Dolly blue creative can help-whether it’s the festive season, birthday, anniversary or similar special occasion. Her site’s under construction but drop me an email if you’re based in the UK and like what you see here.

Back soon, in the meantime, here’s a male Bhangra dance group from Derby...

Fait accompli

  

With several hundred miles under my derrière, the Spa cycles Aire saddle is finally moulding to my shape, almost to the stage where we can churn away agreeably for several hours in succession. This particular feat of endurance not only boasts a very personal outcome but is strangely satisfying too. Admittedly on some levels, resurrecting the Dia Tech Gran Compe and slipping it between the Ilpompino’s post cradle was a cosmetic exercise since it compliments the fixer’s slightly faded handlebar wrap.

This also proved a timely opportunity to dress them in proofide, nourishing the hide while locking the elements out. Suspicion suggests the saddles were separated at birth-both have an untreated surface and began assuming my profile at 350 miles…I’m one of those riders puncturing infrequently for months and miles on end before being hit with a glut.

Perhaps the Ilpompino was indulging in some attention seeking behaviour but both its thorn-resistant Kenda had inexplicably, not to mention irreparably sheared around the valve stem. Mercifully, while on another mission involving 4 stroke lawn mowers, I uncovered a couple hiding away in unusual places…

Sticking with seating, I toyed with putting an old Turbo that had been doing something close to nothing on ebay but Uncle Benny let slip he wanted something more forgiving to his posterior than the OEM Velo gracing his road bike.

A more befitting 90mm Woodman stem with 17degree rise and a seven speed freewheel (yes, a screw-on!) followed suit; the latter a very fetching nickel plated Sun Race replacing an old Shimano with ailing pawl springs. Talk of the devil, he’s been here all week, replacing my twenty-five year old heating system before winter arrived-it was literally running on goodwill and held together with corrosion!

  

Talking of the devil, changing seasons-not heating engineers, these Lezyne micro/macro drive lights arrived on my desk as a timely reminder perhaps of summer’s swansong and autumn’s advance. True to Lezyne law, they look and perform beautifully.

Non- replaceable li-on cells were a little disappointing but their power to size ratio and intelligent sensors that kick down to conserve power are definite plusses. Diminutive dimensions won’t cramp fixers’ clean lines, there’s sufficient oomph for out of town commutes and as dynamo companions on Audax all-nighters. 

Clutter-phobes are arguably best served by the croquet shaped micro drives that charge directly from the USB but both employ sophisticated diodes, optics and beautifully machined alloy bodies. Lumens; rather akin to camera megapixels sells lights and might earn bragging rights amongst the chain gang but lens quality is what makes ‘em useable.

Both are adequate for navigating poorly lit roads at around 20mph and in the macro’s context at least, oncoming traffic pays heed to around 400 metres on a clear night.  There will always be exceptions to this of course-the most obvious being those who recklessly endanger the lives of others by texting, or indeed watching pornography on their smart phones.

Pre season fleet fettling also meant replacing the Univega’s final outer brake cable run-it’d been cut too short previously and thus inducing some unwelcome binding. The rear hoopl also needed a quick tweak on the wheel builder’s jig but we’re talking £7.50 nuisance value rather than samba dancing. More disconcerting was the cassette’s reluctance to budge, even using Pedro’s vise whip and a long-handled Shimano pattern tool.

A firm lunge finally won the day, freeing the lock-ring whose threads turned out to be profoundly bereft of grease. I can only assume this is the result of harsh solvent cleansers rather than sloppy installation on my part. Nonetheless, I popped the cluster in a redundant ice cream container and administered a liberal blast of WD40 Specialist Fast Acting Degreaser. Residual lube and congealed gunge receded almost immediately, leaving a rather artistic imprint behind. Alas, its solvent component also gobbled the receptacle!

Decay/abandonment, urban and otherwise has long been a passion of mine, hence I popped over to an exhibition of photography taken inside an old; dare we say notorious institution that has been earmarked for housing since its closure in 1997. While admiring the haunting imagery, often taken at very long exposures, I noted a local publisher of children’s fiction looking to hire a freelance illustrator. Not my trade but akin to the old asylum, my hard drive plays host to a series of long forgotten stories so I’ve made some enquiries…Nothing ventured, nothing gained.