Battle of Wills

 While I’m testing the Alfine Dynamo, I’ve decided it was time to bolt a rotor to the SP SD8 SHUTTER PRECISION SD8 HUB DYNAMO | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) hub, creep a little closer to the front-end swap. Time, or rather uninterrupted opportunity are in short supply at present, so the smoother this process the better. Then of course, Ursula is very much a working bike and needs to be well, working. An unhurried, methodical approach is key, in my experience, to getting things set up properly and while digesting the manuals are crucial stages, lateral thought, and processes of elimination are similarly important. 

Enter triple-checking spacer/stack heights, and condition of components like rotors. Talking of which, I subsequently discovered the Shimano centre lock rotor I believed was nestling quietly in the spares bin, was in fact a figment of my imagination. Five minutes at the keyboard, crowned by a deft mouse click-sorted.  

Wrong time of night, wired, maybe? Whatever the catalyst, I found myself bidding on an allegedly brand-new Kinesis Maxlight fork. 7005 aluminium alloy, disc and cantilever mounts, uncut steerer... Thankfully someone else overtook me on this journey, since I discovered the vendor had a reputation for not honouring the auction price and more significantly, transpired this was a 1-inch steerer. All that glitters...  

Besides, sometimes we need to be forced to use what we have, and not get overly indulgent.  Especially since the UK is hitting the highest patch of inflation for 30 years and things are becoming increasingly lean, even for those who would never imagine they’d feel economic constraint.  

Storm Eunice hit the UK last week. Reckoned to be the most intense since the storms of 1987, it seems to have wreaked similar devastation in certain areas of the country. Conditions were close to eerily calm, that morning. Few cars, little wildlife as I weaved around the backroads and singletrack lanes.  

Wind speed intensified to around 60mph at 1500hrs in my region, with fallen trees, collapsed walls and similar damage prevalent. During this period, I was driving on the motorway and could feel the KA buffeted by gusty winds. These dropped by 1900hrs, although still accompanied by a banshee howl.  

I woke the next morning to winds around the 23mph mark, so Ursula and I headed out for a twenty-mile loop. Plenty of stray branches and dead wood but thankfully nothing obviously dangerous at that stage. I returned with the intention of giving the old girl a good clean. That she got.  

Undersides of her Bluemels mudguards SKS BLUEMELS SHINY MUDGUARDS | cycling, but not ususally racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  cassette n’ all. This, coupled with a need to test the Torque Covert 7’s chain tool brought forward chain replacement. Oh well, might as well. I went for another KMX X10, since it was close to hand. The .73 has a duller, grey finish than the ultra-reliable .93, which has me wondering if that’s the only difference. I’m no fan of the magic/ “missing link” genre and always join mine using the old school method and always carry a batch of spare links. Contradictory perhaps, given my remark 

 

I was surprised to find some minor knee discomfort recently, especially since I don’t turn big gears, or participate in impact activities. Having researched the matter in greater depth, I concluded it was an alignment issue. Switching from the FLR Defender booties to their Rexton Active cousins. I was relieved to discover this was down to cleat positioning, thus easily addressed. Might also explain the odd patina forming on the right side of this Cycles Berthoud Soulor CYCLES BERTHOUD SOULOR LEATHER SADDLE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Decided, since I hadn’t stretched the fixed gear winter/trainer’s wheels for a little while now was the time to get some miles in. Gave me an opportunity to bed the TRP SLC caliper in properly- wet roads with gritty stuff and a minor nudge of a 3mm Allen key sorted these.  

The good folks at Ison Distribution www.ison-distribution.com have returned my freshly refurbished SP PD8 dynohub. New bearings, grease and overhauled, ready for building back into the Halo White line rim HALO CLASSIC RIM & SHUTTER PRECISION DYNOHUB DISC WHEEL BUILD (sevendaycyclist.com) but that’s a job for another time, there are more pressing priorities just now.  

 

Spring Has Sprung-Seize It!!

Issue 6 of Seven Day Cyclist (www.sevendaycyclist.co.uk http://www.pocketmags.com/searchresults.aspx?search=Seven+Day+Cyclist) has just hit the digital newsstands. We’ve a thorough test of the Genesis Croix de fer 2.0, a Hope hydraulic brake service, an interview with Martyn Brunt Sustrans’ NCN manager, tours, products and lots more besides.

Chill Easter weekends are something of an institution on these shores but a blaze of spring-like conditions have swept in behind, prompting resurrection of my Geonaute G-Eye action camera. Image quality and ease of use are definite plus points given the modest outlay but let down by a protective polycarbonate housing, incompatible with Go-Pro patterns, which has made handlebar mounting trickier than necessary.

A threaded base would’ve enabled direct fitment to this Minoura (easily the best mount I’ve come across); or surprisingly effective bodge bin specials made for pennies from old blinky brackets, assorted screws, nuts and washers.  Maybe, I’ll find another casing on ebay; or the patience to file the existing unit’s lug so it will mate nicely with Go-pro pattern brackets. Reportage will be fair weather for the time being.

The National Society for The Protection of Cruelty to Cleats (NSPCC) would’ve been pressing charges if they’d caught sight of these dog earned patterns. 

Months of neglect, salty coastal roads and constant di/engagement, it was small wonder they’d lasted this long.Suspiciously easy exit suggested I was pushing my luck-especially on the fixers and the arrival of these Stiletto white XLC proved the decider. 

Murphy’s Law dictated that every last trace of grease had been whittled from the screws, locking them in a passionate tryst with their hosts (the universe’s way of telling me not to be so self-righteous!) Mercifully a blast of penetrant spray and Torx driver secured their release without resort to drilling.

Packet fresh WP98A spun home (fasteners fed a generous dollop of ceramic grease!) and feet engaged with that familiar “Clack” we were off on these “Stiletto” white XLC pedals.

Closer inspection suggests they’re rebadged and painted Wellgo WP801; albeit without the magnesium options. No bad thing since these Ritchey Logic homages were delightfully faithful-I ran a red pair for several years on “The bird shit special”- my much loved 1X8spd cross inspired MTB workhorse.

They even became my go-to set when testing bikes-until someone pilfered them. Over the years, I’ve run worthy patterns giving change from £17 but the XLC’s casting and bearing quality seems decidedly superior. Cro-moly axles feel a wee bit stiffer under explosive acceleration and sustained honking too.

Powder coating is an obvious choice for pedals when properly applied-it’s cheap, rugged and generally very attractive. White can be a very tricky customer since there’s so little pigment. 

Inexperienced sprayer will apply too much powder in an attempt to counteract this, resulting in an orange-peel effect. No trace of that here. Obviously, the cleats are digging in at localised points but there’s no suggestion it might flake or peel further along the line.

Muc-Off have also sent me their latest “Hydrodynamic” lube, which is reckoned to be the ultimate all conditions lube particularly to suited to cross and road duties. Theoretically, it has the stamina of a wet lube but with superior cleanliness and friction.

Exact composition is Coca Cola secret but apparently petrochemical free, so won’t hurt aquatic life or otherwise pollute the environment. In keeping with others of this new breed of super lube, recipient chains need to be surgically clean before a drop is spilt.

From the spout it emerges with a blue taint and has a four hour curing period (I find overnight is ideal) whereupon it assumes a clean but glossy state-similar to those fortified with PTFE but much cleaner. 

Hydrodynamic has clung to my Ilpompino’s stainless steel chain very convincingly-often lubes can migrate to the slippery metal’s outer plates. Eighty miles in and I’m certainly warming to its potential but at this end of the market, I’ll be disappointed if it doesn’t return at least 500 variable weather miles per re/application.

With the longer evenings, it’s easy to overlook lights and then get caught out by a deviation/puncture or good company. I’ve noted several riders- experienced enough to know better, succumb to dusk’s unexpected curtain recently. 

Always pack a set of blinkies just in case-they’re potent, dirt cheap and could save your life. Right, there ends my public service announcement-I’m off to put an assortment of bike washes through their paces-see how the cope with various genres of gunk.