Summer & Shorts

 Unable to bring myself to dispose of the wounded Triban Men’s Road Cycling Bib Tights RC500 (I’ll basically run them into the ground, or the stage where they’re no longer socially acceptable) I’ve been alternating between them, the Funkier Ride Flow Men’s Three-Quarter Length Summer Bib Tights FUNKIER RIDE FLO MEN'S 3/4 BIB TIGHTS | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and the Madison Freewheel Men's Thermal Bib Tights with Pad Madison Freewheel Thermal Bib Tights | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)

Yes, it has been cool enough on some morning rides. Then along came these Altura Airsteam Bib Shorts. These are designed for rides up to the two-hour mark, which doesn’t necessarily restrict them to novice riders.  

Time triallists, cyclo crossers, and indeed, competitive cross country mountain bikers may also find them a good fit. The Altura’s 3D Plus Pad employs medium-density foam, while the outer layer is made from “Air Fabric” which is reckoned to be highly breathable, so we’ll see. Pads, regardless of price point are very personal things, so we’ll see.  

Bibs are the default and for good reason. They don’t compress the waist, and keep the back and vital organs temperate. They also hold the pad snugly and aligned. There’s also a better aesthetic on and sans bike. Once upon a time, roadside “pit stops” were trickier, although, in my recent experience, they tend to be cut lower at the front and the straps are also designed with generous give.

  

However, this is cold comfort for female riders and assuming you can’t find a decent public toilet, it could be tricky slipping the straps down beneath a jersey.  Similarly, though stretchy fabrics help considerably, some designs can prove restrictive for taller riders.  The additional heat retention can also prove a double-edged sword. Nice on cooler rides and thin mesh panels make a significant difference but choose base and top layers carefully on hotter days.    

Some male riders only shave their legs during summer when they’re on view. Others shave year-round. I’ve straddled both camps I.e., while I’ve been less disciplined during winter and early season.  

The reason for me being “smooth” is not aerodynamics, rather there’s an element of aesthetic tradition. I also privately subscribe to the idea it helps with massage and treating cuts and grazes on the trail or following a tarmac tumble (although I do my level best to avoid the latter).  

In terms of technique, when in werewolf mode, I tend to prune the worst with a clipper set, then lather up and remove the rest with a decent-quality razor and work in upward sweeps. Remember to rinse and clean out the razor at regular intervals and don’t rush. 

I’ve also been revisiting action cameras. Not looking at acquiring another, rather I’m sticking with the Campak unit since it’s a good performer, waterproof to IPX7 without recourse to the traditional casings and generally user-friendly. There are the usual downsides common to the genre- o so audio and low-light performance.  

Mounting kits are my biggest gripe regarding the Go Pro homages is mounting hardware. Those for the bars seem particularly low rent. Hence, I’ve always reached for the Minoura VC100. However, I’m looking for something sleeker, in the quest for tidier cockpits- at least when it comes to the fixed and Ursula.  

Several weeks and plenty of miles down the line, given Ursula needed a good bath, I decided it was time to switch to something lighter. In this instance the Muc Off Dry Lube.  I also took this opportunity to whip out the chain wear indicator and, yes .75-worn out. Thankfully, I still had two “in stock” so on went another KMC.  

 

I’m confident the Muc Off Dry won’t attract much dirt and grime but will be interesting to see how many miles per application it returns, especially if a couple of damp rides and long grass are thrown into the mix. Talking of washing and bike care, here’s my review of the Weldtite  Rapid Ceramic Shield Weldtite Rapid Ceramic Shield | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

I’ve finally switched to the Safety Labs E-Bahn 2.0 MIPS Urban In mould Helmet as my daily driver and have been pleasantly surprised by how airy and unobtrusive it's proving. Especially from a design aimed at urban riders and boasting a moderate 15 vents.  

Predictably, I’ve been shunning civvies for road and trail-biased togs but despite being more “Cromwell” than my tastes usually lean to, the fit’s really nice, the peak is proving more substance than style, and even at moderate speeds, the vents ram a decent amount of cooling air through. 

Fresh Rubber & Lights

August continues to accelerate at an alarming rate with darker mornings and night’s crafty creep becoming progressively more apparent. Timely that I should receive these Ravemen and Kranx lights from their UK importer Bob Elliot Co Ltd - Suppliers of high quality bicycle supplies to registered traders (bob-elliot.co.uk) I have the TR500 USB Rechargeable rear light, TR1600 USB Rechargeable Curved Lens Front Light and Kranx Strix 100 USB Rear Light.  

On the rubber front, these CST Czar700x28 Dual Compound Tyre arrived. However, I was also disappointed (but not remotely surprised) by the response of a Dutch supplier, who likes Seven Day Cyclist www.sevendaycyclist.com but says the costs (due to Brexit) prohibit supply of some very tasty test products.  

Then of course, there’s the very real prospect of power shortages and “black outs” during winter, which will be sold as character-building and doubtless heaped with rhetoric, evoking the second world war. Expect to hear “Blitz Spirit” and “pulling together” ad nauseum (which drives some sections of the British public into a palpable jingoistic frenzy).  

I’m still waiting on some component upgrades, which should’ve materialised by now-I'm hoping they turn up before much longer, given the impending strike action at Felixstowe.

 

Back to tyres...For general, year-round riding I’ve tended to favour those with a 60tpi casing. Now, sweeping generalisations are, begging for contradiction. However, while they lack the zing of those with 120, maybe 170 tpi, they still roll easily, ride quality isn’t overly harsh, and durability is similarly impressive. I’ve done several thousand miles with the Kenda Kwick Roller KS Plus KENDA KWICK JOURNEY TYRES | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and they’re still in rude health. At 757g apiece, they may be a little portly for some tastes but in the darker, colder months, I preside reliability over outright speed.  

The Vittoria Roubino Pro Control Graphene 2.0 Vittoria Rubino Pro Control Graphene 2.0 | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) are slightly narrower but palpably lighter and faster. No flats to date and it’ll be interesting how they fare during winter (although I may well swap to bigger sections, when conditions turn a little more challenging). This may not be for some time, given some sources suggest a heatwave will continue into October, possibly November.  

That said; back in the late 80s/early 90s, when many of us were whizzing along on 20-23mm road rubber, 28mm was very much the preserve of lightweight/weekend touring. Still perfectly viable, with lighter loads, or indeed, a low-slung touring trailer.  

 

Otherwise, where frame clearances permit, 35-40mm is my sweet spot for road-biased touring, although I err toward the upper end of this scale.  

Weekend, or indeed “credit card” touring aside, tyres for laden duties should have strong sidewalls and a decent puncture repelling belt (preferably one that runs bead to bead and 3-5mm thick)   

Much as I suspected the Souma Leather Bar Tape improves with use and has settled beautifully on both bars. I’ve fed ours a few times and it's darkened the hide slightly but thankfully, this is uniform, so doesn’t detract. This is to be expected with all leather products, so test an inconspicuous area first, especially if you are treating a light colour.  

The Green Oil Dry Chain Wax continues to impress with its cleanliness and longevity. It's designed for dry, dusty conditions, so arguably in its ideal element. In terms of characteristics, it's somewhere between a traditional dry and wax, meaning it's clean and dry to touch.  

Much as I expected, it uses plant-based ethanol, plant oil and antioxidant. This version also employs graphite as a friction modifier. Continuing this theme, Ursula’s KMC chain is still in rude health, reassuringly so, given it's done 1500 mixed terrain miles. It's been a dry summer, but winter and spring conditions were more varied and I’m thinking cleaner lubes are the determining factor.   

Honeymoon period passed and I’m still pleased with the switch to carbon forks. The weight saving is genuinely palpable, especially since I’ve also switched to the lighter of its dynohub wheels. It’s the compliant ride quality, which is the main draw.  Sure, Cro-Moly forks, like the “school chair” type that Ursula has sported can still be found, new for £60 (although lighter, cross-country models with disc mounts are still available for around £125).  

These might be a more cost-effective choice for some, especially since 26inch wheels are increasingly regarded as old-fashioned. That said; there is a small but seemingly growing community of people who are going the “gravel” route with older, mid and higher end cross country mountain bikes.  

Closer to the Specialized Rock Combo (694) Specialized Rock Combo 1989 commercial -- the first production gravel bike? - YouTube 

 that blew my fragile teenage mind c. 1989 (although the drop bar mountain bike first sprung to my attention in March 1987, when I clapped eyes on Muddy Fox’s Trailblazer). I am forming the opinion that the Carbon fork is an affordable and realistic upgrade for those with older, mid to higher end mountain bikes given new leases of life. 

Painted fork ends bode well for winter and the clear cost uniformly good, although I’ve applied some Zefal Skin Armor roll ZEFAL SKIN ARMOR ROLL | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) on those areas where cabling, or cable ties rest, to prevent unnecessary wear-especially when wet, muddy and gritty stuff are thrown into the mix.