I Go in Peace...

 

Chain casualties addressed, I was hoping that was the last bite winter was going to take out of their drivetrains and indeed, my wallet. I was relieved after the first 20-mile outing to note the shifting issue was resolved, everything just clicked up and down the cassette effortlessly-no call to fine tune the bar cons, or rear mech.  

 

Another little job off the list and my head. I’d dressed the chain in Peaty’s Link Lube Dry, which is essentially a waxy-type formula for dry weather-more suited to spring and summer. The conditions have since turned wetter and muddier-lanes resembling a cyclo cross course, seeing Denise and I blasted with cack. Great for testing stuff, but means regular sudsy washes- for bike and rider alike. Against this backdrop, I’ve stripped Denise’s chain bare using a Silca Gear Wipe and gone for some Peaty’s Link Lube All Weather.     

 

That formative ride on Ursula was characterised by thick, freezing fog, hence I'd gone for two rear lights and paired the K-Lite Bike packer Pro V2 K LITE BIKEPACKER PRO V2 FRONT LIGHT | cycling-not-racing dynamo lamp with the Ravemen XR6000 Ravemen XR6000 Front Light | cycling-not-racing  at 3000 lumens to cut through the gloom, especially since I wasn't wearing any day glow.  

 

I literally watched as the ice formed along the Madison waterproof jacket's sleeve and there was some palpable ice coating the lanes. A moot point with the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Tyres | cycling-not-racing, which are definitely worth the additional grams in these contexts. Fingertips were nipped a little by the cold, but then it was zero and the Lomo aren't intended for the most bitter winter has to offer (although there's scope for liner type gloves).  

 

Subsequent rides were milder, at least numbers wise, taking icy roads from the equation but wind chill meant it felt closer to minus 2. I hadn’t gone the liner route at this point and despite this, the icy cross and headwinds presented more resistance than chill. I fell between sizes, so went larger, which was definitely the way forward. 

 

Once the temperature crept to 1 or 2 degrees above, they've proven very temperate. Waterproofing is in the showery to heavy rain sense, not submersion and I'm told the DWR coating will have to be replenished from time to time. It doesn't matter what type e.g. spray on, or wash-in but there's only need to do this when things start turning unexpectedly soggy.  

 

I'd much sooner garments that are highly water resistant and wick quickly, rather than a truly impervious, submersible design that became clammy and uncomfortable. Those with TPU linings being the biggest culprits. The padding density is bang on for my needs. Dexterous enough that I can tweak stuff by the roadside, rummage through pockets, wield tools such as this Feedback Sports Reflex Torque Bit Driver Feedback Sports Reflex Torque Bit Driver | cycling-not-racing, trusty superzoom compact camera, and lights. 

 

Extensive silicone detailing engulfs the palms and fingers, continuing this grippy narrative, regardless of whether it’s been dry and chill, or milder and soggy. Natural silicone wraps have been the most tenacious union, but they’re proving consistently good across the board. The huge terry pad is perfectly positioned for effortless taming of runny noses.           

 

No issues with commanding lighting, keys and similar stuff either, which is similarly welcome, and the long cuff ensures excellent overlap and therefore, weather sealing with jerseys and technical shells. On one bitterly cold (but not icy) outing on Denise, I happened to upset a woman walking her two dogs. Apparently, despite leaving ample space when passing she felt startled.  

 

Her rebuke though forthright was still very respectful, so I responded with a protected wave of acknowledgement/apology. I'm not in the business of upsetting or startling any other road users full stop. The Orp smart horn TESTED: ORP SMART HORN went straight back aboard Denise's Soma Condor bars and I was curious as to how well the pack leader of two small terriers might respond to this.  

 

Most pedestrians and dog walkers seem to appreciate the less aggressive sing-song tone (my default). In many regards, I hope I don't meet her again, since a gentler 56 decibels might well infuriate her. I have been pleasantly surprised by the Magicshine Allty 400.  

 

My riding environments dictate something brighter, but there are situations-say stretching a best bike’s legs on longer summer evenings, or cold, bright winter days. Contexts where you’re needing to be seen, rather than navigate.  The 400lumen flashing (day and night) modes are surprisingly effective and unsurprisingly, the most frugal. In common with other lights of this genre, run times in the highest, steady settings are rather modest. 1hr 35 (against the 1hr40 cited) from the full 400.

 

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.