Buoyancy Aids

The long holiday weekend and lockdown presented the ideal opportunity to setup the Redshift Sports Suspension Seatpost and take the Holdsworth for a 7am blast, on Easter Saturday. 20 miles confirmed that I’d set the saddle height just a fraction too high, putting unwelcome strain on my knee joints. However, my pre-load guesstimate was bang on.  

A gentle, progressive sag and return, no power-sapping “Pogo stick” bounce… I slid a 5mm hex key in the binder bolt, then eased the post down by 4mm-perfect. Balmy weather turned Bandit by the mid-afternoon, so I’ve switched back to my Univega for daily social distancing. The weather has veered between 20 degrees and a blustery 10. Conditions that call for a more flexible approach, in terms of clothing. 

Early mornings have been the order of my routine. Therefore, three quarter lengths such as these Primal are perfect. Cooler and I default to a long sleeve base layer and a jersey cum jacket. Milder, I reach for a middleweight training jersey, such as this Prendas Ciclismo Paris Bordeaux Long Sleeve Jersey https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/prendas-ciclismo-long-sleeve-jersey. 

Just now, I’m staying with full finger gloves and alternating between the buff cap (photo) and This Scimitar Recycled Neck warmer, which, rather like the Original Buff can be worn in several ways. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/scimitar-recycled-neck-warmer  

Despite a generous thatch, I’m finding the Buff Cap a little too airy when battling icy blasts, leading to the occasional “ice cream” headache when scorching along exposed descents. 

Nonetheless, in milder weather, it seems a superior alternative to the traditional race cap. 10 days in, it’s still smelling refreshingly fragrant too... These are also easier to shove in a jersey pocket, when not required.   

30 years back, I was rotating my oval rings and indeed, pouring scorn on the concept. Fast forward to the present, I’d never suggest going oval across the fleet, or otherwise proclaim elliptical as the Holy Grail. In some instances, those running a front mech may need to raise theirs and make similar, small adjustments.  

However, the 15% ovality and 38 tooth Raval ring has certainly transformed my Univega’s gearing from nearly-there, to tailor-made. There is a slight period of adjustment in muscle timing but it’s loosely comparable with that experienced, switching between fixed and freewheel transmissions.  

I’m also trying to steamroller my butt’s specific contours into THAT saddle.  

It had fooled me into a false sense of security after a few hundred. One that was only realised when I switched to my fixed gear winter trainer and the Swift pattern (that has been sat on for many thousand miles). On current progress I’m reckoning a further 300 miles should prove the turning point.   

Despite my best efforts, the Tom Tom Bandit Action Camera Bracket’s infuriating low-level rattle has returned, along with some slippage. I tried to bolster the bracket’s ball joint with Thermoworx Whitemorph https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/thermoworx-whiemorph  but it’s not held firm. Helmet rather than bar mounting may be the only solution.   

As an interim measure, I have resurrected this Geonaute G-Eye2. It’s a 1080HD Go-Pro homage, with some nice features, although it’s not as comprehensive, or user-friendly as the Aperman A80 4K Action Camera https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/apeman. The lack of a preview screen is another minor niggle of mine, but preferable to the Bandit’s noisy and slightly sloppy bar mount. Looks like it should cadge a lift on a Go-Pro type bar/stem face mount, much neater... 

Elsewhere, I’ve concluded switching to the Vee Rubber Zilent, on my fixed gear winter/trainer was a smart move.   Steve’s been relatively impressed by these inexpensive Lifeline Essential Armour Commuter tyres. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/lifeline-essential-armour-commuter   

Superficially, they are clear nods toward Schwalbe Marathon Plus https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-marathon-plus-tyres and none the worse for it, although you’re limited to 700x32 or 35mm widths.   

I’ve also invested in this fresh batch of tubes too. Well, at 99p each, it would’ve been rude (not to mention silly) not to! 

Revisions

Chain and cassette replaced, I still had a good 250 miles or so to go before nearing anything like a conclusion regarding the Halo Fixed G hub and fat cog system. Wet, greasy lanes with waterlogged sections, mulched equine dung were perfect and rather welcome, given the mild February we’d been experiencing. A subtle “phantom” squeak permeated my serenity. Snugging the track nuts and 8mm crank bolts down proved the antidote.

This gold anodized Halo skewer presented itself, so I thought “why not”. Cured some very minor pad rub, which pipped up, when I was out of the saddle, and dancing up the climbs. Disc rotor was true, cables and callipers were correctly adjusted, and everything behaved impeccably on the workstand (doesn’t it always?).

Therefore, perhaps a tighter union at the dropouts…Niggle, and episodic tinkle muted.  The passport anti rust single speed chain continues to do its thing silently, and the galvanised surface does an excellent job of retaining lubricant.

I was a little surprised to discover some orange taint. Especially since Weldtite TF2 extreme wet lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/weldtite-tf2-extreme-wet-chain-lubr  is one of the most tenacious (albeit not the cleanest) wet lubes I’ve used to date.  

The watery corrosion vanished, upon contact with a clean rag. Some Squirt chain lube arrived for testing, so I treated the transmission to some Green Oil chain degreaser jelly, as part of a sudsy bucket spruce-up. Talking of which, Steve’s been putting Silkolene wash off, to the test https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/silkolene-wash-off

A reminder that Spring can still prove very wet and mucky, so I’ll leave the KMC dressed in its factory lube. Once that’s thinning, I’ll swap to the Squirt. Dressing appropriately for the changeable conditions, is another challenge.  Thankfully, softshell jerseys and ¾ lengths with water repelling top layers plug the gap.

Early morning outings are still quite chill too. I’ve always found this very refreshing and for the time being, I’m still sporting a “Belgian style” cap beneath my lid and Oxford Bright 4.0 gloves https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/oxford-1 . I pack a buff and the Oxford bright waterproof cycle gloves 3.0 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/oxford-bright-3-0-gloves  on longer rides, when temperatures can climb into the low teens.   

Full length guards make a world of difference, keeping bike and rider, presentable. Cue the Univega and putting miles on the Selle Italia Sport Gel Flow FEC-Alloy saddle.

Thus far, its proving music to one’s derriere, whether I’ve been cruising along the asphalt, or tackling more technical terrain. Soft, yet supportive, which can be a very difficult balance to strike.

The relatively narrow profile is also very conducive to fast tempos, although I’m generally cruising along at 85-90rpm. Another intermittent phantom squeak (traced to the M45’s jockey wheels), prompted me to carry a small dropper bottle of simple lube.

Saddles and pedals are the first components I replace, on off the peg bikes (purchased, rather than tested). The Inbred, fitted to my stock MKII Ilpompino, was a notable exception. It eventually migrated to my MTB based crosser, with similarly pleasing results.

That had 46cm road drops, which were up to the job in the “Use what you got” tradition. It was On-One Midge drops, that really turned me on to the big, swoopy sort. The 25.4mm versions were a bit whippy but the 31.8 firmed things up a treat.

WTB Mountain drop bars are another firm favourite of mine. Especially for a rough stuff tourer, or tagalong/trailer tug, although to my knowledge, they’re no longer made. No surprise then, that I was generally impressed by Soma Fabrications Condor https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/soma .

Something of a talking point, the shape generally suited me. However, the original pastern had some drawbacks. Soma have revised the shape. The MK2’s top sections are also straighter, allowing easy fitment/alignment of lights, and more hand space. That said; drops and hoods, are my go-to defaults.

Speaking of revision, it’s been a good few years since I towed Joshua behind, on the tagalong. He turned 16 this week and will be sitting his GCSEs this summer. That chapter of my life remains ingrained, almost thirty years hence.

Provisional places on courses at FE college. The opportunity to study subjects I was interested in, focused my mind. Riding kept me sane in between revision, exams and anxiously awaiting results. Whether examinations, is the best means of assessing knowledge, or competence, is somewhat debateable.

Nonetheless, undertaking previous papers, to strict exam conditions, will hone these skills, and is, like time trialling-the race of truth. It will reveal where your weaknesses, and gaps in your knowledge lie. Everyone’s different but don’t sit more than two “mocks” per day, tops.

Remain structured, it’s easy to kid yourself your knowledge is better than it really is. Or, at the other extreme, hammer yourself into the ground. Papers aside, set revision in two-hour blocks, and slot in regular food and sanity breaks.