North of November

November is literally vanishing before they eyes. Darker, wetter days have been the norm. Trees have shed their leaves almost unnoticed, and these have interwoven with dung, coating rural roads in interesting, impacted mulch. One that harbours hedge clippings, flints and other sharps, that infiltrate tyre casings as we ride.

Even the Univega's front Schwalbe Marathon Mondial Double Defence tyre     had succumbed.  https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-marathon-mondial-tyres

Another spare tube retrieved and the injured party ear-marked for patching, this presented an ideal opportunity to give the bike, a good wash. 

Juice Lubes Dirt Juice Bike Cleaner, complete with a new, foaming trigger spray was an obvious candidate. Now, there's an argument that says foaming solutions give a very visual impression of dissolving gunk and grime. Whereas, less visually active solutions are more effective, since they sit on the hosts, breaking it down on a molecular level.  Juice Lubes advise the dirt juice is designed to foam up, though cling to the hosts.

Credit where due, left for the full two minutes, the dirt juice did a decent job of dismissing some ingrained organic and petrochemical grot. Nocturnal temperatures have been tumbling close to freezing, which in turn has coaxed the gritting lorries out. 

I may switch to the Schwalbe Marathon Winter, should slippery roads become a prevailing feature. Lanes carpeted in iced bovine dung and compacted leaves, can induce the wrong sort of excitement.

Next, I dialled in the Univega's front brake. Not that the Genetic Cantilevers were anything but crisp. I just wanted fractionally more bite. This also presented opportunity to use the Juice Lubes JL69 maintenance spray to work. Most maintenance sprays promise to be all things, to all folks. 

Perfect for post wash lubing of cables, pivot points, displacing water, while leaving a protective slippery barrier behind. Many claim to loosen rusted parts. Some are better than others. 

Royally stuck stems, seat posts and bottom brackets, call for oceans of Plus Gas/similar high strength freeing oil. Often some liberal deployment of judicious force, too. 

Maintenance sprays tend to fall into two basic camps. Insipid brews, which are fine for post wash duties, or super stocky stuff with lashings of PTFE. The latter tend to be quite effective, in terms of protection and reducing friction. They're also relatively cheap. However, they're not particularly kind to seals and other rubberised components.   

Juice tell me the JL69  contains no PTFE, so nicer all round.  Constant use and exposure to warm sudsy bucket loads tends to strip lubricant from my long serving work stand, making erection and collapse feel slightly arthritic. 

A localised squirt has freed things nicely. I'd be inclined to strip and re grease a binding rear brake, regardless of genre, but a quick shot on the inner wires and pivot points also seems to keep things slick and glitch free. Talking of glitches, logistics firms are recruiting their seasonal army of couriers, primed for Black Friday and pre Christmas blow-outs. 

I've worn that particular hat. 

Bustling back and forth with a Mercedes Sprinter laden to its limit. Sullen and miserable as the day's targets, tracking devices, stressed out, chain-smoking controllers and ignorant members of the public consume reserves at alarming pace. 

Never has " Stop The Cavalry" been more appropriate...Save perhaps, for the school nativity back, in 1981. I'm also confident that £185 per day* is achievable (assuming of course, you can operate three vehicles, headed in wildly different areas, simultaneously).

Empathy waned a bit upon discovering dick heads Ltd couldn't be arsed to deliver some test products, on Monday afternoon. Yes, I was destined to receive them between 16.51 and 1751... Only to discover a cancellation email in my inbox...Thankfully, a regular face turned up, bang on cue the next day. 

Be kind to your courier, make their life easier and generally treat them as you would hope to be.   In this particular stash, I found  Some interesting lights and these Look Geo Trekking pedals. Dual purpose designs employing a resin body and SPD centre-piece. A bit of a deviation for the French marque and seemingly aimed at the E-bike/trekking market. 

In common with their rival, Time, they've devised some quirky models. I'm still have a soft spot for these now discontinued Time All Road Gripper Pedals and of course, these "Lego-Like" Look. The latter I bought for £10, including cleats some 25 years, or so back.Time I was going out to play with these lights. 

Oh but before I go, here's my review of the K-lite Bike Packer Pro V2

https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/k-lite

Sticky Fingers

A few weeks back, I established the Soma Condor https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/soma  swap was the icing on my Univega’s cake. No change in several hundred miles, since. However, the reclaimed Lizard Skins DSP bar tape https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/lizard-skins-dsp  was beginning to look slightly tired in places. Time was when a cable change meant the bar wrap (especially budget) was also bin fodder. Most bar tapes seem tolerant of being re/wound, even after they’ve weathered a bit.

Shot peened or sand blasted handlebars also seem to assist adhesion. However, the former process is generally employed to subvert potential stress fractures. The progressive availability of naturally sticky silicone wraps, including the Acros Silicone Wrap Handlebar Tape https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/acros-silicone-wrap-handlebar-tape?03991cc70fae5915&1a5858d9151d7237&455dde74ef8b80c5&4f3abceb41656d72&632cba28282213  and Genetic https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/genetic-silicone-bar-wrap  are easily rewound and reapplied following cable changes and are otherwise durable, too.

As an anecdotal average, I seem to get three cable changes from a mid to upper end adhesive backed bar tape. Around three thousand miles before the material begins looking jaded; loses its specialist properties; or shows more serious signs of fatigue. Leather is more durable (and usually with a consummate price tag).

With periodic use of hide food (which keeps the leather nourished and supple) I’ve had three years and six cable changes before contemplating replacement. Obviously not an option for vegan riders and often slippery to start with. Silicone and sophisticated polymer wrap also requires more care when cleaning.

Strong solvents and stiff brushes with often strip their coatings, or age them prematurely. I’ve found this Oxford Tyre Scrub https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/oxford-products-tyre-scrub  and Duck Smart The Black Stuff Chain Cleaner an excellent combination, for lifting ingrained grime. That said; we are talking a gentle, sustained pressure here.

Extra UK www.extrauk.co.uk  have kindly sent me this Fizik Vento Microtex Tacky Tape to test. According to Fizik, the Vento family are “Race bred tapes for ultimate control and reduced weight”. Apparently “The tacky film surface with raised texture facilitates grip in every condition”.

Its 2mm (compared with the Lizard Skins DSP’s 2.5mm) so the comparison will be interesting. Fizik also suggest the smaller density benefits riders with smaller hands. I have long willowy digits, so the latter benefit may be lost on me. However, on paper it’s a tangible benefit.  

There’s a definite knack to achieving graceful flowing lines. Bind carefully, patiently and when free of distraction. Unless of course, you’re a pro mechanic. Now pedants will say black and white are shades, not colours. 

I wasn’t sure whether the white would blend successfully with the Univega’s cream and black two-tone theme. However, by my reckoning, with the SPD pedals, Orp smart horn https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/orp-smart-horn and mudguard detailing, it works a treat. Some minor points aside, I’ve also reached my conclusions regarding the Prendas Ciclismo  Lisboa Waterproof Cycling Cap https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/prendas-ciclismo-lisboa-waterproof-

Continuing this waste not, want not narrative, I’ve decided to run the Weldtite TF2 All Weather Performance Lubricant for the time being, see how many miles I can accumulate, before switching to the Juice Lubes Ceramic. The former is a mix of ISO oils, additives and PTFE, which keeps friction remarkably low.

Presumably it’s the additives keeping it stable in all temperatures. A Canadian rider reckons it’s the first lube he’s used, capable of remaining effective at minus 32 degrees. Viscosity also lends it very nicely to cleat/locking mechanisms, as a corrosion inhibitor for electroplated fasteners and even frame-ends.

PTFE is both friend and foe. The ubiquitous slippery compound is dirt cheap and very effective, in the friction busting stakes. Its also relatively toxic, hence I minimise my own exposure. Latex examination gloves are donned when applying greases and often when stripping lubes. Where possible, I avoid using PTFE based chain lubes in contexts where I’m riding close to rivers and similar waterways.   

Lighting permitting, I’ve always found myself riding faster at night and I’ve concluded it’s psychological. Gradients become smaller because you cannot perceive their size, in the same fashion you would, during daylight. Focus is upon maintaining a decent tempo. Dark roads also inspire a more reflective mood.

A means of processing complex thoughts and ideas. I usually return from a ride feeling energised and with a new sense of perspective. Copy I’ve been struggling with, often seems to write itself. I have recently been coming to terms with my elderly farm cat’s demise. Kidney and cardiovascular failure forced the issue.  All we can ask for is a fulfilling life and a merciful end. He had both.  

I’m also an introvert. A much maligned and misunderstood personality type. Contrary to popular misconception, introverts are not shy, or socially awkward. People intrigue me and I consider myself adept at reading people and their motivations. Engaged, loquacious and emotionally intelligent, in professional contexts, I also need time to retreat and recharge. Long steady night rides are an obvious conduit.