Possibly it’s the accumulation
factor, coupled with a sharp drop in temperature bringing more seasonal colds
into the arena but I succumbed to a sneaky, feral virus. The sort that begins
with addled thought processes but allowing you to head out for a decent ride. Before
you know it, head and joints feel like lead, simple tasks like adjusting cable
tension, or replacing bottle cages can feel challenging. These being
significant, since I needed to dial in Denise’s front Shimano CX50 stopper and
I was keen to switch the Wolf Tooth Morse over to Ursula to see how well their
adjustability benefits a small compact geometry frameset, especially when a lithium-ion
battery and frame fit pump are thrown into the mix.
The Wolf Tooth Morse are so
called because of the plate’s drillings and there are two basic versions-our
stainless steel and a lighter, dearer titanium. 304 grade stainless steel is
popular in a wealth of applications due to its blend of resilience and
corrosion resistance. Qualities that are verry apparent, judging by the regular
bastings from wet, greasy roads, agricultural slurry, muddy trails and regular
washings. It also offers secure, reliable tenure and release to big 750 ml
trade bottles and bigger, double walled thermos designs, too.
Now, as many would justly point
out, perfectly functional bottle cages can be had for £6 and indeed, less. I’ve
had three Trans X going strong some 26 years down the line-no, they hadn’t been
kept in a trophy cabinet, they’ve been in regular service. The fetching yellow
livery contrasted very nicely with Ursula’s original flamboyant red finish.
Back to the bargain bin, I’ve
gone for another set of the red composite fitted to Muffin- 99p each. These
will contrast nicely with Ursula’s grey finish and offer surprising amounts of
adjustment, so while not level pegging with a good side-entry model, will overcome
some of the hassles associated with standard bottles and small frames. Having said that, I’m pleased with the
contrast the stainless and titanium cages provide, so they may stay. I gave
Denise a good sudsy bucket scrub and fitted these Burls and Boardman carbon
fare. This also presented an opportunity to pump some more corrosion busting
waxy preserve inside the frames. Fasteners were given a blob of Zefal Pro II
Grease Zefal Pro
II Grease | cycling-not-racing.
I’d been hopeful but am pleased
to discover the Muc-Off C3 Ceramic All Weather Chain Lube is still clinging
dependably to the inks, keeping them lubricated and corrosion-free despite sections
of road resembling Paris Roubaix, waterlogged lanes. Mudguards, (fenders to
folks in the US) surprise, surprise do keep a lot of crap at bay, and I remain
impressed by the Mud Hugger Gravel Hugger MUD
HUGGER GRAVEL HUGGER MUDGURADS | cycling-not-racing fitted to Muffin.
Sure, they have some compromises
and don’t offer the same protection as traditional full-length models, but they
are still fairly effective, while permitting easy rear wheel removal. Full
length chrome plastics and track ends tends to require removing the frame
mounts, too which is a faff, especially on a cold and rainy night. Oh, and full-length
chrome plastics are impractical off road, unless of course you’re exploring dry
singletrack on an adventure bike, or big tubby tourer. Zefal have sent me their
Sheild G50 Gravel Mudguard Set and on a seasonally related note, their F1500
front light. The issue with a lot of gravel specific guards (and it’s a fairly
small point, given disc brakes are the default) but they can prove incompatible
with bikes running cantilever and V-brakes. The Shield G50 also proved
comparatively straightforward to fit and adjust.
However, while this design will entertain
older framesets, I strongly suspect they won’t offer quite the same degree of
protection afforded by the Gravel Hugger and similar patterns. The F1500 has me curious to see how well it
compares with the Sigma Buster 1600 Sigma
Buster 1600 & RL150 Light Set | cycling-not-racing
It’s four grams lighter at 233g
and slightly bulky, but I was pleased to find a wired remote within the bundle
and the light complies with IPX6 for weatherproofing. Remotes allow easily
toggling between modes, when entering different environments, or needing to dip.
The choice of bar or Go-Pro mount is another nice touch. Time and long, dark
roads are where the proof lies, although I remain impressed by its R150 rear
light, so I’m quietly hopeful the FL1500 will leave a similar impression.
I’m always saying (primarily
because its true) that I love the changing seasons and the riding experiences
they bring. Autumn remains one of my favourites, possibly given the association
with receiving the Holdsworthy built Claud Butler and Richard Ballantine’s legendary
“New Bicycle Book”, then at 18, leaving for London and a world full of
possibilities. Some I took, some I didn’t. Winter can be a longer slog, so
testing, a well-dressed machine and rider coupled with wider, intensive focus
helps with mood and momentum.
