Right kit for the wrong weather

Wet and windy has been February’s flavour, so I’ve been erring towards water-repelling lubes, greases and clothing. Opportunity presented, so I re-greased the fixed gear winter/trainer’s Aheadset with the Wolf Tooth Performance Grease. The Juice Lubes Bearing Juice stubbornly clung to the lower race and cartridge bearing but service intervals are there for a reason.  

Re-packed, steering felt buttery smooth and protected. While rummaging for some clean rag, I resurrected a drivetrain cleaner and frameset polish. Given the bike was sporting a fair bit of grot, I liberally blasted drivetrain liberally, allowing it the designated few minutes standing time before rinsing with fresh water and treating the bike to a quick wash n’ wax.  

I’d just received some Nzero  Organic Wet and Organic Wax Lube, so decided I’d drizzle a little into the KMC Z1 EPT chain. The rich honey colour and viscosity reminded me of the Chain L High Mileage Formula Chain Oil, CHAIN L HIGH MILEAGE FORMULA CHAIN OIL | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  and I applied with similar frugality, giving the side plates a quick cat-lick afterward.  

I was slightly surprised to discover NZero recommends the wet be allowed to cure overnight, less so to discover the dry only required 30 minutes or so. Some other formulas including Momum MIC Dry cure in similar timescales, although traditionally wax-type blends have needed upwards of a few hours.  

I’ll keep feeding the fixed a wet lube and will alternate Ursula between the NZero Wet and its wax counterpart (a) because I’m testing the and am curious to see how well the wax will hold out in middling winter/early season conditions.  

Wax formulas, due in part to their cleanliness make particularly good candidates for cables, I’d forgotten how well-engineered the MKS NJS Chain Tugs are and how well they tension the chain-even compared with some mid-price favourites. Should’ve known better and taken that route first time round but still, lesson learned, and the others are still very serviceable.  

 

Wet weather signalled prompt return to the Shimano MW501, Shimano MW501 Dry Shield SPD MTB Shoes | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and I’ve alternated between the Showers Pass Elements SHOWERS PASS MEN'S ELEMENTS JACKET | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and Madison Roam 2.5-layer jacket Madison Roam 2.5 Layer Waterproof Jacket | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com).  

I returned from running a few errands in Meg, (the long-serving and much-loved Micra) to find the DPD man strolling up the drive with this Topeak MTX Trunk Dry Bag. At 1.1 kilos, it feels bombproof, seems as waterproof as most of us will ever need, and is extremely well made. Materials-wise, we’re talking 420/840 denier waterproof nylon with sonically welded seams.  

There are two zippered compartments running shotgun and internally an EVA foam base with dividers to insulate against vibration and of course, the toolkit jingle. A shoulder strap makes for convenient porting sans bike and the Quick Track System means it slots directly and very securely into compatible Topeak racks, such as this Topeak Uni Super Tourist DX. If you don’t want to be tethered to a system and prefer to swap luggage around, you’ll need to look at other models within the family.  

Summer caps might sound an odd choice for the early season. However, the seasons are no longer so predictable. As climate specialists have been predicting for many years, the winters have predominantly become milder and wetter, albeit with interludes of snow and ice. Changeable contexts mean I alternate between traditional winter weight “Belgian” designs, highly water repellent, breathable models, such as these Showers Pass.  

However, when temperatures creep into double figures and wind chill isn’t a factor, I find thinner models including this and the long-serving Buff a much better fit.  Especially given I’m blessed with a decent shock of hair. Peaks need to shelter eyes from the sun, gusty winds and other airborne contaminant but without impairing vision.  

All these described fall into this category and fit unobtrusively beneath helmets of various genres. Generous peaks also protect exposed areas, such as the neck from strong sun. One of the reasons I always kept a spare cap handy when Joshua was small and along for the ride, on his tagalong. 

I contemplate many things from the saddle, aside from that which might be immediately obvious. Riding had always been a form of escape for me. Free the body, free the mind. I was a child but remember the miner’s strike very well. It signified a much wider turbulence as old industries failed, factories folded, taking communities with them. The focus is often around a certain plant e.g. Ford’s Dagenham body plant, which pretty much closed 24 years ago.  

There’s a sense of myopia that strikes. People focusing on jobs lost at that specific employer, without giving a thought to the wider and equally serious implications that surround the closure of large, or main employers.  The implications for suppliers, café’s, pubs, small shops and similar small business lost in the malaise. It’s easy to appreciate Orwell’s dystopian vision in 1984 but rather like traditional Marxism, his notion of authoritarian control did not consider authoritarian populism, and consent fuelled by propaganda.

Conspiracy theorists spinning yarns about people being microchipped through vaccines fail to recognise that people willingly jettison their privacy and data through open social media accounts. Then of course, there are major footprints left through other, unfiltered online activity, apps, loyalty cards etc. Siri, Amazon Echo and Google Echo anyone?     

Road to Christmas Recovery

I was suddenly struck by the seemingly inevitable and unavoidable seasonal Lurgi. One that left me bedridden for the best part of two days and asleep for 18 hours straight. I’d struggled to remain alert for 6 hours and managed 75% of a draft alongside some other generic admin. Sabre Tooth Man-Flu is a force to be reckoned with.  

Retrospectively I’d felt it charging full force on Sunday when I was switching wheels and giving the fixed gear winter/trainer a seriously good sudsy bucket clean. Neighbour had struck up conversation, while affixing Christmas lights to their wooden fascia and I was struggling to maintain a decent tempo of routine work and response.  

Night terrors are another obvious sign for me. There are people my rational mind knows I could not help and for the most part, their deaths were beyond my control, but the world and human experience are not necessarily rational. Sometimes, during these nightmares, I will meet the figures at the end of a long tunnel. Other times, their decomposing entities can be sat at the foot of my bed, seemingly begging my attention. Sometimes they are benevolent and kind, other times vengeful and malevolent. Not where we’ve been and done but what we do with these experiences, I guess.  

Two days later and I was back in the saddle- the fixed gear winter/trainer’s to be precise. This proved a little “previous” and I was struggling to move. For context, I slept 18 hours, during the first phase of this germ fest and was fooled into feeling better. Predictably in retrospect, I succumbed to a second helping. One synonymous with sinus headaches and similar pain. I ultimately reached for the paracetamol and lemon mix, which seemed to loosen the mucus floodgates and the intense pressure that dogged my ability to function. Sometimes enforced rest is what’s needed.  

I’m sticking with the Halo Aerotrack wheel and 15-tooth Ti sprocket, which with the 35mm CST Expedium and 42 tooth 165mm Genetic Tibia cranks translates as 76.1-inch gear. Some would suggest a little lower-72 maybe, but in practice, I’m not spinning out, or indeed, struggling to winch myself up the climbs.  

Saddleback, Feedback Sports UK importer graciously sent me the brands’ Reflex Torque Wrench. Ita a mini torque wrench, designed for mid-ride adjustments-adjusting saddle tight, tightening a slipping stem bolt etc. 5nm is the maximum, too low for things like Shimano Hollowtech II cranks, so you’ll still want to carry a traditional multi-tool (although you should anyhow, since torque wrenches are only designed for assembly).  

Prevents unintentional damage of carbon fibre components and indeed, aluminium alloy components. Exceed the 5nm recommended on a seat collar bolt at your peril- I’ve seen the bolts snap/ shear clean off. Not what you’d want 20 miles from base.       Last bucket wash, I’d gone for a proper drivetrain clean and opted for the Zefal Extra Wet Nano Ceramic Chain Lube ZEFAL EXTRA WET NANO CERAMIC CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  (a) It was to hand (b) I’ve found it stays put and requires negligible time to cure.  

Ursula’s sticking with the Silca Secret Formula Chain Lube. Was relieved to get a call from Mick Madgett saying he’d replaced the Halo Spin Doctor’s Freehub. Upon collection, conversation turned to the hub’s internal composition and specialist tooling e.g. circlips.  

Apparently not. However, it took two of them to release the defunct freehub-knew there was a reason I outsourced that job! I put a lick of Wolf Tooth Grease on the free hub and cassette lockring and spun everything back together- tyre too. Will give the XT/Ryde pairing a few runs for the time being. They’ve also got the spikes on, which may come in handy, depending how conditions turn in the coming weeks.  

Regardless of how wintry the lanes have been, the Shimano MW501 have kept my feet dry and very temperate, the sole offering plenty of grip on slippery stuff and generally improving my riding experience through these dark December days.  

The heel cup and nimbler feel means they’re quickly becoming my favourites. I was very endeared to a pair of Lake, which lasted many years. However, the Shimano’s fit feels closer to that of a cyclocross/gravel shoe than a traditional mtb bootie, which for me, is more agreeable.  

The Madison Roam 2 jacket is also proving a well-conceived garment for not a lot of money. Decent fit, sensible pockets, useable hood and Velcro cuffs for a convincing seal against the elements. I prefer removable hoods but thus far, the Roam’s hasn’t made a nuisance of itself, when not required. On that note, I’ll leave you with an overview of clothing for the cooler, wetter months...WINTER WONDERLAND TWO (sevendaycyclist.com)