I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, just
like the one’s we used to know-ah yes, those halcyon days where jealous
siblings unburdened themselves into their rival’s new “Action Man” tank
sometime between the first guests arriving and the queen’s speech…Mercifully I
appear to be avoiding my seasonal slump
little by little...
Rory Hitchens at Upgrade was kind
enough to let me play with his stunning Kinesis Pro 6 build. Race whippet first
and foremost, well conceived civilising features (fenders, four point carrier
fixings, two bottle bosses and chain pip) coupled with tyre swap makes effortless transformation to frisky sportive demon, winter plaything or indeed
weekend tourer.
£2400 buys some beautiful kit and I’ve
been particularly smitten with TRP’s Paradox
brakeset, which is essentially a hybrid design incorporating a unique
stem mounted junction box (aka the parabox) that translates standard cable pull
into hydraulic force. In common with Shimano and Magura, the hydraulic
components run on mineral, not DOT fluids. Using the latter will cannibalise
hoses and olives irreparably fast but in any case leakages/damage should be
firmly in blue moon territory.
Being an open design means pads
automatically adjust closer to the rotors as they wear, which can be the
difference between Santa safely stopping his Bob Yak and the lever bottoming
uselessly against his handlebars. Despite being completely under its
spell, I was somewhat relieved when the courier came to collect, since having a
machine that valuable residing in my garage this time of year (let alone one
that didn't belong to me) meant my inane grin was increasingly giving way to
creeping paranoia.
This repatriation prompted a fleet rotation, Izzie Ilpompino being
the obvious choice since fixed gives much better feedback and control, as the
roads turn increasingly wintry. Cyclo cross geometry inspires a suitably
engaging, yet stable passage over slimy asphalt, although the sudden plunge in
temperatures induced a gritting frenzy of the sort requiring fastidious
applications of bike wash, rinsed off in cold water so as to avoid hastening
the corrosive, chemical reaction.
An evenings' saunter through minus five left me dangerously
cold, despite winter weight gloves, bib tights, base layers, long sleeved
jersey, training jacket, thermal hat and water proof socks-hence my faithful
companion was popped away in the garage still wearing covering of said caustic
brew...Within twenty four hours, it had already sunk its teeth into the paint,
a chip or two incurred during earlier rides already succumbing to the dreaded
brown taint.
Easily cured with a rub back and retouch perhaps but illustrates
the horrifying haste at which the salt monster attacks anything remotely exposed.
Really, really cold conditions can also do interesting things to synthetic
lubes and accidental over application of this otherwise superb Fenwick’s'
stealth (easily the cleanest, yet most tenacious road prep gracing my chains to
date) saw it become a sludgy mess within sixty miles. Unleaded petrol proved
the best stripping medicine and I allowed the Stealth to thin in a bowl of very
warm water for twenty minutes before delicately applying a trace amount deep
into every link via its pipette style dropper.
On a happier note, another temp role presented itself and
there's been no shortage of Gizmos such as this literally all singing and
dancing USB charging Mio computer/GPS/HRM system. Ultra comprehensive, set up
and calibration are surprising straightforward, although calls for a methodical
approach- its the sort you set up on a wet Saturday afternoon, not twenty
minutes before a group ride.
Aside from some initial communication problems between sensor
and magnet (solved by replacing the latter with one hibernating in the spares
drawer) we’ve been bonding surprising well given it does pretty much everything
bar make the tea, although there’s probably a downloadable app for that
too!
Speaking of tipples, Lezyne flow SL might be just the ticket if
you've bought a small semi/compact geometry frameset and are finding the main
triangle a wee bit on the bijous side for two trade bottles. Made from a
composite matrix (blend of sophisticated plastics to you n’ me) and 48g, it
can't quite muster the same bragging rights as carbon but I'm really endeared
to the left/right handed options that arguably add that final personalised
touch-especially to a bespoke build.
Right then, back to those pre Christmas deadlines…
