Minority Report (Pain in the Arse)

 

I have always been something of a minority and that doesn’t overly bother me, in any respect. Despite the very welcome resurgence in popularity, cycling remains a minority or less mainstream activity here in the UK.  

The same goes for several interests and passions I hold dear. I’ve touched on this and my introversion before. In commercial (and indeed other social contexts) I am perfectly capable. Borderline loquacious, given the right variables. However, I deftly swerve introspection and beyond the quality of my work, feel no need to seek attention.  

Provided I’ve done nothing to elicit a negative experience, I care little about whether people like me or not. Something I find very empowering and I’m very selective about those I allow beyond my veneer. Those who genuinely know me, describe me as a unique person, an acquired taste. I’d much sooner this, than a two-dimensional cardboard cut-out.  

January can be a long, austere month. Long forgotten are December’s festivities and cosy glow, often replaced by dull skies, unexpected expenditure and longing. Distractions can also take hold. These are fine, so long as they don't detract from physical, mental or emotional energies that would be better employed elsewhere. This typically strikes me in the workshop. Left unchecked, experimentation with gearing and other component changes can develop lives of their own. I’ll just...Is an extremely dangerous thought. One that can see ideas rapidly assuming lives of their own.  

Yes, winter can be a pain in the arse... 

Having ruled out saddle misalignments and similar issues, I am doing some trial-and-error miles with fresh longs and pads. My hypothesis is that some favourite bib tights and ¾ lengths are coming to the end of their service life, resulting in discomfort. 

  

While I felt able and had the grease out, I decided it was time to give my fixed gear winter/trainer a seriously good wash and perform the fork switch. I’ve stuck with the TRP Spyre SLC calliper for now since it was just a question of switching it over and the existing cable was fine. Annoyingly, unlike the basic Spyre, the SLC’s clamp seems more prone to fraying inner wires. Especially since I’ve always used a correctly calibrated torque wrench to snug everything down.  

Mercifully, the fork switch was plain sailing. I decided not to prune the steerer any shorter and simply added another 5mm spacer. I also gave the Stronglight headset bearings a clean and liberal helping of Juice Lubes Bearing Juice. This is closer to a putty than a traditional grease.  

Buttery smooth, friction is higher compared with preps like Park Tool Poly lube 1000 TESTED: PARK TOOL POLYLUBE 1000 LUBRICANT FOR BICYCLES (sevendaycyclist.com), not to mention, Peaty’s Speed Grease PEATY'S SPEED GREASE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). However, during the depths of winter, I’m more concerned with a grease’s ability to protect against water, ingress and corrosion.  

Closer inspection revealed some structural deterioration of the Kinesis fork. I whipped out the hacksaw and cut it up before I forgot about this and inadvertently passed it to a friend.  

Credit where it’s due, this took more effort than I was expecting. I’ve kept the crown and steerer, so it will live on as a drift for headset cups etc, since (a) waste not, want not (b) I believe my scrap piece of downtube met the skip during 2020’s pre-move, garage rationalisation.   

Since I was there, I switched to the Halo White Line/PD8 HALO CLASSIC RIM & SHUTTER PRECISION DYNOHUB DISC WHEEL BUILD (sevendaycyclist.com) wheel, with the CST Pika tyre, for aesthetic uniformity and improved clearance. I was surprised to discover the rim shod with a narrow, 559 (mtb) rim tape, not the 622 I’d expected to see. Testament to Schwalbe that it’s stretched so far without snapping or losing shape.  

The new fork is closer to a traditional cyclocross design, with slightly tighter clearances than the DC7 it replaces. 35mm tyres. If you’re prepared to ditch a front guard, 38 tops.  

Fixed gear winter/trainer freshly washed and waxed, it was time to pop it away and go for a formative shakedown ride the following morning. Unforgiving headwind aside, the fixed flew and everything felt exactly as it should, especially at the front end. Fate intervened in a positive sense, again. Talking of which, here’s my review of the Vecnum FreeQuence Suspension Stem https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vecnum-freeqence-suspension-stem 

Roads and clear, starry skies to myself (save for the odd rabbit) I just sat back and cruised as fast as my legs could carry me- ejecting meaty chunks of phlegm as need presented. I am strong but vulnerable to chest infections, which linger painfully- long after the other markers of cold, or flu have passed. 

 

I am also very aware that old practices such as “running a cold out on the road” are potentially extremely dangerous. Certainly not something I’d advocate, but I do find that having recovered from a lurgi, riding is a great expectorant. Stubborn, residual nastiness that otherwise lingers and settles on my chest, shifts and is more readily expelled.  

Not something I’d want to subject others to, but fine on solo outings. Given the typically wet, mucky conditions, I was rather pleased Weldtite sent me this fabulous bundle of bike cleaning and protectant goodies, for testing. Oh, and here’s my review of the CST Pika Gravel Tyres CST Pika Gravel Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

 

Riding Out & Letting Rip

  

Progressively lighter mornings have meant I’ve switched from the mighty Sigma Buster HL 2000 SIGMA SPORT BUSTER HL 2000 | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), to a compact Ravemen torch slipped into a jersey, or gilet pocket (for roadside inspections).   

Lighter Abus lid, especially since I spend more time on the Holdsworth and Teenage Dream. MTB biased lids, though aesthetically fine on a cross, touring, or gravel bike look weird on pure road bikes.  

5 am starts have been a theme for the past two years but have often proved the best move, in the event of poor sleep and/or periodic nightmares. While matters have been explored and addressed. I retain a small but significant and seemingly permanent disconnect from the civilian world. We have a right to our feelings; we do not have a right to negatively project them upon others. Riding as therapy is a common theme. Simon Parker is another author exploring his own journeyRIDING OUT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

The Motoverde PTFE chain lube continues to impress with its longevity and staying prowess. 500 miles down the line, it behaves like a middleweight wet lube, with similar cleanliness, although conditions have been relatively dry, so I'd expect at least 700, from a single helping. Lots of brands suggest their chain lubes are also suitable for cables and other surfaces, which isn't always so. Thankfully, the Motoverde is keeping inner wires happy, ditto cleat hardware (although grease would be my default, especially during the winter months.) 

Not that I’ve needed to, but Motoverde confirmed my suspicions that it shouldn’t be topped up. Rather, drivetrain components should be thoroughly cleaned with Motoverde Drivetrain Cleaner Motoverde Drivetrain Cleaner | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), or indeed, your stripper of choice, first. Introducing the chain checker confirms the KMC chain remains in good health. While searching for the crown race tool, I uncovered a couple of replacements, which was another welcome surprise.  

The ORP Smart horn TESTED: ORP SMART HORN (sevendaycyclist.com) has been playing flashing companion to the K-lite Bike Packer Pro dynamo- just to announce my presence to other early risers, before the lamp kicks in.  

Not needed to deploy the horn function (not sure if rabbits or red deer would respond positively to it, either). True, the Spyre SLC/ Swiss Stop Swiss Stop Catalyst Disc Rotor | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) braking upgrades certainly help on the aversion front. I’m pleased to report the Tektro RL340 are fully compatible, and I won’t be switching to a V brake compatible model.

I've adjusted the cable tension very slightly, due to periodic binding issues and added an additional strip of  Zefal Skin Armor ZEFAL SKIN ARMOR ROLL | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) on the fork leg, to prevent cable rub induced paint damage. I’ve also switched the Velo Orange Rubbery Bar Tape VELO ORANGE RUBBERY BAR TAPE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and Ciclovation Grind Touch CICLOVATION GRIND TOUCH BAR TAPE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) for this 3.5mm thick Ergon Bar Tape Gravel. 

The Holdsworth and Teenage Dream’s dual-pivot Miche calipers are also extremely efficient stoppers and (especially with the upgraded front pads) I’d not revert to period-authentic single pivot designs, including the original Campagnolo Athena- much as I love their aesthetic.   

Though conditions are increasingly spring like, dawn and evenings can be tricky, so Oxford Venture Jacket OXFORD VENTURE JACKET | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and a lightweight cap are my defaults. I’m a big fan of the Buff Pack Bike Cap BUFF PACK BIKE CAP | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) both have the advantage of packing very small, so can be slipped into jersey pockets, if not required.   

Lusso Pain Cave Summer Cap is my next in line. Both feature generous peaks to protect from the sun’s glare. I also own a more traditional Buff with a peak, which was arguably a little more versatile.   

These are great for children, protecting them from wind, chill and intense sun, given these will easily cover the neck.  The Venture jacket also has a hood, one of the few I’m really taken with. However, if you’re not, a water repellent model, such as this Prendas Ciclismo Lisboa Waterproof Cycling Cap PRENDAS CICLISMO LISBOA WATERPROOF CAP | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)