Too Much Pressure?

There’s been no relent in the wet weather. Thankfully, my Univega’s dressed for foul conditions and mixed terrain service. Besides, I needed to test the mud-shedding prowess of these Wellgo MO94B pedals https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/wellgo-m094 and cast my own, personalised imprint in the Cycles Berthound Solour leather saddle. 

After 85 miles, the latter and I were in friendly acquaintance territory, 150 miles in and the friendship is blossoming. Regular feeding of the hide, using Proofide, or a similar quality leather preserve also helps accelerate this process. Once forming is complete, feeding need only be done every 6 weeks or so.  

Existing gearing was low enough to winch myself through the thick, boggy mud. However, I’ve concluded a 38 (rather than 40) tooth ring would strike the elusive sweet spot. Enough zoom for the flat and descents, just a little more grunt on the climbs.  

Production 5 arm 94 BCD rings are getting harder to source (although I am advised that Stronglight still list them). I’m not prepared to pay “classic” prices for NOS (New Old Stock) rings either. However, the existing Talon ring is in rude health and if something suitable comes along, brilliant, if not the gearing is, in the main, perfectly serviceable. 

While I’m delighted that high quality, small scale manufacturing/engineering is very much alive, sourcing products from Europe and indeed, elsewhere could become fraught with difficulty, come 2021.  

Unfortunately, highly skilled engineering and similar vocational education is (and has long been) regarded as a poor second to academic learning. A long-standing snobbery, which is neither accurate nor desirable.  

I graduated 25 years ago, during a recession. During this period, I was also keen on pursuing a new life in the Netherlands. I had a girlfriend studying there. Catching her aside her housemate (who had a 1st class honours degree), seemingly ingesting his enviable intellect saw any love for her evaporate, replaced by a strengthening bond to the Dutch.  

One thing led to another and I decided to check out the cross-country mountain bike scene there. I met an ex-pat and former banker who had relocated from the UK and retrained as a skilled machinist. Decent salary and standard of living, too. He’d never looked back. 

For the uninitiated, a skilled machinist operates machine tools to manufacture and repair precision equipment. It requires a solid understanding and application of mechanics, metals, layout and machining procedures. Apprentice trained engineers are life-lomg learners by nature and continuously develop their knowledge/skillset.  

The same is not necessarily true of University graduates, regardless of specialism-at least, here in the UK.  In the late 90’s, the UK administration introduced life-long learning accounts. A system, which was well-intentioned and originally aimed at people made redundant, when traditional industries collapsed.  

Unfortunately, this didn’t reach the intended/target audience, so it was quietly disbanded. It was recently resurrected as part of the Liberal Democrats’ election manifesto, and once again, been consigned to the vaults of history.  

Observing the patterns, I do not feel we will reach a point of total automation, where human labour/skills are made redundant but the skills required (and to some extent, legal/insurance implications) will need to change and it is quite possible that many people will be unable to make these transitions.   

These will not replace important “soft” skills, such as emotional intelligence, which are also incredibly important, in any role requiring human interaction. For example, a heating engineer who communicates well and problem solves on this level, is also likely to have more customers than one who is technically very competent but lacking in inter-personal abilities.   

I’ve been chatting a lot about handlebars in recent entries, specifically Soma Condor and Genetic’s D-Riser family. These are riser drops and some would argue, more specialist than required by some road-biased riders. Arguably, components on complete bikes should be proportional to frame size e.g. stem length, bar width etc.  

Similarly, there is a perfectly reasonable argument for making substitutions/upgrades at the point of sale. Tyre and saddles are two prime examples. This has changed slightly, given modern retailing- the switch to online, rather than physical shop consultations and purchases.  

However, unless something is obviously the wrong width/pattern/size, there’s an argument for running stuff a little while, then upgrading/replacing at a later stage.  At £30, Steve reckons the Genetic STV Road Handlebars are a great starting point for generic, road-biased riding.     https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/genetic-stv-road-handlebars 

Continuing my theme, some inexpensive but cheerful “Lifeline” branded tooling arrived, including this digital tyre gauge. Even though those fitted to most track pumps have much closer affinity to reality, getting pressures spot on gets the best from tyres and ride quality. Capable of registering 160psi, the digital is a little small, compared with a  Topeak Smartguage I had some 15 years back.   

However, in common with this premium quality SKS unit (that’s been loyal to me for a decade, or so), it features a useful backlight. Another similarity is the dual (rather than “smart”) valve head. There’s no denying the “Smart” type, which automatically morph to fit Schrader/Presta heads are super convenient.  

However, in my experience, the sprung mechanism is their Achille's heel, eventually going the self-destruct route. It also features a bleed valve, for quick tweaks and runs from the ubiquitous CR2032 button battery.  

Giving change from £10, it doesn’t feel fragile but it will be interesting to see how accurate and durable it proves. The backlight and valve light and similar features suggest it’s intended to be taken along for the ride.  

Given the price point, if it did take a bad knock, then cheap enough to replace. Nonetheless, I’m more inclined to carry an analogue model, such as this Revolution, since there’s no risk of accidental, battery draining engagement.         

There is a perception among some, that tough tyres “suck the joy out of riding”. However, this needn’t be the case. The Schwalbe Marathon GT https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-marathon-gt-tyres are relatively portly but still deliver a very smooth and relatively quick ride.  

I’ve had a couple of flats over the past few years and countless thousand miles. 800 odd grams is pretty much as portly as I’d want to go. Nonetheless, I’d prefer a few additional grams and reclaim riding time, over tending punctures on dark, rainy nights.      

Time Travelling

Having headed to London’s High Holborn this week for a meeting with fellow collaborators, I arrived to find our rendezvous closed and my bladder on the brink of explosion. With no public conveniences in sight, lateral thought had me scanning for back alleys and similar points of discrete, dignified urination. An abundance of CCTV persuaded me otherwise and to seek the guidance of a policeman on horseback, who it transpired was Dutch and unfamiliar with this particular locale’…

Taking a few shots of parked fixers in attempt to distract myself from this most pressing matter, an oasis appeared in the guise of a green site toilet stationed but two metres from a derelict office block. Keeping a watchful eye for site foremen and others who might thwart said mission, I hopped the barrier and tried its door. Words cannot do justice to the euphoric relief that followed and I returned to find the Princess Louise open and my colleagues there to welcome me.

Unlike many older London pubs, this one is an immaculately preserved homage to the late 1960s, right down to the toilets’ glazed tiles, stained glass doors and sparkling porcelain facilities. Two hours hence, business concluded and action plans established, we arranged to reconvene with progress updates in two weeks before heading in our respective directions. Temptation was to make the very most of my travel card and document derelict/abandoned buildings but I’d only my compact camera to hand and forging ahead with our venture was time better spent.

Continuing the urban theme, Foffa’s minimalist hub geared build has been inducing plenty of cheer. Seven evenly spaced ratios (245% efficiency) easily trump old fashioned ten speed derailleur set-ups delivering sufficient clout in moderate conditions whether hammering full pelt into rural descents or navigating stop-start town centre traffic with a trailer en-tow. Admittedly, its loftier Alfine cousin boasts 307% efficiency and roller clutches, thus my choice for longer excursions and more challenging terrain.

That said; less glamorous components remain better bets for daily drivers that can spend several hours shackled to street furniture. Talking of which, thus far, the wet spray enamel is holding up very nicely, though were it my machine, I’d be inclined toward mummifying its top tube under offcuts of old butyl to prevent accidental damage. Going to see what the next three weeks, three hundred miles service reveal before forming any absolute conclusions though.

     

Elsewhere, those Keo pattern Wellgo R096B remain likeable contact points. On the one hand this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given the Taiwanese giant makes pedals for a wealth of other marques but build quality seems a notch or so higher than some famous names’ entry level offerings.

Despite prolific dis/engagement in slow moving rush hour traffic, the R096’s painted aluminium bodies remain unblemished, save for some trace swirling. Contrary to popular misconception, when properly applied, powder coating doesn’t flake or peel but aluminium alloy can be chemically stripped and left bare to coincide with annual servicing unlike magnesium exotica, which much prefers paint. 

B in this instance denotes sealed needle roller, as distinct from ball bearings. Lore suggests these can be left to their own devices, though ours benefitted from being striped and repacked with White lightning’s “Crystal” grease. Some infer bearing life is rather shorter than several premium brands-not my experience having run various models on and sans asphalt for a decade or so but then powerfully built 90 kilo riders and/or those unable to resist jet washing should bear this in mind.

Cleat life seems on par with other Keo patterns and red (9.5 degree float) come supplied, although seasoned types with stronger joints may want to skip straight to grey. Either way, consumables are cheap, plentiful and easily acquired. Composite bodied Look models can be found floating around in cyberspace at ludicrously tempting price. I’ve used them to good effect in these contexts but nasty tumbles can spell their end.