New Cassette Then...

  

Look through any forum on the internet, raise the topic with any group of riders and you will get a bewildering array of opinion when it comes to drivetrain life. Much will depend upon how meticulous your maintenance is, riding context and to some extent, rider weight/riding style. Mountain biking/gravel, rough stuff touring and winter are going to chew through chains and cassettes at a much faster rate than those belonging to best bikes brought out on sunny days.  

Rule of thumb and with generally good maintenance (Clean chains, lightly lubed and replaced at.75 wear) I get through three chains to every cassette.  

Shifting had suddenly gone off-phantom stuff, so hustling along the backroads at 5am, I reasoned cable stretch the most obvious culprit, so I tweaked the barrel adjuster. Seemed better for a while but still phantom shifting under load. Chain was well within acceptable tolerances, but closer inspection of the cassette suggested this was the culprit. In fairness, it’s been chugging along since May 2019, so didn’t owe me anything.  

A rummage through the transmission box revealed two new chains but only a part worn 9spd cassette, which was of no use, so consigned to the bin, along with its 10speed counterpart. It makes good sense to buy chains, cassettes and other consumables in multiples-two of each, so there’s no dramas when the bike shop’s shut.  

Particularly when they’re cheap...While the global supply shortage seems to have eased slightly, getting hold of things, especially at the right price is still proving trickier than before. I went for another Tiagra since these seem to strike the best balance between performance and economy. I’ve never liked Shimano chains, so KMC, SRAM etc are my defaults. 12-28 is pretty much ideal, given the build’s brief.   

On the plus side, the replacement arrived within 24hours, which was totally unexpected. These Muc-Off mechanics gloves had arrived just an hour before. On went the cassette! I also discovered the Univega’s front Continental Contact Speed reflex was pancake flat, courtesy of an easily spotted flint embedded in the shoulder.  

Not a nasty cut, but one that needed filling with superglue, nonetheless. At present they are wearing at the expected rate and across the centre strip Tube switched; job done. An ideal opportunity to polish the frameset, check and clean the brake pads, clean the rim side walls with a medium stiff brush etc.    

The chain was still in very good health, so I’ve stuck with it for time being. Judging by the analogue gauge, at present rate, I should get another five hundred miles, (3 weeks or so) from it, then I’ll consign it to the bin and so the cycle will continue.  

I’d got past the 500miles on a single application of the Muc-Off –50 chain lube, which does transfer quite easily to hands but less readily than many wet lubes I’ve used in the past. No worse than Weldtite TF2 Performance All Weather Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/weldtite-tf2-performance-all-weathe , which is a comparator in terms of viscosity and operating range (also reckoned very good in freezing temperatures). I’ve also grown fond of the Ravemen TR50 Rechargeable Rear Light https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/ravemen-tr50-rear-light      

The ongoing pandemic and localised lockdowns has made travel and touring a more considered affair. Cicerone’s guide to riding Hadrian's cycleway could provide useful inspiration https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/cycling-hadrian-s-cycleway  

 

Silence is Golden

Icy weather in remission, it was time to switch back to my beloved fixed. I’d also received this rather nice Fizi’k Vento Solocush tacky handlebar tape, and a Tioga city slicker (700x32c) tyre. The Fizi’k Vento Solocush Tacky handlebar tape, is reminiscent of other tacky, polymer based tapes. Including Lizard Skins DSP bar tape https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/lizard-skins-dsp.

I wasn’t expecting the additional .2mm density to have much impact, especially when dressing the bars. However, it required a firm, consistent approach to achieve aesthetically pleasing results. In common with similar tapes, it was very tolerant of being rewound, which was welcomed.

These sorts of finishes require more delicate cleansing (no harsh chemicals, or brushes for that matter). Otherwise, you’ll strip the non-slip layer. I was also surprised by how readily minor traces of dirt/oil and grease transferred. So, best to wear/change examination gloves, if new tape coincides with more generic servicing/repair.  

Plenty of additional incentive to get out along the lanes. However, I have noticed a palpable and pronounced surge in aggression-across the board. 

Observation and first-hand experience, on two wheels and four, leads me to hypothesise people are increasingly angry and entitled. This leads to an emotionally immature, and extremely dangerous “might is right” mindset. Rather than considered, cooperative and intelligent approach to road use.

I have often wondered whether this has any connection to a wider sense of societal angst and popularist politics. Popularism can be defined in a multitude of ways. For me, it describes a knee jerk, simplistic, emotional responses to complex issues. 

Popularist ideologies appeal to those, who know nothing about the world, are disinterested in exploring possibilities and simply want these prejudices validated.

Talking of prejudices, while in the midlands, collecting my wheel, from John Moss, I suddenly got thinking about my Univega’s mysterious (phantom) creak. Bottom bracket replacement sounded like a reasonable starting point.

Then I got to thinking along other lines. Firstly, the idea that the left-hand crank might be the culprit. Perhaps the alloy taper had warped slightly, preventing it from staying snug on the arm. This prompted one of those infamous, late evening trawls of the online auction sites, searching for a suitable replacement crankset, at the right price…

Having placed a couple of (mercifully) unsuccessful bids, I then reflected upon recent changes. Pedals being the only component switches. So, I reverted to the venerable Ritchey patterns, gave the crank bolts another quick check, then headed out for another twenty-mile blast.  Smooth, progressive silence

This appears to have cured the problem, so, being a perpetual fettler, I am, I’ve swapped to these Wellgo RC713, which offer excellent ground clearance and surprising amounts of support, even on longer outings. However, there’s no doubting double sided designs have a slight edge, at the traffic light grand prix.  

I was tempted to swap to a rather nice set of single sided Time. However, these would require swapping over to the time cleats. Sticking with SPD means I can alternate between fixed gear ‘crosser and Univega, without having to consider footwear choices.

Back on the fixed, I was enjoying some headspace along the lanes, when a mile from home, a slow rear puncture struck. I was able to creep the final half mile, on 35psi. The Gods had decided it was time to instate the Halo track HG wheel, built by John Moss. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/love-resurrection-john-moss-s-tandem 

Now, there’s a lot to be said about this hub. One side is threaded for a conventional track sprocket and lock-ring. Bearing quality and weather sealing are also very high, well suited to the real world. In this instance, hollow Cro-moly axles turn on super smooth, Japanese bearings.

Refined and very reliable but nothing out of the ordinary… However, the other features an HG cassette type body, designed for Halo’s dedicated 7mm sprockets. These slot on the splines and are locked in situ, using a traditional Shimano type tool. No need for chain whips and primal grunting.

Yes, traditional HG sprockets may fit…

However, they will wear through the splines. You have been warned. It will accept sprockets between 12 and 20 teeth. Caters for pancake flat, hillier regions, or indeed, trail duty too.

The other significant feature is the ability to get chainline absolutely bang-on (between 41 and 52mm). This is particularly significant on conversions, which have generally required bevelled sprockets to compensate.  

I gauged spacing by studying that of the Aerorage wheel. Panned out exactly as I’d hoped. Sliding the 15tooth sprocket home, I added a moderate lick of grease to the lock-ring.

Snugged tight, I mounted Schwalbe rim tape and their 35mm Marathon GT tyre. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-marathon-gt-tyres  I wanted something super dependable but relatively sprightly. The GT roll a lot faster, and smoother than their weight and profiles suggest. Looks like a great package and one I can’t wait to get testing!