Derriere Delight & Rapid Chain Consumption

 

Having switched saddles and riding conditions milder and wetter, I switched to Muffin and some fixed gear serenity before things flip flopped again. Reunited with the titanium railed Spa Aire, I was delighted with the comfort but also noted some slight slip with these Castelli Competizone Bib Tights Castelli Competizione Men’s Bib Tights | cycling-not-racing- the case with the Ergon it replaces.

With another snowy blast on the horizon, I switched Ursla from the CST Patrol CST Patrol Folding EPS Tyres | cycling-not-racing to Schwalbe’s Ice Spiker Pro Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Tyres | cycling-not-racing. Wheels in situ, I then decided a chain check was opportune- .75 when I introduced my more basic, nickel-plated tool. Bin fodder either way.

I had two in stock, so no issues on that front. Simply brake, prune the new and click into place with the magic link. Now was also the opportunity to expel some gunge clinging to the jockey wheels and lighter grime adorning the rings. Something also prompted me to check Denise’s KMC- said nickel-plated gauge also slid straight to .75.

Again, an easy fix, and chance to strip some residual gunk from the jockey wheels, cage and rings.  Both chains had been fed the Muc Off C3 All Weather Chain Lube Muc-Off C3 All Weather Chain Lube | cycling-not-racing . This also serves to illustrate how persistent exposure to waterlogged roads, mucky lanes, trails and of course snow and salt rapidly consume drivetrains-even with disciplined cleaning and light lubrication. Denise’s chain was only replaced in November. I subscribe to the philosophy of buying less exotic chains, since they still return a reasonable mileage and are relatively kind on the wallet when replacement’s due. Same goes for cassettes.

Rings should be fine, so long as you’re not lax when it comes to replacing chains. However, there’s an argument for investing in stainless steel, rather than 6061 aluminium alloy rings. At least on a tourer, or other bikes that do big mileages year-round. Mercifully, the Deore FC M5100 fitted to Ursula and Denise are steel, which adds a few grams but theoretically repays with improved durability.

Again, Deore is often regarded as entry-level, but the specification and performance are still very impressive. Back in the 1990s, I had high regard for Shimano’s STX & RC components, good enough for racing, but affordable and economic to replace, should you bend something beyond repair in a crash.  They key with all these things is to keep repairs, replacements and upgrades practical. Unless a gift, or passed to you at an incredibly favourable rate, bolting high end CNC machined rings on lower to mid-range cranks makes no sense.      

All this also serves as solid argument for running a fixed, or single speed steed as a primary winter bike. One ideally with full length mudguards (fenders). That said, fixed and single speed drivetrains are low maintenance, decent sprockets and chains are key, since they’re under a fair bit of strain and that’s before you throw the witches brew of wet, salt, grit and similar nasties into the mix.

Without doubt, the best sprocket I’ve ever run was EAI Superstar- a beautifully machined, highly polished stainless-steel affair commanding £45. EAI also offer a less exotic steel stablemate for £25. One that arguably strikes the best balance of value and performance on a working, or training bike.

I’m also suitably impressed by the Andel Fixed Sprocket (1/8 17tooth) fitted to Muffin. I’m not a fan of electroplating per se. I appreciate it looks pretty but I don’t like the process and acids involved. Nonetheless, Muffin’s seems to be holding up very well against the elements and offers a winter, knee friendly ratio of 67.5.

Great for a smooth, struggle-free cadence, but without going into overdrive on the descents.  As for chains, I’ve had surprisingly good results from budget KMC, such as the Z510, their higher end stainless counterparts, not to mention, the Gusset S Link and thus far, this Izumi. Once upon a time, while riding conversions I ran 3/32 Sedis, but it’s been 1 1/8^th track fare all the way since I took advantage of fixed’s resurgence in 2005.    

 

 

My Chemical Romance

I’m very fond of testing cleaners, polishes, waxes, greases and lubes. Most work but some perform much better than others. I’ve just received this big soft brush and bike wash from Zefal (along with a side-entry cage). As if by magic, this  Tru-Tension Banana Slip Tungsten All Weather Lube also arrived.  

Timely, since the Univega’s KMC chain had reached retirement, so I exchanged it for another KMC X10 73. 1650 miles seems reasonable from a 10speed, although I’ve stuck exclusively to dry/wax lubes during this period.  

Similarly, though shifting was still reliable, the chain lost its edge at 1250miles. it’s surprising how much difference a packet fresh chain makes, hence chains on race bikes should be replaced more frequently. I’ve also been quite impressed by this wallet and purportedly, planet-friendly Pure Dry Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/pure-dry-lube    

All things being equal, I tend to replace a cassette, every third chain and keep one of each, waiting in the wings. There is a (plausible) narrative, suggesting there is a global shortage of components, given the pandemic.  

I have noticed a pronounced rise in the prices of chains and similar consumables, so took the opportunity to harvest some, spotted at notable discount. Given the present global and political climate, I am not confident this situation will improve significantly in the coming months.   

  

So, to the Tru Tension Banana Slip Tungsten All Weather Lube. Tungsten is reckoned a superior friction modifier, compared with ceramics, let alone our old friends Teflon/PTFE. This is another wax formula but said to cure in minutes, not hours. I’m wondering how it will cope in changeable conditions.  

How well it will repel water, and indeed corrosion during damper rides, whether it is temperature stable, makes good transition to cleat/similar mechanisms etc.   I’ve opted for its wet counterpart on my fixed gear winter/trainer’s chain and have been pleasantly surprised by the low friction and tenacity, in the past sixty miles but I’m looking at another 400miles before forming any viable conclusions. 

Tru Tension also has a maintenance spray within its range. Again, it purports to be “Perfectly formulated cycling spray to loosen stiff components such as cables, linkages and forks”. In common with the breed, Tru Tension says it doubles as a light penetrant spray cum polish. Most do all these things, by degrees, in the one- does- most sense.  

Lighter potions have the edge when it comes to displacing moisture, say from lighting switches and battery trays, whereas the beefier blends keep mechanisms and cables slick for several weeks at a time.  

There is certainly a place for both, on any rider’s shelf. I’d also advocate a tin of penetrant spray to tackle seized and stubborn parts, although in my experience, highly potent aerosol degreasers using strong solvents will also shift some stubborn/seized parts.  

Came in handy, salvaging Shimano cleats from the Scott shoes, which suddenly imploded. The sole literally came away like skin from a salmon fillet. I’ve consigned them to the bin and reverted to the mighty Quoc Pham Tourer. 

I also ported the Shimano cleats, since they work best with both genuine Shimano pedals and their homages. Yes, Wellgo in particular!