Easter Beatings

 Easter can be a cold and unpredictable period- Good Friday in particular. March has been bitterly cold and decidedly wet on these shores. Maybe I should head off for Hungary and capture some of the country’s beauty, the Czech Republic for the Pomlázka, perhaps...Ah but here’s the thing, a lot of British people put their cross in the wrong box during a pivotal vote in 2016.  

This means travelling to other destinations-especially in a commercial context got considerably trickier. I was also saddened to learn that Moore Large (distributors) went into administration- a brutally close-to-home reminder of just how difficult the UK’s economic climate has become.   

The weather has also put paid to some early-season weekend fun on The Teenage Dream and Holdsworth. I’d only washed and waxed Ursula the day before this photo was taken. A single ride through the green lanes and backroads saw her chainstay and bottom bracket region blasted with cack.  

Silver linings...Well, it proved the ideal opportunity to check (and tweak) the front mech and mudguard fasteners.  I also fitted the Teenage Dream’s Sun Race freewheel, rather than run the risk of the much-loved Regina BX blowing its guts at the least convenient moment.  

The Sun Race’s plated finish looks a little low rent, by comparison, but as Richard Ballantine so rightly said (in the context of derailleurs before anyone picks me up on it) better a fresh budget unit, than a top-flight model one shift from oblivion.  

Rear mech roulette lost its appeal many moons ago. Ditto spontaneous implosion of any kind, for that matter.  End of an era though. I’ve had that BX since 1991 and there’s a lot of memories woven into that. A lot of memories, hopes, dreams and indeed, unrequited stuff. Yes, that’s code for I’ve stashed it inside a transparent plastic sleeve and into the transmission parts box.  

Talking of which, after several months, I’m not sure the Smanie GT137’s channelling groove is completely compatible with mine, so I’ve switched Ursula back to the Selle Royal Respiro Sport Saddle.  The Smarie now ported over to the fixed’s Cane Creek Thudbuster ST TESTED: CANE CREEK THUDBUSTER ST SEATPOST (sevendaycyclist.com) to explore this hypothesis on one with a lower, more aggressive front end.  If the past few rides are anything to go by, reverting to the Respiro was the right decision.

During this phase, I also noted some minor side to side slop in the Kinekt 2.1 Aluminium Suspension Seatpost KINEKT 2.1 SUSPENSION SEAT POST | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). This was traced to the side link bolts and easily dialled snug with a 3mm Allen key- glad I checked. It has tightened performance a notch and loss would be very inconvenient. 

Replacements are available and inexpensive Side Link Bolts – KINEKT Store (cirruscycles.com) but would’ve meant unnecessary time off the road. Easily avoidable too, more to the point. Note to self, check more frequently...    

Aside from the obvious-wanting to have machines at their optimum and getting the best from the riding experience, I’d argue these, and related processes of elimination also serves as a conduit for processing, and finding solutions to other, unrelated things. Including, but not limited to, financial matters, an issue at work, studies, career, relationship(s) etc.  

On a brighter note, dawn's arrival has been progressively earlier, and the cooler temperatures mean I can get more miles from the winter/early season wardrobe. The Oxford Venture Windproof Gillet has certainly earned its keep OXFORD VENTURE WINDPROOF GILET | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) ditto these Funkier Aqua Gents Pro Water Repellent TightsFUNKIER AQUA GENT'S PRO TIGHTS | cycling, but not usually racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

Water-repellent tights will hold heavier rain back. Whereas I might start to feel soggy in traditional tights give an hour’s moderate rain, or persistent drizzle, I’ve returned primarily dry, given 2.5. That said a bib tight is always the best choice, since they offer better protection to the lower back and vital organs. 

I’m also thinking these retro reflective claw-type Carnac gloves were an inspired choice. Padding density is good for most riding contexts-including green lanes and light trails. The retro-reflective silver effect is great when signalling, or just being picked up by other vehicle headlights.  Dexterity might be an issue for some and if you’re seeking something a little less niche’ Steve found a lot to like about the 360 Dry Waterproof Gloves. 360Dry Waterproof Gloves | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

I’m still attached to Altura Night Vision. They’re starting to look a little lived in, dare we say characterful, but perform well in the waterproof and relatively breathable sense. They will also accept liner-type gloves for when the temperature’s really tanking but you don’t want too much bulk.  

Otherwise, 4-12 degrees is their comfortable operating range. Until recently, the roads have been wet enough to consume the Muc-Off Wet Lube in 280 miles, which is still very respectable, given the conditions and on par with the Weldtite TF2 Performance All Weather Lubricant TF2 PERFORMANCE ALL WEATHER LUBRICANT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) in comparable settings. I’ve been traversing single-track lanes and waterlogged back roads with a bit of town work, for good measure. In common with others, it needs to be stripped with your anti-lube of choice before reapplying.  

This is good practice with lubes generally. However, some more traditional wet types are receptive to a quick “cat-lick” before being topped up. More sophisticated formulas tend to react and become mucky drivetrain-gobbling potions. Not what most of us would consider desirable.  

Weldtite very kindly sent me some of their bike cleaner concentrate to brew up my own strength bike washes and of course, to use neat-as a degreaser.

Workshop Wins

 March arrived and I decided it was time to inspect the Teenage Dream, so it would be ready for the sunnier, drier roads. Old school freewheels like to be lubricated annually, so I drizzled some Weldtite TF2 All Weather Lube with Teflon into the mechanism while the wheel was spinning at a decent velocity.  

There was also the distinct possibility that it could be nearing the end of its life. With this in mind, I thought it best to get something in stock, just in case I needed to switch. Besides, the last thing I wanted was the Regina to blow its guts miles from home.  

Happened to a friend during my teens. Belting along a 1 in 7, there was a steady tinkling as 100 bearings made their bid for freedom, bouncing across the tarmac. Now, I can appreciate why some folks rebuild a treasured example-either out of sentiment, or to stretch themselves. Kudos to them, too. However, it’s not something I’m prepared to do, unless absolutely essential.  

IRD still make some very pretty screw-on freewheels but a little steep for my needs. If I were doing big mileages, maybe. However, the Teenage Dream is very much a sunny days’ plaything. Nostalgia comes at a price, and I wasn’t prepared to fork out retro money for another, used Regina BX.  

After some deliberation and research, I decided this inexpensive electroplated Sun Race was the way forward. I’d also heard good things from someone who’d ridden a couple of Eroica events with theirs.  

For the time being, I’ll see what magic the Weldtite TF2 All Weather can work, before switching to the 14-24 Sun Race. Now, this will be a little under-geared for some and in some respects, I’d agree. However, screw-on freewheels aren’t so readily available, so choice of ratios follows suit.  Slightly lower ratios won’t do my knees any harm and should also mean more time on the 53 ring.   

I’d expressed an interest in testing the CST Cito tyres. These are 170tpi folders and offered in 25, or 28mm (about 1.1 in) sections. Given the Teenage dream’s clearances, I went for the 25mm (about 0.98 in), which tip the scales at a feathery 252g apiece. They also feature the same EPS puncture-resistant technology as the Pika CST Pika Gravel Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com).   

This is essentially an added layer of proprietary rubberised Poly fiber between the tread and the casing. A system, which is designed to offer the best balance between ride quality and puncture resistance. I’ve had one flat with the Pika, but that was using a TPU tube, and I couldn’t find anything embedded, suggesting it was a hedge clipping that had just grazed it.

  

I also switched from the Lezyne Road drive pump in favour of Ursula’s Lezyne, since this rather fetching Topeak Gravel2 had arrived for testing (and was arguably a better fit for the tubby tourer). An ideal opportunity to add a lick of Peaty’s Bicycle Assembly Grease, to the bottle mounting hardware.   

 

We weren’t done there. I’d been wanting to fit a Stronglight A9 headset to the Dawes Edge frameset.  

I was concerned about the fork falling and getting damaged, so coupling the two, then popping some plumbers lagging around the tubes made for safer storage. Thankfully, I still have traditional headset spanners- a Campagnolo and a pair of BBB. I’d had the Campagnolo for over thirty years and the wallet-friendly, yet accurately machined BBB were sent to me for review fourteen years back.   

Bit of an Easter Egg Hunt but similarly satisfying-found them in two boxes.  Nice when a plan comes together. Headset was treated to some of the Juice Lubes Bearing Juice I used to pack the XT and Deore hubs.  

I also treated the frame to some internal preserve and the paint to a liberal waxing using this Naked Bikes Pro Wax Special Edition NAKED BIKES PRO WAX SPECIAL EDITION | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and checked some of the frame threads, since I was in the mood. Now was the time, after all.  

Talking of threads, I decided it was time to exorcise the 16-tooth Ti track sprocket that had been wedded to the Halo fixed hub for a decade. Given the neglect and constant exposure to wet, wintry roads, I feared it was right royally stuck, or release would take the hub’s threads too. A liberal helping of penetrant spray was left for a minute to marinate.  

I introduced these Feedback Sports Cassette pliers and heaved anti-clockwise. I’d assumed the priest performing an exorcism stance. You know the one, verbally commanding the demons free. It was either going to relent, or I was going to expire... Movement came suddenly, yet predictably, inducing an elated cheer.  

I spun the sprocket free, cleaned the threads and applied a sensible amount of Peaty’s Bicycle Assembly Grease PEATY'S BICYCLE ASSEMBLY GREASE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) before spinning it back in situ. Snugged tight, the fixed’s spare wheel is now right and ready to go. Seems the temperatures are bombing again, so best I get Ursula’s spikes back on...Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and reflect on whether it’s time to for sintered pads DiscoBrakes Sintered Brake Pads | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)