Conditions have become markedly more autumnal, which in some respects has proven very welcome. Temperatures have slid to the high teens-low twenties, so at 5am, its closer to 12-14 degrees and the wetter roads mean chain lubes are easier to evaluate. 300 miles in, The Muc-Off –50-degree chain lube shows no sign of relenting. There's some residual, sludgy gunk growing around the derailleur cage and jockey wheels but nothing out of the ordinary and less than I’ve come to expect from middleweight wet lubes.
It’s made from a high viscosity synthetic, known as Polyalphaolefin. One that flows well at low temperatures, maintains its properties and low volatility. Characteristics that explain its popularity within the aircraft industry. In the present conditions, I’m expecting at least 600miles from a single application. Aside from winter and commuting duties, it should excel in cyclocross, gravel, and mountain bike contexts.
Fixed gear winter trainer’s new KMC is still sporting the factory lube but the tension was a fractionally too high, so I adjusted it at the close of our first outing. Not the most obvious choice perhaps, but the Lezyne Classic pedal spanner is perfect for tackling track nuts. Over a foot long, there’s more than enough leverage for stubborn pedals and is incredibly pleasant to use and far too nice to lend.
The business end is made from CNC machined nickel-plated steel, features a bottle opener and the pedal/nut slots are offset, so no faffing trying to whip ‘em on the pedal flats. This bolts into a super tactile wooden handle, which sits perfectly in the palm. I've had mine for years (primarily as I don’t lend it!) but the electroplated finish is also top-notch.
Staying with the fixed, the 32mm Kender Kwick Journey KS Plus continue to impress me with their blend of relative speed, compliance, and reliability. The 5mm puncture repellent belt seems equally dependable-no flats to date. When it comes to working, or winter bikes, reliability is worth those extra grams-the last thing I want to be doing is tackling a flat on a cold and rainy night, when I could be home nursing coffee and the bike safely tucked away in the garage.
Talking of flats, Steve has been putting the Muc-Off Puncture Plug Repair kit through its paces https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/muc-off-puncture-plug-repair-kit Talking of which, the wind steadily intensified over the course of Tuesday-nothing too wild, but I had pause for thought on Wednesday morning, when this tree came down.
Had I been thirty seconds quicker...At the time, the felled tree was just something to navigate, the introspections, and what-ifs came after. Ironically enough, I had switched from the Smith Signal (my default for several thousand miles) to this airier and slightly lighter Cratoni.
The Cratoni is several years old and a budget road model but has some nice features, including a bug net. Attaching a rear light is equally straightforward. Talking of which, Steve’s been impressed by the Ravemen TR300 rear Light https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/ravemen-tr300-bicycle-rear-light .
Pumping out a maximum of 300 lumens, it employs three super bright CREE LEDs and a sturdy aluminium casing doubles as a heatsink, theoretically giving the diodes, battery, circuitry, and switch a sporting chance of a long and happy life.
The mounting kit also seems an improvement on its less potent siblings. 300lumens is arguably overkill for most conditions but as a daylight running mode, especially on a trailer, it’s hard to fault its presence. On that note, I’m off to finalise my reviews of the TR30 and TR50.
