Braking For Cake : Stopping & Shortages

 

A couple of weeks spent solely on my fixed gear winter trainer has given me reason to reflect upon the specification. Small upgrades can often result in big gains. Having refitted the Mavic/Halo Fix G Track hub HALO FIX G TRACK HUB | Seven Day Cyclist Tourin Tests Commuting (which feels buttery smooth once more, courtesy of new cartridge bearings and liberal helpings of fresh grease), I’ve decided it’s time to upgrade the otherwise dependable TRP Spyre caliper, in favour of its SLC sibling. Both have been on the market since 2013/14. Proven technology, rather than talking points but I don’t want the additional complexity of hydraulics, or hybrid systems.  

Some would argue the latter are lower maintenance and no trickier to set up, maintain, and service. However, for the time being, familiarity wins. Covid induced shortages globally have hit the cycle industry quite hard, but the UK’s present increased insular, nationalistic stance means shortages across all sectors are here to stay.  

There’s a current romanticism about 1978/9’s winter of discontent doing the rounds, and the allegedly character-building wonders austerity offers. People with food and fuel insecurity are nothing to celebrate in my book.  

Anyhow, I digress... Even though I found an SLC caliper at a sensible price, having lain my virtual money down, I received a reply, telling me I must wait a few weeks for its arrival. Good thing it’s a planned upgrade, not urgent replacement. The faster one can stop, the faster one can ride... 

Though the Mud hugger Gravel hugger guard’s aesthetic will horrify some, I like their industrial lines, and crucially they work, keeping a surprising and very welcome amount of wet, greasy stuff off rider and bike. No rattling, or to date any sign of paint abrasion either. However, I’ve been quick to apply “helicopter” tape at any point resting against painted, or lacquered surfaces. 

During this pre-winter inspection, I also swapped the otherwise likeable Craft Cadence Bar Bag for the compact See Sense Handlebar Bag SEE SENSE HANDLEBAR BAG | cycling,-but-not-usually-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) since I fancied something more compact. Bigger capacities have a lot in their favour but some impact upon steering... The See Sense reclaims some bar space and forced me to do an inventory of tubes, CO2 cartridges and other little spares that can spell the difference between roadside rescue and the long walk home. Yes, that is still very much at the forefront of my mind.  

Touch-up paint is useful stuff to have waiting in the wings. High build phosphate primer well and truly cured, I’ve acquired oil-based hobby enamel and some brushes, so I can make good Ursula’s frame end. I added light blue, grey, white, and black to the order so there’s some in stock for the fixed gear winter/trainer, should need arise.  

 

The tubby tourer’s indexing is nigh on there, but not quite.  A quick tweak of the limit screws and tensioning proved the cure. 

I am also considering fitting an inline adjuster to the outer, where it exits the Velo Orange Rubbery Handlebar Tape VELO ORANGE RUBBERY BAR TAPE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). In principle, this shouldn’t be necessary but in practice it may allow some very slight tweaking on the fly. Afterall, mountain bike shifters have them. Another advantage of bar cons, is the option of switching to friction mode, should indexing go way off track.    

 

Root of the Problem

Last week began with, what I suspected, was a dental abscess. This was confirmed by my dentist, He also confirmed my other hunch. 

That the only means of saving, what remained of the crowned tooth, was root canal surgery. Elsewhere, with the nights drawing in, it was time for a quick pre-winter check of the fleet.

Testing of the Vee Tire Co Zilent MK2 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vee-tire-co-zilent-mark-2-tyres , I reinstated the Soma Shikoro https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/s  and pulled my working fixed’s brake cable through. Pad wear was making itself known. Though there looks to be a few month’s life in them, replacements were ordered. TRP Spyre are by far, the best cable operated disc brake I’ve used to date.

Hydraulic systems are delightful and most modern types automatically adjust to compensate for pad wear. An obvious choice for ‘cross racing and endurance events.  Despite their considerable charms (not to mention, refinement) I love the simplicity of a cable-operated model. Ooooh, then again…TRP Hylex looks perfect for my antics and the bike’s design brief…

Reminds self of dental bills, expiring car components, camera bodies. Lectures self on the difference between want and need. Been an expensive month, with one thing and another.

Despite disc braking’s understandable dominance, there’s a lot to be said in favour of the humble cantilever, especially in a ‘cross context. The Genetic CX https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/genetic-cx-cantilever-brakes , have proved particularly cheerful. However, wide arm designs and smaller semi/compact geometry framesets can be a tricky combination. True, smaller riders tend to have proportionally sized feet, so heel clearance is less crucial.  That said; they can also foul four-point racks and panniers.

Staying with these themes, I was also surprised to discover, during my pre-winter inspection, that its bottle cage had mysteriously fractured. Closer scrutiny suggested the composite monocoque had succumbed to a strange fatigue, I was literally able to bend the winged sections backwards.

This kind of fatigue is something I’d associate with several years’ exposure to harsh UV light. A complete mystery. Aside from very warm summer rides; said bike is always stored in a cool, dry space within the house.

Net effect, I have substituted it for this VEL SE (Side Entry) model https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vel-se . These are also designed to optimise space within smaller main triangles, thus permitting two full sized bottles. Its Tacx radar counterpart, on the down tube is also technically a side entry model. In the sense bottles can be inserted and released at an angle. However, its much closer to a conventional cage. A solid and reliable option, it lacks the space saving efficiency, of the Vel, or indeed Lezyne Flow.     

Cleats are another component all too easily overlooked. After a good year’s faithful service, my genuine Shimano were showing their age. Release was becoming a little too easy. These ISSI popped out at me, while I was rummaging in the kitchen drawer for some AAA batteries. In the zone, following Sunday’s post blast check, one set released effortlessly.

False sense of security flowing through my every fibre, I tackled the other shoe. Once again; the first relented, given a firm twist of the 4mm tool bit. However, the second fastener was clearly made from cheese.

Impacted detritus clearly didn’t help but it was so soft, deforming with unsettling ease. A blast of penetrant spray and a bigger Torx bit, provided enough bite, and clean extraction. Nonetheless, my cordless drill was placed on charge…

While there is no doubting the quality of Shimano, I have always found patterns reliable and generally long-lived. By the same token, were I doing a big tour, especially beyond these shores, I’d stick with big S, simply on grounds of spares availability

Showtime!

I am of course referring to the 2016 Cycle show in Birmingham’s NEC (National exhibition centre), which though lacking the outright spectacle of Eurobike, still had plenty on offer.

A nasty bout of food poisoning the night before and a very fraught commute wasn’t the most auspicious start. However, I arrived at the NEC on time with trusty Sony NEX CSC, assorted lenses and some sugary sustenance to keep me from flagging at crucial points.

A few minutes later, Steve Dyster (Seven Day Cyclist’s co-editor) appeared and we convened for coffee and to strategise. Piping hot Americano coursing through my veins and colossal croissant consumed; we started with the year’s biggest trend-Gravel/adventure and disc braked road bikes. Most big brands had several models on offer and at various price points.

Of the most enticing to me was this titanium Boardman and several from Bombtrack; a German brand being introduced to the UK later this year. A big fan of cyclo crossers and their derivatives, I was particularly taken with their hook 2 and this drop bar 1x11 mountain bike, which is arguably the closest I’ve come to my ideal drop bar mountain bike build.

My passion for this particular breed was ignited by a “news in brief” piece, in the now defunct “Bicycle” magazine way back in 1987. This featured a Muddy Fox “Trailblazer”; which sported big drops, bar end shifters and 26x1.75 tyres. I’ve never seen one in the flesh and rumour suggests it was a prototype. Fast forward 29 years and I am very keen to put this Columbus tubed trail beast through its paces. 

Through axles have migrated from motorcycles to mountain bikes and now, disc braked skinny tyre road-biased builds. Increased front end stiffness is their main appeal over standard quick releases and there’s little trade-off in terms of removal speed; say when fixing a flat. We firmly believe that every stable should have a four seasons’ bike as car daily driver.

Enter this favourably priced Radman Urban. 6061 aluminium frame with stealth black finish and dressed perfectly for riding in all weathers. Alfine 11speed hub transmission, hub dynamo, hydraulic disc brakes, full length guards and a four point rack. Drops are my preference but the sensible flats and gear range are perfect for trailer/tagalong tugging duties.

With as little jiggling, I reckon you’d be able to sneak a set of 700x35 spikes in for the harsher months too…Suffice to say, I was quick to swap business cards and express interest in testing one. Another quietly popular trend was for hub gears and belt drives. Belts were all the rage back in 2009/10 but somewhat divisive.    

Clean, maintenance free riding is an obvious plus but debate always raged about their true efficiency. I have an open mind and haven’t heard too many horror stories regarding durability. Critics may cite Kawasaki’s belt final drive on their Z305 motorcycle back in the mid 80s, which was super smooth but vulnerable to collecting stones and similar sharps, which would sever it irreparably.

Others would justly pint out that powerfully built riders turning a cadence of 100/120rpm are hardly comparable with a high revving four stroke motorcycle. Shand cycles run this on their Rohloff stoater, which can also be converted at the drop out to run single speed or traditional derailleur setups. We chatted about frame building practice, which culminated in an open invitation to stop by their workshops, next time we were in Livingston.  

Fixed and other retro flavours also lingered, with Condor and Bianchi offering some very nice examples. I’m strangely taken with the former’s somewhat iconic Pista fixed, although less endeared to its electroplated finish. The iconic London marque has also taken a retro theme but given it a contemporary, practical twist. Their Cassico oozes continental charm with paint and polish but thankfully, those shiny tubes are stainless, not electroplated.

Their Pista and Paris Path models were also very appealing to yours truly, although personally I would’ve preferred mudguard eyelets on a machine following the road/path tradition. The Fatello was another enticing machine. 

A lightweight tourer cum Audax/day bike, its’ made from Columbus spirit tubing, features discs and sufficient clearance for 700x28 and full length guards. £799.99 as a frameset only, should you fancy going a’la carte. 

Bike shop shelves literally groan under the weight of bike washes and similar labour saving potions. Most work reasonably well, although I’m always intrigued by something genuinely different.

Stopping for a chat with Pro Green MX www.Pro-GreenMX.co.uk provided just that. Originally devised as a one-off formula for a moto-cross riding friend, they developed their formulas into three different products. 

One for transmission components, another for all-over use and finally a wax polish preserve. We are assured all are devised and brewed in house, contain no salts, or similar nasties and were sent home with a pack to review. Watch this space…

Last but not least, being something of a clothes horse and MAMIL (Middle aged man in Lycra) I was very drawn to these designs…Well, if the jersey fits….

Pumps, Photography & Punjabi

An arsenal of high pressure road and mtb derived “mini” pumps graced Seven day Cyclists’ test bench this week, so we’ll be looking at the genres and essentially putting four comparable models through their paces over the next month, or as long as it takes to reach some firm conclusions about their performance.

Falling prices has meant Co2 cartridges have crossed over from racing and become popular quick fixes for training and generic/club riding. Consequently, many riders now regard the pump as an emergency item and carry the smallest possible. The logic’s not difficult to fault, assuming of course you’re not particularly puncture prone.

However, while I too carry a Co2 system pretty much everywhere, I also like a pump that will genuinely achieve at least 60psi (mtb slick) and 95-100 in a narrow section 700x23/25 road tyre-without taking eons about it, or my biceps leaden with lactic acid. 

The difference between micro/mini/midi pump also seem to vary between manufacturers. For road, “sawn off” versions of popular frame-fit classics such as this now discontinued Zefal HPX mini are my first choices. Small enough to ride unobtrusively alongside the down tube, there’s adequate length for dignified resurrection of flaccid tyres to 100psi plus.

Light years away from those ghastly giveaways that were arguably better than nothing miles from home on a cold and rainy night but I had the pistons bend irreparably under the strain when inching past a paltry 60psi. The only down side to longer models is storing them when parking in the street along with lights, computers and other lovely gizmos.

Elsewhere, Chicken cycles (www.chickencyclekit.co.uk) have sent me these lovely Flinger disc compatible stays, meaning the neighbours will (hopefully) be spared agricultural utterances and I the effort of contorting others to fit. 

Unexpected sponginess had crept into the Jagwire/Avid system, spoiling that stop on a sixpence dependability. Introducing a different cable ferrule restored fierce disc typical bite-just the way I like it. 

Since opportunity presented, I also popped a rubberised cuff to the outer. Not that the housing was making any inroads into the clear lacquer topcoat but prevention is so much more convenient than cure.

I’ve often talked about the importance of continuous development and transferable skills (Though frankly these have been buzzwords within human resource management for three decades) in a rapidly changing economy.

The past eighteen months has seen steady evolution of my photographic port-folio. Products and technical work remain very close to my heart but demand has been tailing off in recent years as more firms streamline their budgets and scoop things in house.

Nonetheless, word of mouth and nerves of steel have resulted in much broader horizons, including social/portraiture. Traditional wedding photography is another genre that has become increasingly competitive, almost to the point of saturation. It’s not something to be dabbled with either.

I’ve heard from some devastated couples who entrusted theirs to “arty” friends with disastrous consequences. Emerging interest from NRI (Non Resident Indian)  audiences is certainly tempting me along that particular niche and I’m increasingly invited to capture other significant social events.

Eager to capitalise upon this, I’ve built a dedicated website to attract further business in these and other fields. While the importance of pushing oneself should never be underestimated, the “Jack of all trades, master of none” tag must be avoided at all costs, hence my specialisms.

The leap between this and learning Punjabi is not a difficult one. Indeed, I am also confident on current projections that India and Brazil will overtake China as a global economic powerhouse, meaning that command of Punjabi and possibly Portuguese will become increasingly desirable. Then of course, there’s the simple satisfaction gained from learning a new skill.    

Over the past week or so, I’ve had several enquiries from aspiring models, although have been unable to accommodate them for a variety of reasons.Sometimes this has been down to availability, others expectation i.e. that I would be willing to work for free AND surrender the images to them for commercial purposes.

There has been some asking about glamour, which is not a particular field I wish to be associated with. Not so fine art and implied nudity, which for me; are an interesting marriage of erotica, fun and imagination.     www.stenningphotographic.com