More Muck & Punctures Than Paris Roubaix

 

The past week or so has been so wet that local roads are closer to what I’d expect at cyclo cross meets. Lanes carpeted in bovine and pig dung, developers have added their fair share of greasy slippery gloop, which has put the spice in slide on 4am blasts.  

These often hold thorny hedge clippings. Two pierced Ursula’s rear Vittoria Evolution Road Bike Tyre Vittoria Evolution Road Bike Tyre | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), inducing a slow flat and meant I was once again, running the final two miles home. Sure, I had a spare tube and other kit but being tight on time, running seemed the best bet. Also confirmed the Shimano RX6 soles have sufficient give for running-It felt like I was tackling a moderately mucky cyclo cross course, not metalled road. 

I’ve left the Ryde Andra 40/ Shutter Precision wheel SHUTTER PRECISION SD8 HUB DYNAMO | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) with Mick Madgett for some judicious tweaking and switched to the Ryde Andra/Alfine Shimano Alfine UR700 Hub Dynamo | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) I’ve also gone for the Landcruiser Plus at the rear, standard Land Cruiser up front. Ursula was filthy. Undersides of the guards were caked with slimy stuff, ditto the chain, so since I was replacing tyres, tubes etc, I whipped the rear wheel out for a deep purge.  

Cassette and chain got similar treatment; the latter treated to some more Weldtite Ceramic WELDTITE CERAMIC LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) A quick shot of PTFE infused maintenance spray to the brake and gear cables to drive any stiction inducing moisture...Some quick tweaks to the rear pads and air to the tyres we were clean and ready once more.  

That was of course, until we succumbed to yet another, rear flat. I switched to the basic, clean Land Cruiser at the rear and ditched the wafer-thin ITS tube for one of two middle weights holidaying in Ursula’s Axiom Ocean wave City+ AXIOM OCEANWAVE CITY+ SEAT BAG | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) then ordered a stock of three, just in case.  

I’d had to consign two spares, including a Schwalbe to the bin-patched three times-a fourth would be silly. A decent tube with three patches, I will carry as an emergency spare but not my go-to.  I was pleasantly surprised to find the ITS repairable-a tiny pinprick well away from the seam.  

However, very much “a get you home” for the wedge pack, not a default. Patch quality is also pivotal to a realistic repair. Rema Tip Top are pretty much the best there are. Weldtite and Cure C Cure have also proven themselves over the years. 1800 odd miles along, Ursula’s KMC chain still has a decent amount of life left. However, I’m down to my last, so added another to stock, while I could acquire once at the right price. 

Predominantly pitch-black, sometimes misty conditions mean I’ve dug out the Sigma Sport Buster HL 2000 SIGMA SPORT BUSTER HL 2000 | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and popped that atop the Kask helmet. I’ve a better sweep of the lanes and whisper it, stand a sporting chance of spotting holes and tending mechanicals. See Sense See.Sense BEAM & BEAM+ (seesense.cc) have sent me their Beam+ Front light. 1500lumens but with a downloadable app, so the light can detect and choose to intensify, or indeed, reduce output at key points.  

For example, pumping out more light when at roundabouts/entering the flow of traffic, dipping when you’re grinding along a climb.  This genuinely seems to work and moreover, reliably, bringing a big smile to my otherwise stern face. 

The app also includes ride stats, crash alerts (advising of an accident) and theft.  Otherwise, there are four modes. Three steady (High-1500 lumens, Med 450lumens, low-250) and an adaptive flash, reckoned good for 30 hours.  I’m presently running it “stock” while I develop familiarity and will explore the app, dare I say the light’s true potential in the coming weeks. Right, snow’s forecast, signalling a switch to spikes... 

 

Hey Buster!

 My love of high-power dynamos is well documented, there’s a lot to be said for high-performance rechargeable lights. Not everyone wants the investment of a new hub, lamp and switchgear. Yes, it will repay the investment over time, quite quickly, if you’re a mile-munching tourist, or Audax rider. If this is your genre of riding, K-Lite Ultra Road LD Dynamo Bike Light K-LITE ULTRA LOW DRAG DYNAMO LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) is well worth a closer look.  

However, dynamo systems pose a significant outlay and in some, off road contexts, an uber lumen rechargeable has an edge-especially at slow speeds. I’ve spent the last few weeks racking up the miles on my fixed gear winter/trainer, enjoying its relatively lively, yet dependable handling. I was also assessing the Mud Hugger Gravel Hugger guards’ performance since conditions have been suitably autumnal. Not everyone will be endeared to their slightly industrial aesthetic, but I’ve grown to love them-in every respect. I’m also seriously taken with the KMC S1 chain, so much so, I’ve acquired another two, for later down the line.  

Given the wet, scuzzy roads, said machine was needing a good sudsy bucket wash, which it duly received, and I stripped the existing Peaty’s Link Lube in favour of Muc-Off Ludicrous AF, since I wanted to assess its characteristics on a fixed transmission, since some time trialists still compete on fixed gear.   

Given the conditions, brake pads are also wearing quite quickly. I’m hopeful the TRP Spyre SLC caliper will materialise shortly. Meantime, having retouched Ursula’s paint chip to the point of being undetectable, and resolving the stopping and shifting issues, we were ready to make the most of the cool, wet and dark mornings. I’ve also reached my conclusions regarding Axiom Oceanwave City+AXIOM OCEANWAVE CITY+ SEAT BAG | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Oxford products www.oxfordproducts.com  sent me this Sigma Buster 2000... 

As the name suggests, top whack is 2000lumens but staircases sensibly, giving it good scope for different locales. 1300lumens is good enough for unlit lanes, 600 lumens are good enough for semi-rural work, without being oppressive through the suburbs, although, I’d still go for the 300 eco through built-up areas.  

There are helmet and bar mounting options and crucially, a bar-mounted wireless remote for easy mode switches. The battery pack can either be tethered to the frame, or when helmet-mounted, a jersey/jacket pocket Sigma suggests putting it in a rucksack, but I’m pleased to report, despite tipping the scales at 368g, it doesn’t bound around like a playful Labrador.  

I’ve been running its 700lumen sibling atop my long-serving Bell helmet for several weeks, after a couple of years hiatus and at 147g, it’s relatively unobtrusive. Sigma claims the Buster 2000 lamp weighs a mere 100g- (what by my scales). I was pleased to discover the Buster 2000 fully compatible with the 700’s mount), since that was already in situ. A bar-mounted remote is another definite boon, meaning effortless switching between modes.   

Run times are cited as between 2.5 and 20 hours. The latter refers to the pulsing and flashing modes but useful and welcome, nonetheless. Staying with Sigma, I’ve also grown fond of the Sigma BC9.16 ATS Wireless Cycle Computer SIGMA BC9.16 ATS WIRELESS CYCLE COMPUTER | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

I’ve also received this Magicshine Ray 2600 Smart Remote Bike Light, which is a dual-lens model that looks a potentially close rival to Ravemen PR2400 front Light RAVEMEN PR2400 FRONT LIGHT (sevendaycyclist.com)  The  Ravemen is designed so you can plug in a “power bank” and extend run times, which can be a godsend in any context. However, the thing to keep in mind with high-power rechargeable lights per se, is they are designed for commuting and training in contexts where you don’t need the full output for too long. Great for escaping the suburbs and letting off some steam along the backroads.