Change Your Weather, Change Your Luck…

 

September has brought with it refreshing rains, which flooding aside, is very welcome for water levels, life and er, product testing. A long, dry spell is great for making the most of our best bikes. Extreme heatwaves aren’t particularly comfortable, even with SPF50 jerseys, shorts and sunscreen, our bodies take a toll.

I’ve been glad to reach for the ultralight, packable race jacket (not to be confused with the old school condom type, which kept the rain off but didn’t breathe. A rabid, sweaty mess isn’t the best look), cap and arm warmers-just in case. It’s also been my cue to tackle some preventative maintenance.

Aside from overhaling long-serving, faithful dyno hubs, I’ve taken the opportunity to re-grease quick release skewers, thru-axle converters, since they’re easily overlooked. Prevention is always better than penetrant spray and persuasion. I also needed to adjust the front brake, which had become a little impotent. Just a question of pulling the inner wire through, snugging the lever’s cable holder and calliper pinch bolts down.  

The Juice Lubes Slick Juice seemed an ideal candidate, not least since I’m exploring its qualities and limitations.  Same goes for bike washes and similar potions, although dry, dusty spells mean bikes tend to get coated in a stubborn filmy layer. Especially around the rear triangle, bottom bracket and downtube.

Tyres are another consideration as we transition to hedge clipping season and of course, wetter, colder conditions. Both are conducive to cuts, punctures and similar stuff I’d sooner not be tackling by the roadside with numb digits.  I switched Muffin’s 38mm Vittoria Adventure Tech for a 35mm Vee Tire Co Zilent MK2 TESTED: VEE TIRE CO ZILENT MARK 2 TYRES that I’d resurrected while on a different treasure hunt. In common with the Adventure Tech, it’s a portly but dependable wire bead model with a 5mm thick puncture repelling centre strip and an aramid strip running bead to bead.

 There are similarities with Schwalbe Marathon too. The centre strip works with a capillary action to push thorns, glass and similar out from the tyre. Muffin’s other dyno hub wheel is shod with a bigger (42mm) Maxxis Roamer TESTED : MAXXIS ROAMER TYRES which I may well switch to during drier, fair-weather spells. The front Mud Hugger Gravel Hugger Mudguard MUD HUGGER GRAVEL HUGGER MUDGURADS | cycling-not-racing  will manage 40mm. I experimented with a model identical to that sported by Ursula. However, it wouldn’t sit high enough around the fork crown, so back to the drawing board. The guard was only £1.50, so no great loss.

 Now was also prudent to do a tube inventory and retire or patch any suspect looking examples.  

Leather saddles are very durable but require a quick lick of hide food every so often. I’d suggest every six to eight weeks as a rough n’ ready. This will keep the hide nourished and protected from the elements. The Spa Nidd pictured has served me well, year-round, for thirteen years.

The wetter weather has also presented an opportunity to get a proper feel for how well the Nutrak Vee Swift Gravel Mud Frenzy cope in softer conditions. We’ve not got to the gloop proper as yet, but they’ve cut through softer sections reassuringly well. Something I attribute to a mix of profile and tread pattern. Pressure also plays a part. I’ve been running them between 50 and 55psi, the upper end of their range, given I’ve been doing a mix of tarmac, trail and green lane.

Despite this, their relatively supple casings ensure sprightly,, yet compliant passage over washboard surfaces, tree roots, stones and ruts. I’m expecting them to cope better than 2.1-, or 2.3-inch cross country mountain bike rubber due to these characteristics and greater clearance. Theoretically, less chance of clogging around fork crown and rear triangle.  Time will tell.

The M Par Ridge Pannier rack also continues to grow on me. There are some limitations common to single tier designs per se, but lateral stiffness is excellent-even with heavy loads. I’ve also been impressed by oodles of heel clearance with big (20 litre) panniers, including the mighty Lomo Zephyr and this Halfords Advanced Waterproof Pannier Bag.

Aside from the top sections, which employ nuts with nylon inserts, I’ve applied some medium strength thread lock to the fasteners- precautionary but good practice, especially when hauling the proverbial kitchen sink, or escaping the maddening crowd.    

 

Smaller Buster, Slacker Chains & Bigger Tyres

 

I've also been playing with Sigma's smaller, 110 lumen Buster. Output is good, although I'd steer you toward the 1600 Sigma Buster 1600 & RL150 Light Set | cycling-not-racing or HL2000 since these have more bite and in the latter's case, longer run times courtesy of the external battery. The HL2000 SIGMA SPORT BUSTER HL 2000 | cycling-not-racing also comes with a remote as standard.  That out of the way, the Buster 1100 still offers a good spread of modes for general riding and the flashing modes are both frugal and eye catching-

Seemed to upset an Audi driver, which was ironic, given I am regularly dazzled by the intensity of Audi and other contemporary vehicle headlights, typically in the driver's seat but also the saddle. This despite sophisticated sensor technology that supposedly automatically adjusting to prevent dazzling and related hazards. I suspect the sensors will improve as time progresses, but I find their real-world performance a little erratic at present. 

While I was awaiting the arrival of the Garmin pattern mounts, I discovered another suitable design while hunting for something else. Was bound to happen-these things always materialise when we’re not looking for them. It was the “Goldilocks” length-long enough not to foul the Sigma Buster HL1100, while positioning the Coospo CS600 at the right angle I ported the head unit over from Denise. I’ve also left the old school Giant computer adorning Denise’s Genetic Diversion drops and fork leg, so I can always keep an overview of speed, distance and similar.  Those little victories…

Chain tension is a hotly debated topic in fixed gear circles. I'd left a couple of extra links and opted for slightly less tension with Muffin's new KMC. Not that the Izumi was unduly tight, but this has rewarded with slightly greater efficiency. The KMC Go Wax lube is also continuing the serene theme.

Greater clearance between rear tyre and seat tube is another benefit. I've gone for the 42mm Contact plus at the rear, which is a really solid, comfortable tyre, sticking with a 38mm Vittoria Adventure tech up front. I might go for a 42mm Vee Tire Co Zilent TEST & REVIEW VEE TIRE CO ZILENT TYRES when the Continental finally shows signs of wear. The original Zilent weren't intended for touring, but proved popular with this audience, so Vee Tyre Co reinforced the sidewalls on the MK II TESTED: VEE TIRE CO ZILENT MARK 2 TYRES

Despite "only" having a puncture repelling centre-strip, the 38mm Vittoria Adventure Tech are proving very reliable and, like the Continental, quicker than might be expected, given their girth. The 5mm puncture repelling belt is reminiscent of that employed in the Kenda Kwik Journey KENDA KWICK JOURNEY TYRES | cycling-not-racing but the Vittoria feel more supple and compliant.

There is sufficient clearance at the front for 42mm- I parked a Maxxis Roamer TESTED : MAXXIS ROAMER TYRES.   there during the summer but sought greater dependability during the darker months. Winter is hard on rider, drivetrain components, wheels and tyres, but with proper prep and the right kit, it can be a whole lot of fun, too.

For three seasons riding, I find ¾ lengths ideal, or at least cover most bases, protecting knees from chill and just long enough to provide a good seal with longer socks. I often pair with longer waterproof socks, such as these Muc-Off. Whisper it, since some consider it a genre faux pas, but I also find them and their extended coverage very practical for off road excursions.

Having given Muffin a good sudsy bucket clean and addressed some slippage of the T-One Mr Fantastic Handlebar tape T-ONE MR FANTASTIC HANDLEBAR TAPE | cycling-not-racing, I topped up the KMC GO and  installed the composite Garmin mount  to Ursula’s Velo Orange Handlebar Accessory Mount VELO ORANGE HANDLEBAR ACCESSORY MOUNT | cycling-not-racing, which necessitated removing the Ravemen XR 6000 Ravemen XR6000 Front Light | cycling-not-racing but this is less problematic as we enter the lighter months.

Besides, I could always switch to the Sigma Buster HL2000 SIGMA SPORT BUSTER HL 2000 | cycling-not-racing and helmet mounting for rides on the wilder side. Helmet life and when to chuck them is a hotly debated topic. However, I’ve retired a few that have served eight years or so. I no longer trusted their integrity and in a couple of instances, adjustment dials were getting sloppy. I’m not going to argue with someone who disagrees with me on this front. I’ve worked with acquired brain injury and similar neurological conditions in the past and their impact upon people’s lives have certainly left an impression.

 During this episode of impromptu spring cleaning, I also took this opportunity to remove the seat post and check the grease’s tenure. This in turn prompted me to blast a little more corrosion inhibitor inside the seat tube.

As miles and familiarity with the Coospo CS600 increase, I’m discovering some minor niggles. Communication with the touch screen appears hit n’ miss wearing full finger gloves-even those with extensive silicone detailing, but I’ll try some others to see if this is an isolated, or consistent issue.

The auto backlight and similar sensored functions perform very reliably and while the anti-glare display is consistently good, the radar graphics are definitely sharper after dark.

 

Heavy Duty

The present lockdown is presenting considerable challenges for everyone. Stoicism, riding and creativity are my coping mechanisms. Broadband and similar connectivity are also creaking under the strain, presumably as there’s unprecedented demand. In my case, I'm also at the very end of this line. 

Experiences with standard (and otherwise very serviceable) track chains, such as this SRAM PC1 have led me to conclude that beefy ½ link track types are the best fits for me and my fixed gear builds. Models such as the PC1 and this Passport Elements Anti Rust Chain https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/passport-elements-single-speed-chai  are pretty good choices for bikes with single speed freewheels but fixed transmissions are subjected to greater stresses. 

Traditionally half-link chains were aimed at riders of conversions (i.e. geared framesets that have been converted to fixed gear use), where getting chain tension/length just right can be particularly tricky. There’s a lot of conflicting debate regarding their benefits and indeed, otherwise.   

I’ve switched to this KMC Kool HL710. White isn’t the most obvious colour choice but neutral enough and going for the proverbial song.  Before its arrival, I discovered my fixed gear winter/trainer’s rear Schwalbe Marathon GT decidedly flaccid.  

A flat, though thankfully fixable. However, the GT’s casing was starting to wear a little flat in places, so I took the opportunity and swapped it for this Vee Tire Co Zilent. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vee-tire-co-zilent-tyre . 

This one is a 35mm section, though seems fractionally narrower than the Schwalbe, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing either-gives a little more breathing space within the chainstays. The Zilent are a similar breed of tyre. One aimed at e-bikes and commuters.  

In common with the Schwalbe a two-layer puncture repelling armour. Works to the same capillary principle, pushing sharps out, before they can nick the tube. Operating pressures are a little lower, ranging from 35-65psi, whereas the Schwalbe Marathon GT go to 85 psi, the 42mm Zilent has a range between 45 and 80 psi).  

The Zilent2 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vee-tire-co-zilent-mark-2-tyres was devised upon discovering people were using the original Zilent for long-haul touring-something they wasn’t intended for and resulted in sidewall failures.  Up front I substituted the sprightly and compliant Soma Fabrications Shikoro https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/s  for the Continental Contact plus.    

I’ve gone for the 37mm- gives a little extra clearance upfront (not that it’s ever been an issue with the 42mm). The 37mm Contact Plus run between 65 and 85psi, whereas the Shikoro range between 35 and 90psi. 

Sure, the Contact Plus are a very different tyre, compared with the Shikoro. Closer to the Vee Tie Co Zilent, in fact, which should make for a very reliable, reciprocal mix. 

Despite the country being on “Lockdown” I’d be surprised if the police have the resources to enforce, beyond densely populated towns and cities. I’ve noticed a pronounced spike in the amount of fly-tipping. Discarded (broken) beer bottles also seem more prevalent and would also explain my switch. 

Shipping the Contact aboard the front Halo Evura https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/halo-evura-shutter-precision-sl9-dy hoop proved unexpectedly challenging though. It claimed two basic resin levers and almost sent a very nice Pedros’ over a 6foot fence. In the end, this VAR won the battle. Suffice to say, I’ve stashed that in the Carradry, in case I should flat by the roadside.  

Not been an issue with these, or their 42mm counterparts to date, although it’s worth noting that, no matter how rugged your rubber, tubes can fail at the valve heads. So always advisable to pack a spare or two, decent tyre levers and of course, a pump. I carry two mini pumps, and three tubes just in case.  

Overkill in some respects. However, one tube may get another stricken rider home and they consume nominal space in the SQR tour and Carradry bags. Oh, staying with tyres and inflation, Steve’s been quite impressed with this Zefal Profil Max FP60 Z-Turn Pump https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/zefal-profil-max-fp60-z-turn-pump 

This lovely CNC machined ring arrived from Raval. Made from CNC machined stainless steel, the climb down from 42 to 38 teeth gives a range between 34 and 89 inches. True, I sacrifice a little top end but gain a bit more mid-range, which is arguably more practical/efficient, given the bike’s design brief.  

Oval rings are to some an unusual, arguably controversial concept that comes in and out of vogue. Shimano Bio-Pace was the one most remember but several brands, including Stronglight (Bio strong) and Suntour (Oval tech), joined the bandwagon. However, oval rings have been making a quiet but steady return since 2014. I’m looking forward to racking up the miles on ours.  

No, not nostalgia talking (although it was popular during those halcyon days where I discretely read the cycling press and ogled high-end bikes, from my desk, while world-weary teachers feigned interest in us and in some cases, the curriculum being taught).