Tubes, Lubes & Tape Tribulations

 

I’ve been taking advantage of primarily dry conditions and defaulted to the Teenage Dream’s skinny-tyred charms. Down tube friction shifters aren’t everyone’s thing but these and the Campagnolo Victory mechs they command, are slick and reliable.  

Sure, I wouldn’t race with friction setups, but for training and general riding along open roads, fine. Went to pluck it from the hook for a dawn ride, only to discover the rear tyre was pancake flat.  

No matter, Ursula needed a run and I needed to double-check the Micro shift/Sun race/Shimano drivetrain was still playing nicely.  

Dialling in a stiffer spring tension was definitely the way forward. Not that I was pogo-ing, just a little too reactive for my tastes and the machine’s loftier stance. Crisp, seamless and predictable shifting, a big grin across my face as my mind roamed freely. 

Sorted the Teenage dream’s flat on my return-a sharp had nicked the rear tyre’s casing and grazed the tube, so pressure loss was, thankfully incredibly pedestrian. Struck away from the seam, so easily patched. Back into the wedge pack, as a spare. The chain was beginning to look a little thirsty.  

Nothing serious, but now was convenient. I stripped the chain with solvent, dried and switched to the Peaty’s Link Lube Dry PEATYS LINK LUBE DRY CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). Curing times are less convenient than the Tru Tension Banana Slip All weather LubeTRU TENSION TUNGSTEN ALL WEATHER LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) but its clean and surprisingly durable.  

In common with other waxy type dry lubes, residual stuff clinging to the freewheel/cassette gets reclaimed by the chain, extending topping up times. Ursula is still running the third helping and I exceeded 400miles on the second. Chances are, I’ll switch to The Peaty’s Link Lube Wet, come the next replacement chain, which will probably coincide with October.

  

The Link Lube Wet is proving a great fit for the fixed’s KMC chain-keeping it serene and quiet. Both machines sport silicone bar wraps and I’m a huge fan of their damping and grip-hell and high water. The one minor downside, especially with bright colours, is the ease at which they accumulate grimy patinas.  

On the plus side, they can be tossed in the wash at 30 degrees, when really sullied. However, this is hardly the most desirable route when you’ve just fixed a flat by the roadside and grabbed the bars with slightly oily digits.  

Dark colours are the best bet, especially for daily drivers but then again, I like something quite bold for winter. Foaming type waterless cleaners get the worst out but be prepared to give them a regular tickling with a medium stiff brush (I’m really fond of Oxford Products Tyre ScrubTESTED: OXFORD PRODUCTS TYRE SCRUB BRUSH (sevendaycyclist.com) dipped in neat degreaser/bike wash concentrate and rinse with warm, then cold water.     As if by magic, some Velo Orange Rubbery Bar Tape arrived in the post-Thank you Connor.  I’ve gone for black but white, or a tan brown are the alternatives. Rubbery texture aside, it’s also 3.5mm thick, which promises excellent damping.  

The nights and mornings are gradually becoming darker. I run the K-Lite dynamos during the day but now the mornings are getting darker, blinkies are engaged for most rides-usually the Ravemen CL05RAVEMEN CL05 SENSORED REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and CL06 RAVEMEN CL06 SENSORED REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) but I’ve also taken to mounting the Moon Sheild X Ultra MOON SHIELD X AUTO REAR LIGHT REVIEW? (sevendaycyclist.com) on Ursula’s Carradice SQR Tour.  

A nice height, closely aligned with driver eye levels. It’s a model that is slightly “Marmite”. Some (such as yours truly) think it’s fabulous, others feel it’s anything but user-friendly. There are 9 modes in total, which is excessive by some standards, and I must admit, I default to the flashing modes, since for me, they strike the best balance between output and economy.  

I’ve also needed to add a shim between the K-lite Bike Packer Ultra lamp and Velo Orange mount, since the former ad a tendency to migrate upwards-very slowly-washboard tarmac being the main culprit. Aside from being mildly irritating to me, I didn’t want it dazzling oncoming traffic. Nothing a quick delve through the bodge box and two fresh cable ties couldn’t solve.  

To date, I haven’t given much thought to replacing Ursula’s rear Schwalbe Marathon Mondial DD. It’s still perfectly serviceable. The Schwalbe Marathon GT 365TESTED: SCHWALBE MARATHON GT 365 TYRES WINTER UPDATE (sevendaycyclist.com) is an obvious substitution. These are exceptionally reliable and extremely durable. However, they are also hefty, and I fancy something sprightlier.  

There is still a reasonable amount of decent quality 26inch rubber around but it’s losing favour, just as 27inch did, I the late 80s. Supply issues are another problem here in the UK. Masked by the pandemic, European manufacturers are in no hurry to export to the UK, given the added paperwork and delays, which are likely to worsen in the coming months.   

Rise of the Machines

For some years, I have felt like a humanoid. I can be relied upon to perform very complicated tasks and processes with the ability to adapt to fast-changing situations, environments. Different to the “Robot Welders” anonymous, hydraulic arms work tirelessly spot-welding car bodies on assembly lines (while their human counterparts become robots for 9hrs 37minutes of ten-hour shifts).  

I read people very well and possess sufficient social skills to avert unwelcome introspection but often, I’m going through the motions and feel distinctly alienated. I’m probably my most open during photoshoots and some years back, motor/cycle touring.  

Weaving through the lanes, I often wonder if we are going to reach a stage where that cyborgs will become a prominent group-an organic/mechanical hybrid.  

The technology has existed for some time and it’s not unreasonable to think, given the increasing uses of prosthetic technology, that people could be “rebuilt” following accidents.  

I can also envisage a time where we have fully synthetic humanoids employed to undertake dangerous, labour intensive or potentially monotonous jobs-rather akin to the replicants in Ridley Scott’s original (1982) Blade Runner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_9rhPDLHWk . A film that explores these issues and other constructs, including the narrative of intimate relationships forming between the replicant and human. 

Since we’re on this winding road, I was clearing out the loft and found some genuinely useful stuff, hidden treasures you might say and others that transported me back to childhood and a path towards a very technical, well-paid but dangerous career. At various points in my life, although most notably that crossroads between A level and higher education. Diver. As a child, what might be termed “The romance of the sea” applied There were various routes in. 

 

Commercial was the most exciting but arguably the most dangerous and requiring other sources of income, since there can be several months without commercial work. The Bends (decompression sickness) getting trapped within wreckage and explosions being three very real threats. Joining the police and taking that route was another, less glamorous and arguably more secure, though less exciting route. However, becoming a Police officer held little, save for instrumental, appeal.  

Hence, I took the academic route and pursued other interests/qualifications in parallel. So, the purpose of this indulgent meander? There is often much more to people than meets the eye. Cycling and other things are major passions of mine, ones which shape my perspectives and relationship with the wider world. However, they do not define me. So, these treasures... 

I was delighted to unearth this Cro-moly Soma Crane Stem. It's designed to offer a sympathetically classic look to steel framesets using Aheadsets. The length is closer to that of the quill stem and negates the need for piles of spacers. I’ve always been indifferent to spacers per se and regard them as “coming with the territory” but the ability to forgo most of them certainly appeals.   

I was contemplating retiring the Univega’s KMC chain this week, when it made the decision for me. While I was accelerating along the high street a sudden snap and tinkling followed by a pronounced lack of drive. Having coated to a safe spot, I inspected the damage and coasted home.  

Upon returning, I discovered the chain’s implosion had taken a chunk from the Microshift Centos rear mech. Into the drivetrain box we go, new chain and this Sun Race NRX 10speed rear mech from 2009. The joys of New Old Stock. This is also a notch or so higher than the Microshift Centos, featuring sealed jockey wheels.  

I’ve begun finding some minor limitations with the Continental Contact Speed Reflex. 2000 miles in, the supple, grippy and ultimately fast compound seem more susceptible to sharps. These seem to be striking around the shoulder, rather than centre strip and I’m slowly coming to the idea of running tubes with sealant-I.e. filling standard butyl with aftermarket sealant kit. 

 

The Muc-Off Puncture sealant seems to work very well but I also have some SKS sealant doing something close to nothing. Some consensus suggests the Continental are good for 3500 (rear) and 5,000 up front so we’ll see. Be interesting to see how a similar model, such as Schwalbe’s long-running Kojak fares in comparison. In the meantime, here’s an overview of tyres for commuting and everyday riding  https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/rubber-fetish-talking-tyres  While not as “invulnerable” on paper, as Schwalbe Marathon GT https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-marathon-gt-tyres  and Marathon Plus https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-marathon-plus-tyres 

The Kenda Kwick Journey KS Plus tyres continue to bowl along without missing a beat and roll much faster than their specification would suggest, so shaping up as an excellent everyday tyre, for general riding.  

The darker months call for durability but without sacrificing to much zing-the sort that makes bikes and riders feel alive.  I’ve switched to Muc-Off E-Bike Wet Weather Ceramic Lube on the fixed, so I can see how that really holds up, long term, now autumn and cooler, damper conditions are creeping ever closer. Here’s my interim review of the Muc-Off –50 degree chain lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/muc-off-50