Levelling Out

I’ve been trying (and largely succeeding) to avoid the increasingly maddening crowds who have increasingly flooded the roads since a relaxed lockdown was engaged here in the UK. The swing to much warmer weather has certainly encouraged this. Several coastal towns have found themselves inundated with visitors who clearly felt, that social distancing is no longer relevant.  

Thankfully, I’ve been getting the miles in, while most folks were fast asleep in bed. 1150 miles in and the Cycles Berthoud Leather Saddle is much closer to my ideal but there’s a very discernable difference when I hop back on my fixed gear winter/trainer’s Swift pattern.   

The eagle-eyed of you will also notice I’ve lost the mighty SQR Tour and gone back to this Dill Pickle Store Custom wedge pack. Opportunity presented and it saves a whole heap of grams, but I do love the SQR Tour and will doubtless revert, in due course. The Dill Pickle will swallow two tubes, assorted tyre levers, Passport CDW20 multi-tool https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/passport-cdw-multitool and other essentials.  

There’s ample room in the external mesh pockets for any overspill. Staying with multi-tools a moment, these can feel a little generic sometimes but every so often someone comes along with something a bit different. I was sent this 20 function Merida recently. 20 functions conjure up pocket workshops. No bad thing, especially if you’re looking for something that will cover most bases.  

However, they can feel overburdened, dare I say generic. The Merida is very different. Yes, there are the usual collection of Allen and Torx keys, pad spreader, Philips driver and tyre lever. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of a valve adaptor.  

Arguably not something you’d use too frequently but a godsend, should you need to inflate a Presta valve, from a garage airline. Measuring 7.4x5.2cm, its compact but also refreshingly nimble in confined spaces- bottle cage hardware on smaller semi/compact geometry framesets being prime examples.              

Not surprised to have exceeded 300 miles on a single helping of the Weldtite TF2 Ultra Dry Chain Wax https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/weldtite-tf2-ultra-dry-chain-wax, despite some occasionally damp outings. Reckon I’ll get 400 before it’ll need replenishment. Chain is still in good health, with nominal wear, several weeks and 700 miles in.   

I’m also forming a very firm bond with the Cane Creek Thudbuster STG4 Seatpost, although this should come as little surprise, given I’m a big fan of the design. For the uninitiated, this employs parallel linkages and keeps the post in the direct path of the rear wheel.  

I.e. As a bump shoves the bike’s rear wheel, the post reacts downward and rearward, theoretically absorbing force at the same rate, thus progressive and without saddle movement. No issues with maintaining a swift and efficient cadence. The stock medium elastomer also seems absolutely bang-on for my 70 kilos, although these are very easily swapped, sans tools.

  

Simply press the centre until it pops out, then pop in the firmer or softer counterparts. In my experience, elastomers like a quick lick of rubber-friendly grease-silicone based products, including Muc-Off Silicon Shine https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/muc-off-silicone-shine-polish will also keep them happy. In terms of grease, those designed for elastomer forks are an obvious choice, although Green Oil Eco Grease  https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/green-oil-ecogrease-long-ter-test or Pure Bike Grease https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/pure-bike-grease are good alternatives.  

The pure is also has a very nice (low viscosity) flow rate, meaning it’s easier to apply. Avoid old fashioned petrochemical greases, since these will eat, or otherwise ruin rubberised components. 

The same goes for automotive products, such as Castrol Red Rubber Grease, which was touted in some circles as being a cheaper alternative, rivalling Judy Butter and other bike-specific blends... 

Hmm, it may well have been adequate for a BSA Bantam but caused the Kebab type fork elastomers to swell and distort like an over-cooked, tinned hot dog.         

Heavy Duty

The present lockdown is presenting considerable challenges for everyone. Stoicism, riding and creativity are my coping mechanisms. Broadband and similar connectivity are also creaking under the strain, presumably as there’s unprecedented demand. In my case, I'm also at the very end of this line. 

Experiences with standard (and otherwise very serviceable) track chains, such as this SRAM PC1 have led me to conclude that beefy ½ link track types are the best fits for me and my fixed gear builds. Models such as the PC1 and this Passport Elements Anti Rust Chain https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/passport-elements-single-speed-chai  are pretty good choices for bikes with single speed freewheels but fixed transmissions are subjected to greater stresses. 

Traditionally half-link chains were aimed at riders of conversions (i.e. geared framesets that have been converted to fixed gear use), where getting chain tension/length just right can be particularly tricky. There’s a lot of conflicting debate regarding their benefits and indeed, otherwise.   

I’ve switched to this KMC Kool HL710. White isn’t the most obvious colour choice but neutral enough and going for the proverbial song.  Before its arrival, I discovered my fixed gear winter/trainer’s rear Schwalbe Marathon GT decidedly flaccid.  

A flat, though thankfully fixable. However, the GT’s casing was starting to wear a little flat in places, so I took the opportunity and swapped it for this Vee Tire Co Zilent. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vee-tire-co-zilent-tyre . 

This one is a 35mm section, though seems fractionally narrower than the Schwalbe, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing either-gives a little more breathing space within the chainstays. The Zilent are a similar breed of tyre. One aimed at e-bikes and commuters.  

In common with the Schwalbe a two-layer puncture repelling armour. Works to the same capillary principle, pushing sharps out, before they can nick the tube. Operating pressures are a little lower, ranging from 35-65psi, whereas the Schwalbe Marathon GT go to 85 psi, the 42mm Zilent has a range between 45 and 80 psi).  

The Zilent2 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vee-tire-co-zilent-mark-2-tyres was devised upon discovering people were using the original Zilent for long-haul touring-something they wasn’t intended for and resulted in sidewall failures.  Up front I substituted the sprightly and compliant Soma Fabrications Shikoro https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/s  for the Continental Contact plus.    

I’ve gone for the 37mm- gives a little extra clearance upfront (not that it’s ever been an issue with the 42mm). The 37mm Contact Plus run between 65 and 85psi, whereas the Shikoro range between 35 and 90psi. 

Sure, the Contact Plus are a very different tyre, compared with the Shikoro. Closer to the Vee Tie Co Zilent, in fact, which should make for a very reliable, reciprocal mix. 

Despite the country being on “Lockdown” I’d be surprised if the police have the resources to enforce, beyond densely populated towns and cities. I’ve noticed a pronounced spike in the amount of fly-tipping. Discarded (broken) beer bottles also seem more prevalent and would also explain my switch. 

Shipping the Contact aboard the front Halo Evura https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/halo-evura-shutter-precision-sl9-dy hoop proved unexpectedly challenging though. It claimed two basic resin levers and almost sent a very nice Pedros’ over a 6foot fence. In the end, this VAR won the battle. Suffice to say, I’ve stashed that in the Carradry, in case I should flat by the roadside.  

Not been an issue with these, or their 42mm counterparts to date, although it’s worth noting that, no matter how rugged your rubber, tubes can fail at the valve heads. So always advisable to pack a spare or two, decent tyre levers and of course, a pump. I carry two mini pumps, and three tubes just in case.  

Overkill in some respects. However, one tube may get another stricken rider home and they consume nominal space in the SQR tour and Carradry bags. Oh, staying with tyres and inflation, Steve’s been quite impressed with this Zefal Profil Max FP60 Z-Turn Pump https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/zefal-profil-max-fp60-z-turn-pump 

This lovely CNC machined ring arrived from Raval. Made from CNC machined stainless steel, the climb down from 42 to 38 teeth gives a range between 34 and 89 inches. True, I sacrifice a little top end but gain a bit more mid-range, which is arguably more practical/efficient, given the bike’s design brief.  

Oval rings are to some an unusual, arguably controversial concept that comes in and out of vogue. Shimano Bio-Pace was the one most remember but several brands, including Stronglight (Bio strong) and Suntour (Oval tech), joined the bandwagon. However, oval rings have been making a quiet but steady return since 2014. I’m looking forward to racking up the miles on ours.  

No, not nostalgia talking (although it was popular during those halcyon days where I discretely read the cycling press and ogled high-end bikes, from my desk, while world-weary teachers feigned interest in us and in some cases, the curriculum being taught).