Got the Horn!

 

Bells are one of those annoying adornments fitted to new bikes, sold here in the UK. Beyond this particular legislative compulsions, they have little practical use. Inflamed tonsils aside, a well timed greeting, or yell works better (especially in dense, urban traffic) weighs and costs nothing.

A few manufacturers have developed horns, with varying degrees of success. Power, at least in the decibel sense was never a problem but even if the horn component didn’t consume much handlebar, it often gobbled a bottle cage.

Some also proved borderline aggressive-not what’s needed when you want to gently alert pedestrians of your approach, say along a forest trail, or designated shared use path.  Oregon based ORP https://orpland.com/ have kindly sent Seven Day Cyclist www.sevendaycyclist.com the latest version of their little horn, which combines a 5 mode LED light, capable of delivering 140 lumens and two mode horn.  

This blue version is for illustrative purposes only, since ours seem to have been “intercepted” by someone in the postal service. It’s tracked and apparently signed for but not by me, or a representative of.  I digress..

The cube shaped design, encased in a big silicone blanket, is, dimensions-wise, a blinkey on cortisone, so compact enough, even for my Holdsworth’s cockpit. The horn component has two decibel levels commanded by the “whale tail” switch. 76 for polite “I’m approaching” 96 for letting rip on the streets.

There’s an optional "Remorp" bar mounted extension cable, similar to that employed on some lights. The Moon Meteor Storm Pro https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/moon-meteor-storm-pro-front-light and Moon LX760 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/moon-lx760-front-light being cases in point. For cleanest aesthetic, arguably these should be run beneath the bar wrap.

I’m inclined to go this route, say with super sticky silicones, which don’t feature an adhesive backing, or alternatively, if you change bar wraps seasonally, along with control cables.

There’s a sound rationale’ for doing so, especially if you rack up big mileages. This practice isn’t simply about boosting morale during the darker months, or indeed a desire to buy new stuff. Rather, it could be considered a discipline, presenting the ideal opportunity to inspect contact points for early signs of fatigue.

Elsewhere, I’ve solved the phantom flatting problem with my MK2 Ilpompino build’s rear wheel-the one so meticulously crafted by John Moss a few weeks back. Revisiting with fresh eyes, it seems the rim-tape I’d used had shifted and with realignment, literally disintegrated. Some fresh Schwalbe in situ, new tube and Schwalbe Marathon 365 remounted, pressure’s holding nicely.

I was hoping to run it in, over the next couple of weeks but some other, project management (building works) is making access to my beloved working fixed tricky. Talking of which, I would be interested in trying the V4, which aside from disbanding the wish bone rear triangle, has reputedly adopted a more aggressive geometry-without losing its all weather versatility. http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPOMPKOJV4/on-one-pompino-v4-drop-bar-urban-bike

Aside from some rather fetching wet spray colours, they’re also offering a raw version with a clear coat finish, which also intrigues me. I’d be interested to see how tough it was, compared with its 2pac counterparts; especially subjected to salty, winter roads.

I’ve had 7005 and 6061 aluminium alloy framesets hold up pretty well in these contexts, although ultimately stone chips allow moisture and condensation to build up beneath the lacquer, causing it to flake and in some cases, minor corrosion en route.    

Access issues and the arrival of the TF2 ultra dry wax has presented the opportunity to get the miles in on my Univega. Some would argue-not without grounds, that dry lubes are not meant for wet weather. I wouldn’t advocate their use during the depths of winter but it’s fair to say that summers are not always arid.

We’d expect a few wet rides and most lubes to remain in situ-especially during the summer months. In common with the Pure dry lube, it seems to be one of those which just attracts less dirt, rather than a self cleaning emulsion type that flakes off, taking contaminant en route. So far I’m impressed with its cleanliness and low friction. Be interesting to see how tenacious it is during a sustained period of changeable weather. 

 

Changing Gear

I’ve just recruited an intern to work on Stenning photographic and we’re also recruiting a design assistant for Seven Day Cyclist (www.sevendaycyclist.co.uk ), which is moving from a downloadable magazine to arguably more accessible web format after Christmas.

December’s frenetic countdown to holiday season requires schematic planning to avoid a lull come January, so while relatively tired, there’s no let up.

Sabre tooth man-flu has also relented sufficiently as to permit clear thought processes and a return to serious testing. However, my susceptibility to chest infections means climbing and similarly strenuous exertion still induces the sort of hacking cough synonymous with long-serving, chain-smoking shipyard welders!

Wilder weather fronts have also prompted my Univega’s swift resurrection, though thankfully the gritting Lorries appear to have gone home. Said Tubby tourer’s more upright stance is hardly aero but widely spaced gears provide ample grunt for winching, bombing and cruising.

Big tyres also permit the odd crafty cut through and provide a magic carpet ride now that pot-hole season is in full-swing. After several weeks traversing, wet, greasy rural backwaters, the otherwise likeable Teflon prep was showing signs of embedded filth, prompting a thorough degreasing and some Fenwick’s Stealth.

Generally speaking, bells on bicycles induce eye-rolling- a well-timed yell consumes no handlebar space, costs nothing and is more effective.

However, Oregon based ORP have combined a genuinely capable three mode 70lumen light and 76/96 decibel horn in one blinkey sized package. I’m a big fan of the cutesy silicone blinkies in blanket narrative. This one is available in seven colours and protects the unit from drop and weather damage.

Diodes, circuitry and lithium polymer cell are neatly sealed in a similarly tough polycarbonate body and tucking the USB port firmly underneath, sandwiched between the bars further minimises the likelihood of dirt and ingress getting a look in. 

Prodding the rear “Whale tail” downwards unleashes a more subtle, though attention grabbing bleep that warns pedestrians, walkers and runners of your advance without driving dogs into a braking frenzy.

Upwards delivers a much louder warning, which has dissuaded a couple of learner motorcyclists from making a risky manoeuvre and some drivers from swinging doors open without looking. The diodes also flash a visual warning and the design’s a marked improvement over other battery systems.

In constant mode, the light is just about good enough for well-lit town work and has saved my bacon a few times-most notably when the Univega’s 800lumen dynamo lamp was slow on powering up. Otherwise, flashing modes are perfect companions to these and other main lighting.

Run times are quoted as 12 and 6 hrs respectively, which will depend upon how often the horn’s engaged but like most lithium ion/polymer fuelled models, seems pretty faithful to those quoted and unaffected by factors such as temperature.          

Debate has always raged as to what constitutes serious cycling with people proving particularly sniffy in the contexts of commuter/utility apparel. While I’m most commonly seen blasting along in technical fabrics, it’s worth remembering typical car journeys are less than two miles. This sort of distance can be ridden at reasonable speed and comfort wearing everyday street clothing-a mindset most apparent in the Netherlands.

Similarly, while my preference in terms of commuter lid errs towards well ventilated, sub 300g models with less aggressive profiles and trail DNA, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by this ABUS Hyban. Tipping the scales at a relatively portly 380g; it sports an ABS hard-shell, which is available in six different colours, shrugs at the inevitable everyday carelessness and has a more flattering feel when riding in civvies.

A few years back, feeble watch battery fuelled single diodes integrated within the thumbwheel closure were the preserve of upper end commuter models. Increased demand and plummeting prices means we’re getting sensible, user friendly LED lights integrated within the shell.

Admittedly, these only constitute tertiary lighting but intelligent positioning means they’re aimed squarely at driver eye-level and visible to around 80 metres-further on clear nights. Though relatively well-ventilated and employing the inlet/exhaust system, I was still surprised by how unobtrusive the Hyban felt-even over distances of 15-20miles at a steady 18mph.

Much further/at faster speeds and the increased weight becomes evident, so not a design lending itself to weekend touring. However, many scoots to the office, visits to friends and similar bike as car journeys are much shorter in any case.

Sturdy shell and surprisingly useful peak come into their own on more adventurous mixed terrain commutes encompassing forests, canal/bridle paths etc, while the former provides useful platform for cameras and lighting. Increasingly, it’s difficult to find bad products per se and these must be evaluated according to their intended purpose(s) and comparable designs, not ill-informed preconceptions.