I'll Just...

 

January is a tricky month in every respect. The festivities forgotten, replaced by an unsettling silence. Some folks await the fiscal hangover, others plunge themselves into projects and traditionally, it’s a time of year when I disappear to the garage, fuelled by those nights where an idea can evolve into the ONLY idea.

I was recovering from a sudden, unwelcome seasonal lurgi and feeling infinitely better, (save for an infected tooth, spotted by my dentist during a routine checkup) decided I’d switch Denise to gravel rubber and complete testing of the Zefal Shield G50.Zefal Shield G50 Mudguards | cycling-not-racing Wheels fitted, tyres inflated to the desired pressure, I then discovered the rear Kore cantilevers were dragging. Hmm, just a case of changing the inner wire and a quick tweak of the balance screws.  

No joy. After some deliberation, I concluded the Tektro RL520 must be pulling too much cable, so after a quick rummage of the spares boxes, I recovered a silver RL340 designed for cantilever and side pulls and made the switch. Closer, but definitely not right.  By this point, we were coming close to midnight- I’d planned to have everything sorted and safely tucked up in bed long beforehand. Firmly in the zone, I discovered a missing balance screw, so decided to strip them from the bosses and switch to another set. This also presented an opportunity to regrease the cantilever posts with Zefal Pro II Zefal Pro II Grease | cycling-not-racing.

Refitted, snugged tight, some minor tweaking of the balance screws- sorted. Ok, so a few localised squirts of MO94 were needed, since I’d forgotten to flush the outers through in my diagnostic phase. The RL340 and 520 levers have slightly different profiles, apparent when looking down at the hoods but close enough aesthetically. Moreover, I had a fully functional rear stopper.

 Once-overs completed, bars redressed in the Ergon Orthocell Ergon Orthocell Handlebar Tape | cycling-not-racing it was 1245. Still, I’d diagnosed and cured the fault, so off my list and out of my head. A test ride the following morning confirmed all was well. Quit while ahead. Weeks and many miles hence, the Zefal Shield G50 continue to impress with their rattle-free construction and impressive protection- on and sans asphalt.

Definitely the best clip-on guards I’ve ever used and by some margin. I’m still mightily impressed by Mudhugger’s Gravel Hugger, but these are a more permanent design- none the worse for it, but slightly different. The Gravel Hugger are also incompatible with rim brakes. Fine for contemporary gravel, or bike packing framesets and the coverage is also impressive.

However, incompatible with bikes running cantilevers, or linear pulls. Talking of which, I’ve upgraded Muffin’s brake cable with a Jagwire CGX 5mm outer and stainless inner. Not on par, with their top flight Jagwire Road Elite Jagwire Road Elite Sealed Brake Kit | cycling-not-racing, but a tangible improvement. The Fibrax and bog-standard stainless inner fitted during the initial build has served well enough in the “use what you got” sense. Now it was due replacement, hence the opportunity to upgrade. A few months down the line, I wasn’t surprised to discover the MPart Primo Anti Slip Silicone Gel Bar Tape M Part Primo Anti Slip Silicone Gel Bar | cycling-not-racing had weathered. In fairness, it was re-useable and the adhesive backing still up to the job, but the finishing strips were really stubborn to remove. Should get another few months regular use before retirement. Switching to the Spa Aire Titanium has also brought a new level of bliss. I’d broken it in years ago but forgotten how comfortable it is, especially on a bike with similar positioning and geometry as Muffin.

Mercifully, save for testing, worn consumables and the odd tweak, I more or less have the fleet optimised. Major revamps and overhauls are off the table.  Invariably, when I’ve fallen down one of these rabbit holes, some other expenditure has presented, whether it be cars, dental treatment, or similar priority.

I should point out that while brutally diminished by successive administrations, we do still have the burning embers of universal healthcare, but there is still a fiscal contribution to be made. Universal healthcare makes sound economic sense. The healthier your nation, the more productive. There is an argument in favour of contribution and I can see this, but only so long as it's proportionate and based upon the ability to pay.

There is a large swathe of the UK’s population who enjoyed increasing prosperity across the board-even those in lower-skilled, dare we say “dead end” work. High quality affordable housing, good schools and other public services. Housing was about community, not assets, educational attainment and life chances were more closely associated with the communities, parents and peers surrounding you.

Nonetheless, upward social mobility was very much a lived experience. Something that progressively waned through the 1980s onward, as industries and communities died. Those that could, left and pursued new lives, those that didn’t were left behind, largely ignored. Easy prey for the populists who offer slogans, emotional dynamite but no solutions to inherently complex and ingrained problems. 

Bar con bother & More Welcome Surprises

 

I found myself switching this Topeak Road Master Blaster Topeak Road Master Blaster Frame Pump | cycling-not-racing over from Muffin to Ursula. Though on paper, I’d be surprised that it would fit the 17.5-inch frameset, but it’s worth remembering that mid to late nineties cross country mountain bike framesets had long top tubes for a more stretched, aggressive stance. In this instance 21.3 inches, which proved bespoke for the pump.  

Proof of said security was off road and during our first outing, I wasted no time in taking a left turn and letting rip along two miles of leafy bridlepath. I was also keen to see how the Sidi Algor performed off road. Formative impressions are positive, and I was pleasantly surprised to find them temperate in milder conditions-13 degrees. Nonetheless, there’s plenty of miles to come on and sans asphalt_ I’ll reserve judgment until December, possibly the New Year.  

As for the pump’s tenure? Rock steady. Inner tube wrapped around the top tube undoubtedly provides some additional grip, but the pressure fit is perfect, holding the pump steady, while still allowing ready, convenient access when required. Less delightful was discovering the right Microshift bar end shifter had turned belligerent and wouldn’t shift. Now, bar end shifters main selling point is their rugged simplicity and the ability to switch them to friction mode.

The latter forgotten while I was traversing roads carpeted in thick, slimy agricultural mud and reflecting on the speed some vehicles were doing through it-with some palpable loss of traction.  Upon returning from my 90-minute mixed terrain jolly, I decided to switch the lever for a spare and fresh cable. Doing so quickly restored the comforting click and sweep of the chain across the cassette.

Minor tweaks made, cable liberally lubed with some Muc Off MO94 Muc-Off MO94 Multi Use Spray | cycling-not-racing , I pruned the inner cable, superglued the end and popped Ursula away.  I wasn’t surprised to find everything behaved on the workstand, but some phantom shifts when climbing during our first mixed terrain outing meant stopping and dialling some tension from the rear mech’s barrel adjuster.

Sorted in thirty seconds, one of those easy fixes and no issues since.   Whoosh! The child like inner joy as I weaved through the leafy carpets and soft, though not too boggy mud was a welcome relief from some complex monotony that had been all too prevalent within my wider world. Perspective, too.  

Richard Ballantin’s observations (p 17 Richard’s New Bicycle Book (Oxford Illustrated Press October 1988) “At a deeper level, how you ride reflects your feelings and thoughts. You are with yourself.”   Social media can give the impression of connectivity and indeed, personal significance, but the reality is individually, we are all very insignificant. I have also noted a pronounced rise in anti-intellectualism, a lack of desire to learn and a climate where the loudest voices, no matter how ill-informed get most attention. Contrary to popularist sentiment, we do need experts, we need expertise. This knowledge and understanding does not happen by osmosis, it takes years to cultivate, regardless of trade, or profession.  The appeal and indeed, success of populist leaders is emotional, not based on facts.

The feeling, a false sense of empathy is what mobilises people and without any introspection, or critical introspection. The pied piper then leads them along the desired path, and we’re back down those alleys which caused so much destruction-economic, social and political.

The same games and tunes are played, but just through different mediums-although some would argue regulated media outlets have become complicit megaphones. I listen closely to these things but will never engage, either with those who follow the rhetoric, or those espousing it.  

Many of those following the rhetoric and depending upon state benefits may regret their subscription, since these populists have already made it very clear they will greatly reduce public spending and welfare benefits will be top of the list.  

In all probability, these people will continue following the rhetoric and will blame and quite likely physically attack others. They already do- housing officers, social workers, nurses, administrators to name a few who are “fair game” for their frustration. I’ve experienced it first hand, so know how it plays out. I’ve had some people come and boast they knew how to tender various services, only to demonstrate a complete, some might say, breathtaking ignorance of the tendering process and service level agreements.  

Several months down the line, I will say I’m very impressed by Zefal Pro II Grease’s performance and staying prowess. It’s certainly surpassed my expectations of budget greases, especially those employing lithium.

Plenty remains on contact points, threaded components, headset and pedal bearings, Hollowtech II axles and cleat fasteners. No hint of galvanic corrosion, or other nastiness.  In fairness, these months have varied between very hot and uncharacteristically mild- 17 degrees has not been unusual in the early part of November. Plenty of opportunity to test the Castelli Do Di Ci
https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/castelli-do-di-ci-jacket

Lithium based preps aren’t ideal for all jobs, but for general assembly jobs and bearing packing, there’s much to like here. I took this opportunity to introduce the 17tooth Arundel fixed sprocket to Muffin’s hub, switching the 16tooth to the other side. Staying with lubes, I retired Denise’s KMC X10 chain, since opportunity presented, which also coincided with the arrival of this Muc-Off C3 All Weather Ceramic, so it will be interesting to see how this compares to its entry level counterpart I reviewed a while back. Muc-Off All Weather Chain Lube | cycling-not-racing  I’ve also reached my conclusions regarding the Sigma Buster 1600 & RL150 lights, which have a lot to offer, although some niggles and limitations, too Sigma Buster 1600 & RL150 Light Set | cycling-not-racing