The weather has turned wintry over
the past week and for the most part, I’ve been enjoying the changes and minor
challenges it presents. Forecasts had threatened but thankfully not delivered
ice. I set out on Friday morning a little later than usual for a longer meander
around the lanes.
Harsh winds, sleet and snow
showers greeted me as I warmed up along the winding descent. I’d opted for
these Primal Dawn Men’s Bib Knickers BUFF PACK BIKE CAP |
cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and Oxford Products Ox socks OXFORD OX SOCKS |
cycling, but not usually racing (sevendaycyclist.com). Up
top I opted for a short sleeve base layer with windproof panel, long sleeve
jersey and technical jacket. For some reason, I switched gloves and meant to
grab my Belgian style cap but stuck with the Buff Pack Bike Cap BUFF PACK BIKE CAP |
cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com).
Perfect
conditions for evaluating the FLR defender.
On the outward leg, roads were
wet, greasy but I quickly upped the tempo and cruised along. Ten miles in a flooded
causeway and seemingly stranded Audi signalled a quick U-turn and alternative
route. Checking the fixed’s chain revealed a stubborn but increasingly filmy
layer of Muc-Off ebike Wet weather Ceramic Chain Lube and I was yet to be serenaded by the faint
metallic tinkling, so charged up another climb and along some very windswept,
lonely lanes.
Three miles from home and the
narrow lane had become a river. Calve-deep by the time I’d done a proper risk
assessment. Riding was too risky, so I shouldered the bike and trotted through
cyclo-cross stylee.
Two miles later and I was
home. Soggy but relatively warm feet meant I treated the bike to a thorough
wash, and I stripped the chain of the residual lube and embedded gunk. In
fairness, this particular wet ceramic doesn’t overly attract drivetrain
gobbling muck but there’s no sense allowing it to reach that stage, especially
since the bike needed washing anyhow.
One thing lead to another and I
decided to swap the excellent Redshift Sports Shockstop Suspension Seatpost REDSHIFT
SHOCKSTOP SUSPENSION SEATPOST | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) for
the Kinekt 2.1 seat post (with a long Cane Creek 25.4-27.2 shim not the 25.4-26.6mm,
pictured) and this bespoke Dill Pickle Store Bag that has been doing the rounds,
very capably for a few years.
Shims have a slightly dubious
reputation in some circles and having witnessed some frame popping caused by
the very minimalist designs, back in the early-mid 90s, can appreciate why. If
you are going this route, spend a tenner and get something decent. People
risking a decent frame for the sake of a few quid astound me. I would not go this route with carbon-posts,
let alone framesets.
The Cane Creek shim is 100mm long, and very nicely machined, which should eliminate risk of additional stress being placed upon the seat tube, especially, since there’s ample post inside the frame. I’ve used a light grease between post and shim, shim and seat tube. To avoid the risk of galvanic corrosion, between an alloy sleeve and steel frameset, go for a synthetic, or PTFE infused, rather than lithium-based prep.
Talking of lubes, I was also stunned to discover a phantom creak. I initially
attributed this to the front hoop’s q/release having worked loose, permitting
minor movement of the wheel, causing the rotor to catch the pads. To my
astonishment, said sound was traced to the Kinekt stem. This seemed to ease
out, as the miles progressed, silence restored of its own accord some five
miles later. However, I’ve since added a precautionary drop of Green Oil Slip
Eco Lube GREEN OIL
SLIP ECO LUBRICANT (sevendaycyclist.com) to the unit’s linkages.
I’ve also switched to the Halo White Line and
Shutter Precision PD8 wheel HALO
CLASSIC RIM & SHUTTER PRECISION DYNOHUB DISC WHEEL BUILD
(sevendaycyclist.com) and shod it with the 38mm Vee Tire Co Zilent
MK2 Tyre up front TESTED:
VEE TIRE CO ZILENT MARK 2 TYRES (sevendaycyclist.com) Chain lightly lubed, a quick shot of maintenance
spray on cables and cleat mechanisms-job done and warm bath for me, before I
ran the cold gauntlet. Talking of which,
Steve has been impressed with these Showers Pass Crosspoint GlovesSHOWERS
PASS CROSSPOINT GLOVES | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) . More
next week..
