Lubes & Links

 I’ve noticed an interesting dual persona to the Blub Ceramic Lube now that temperatures have crept a little higher and roads a little drier. 4 degrees or so and it requires eight hours or so to cure and assumes a state closer to a lighter middleweight wet lube. Muckier to touch but has stayed put for 280 generally wet, gooey miles before topping up was needed. Interestingly, Blub says it will also need topping up on bikes left standing (i.e. not ridden) longer than 48 hours. It took a week before this became plain during March, and with the temperatures wavering between 3 and 16 degrees.  

Same story with the fixed gear winter/trainer. 10-25 degrees is apparently where the lube’s qualities are best. Having replenished Ursula’s thirsty links, I only needed to wait five minutes before it turned from creamy to glazed. Much cleaner too.  Not necessarily ideal for weekend/ sunny days’ bikes but not necessarily a bad choice either-so long as you don’t mind reapplying a light coat each week. Talking of lubes, I’ve played with the Silca Secret Formula Chain Lube long enoughto form firm conclusion Silca Super Secret Chain Coating | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Steve's also been impressed by the Blub Chain Lube BLUB Chain Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)Though unplanned, the Continental Cross King has proven a positive move. In common with the Maxxis, it’s relatively quick on tarmac and hardpack surfaces and sufficiently nimble along gravel roads, green lanes, and forest trails. I’m pondering going the Continental route up front too-again, with the puncture-repelling belt.       

As for the camera mount, well, that’s going to need some revision. The preset positioning is obscuring the Giant computer and I’ve also noted the camera platform, coupled with the use of resins isn’t adequately supporting the camera’s weight, resulting in shake and therefore blurred footage. I’m pondering whether I can revise this mount, or maybe salvage the Minoura. Perhaps a “permanent” bar bag, rear mudguard upgrade...Aside from consumables and testing, I’m not looking to change Ursula’s spec. The old girl is staying in Monster Cross guise.  

The recent blowout allowing, all the tubes have been easily patchable and have returned to the Axiom Ocean City Wave City+Seat Bag AXIOM OCEANWAVE CITY+ SEAT BAG | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), a packet fresh WTB tube has also been parked in the bottle cage caddy. It’s been a bit of a journey, these past 25 years in life and indeed, component changes reflect this. Ursula: The Never-Ending Story | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Tag along tug, four seasons hell n’ high water, Ursula has been a friend, a confident and a reliable companion through some extremely turbulent times. While the days are quite chill suggesting winter hasn’t relinquished its grip just yet, there’s a brighter, sometimes drier narrative. It’s light by 630, enticing me to head out earlier and enjoy the peace.  

I’ve reached the conclusion that the most important components on a working bike are well sealed, hubs, headsets, bottom brackets, and sturdy paint.  

Opinions vary when it comes to colours. Skid mark brown certainly has a wealth of benefits, especially on the theft -repelling front. However, I’m drawn to more neutral livery- dove grey, cream, blues etc. I’ve occasionally toyed with the idea of a bold, vibrant purple next time round but “light” (Ral 7035) grey with a tough clear lacquer coat seems the most likely candidate, come the time the timeless cream starts looking, er, tired… (tyre photo Michael’s garage).     

Not to be left out, the fixed now features this rather lovely Ritchey WCS Carbrillo Saddle. Aimed at road and gravel audiences and measuring 260x146mm, it’s slightly shorter and broader than my “bike-fit” ideal but this wider, flatter shape has some other interesting features.  First up, there’s the patented “Vector Wing” technology, which I’m told features across all Ritchey saddles.  

This means the rails (stainless steel, in this instance) are isolated to help prevent hot spots by dissipating pressure more evenly, away from the sit bones for “all day” comfort. The cover is also noteworthy since it's seamless and attaches to the base without glue, staples, or stitches.  As for the padding, it's a light polyurethane foam.  As the name and 227g might suggest, there’s also some carbon involved. It features in the shell, which is a nylon/carbon fibre mix.  

Shorter nose saddles are designed for riders who want to assume a lower more aggressive stance, although at 260mm, the WSC is much closer to a traditional road saddle (and none the worse for it). Stubbier designs have been compatible with me in the short terms but in practice, I favour something slightly longer.  These things aren’t an exact science and as I’m always saying, contact points are the most personal, some might say, divisive points. 

Plan is to do three hundred miles on the fixed and then switch to Ursula, to test not only its comfort and performance on and off road, but to see if a more upright positioning, placing greater weight on the saddle has any impact. Then of course, there’s the flat profile. Does this have any impact when re/mounting along more technical, or potentially boggy sections of trail for example. 300 miles on each should give sufficient insight into its longer-term comfort, considerations, and potential limitations.  

Do those extra 3mm improve, or detract from comfort, does the sculpted design make any tangible difference? Racing and touring may seem worlds apart but the common link concerns equipment. Saddles being obvious examples, but it goes much wider and includes a change, or tweak to positioning. Never roll up to the start line, or into the wide blue yonder with equipment that’s fresh from the box- get at least a couple of hundred miles with it, while the stakes are low. New bike, groupset, wheels, panniers, shorts, shoes, shifters, the rule applies. I'll close here with my review of the Leatt Jacket MTB Endurance2.0 Leatt Jacket MTB Endurance 2.0 | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

 

Summer & Shorts

 Unable to bring myself to dispose of the wounded Triban Men’s Road Cycling Bib Tights RC500 (I’ll basically run them into the ground, or the stage where they’re no longer socially acceptable) I’ve been alternating between them, the Funkier Ride Flow Men’s Three-Quarter Length Summer Bib Tights FUNKIER RIDE FLO MEN'S 3/4 BIB TIGHTS | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and the Madison Freewheel Men's Thermal Bib Tights with Pad Madison Freewheel Thermal Bib Tights | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)

Yes, it has been cool enough on some morning rides. Then along came these Altura Airsteam Bib Shorts. These are designed for rides up to the two-hour mark, which doesn’t necessarily restrict them to novice riders.  

Time triallists, cyclo crossers, and indeed, competitive cross country mountain bikers may also find them a good fit. The Altura’s 3D Plus Pad employs medium-density foam, while the outer layer is made from “Air Fabric” which is reckoned to be highly breathable, so we’ll see. Pads, regardless of price point are very personal things, so we’ll see.  

Bibs are the default and for good reason. They don’t compress the waist, and keep the back and vital organs temperate. They also hold the pad snugly and aligned. There’s also a better aesthetic on and sans bike. Once upon a time, roadside “pit stops” were trickier, although, in my recent experience, they tend to be cut lower at the front and the straps are also designed with generous give.

  

However, this is cold comfort for female riders and assuming you can’t find a decent public toilet, it could be tricky slipping the straps down beneath a jersey.  Similarly, though stretchy fabrics help considerably, some designs can prove restrictive for taller riders.  The additional heat retention can also prove a double-edged sword. Nice on cooler rides and thin mesh panels make a significant difference but choose base and top layers carefully on hotter days.    

Some male riders only shave their legs during summer when they’re on view. Others shave year-round. I’ve straddled both camps I.e., while I’ve been less disciplined during winter and early season.  

The reason for me being “smooth” is not aerodynamics, rather there’s an element of aesthetic tradition. I also privately subscribe to the idea it helps with massage and treating cuts and grazes on the trail or following a tarmac tumble (although I do my level best to avoid the latter).  

In terms of technique, when in werewolf mode, I tend to prune the worst with a clipper set, then lather up and remove the rest with a decent-quality razor and work in upward sweeps. Remember to rinse and clean out the razor at regular intervals and don’t rush. 

I’ve also been revisiting action cameras. Not looking at acquiring another, rather I’m sticking with the Campak unit since it’s a good performer, waterproof to IPX7 without recourse to the traditional casings and generally user-friendly. There are the usual downsides common to the genre- o so audio and low-light performance.  

Mounting kits are my biggest gripe regarding the Go Pro homages is mounting hardware. Those for the bars seem particularly low rent. Hence, I’ve always reached for the Minoura VC100. However, I’m looking for something sleeker, in the quest for tidier cockpits- at least when it comes to the fixed and Ursula.  

Several weeks and plenty of miles down the line, given Ursula needed a good bath, I decided it was time to switch to something lighter. In this instance the Muc Off Dry Lube.  I also took this opportunity to whip out the chain wear indicator and, yes .75-worn out. Thankfully, I still had two “in stock” so on went another KMC.  

 

I’m confident the Muc Off Dry won’t attract much dirt and grime but will be interesting to see how many miles per application it returns, especially if a couple of damp rides and long grass are thrown into the mix. Talking of washing and bike care, here’s my review of the Weldtite  Rapid Ceramic Shield Weldtite Rapid Ceramic Shield | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

I’ve finally switched to the Safety Labs E-Bahn 2.0 MIPS Urban In mould Helmet as my daily driver and have been pleasantly surprised by how airy and unobtrusive it's proving. Especially from a design aimed at urban riders and boasting a moderate 15 vents.  

Predictably, I’ve been shunning civvies for road and trail-biased togs but despite being more “Cromwell” than my tastes usually lean to, the fit’s really nice, the peak is proving more substance than style, and even at moderate speeds, the vents ram a decent amount of cooling air through.