Festival of light

So long as bike(s) and rider are properly dressed, weather presents no barrier to serious fun. Autumn has swept in stealthily, its slimy cocktail replacing the rich vibrant auburn colours. Thankfully, it was accompanied by Diwali and a steady trickle of kit designed for this much maligned cluster of months. Talking of which, that sorry looking Specialized Rock Hopper has just been transformed-cream powder coat with fresh decals sealed under 2pac lacquer.

I’ve got a thing for blinkies ever since I acquired my first back in November 1992.

Plug in Integral lithium ion/polymer cells are almost default and while undeniably convenient, not to mention frugal compared with cost of running AA/A, they aren’t perfect for all occasions.

AA/A types remain better options for touring, dusk ‘till dawn night rides and those who don’t clock in at a keyboard. Run times can be 30-60hrs plus in flashing, Ni-Cd rechargeables keep costs to a minimum and disposables are pretty ubiquitous-off-licences, supermarkets, petrol stations usually keep healthy stocks.  This I Zone Curve 2 rear light is a particularly nice, inexpensive example.

Firepower has always been a popular selling point but rather like our humble bar mounted computers, our blinkies are positively bristling with different modes-some retina tickling, others that sip reserves, sequences designed to solicit attention in different contexts the list continues. Lowest common denominator, we only need two modes-steady and flashing and our bikes, a single, fixed gear of 72inches...        

COB (Chips on Board) technology, which enables colonies of tiny diodes to occupy the same space seem quite popular this season. Theoretically this combines optimal output, while preventing diodes and circuitry overheating so they can fulfil their true potential and reach ripe old ages.

High power headlamps are another justly popular choice for navigating dark roads and another technology I embraced with both arms back in the late 1990s. Back then, we were talking in terms of £200 10 and 25 watts and lead acid batteries that induced hernias.

Smart used to offer some nice cheap n’ cheerful versions for commuting- I had the cute-looking twin lamp complete with slightly whippy bracket and a CNC machined 10 watt flood version, which was surprisingly bright but not obviously, not particularly helpful for picking out the detail.

Competition and economies of scale have seen prices crash and with box fresh 1800 lumen grey (unofficial) imports offered on auction sites for as little as £18, its easy to see why they’ve become default, even for road riding.  

However, aside from the potential risks-lower quality chargers and exploding cells being popular discussions on forums; these are often limited to three modes. Full blast; standard (50/60%) both of which is way too much fire power for built up districts.

Better (read more expensive) models allow more progressive stair casing, so you can charge along abandoned backwaters at full pelt but click down to something suitable for city limits when required.

Battery slurpage is slower, so you can play out longer and oncoming traffic doesn’t get dazzled. Something like this Oxford X pro is another option for town and suburban runs, either on its own or as a tempered side-kick to your big gun.

Nicely made from rugged CNC machined aluminium, it’s another “lolly stick” plug in model that fuels up from your USB, or mains adaptor. Top whack is reputedly 300lumens but the lens casts a very pure, focused pool of light, which has coped surprisingly well in short haul semi-rural contexts to around 17mph.

Prodding down for economy is easily achieved, even in gloved hands courtesy of a positive centre-mounted switch but there’s no danger of the dreaded dazzle and other traffic still takes notice at around 200 metres.

Flashing is the lowest setting and if you were purely looking to remain conspicuous, 300-400metres isn’t unrealistic and the centre window allows decent peripheral bleed too, so you should remain firmly on the radar when entering the flow of traffic.       

Short days with low light have been presenting some photographic challenges but considerably more rewarding than the calibre of temporary work being offered. Unfortunately, this is going to remain part of my economic diet while I nurture sapling projects, build brand presence and purchase more equipment.

Several agencies have been in touch, some interested in my journalism specific skill-set, others looking to fill housing roles. Pragmatism is a basic pre-requisite for freelancers and indeed, people generally in a volatile economy.

Therefore biting the hand that offers potential work, let alone feeds you is always foolhardy. Recruitment is sales driven and experience enables one to see through the patter. No shortage of people complimenting me on my versatility but with notable exceptions, this hasn’t been reflected in the assignments offered.

Thankfully the standard of applicants for Seven Day Cyclist has been refreshingly high, although we’re whittling them down to a handful and will interview at our earliest convenience. 

Mods n' Ends aka beating the shot bolt & temp job blues

So there I was belting along the dusky back roads, putting another days’ temp job frustration into perspective and seeing the bigger picture. This heady mix of serenity and pragmatism was rudely interrupted by the sound of metal bouncing across asphalt… Thankfully not the handlebar cam mount, rather this largely likeable Lucas king of the road front light.

Aesthetically pleasing, I’ve never really been convinced by the ornate clasp’s durability and found the knurled bolt uniting its resin bracket unnecessarily fiddly. The lamp itself is another commuter plus model that produces 565lumens in top, with navigational clout through sticksville to around 25mph and 2.5 hours from a full charge.

An easily accessible li-on cell and inexpensive replacements allow extended playtimes with minimal bulk. However, just entering dusk, mine was sipping reserves in flashing…

Meanwhile back at the roadside, I’d leant the Ilpompino against a gate and began foraging through overgrown verges, hoping to find said fastener gleaming in the fading sun. Several minutes hence, I resigned myself to its loss, popped lamp ensemble in my wedge pack and resumed a brisk cadence-mentally scouring Perspex boxes for suitable substitute.    

This materialised as a stray stainless fender eyelet bolt, which aside from improving tenure, makes the bracket harder to swipe. I also discovered another (!) helmet strap complete with Go-Pro mount, so have bolted the Knog pattern atop. These will be tethered to a lid and trialled over the coming weeks.

I’d deliberately allowed the Ilpompino to cultivate a grimy patina during this time to test the effectiveness of some eagerly awaited bike washes, foaming chain cleaners and lubricants of varying viscosity. Air temperatures are still holding around the 20c mark, thus sludgy black frame preserve continues to leach stubbornly from my fleet’s breathe holes and bottom bracket shells.

Ideal conditions for basting the KA’s underside and chassis with my medieval medicine…Previous coats have remained firmly ensconced; albeit slightly weathered, thus bi-annual top-ups stop anything nasty getting a foothold.   

Most cleaners are now designed with composites in mind, eliminating risk of solvent damage. Genuinely effective on light to middleweight summer lubes, filmy residual road spatter and organic stuff; heavy duty wet potions demand three, sometimes four helpings and concerted coaxing from medium firm bristle plots.

Freelancing is synonymous with competence-if you’re not, you don’t last. Very occasionally, we might receive a stiff, though constructive editorial rebuke. Critically evaluate, raise your game and avoid repeat offences.

By contrast, incompetence is one of my biggest bugbears. Present temp role mirrors that this time two years ago, though I’m channelling frustrations into creative endeavours, while assuming an economically pragmatic, means-to-end focus. Stressing the positive, I’m off to play with some rather exciting chain lubes, check progress with my collaborators and work on some drafts before Monday’s 5.30 awakening.

  

Patterns Emerging

Having collectively agreed title, design and other relevant stuff with my fellow collaborators, I’ve been able to buckle down to some concerted content, retaining that all important sense of momentum. Just as well really since the temp market is dead as the proverbial right now. (Don’t be fooled by the sudden rush of emails in one’s inbox offering assorted positions, these are so recruitment consultants can meet their weekly KPI (Key Performance Indicator) targets).

Mercifully there’s plenty of inspiration around and the weather’s becoming more spring-like so I might even take the Holdsworth on a quick saunter, if only to confirm that heavy duty rim tape has solved the pestiferous puncture plague. Other excitement includes these BTwin automatic touring pedals, which are essentially SPDR homages and dead ringers for Wellgo RC713, right down to their sealed cartridge bearings and Cro-moly axles.

Now, touring wasn’t the first word that sprung to mind given their small platforms, though crucially recessed Shimano pattern cleats enable one to saunter through stately homes, café’s and other social settings with decorum. Cleat longevity and relative ubiquity are similar boons, though single sided designs are always less convenient than their duplicitous siblings when riding fixed on the public highway-I’m prepared to accept this latter lament says more about my track-standing skills, or lack thereof!

“Road rage” is a construct with which most of us are familiar; though I am inclined to suggest giving this phenomenon a label almost legitimises such and absolves their perpetrators of all responsibility. Studies have shown that a small minority of drivers actively target motor/cycle enthusiasts riding mid to high end machines dressed in technical/performance attire. Having been on the receiving end of such behaviours in both contexts, I can testify as to their intimidating effect but have been to escape unscathed or while astride a 750cc Kawasaki, turn the tables on my aggressor.

Contemptuous as I might be towards pop/pseudo socio-psychology (or indeed any other form of faux intellectualism) I once employed an anecdotally useful index for predicting driver behaviour-based upon age of and model of vehicle, insurance group operator/occupant age, gender etc. For example a kindly grandmother piloting a 3 series BMW is an entirely different proposition to the same vehicle presided by two young males. 

However, said instant reference seems no longer valid and aggression all too often appears a substitute for skill/competence. Other than keeping my own standards of road etiquette high am undecided about the best route of tackling such casual contempt.

On the one hand, high quality helmet camera footage posted to you tube is commendable and constructive means of highlighting such inexcusable displays whether they arise through wilful intent or elephantine ignorance. Part of me questions whether such accentuates or fuels naked aggression in a select few. I also ponder whether these behaviours can be attributed in some manner to the economy-people feeling disempowered in various contexts, taking frustration  to the highways, this might go some way to explaining the incidence of uncomfortably close/otherwise confrontational encounters recently.

This same antagonistic hypothesis has been muted in the context of riders using high power see-with systems, although frankly, it’s something of a red herring so long as helmet fare are saved for trail action and bar mounted beams  angled away from driver eye-line.

Having switched back to those friskier Panaracer Ribmo slicks, I was astounded to discover the otherwise fantastic Exposure dynamo lamp refusing to engage-nothing serious, traced to minor corrosion of the copper wire-easily corrected but a reminder that even the best quality equipment, subjected to lashings of dodgy water will eventually succumb to Mother Nature’s malicious side.

This also prompted me to acquire some spare cabling and research a possible rear counterpart given there’s a second port sat idle…Speculative enquiry points squarely in favour of a rack mounted Bush & Muller unit with a neat, snag-evading cable run...  

   

Parts & Pragmatism

Frustration with a small, print focused publishing house continues to ruminate, though I’ve reached a state of dispassionate pragmatism, choosing to divert creative energies into book projects and related business opportunities. Sample chapters have been submitted to a respected US publisher for consideration, which will determine whether I assume this traditional (preferred) path, or self-publish via online platform. Either way, such endeavours cannot be left languishing on hard drives/portable storage.

Elsewhere, the Holdsworth’s reincarnation prompted investment in another Czech made headset press, saving time and upheaval, though the Labyrinth nature of said steed’s Woodman Saturn unit proved something of a puzzle with few clues online. Woodman’s website was the first and arguably obvious starting point- PDFs simpered enticingly but several attempts at downloading proved fruitless. Mercifully, this exploded diagram materialised on my desktop’s hard-drive while trawling for some equally elusive photographs.

Twenty minutes and a liberal slathering of ceramic grease later saw front end reinstated with this exquisite Torus titanium stem leading the charge. Further foraging unearthed contact points and transmission components but its chrome plated, Campagnolo pattern seatpost binder bolt still eludes me.

Thankfully, these remain readily available and cheap as the proverbial portion of chips.  I’ve earmarked a set of rather fetching, deep section Halo hoops with powder coated rims and large flange hubs for their solid, yet sprightly charms. This and tyre choice will be contemplated further during that strange limbo land between festive Cyclo Cross meets and New Year.  

Temping was never intended as an economic staple (arguably the same sentiments have been ushered by countless numbers of people entering car/similar assembly lines) and while lacking the same degree of mind-numbing monotony, has nonetheless lead me down some distinctly dead-ends. Having acknowledged this and a desire to acquire a separate, skilled second/tertiary income stream to support scribing of various genres, I’ve decided to reinvestigate vocational qualifications in holistic therapies.

Massage is fascinating; although difficult to practice with any commercial continuity given my gender. However, I was recently invited to explore reflexology and believe this may well prove fruitful. Cost implications seem pretty reasonable too. Progression will depend upon my perceived suitability-standards of education certainly fulfil one set of criteria but those with directly related skills/qualification/experience are undoubtedly at an advantage.

Having spent several years experimenting with varying genres of photography, I’ve decided my commercial focus lies with industrial, product and portraiture. The latter seems a touch woolly/over-subscribed but I have a very specific target audience in mind. Knowing one’s market is the difference between success and obscurity. Swapping the Univega’s headset spacers has indeed cured the sloppy steerer bearing blues, so I’m off to ponder strategies from its saddle.    

In the saddle, back on the game

Since my last entry, I’ve  secured another temp gig and therefore some fiscal liquidity, plugging the gaps between retainers and other, less consistent editorial payments. Managing sheltered housing schemes is familiar territory for me and not unpleasant work, although nowadays I associate it with the classic, slightly kitsch but brilliant piece of social commentary that is “Pearls Café’”.

For the uninitiated, it’s an old Specials’ track dating back to 1980, seemingly about a deranged old lady in a café, lamenting her life. However, the final verse the narrator suddenly has an epiphany; that his present girlfriend is cold, shallow and unfeeling  “ When I first met you, I really thought you were a wet dream come true. Now I know that you don’t care about somebody else’s nightmare”.

Having lured Joshua back to his BMX courtesy of this spatter deflecting SKS X blade clip on mudguard, there’s been a resurrection of competitive ambition on his part, expressing a desire to try racing first hand and wanting to accompany me on evening meanders. Given woefully inadequate standards of driver etiquette/skill seem supplanted by ever greater aggression, I’m of the opinion that cross country mountain biking is the most obvious and accessible outlet, with a view to cyclo cross when he’s twelve or thirteen and suitably prepared for long, steady road outings.

The nice folk at Zyro (www.zyro.co.uk)  dropped Minoura’s VC100 bracket over for me to play with. Beautifully made from CNC machined, silver anodised aluminium, it essentially converts the bike to a mobile tripod and camera spec allowing; ensures capture of impressive video footage-whether carving through deserted back roads or hustling through congested city centres. This is largely attributable to a combination of rigidity and broad, shock absorbing rubberised cork platform.

Obviously, it cannot compete with the 180degre peripheral capture of a helmet cam and 350g magnesium bodied super zoom compacts are pretty much its limit. Some of you will baulk at fifteen quid but while the backyard specials brewed using an old reflector bracket and similar oddments from the spares box are phenomenally satisfying to make, should it fail at tour typical speeds, cameras run the risk of becoming bin fodder.

Spring may well be in full bloom but manufacturers are keen to showcase their new season’s lighting and I require little persuasion to try them Silva, a marque more commonly associated with compasses, torches and similar generic outdoor apparel have been expanding their bike range.

In stark contrast to their road specific see with Pave’ comes this quirky looking “Commute”, which given cursory inspection looks indistinguishable from a sea of similarly competent contingency units, perfect for extended summer playtimes on the best bike or as dynamo companion/backup.

On paper 45 lumens lags behind the latest generation of bobby dodgers but the collimator lens delivers a very pure beam, devoid of halos with reassuring peripheral prowess. Tool-free silicone wrap over mounts are a welcome revolution, offering secure purchase, yet slipping off in seconds when locking in the street. This one is unremarkable other than to say it sweeps anaconda fashion around the full panacea of handlebar diameters without indigestion.   

Reassuringly stout composites bode well for longevity, shrugging at the inevitable everyday carelessness and Silva boast that it’s unaffected by temperatures as low as minus 20. A rubberised, centre mounted switch is easily operated in gloved hands and on the fly, although not the sort prone to accidentally engage when hibernating in jersey pockets/panniers. USB rechargeable li-on cells have almost become default but while in many respects a blessing, AAA are readily available pretty much anywhere and offer tour practical run times-I’ve managed eighteen odd (max) and an Uber frugal ninety eight in flashing using premium grades. All the more impressive since it gives change from £20. www.silva.se.

Another unexpected pleasure is this beautifully crafted saddlebag complete with Camera insert made by Emily O’ Brien. Hailing from Medford Massachusetts, she’s a mile munching, limerick loving music teacher and lifelong fettler who manufactures a handmade range of luggage/accessories capable of passing her own rigorous testing regime. Initial impressions are extremely favourable and its one of the most exciting bits of luggage I’ve had the privilege of testing to date. http://www.dillpicklegear.com/

The (positive) Remains Of The Day

Delighted to report seasonally inclement weather has permitted extensive testing of those Schwalbe winter tyres. Tipping the scales at 998g apiece, 50epi (ends per inch) casings, Kevlar belts, tungsten carbide spikes and maximum operating pressure of 70psi denote ones designed to cope competently with the slippery season. Schwalbe recommend running them in for forty kilometres on metalled road before those studs bite predictably and I noticed some very minor cornering squirm on our maiden voyages but nowhere near change of shorts territory.

Having done so, traction on most surfaces is superb, although in common with similar designs, ice and shallow snow requires a steady, consistent riding style. More spirited acceleration; say at roundabouts and junctions can induce pregnant pauses before the spikes catch up but this wasn’t an issue at a steady 17mph along winding rural backwaters.

Once accustomed to their gravelly serenade, I rather enjoyed the training benefits of increased resistance and the smugness of knowing that stretches of iced dung were unlikely to see us clattering across the rutted carriageway in an undignified heap. Provocative over inflation and long, greasy descents couldn’t cajole shimmy or similar bad manners either, even with trailer en tow. Aramid has long been the standard by which puncture repelling casings are judged but the chevron pattern tread expels glass, flints and similarly evil debris with remarkable aplomb while Kevlar belts provide further peace of mind.

Studs wear much faster (especially in regions where snow is an occasional winter visitor) but with negligible effect, tempered by the availability of aftermarket replacements and seasonal use. At seventy odd quid, it’s tempting to suggest they’re an indulgence but means I have the option of heading out in otherwise unfavourable conditions after a hard day’s typing or temping without doing myself and/or machine a mischief. 

Continuing this theme, having heard of my recently demised levers, Paul Winn at Weldtite www.weldtite.co.uk was kind enough to send me two sets of these banana- shaped Cyclo Ezytech. Sharing striking similarity with Pedro’s, they’re made from a lightweight and supposedly super durable polymer.

Broader profiles and more aggressive scoops suggest they’re dependably tenacious with tight beads but I’m going to push the boat out and invest in the British marque’s laughably understated workshop tyre removal and fitting tool and chain rivet extractor for home duties. That said; both cool tool and Specialized EMT are still doing surprisingly well (I nearly said sterling job but that’s inappropriate given the nation’s recent credit downgrade).

    

Ever since spotting a child’s home brewed ‘cross build based around a scrap HLE Peugeot frame that had been chopped, MIG welded together and dressed in leftover paint and parts, I have wanted to create something similar for Joshua. From a purely economic standpoint, the amount of labour involved in sourcing, cutting and fusing such a Franken bike far outstrips its worth. Timely then that Frog bikes have sent me their model 62, a lightweight kids bike tipping the scales at just under ten kilos.

A TIG welded 6061 aluminium chassis (designed for 62cm inside leg), steel fork and 24-inch wheels mean it’s not only light but versatile too thanks to generous frame clearances. OEMs are 1.75 but there’s ample clearance for 1.9 knobblies and trail riding courtesy of a surprisingly lofty bottom bracket. Components are proportionally sized, addressing maters of reach, comfort and control. Transmission wise, a single ring, seven-speed twist grip system offers a decent spread of ratios without being unnecessarily complicated or hefty. However, Joshua will have the casting vote in a few weeks.

Taking an inspirational wander round the web in search of people’s bare bones budget bike builds I happened upon a blog called “Lovely Bicycle” written from a uniquely feminine perspective by a freelance consultant, designer and photographer, who embraces everything from frame building and classic roadsters to dressing beyond Lycra without being biased in any particular direction. I also admire creativity skill and entrepreneurial spirit. Something in plentiful supply at Dill Pickle gear owned and run by Emily O’Brien.

Emily is a mile-munching Massachusetts lady who not only loves pickles and Limericks but also makes a beautiful range of saddlebags; U lock totes and even mud flaps- for your fenders, or guards as we say in the UK. Well, until her (luggage) sample arrives, I’m going to upgrade the Univega’s stoppers, draft some more copy, watch a Korean film or two and scour temp land for something suitable.     

Little Things

Inclement weather has limited my ability to clip in and go testing , so turbo trainer aside; its been a question of completing existing reports ahead of deadline, resurrecting the book projects with continued hunting of something suitable in temp land.

January’s close is oft regarded as the worst for morale, Christmas’ and New Year sparkle tempering quickly against cobalt skies and sometimes harsh, economic realities. Tired of well meaning but ultimately empty enthusiasm, I made contact with an accomplished author and editor (who I’d approached some twenty five years previously, eager to write for his newly established magazine) to see if he’d be tempted by my project outline. 

Fenders fitted to my favourite fixer; substituting its stocky Surly long haul trucker for a 6061 Topeak Super Tourist DX seemed an obvious move since it only hosted a cotton duck rack bag, shaving several hundred grams in a stroke. Reasonable payloads aside, wanderlust is limited to commuting, weekend touring and of course, Audax duties but then things seldom give trouble when built properly and used as per design brief.

Then came the big thaw, seeing the Univega plucked from its hook and introduced to the 933g Tortec epic, fitting with consummate ease having found a full compliment of stainless (as distinct from the chrome plated hotch potch) fasteners. However, doing so necessitated forgoing its Torch fender fit blinky and plugging the holes with silicone, bathroom type sealant.

To my surprise, the epic is only 40g heavier than Tubus’ legendary Logo with an identical payload. Repeated exposure to slushy, salted roads hasn’t given any cause for alarm, although are readily ingrained along with fingerprints and light dirt into the slightly dimpled texture. Warrantee wrangles aside, the tubus is more easily repaired or adapted with pump pegs, bespoke light fittings and similar nick nacks using brass, not fusion welding. 

Arguably a no-brainer but you’d be surprised at the number of folk who I’ve seen introducing a common or garden wire feed MIG/MAG unit to proceedings only to find their lugged and brazed frameset melts like the proverbial waxwork.  Keeping the cargo theme for a minute, having also spent some of this enforced confinement exploring home built homages to the mighty mono-wheeled Bob Yak (Most notably here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/My-version-of-a-YAK-Bike-Trailer/?ALLSTEPS

http://www.instructables.com/id/Single-wheel-bicycle-trailer-with-suspension/?ALLSTEPS)

It occurs to me that trailer racing would make a superb sub genre-whether fixed or freewheel, trail or tarmac. Categories could include custom/bespoke, production or backyard special with further segregation according to budget, wheel-size, extent of modification, payload etc. Making best use of slack time and with the help of a pop rivet gun and sixty odd 4mm aluminium rivets, I’ve been devising my own snow specific tyres from part worn rubber.

Taking inspiration from Continental’s Nordic spike, I haven’t put sufficient mileage on this little Kenda to comment as to its worthiness but it’s an interesting experiment nonetheless. If successful, I might extend this to 700c and 26inch mtb formats. Some months ago, I was lamenting the lack of (relatively) narrow, commercially available options-42mm and 2.2 inches being pretty much the limit. Kenda offer a Klondike in fender friendly 35,38 and 1.75 sections.

Alas, at the time of composition, they’re not a UK import. Temptation was to order a set from across the pond were it not for a relatively weak pound since snow and Ice look set to becoming increasingly frequent patrons of our winter landscape but then these Schwalbe “Winter” arrived on my test bench.

Available in the magic 1.75 diameter, these are reckoned to require twenty-five miles on asphalt before taking to skiddy stuff and look to be a fair bit swifter than most variants I’ve used to date. February’s always a tricky month weather-wise so, we’ll see how they behave after the initial run-in.     

Elsewhere, I’ve been chatting with Rory at Upgrade bikes regarding two very innovative Kinesis builds that follow in the convertible, yet ultra capable one bike does all road path tradition and at the other extreme, some splendid DMR coffee receptacles.

Dropping by Maldon shot blasting & powder coating revealed this slightly intriguing mid 80’s touring frameset refinished in a very tasteful orange. Initial impressions suggested something 531^st from the Holdsworthy works- Claud Butler Dalesman/ Coventry Eagle but some unusually (by production standards) intricate lugwork around its semi sloping fork crown infers something older/ smaller scale…

Stay Away From The Fog...

With deeply unrewarding temp role coming to an expedient end, relief was quickly superseded by a sense of economic alarm. Still, I’m retaining a sense of stoical pragmatism and enjoying the steady precession of test goodies coupled with the odd 150 saunter up country to the marvellous midlands, widely recognised as Britain’s industrial heartland. Twenty odd miles south of Birmingham sits Coventry’s transport museum. Entry is free but donations keep those rooms brimming with old scooters, motorcycles, and cars and not forgetting examples of fine cycle manufacture in fine fettle.

Damp and perpetually gloomy November weather seems ideal testing ground for the unsung heroes-lubes, greases, polishes for our bikes, waterproof socks, gloves and of course beanies to keep us churning away in relative comfort. However, my tempo along the lanes is dictated by an advancing black dog called D. Depression is an overused term but in its real forms, a genuinely horrible, debilitating condition that I am determined to avoid. Right now I am very low and see this as the body’s way of communicating a need to confront some fairly fundamental stuff festering unchecked for some time.

A major component of this is professional frustration. My journalism/photography brings immense satisfaction and defines me on so many levels. Contrast this with an incessant tide of nondescript temporary roles in unrelated fields with people whom I share little, or no common ground. Therefore, strident efforts are being made to secure a relevant vocational opportunity that would have deeply empowering effect upon my outlook right now…Hmm, I’ve got a great face for radio…Anyone need a slot filling?  

Meanwhile, back at the test bench... Motorex bike shine is a spray formula designed to keep winter’s silt, slurry and spatter from clinging to polished, painted, plated and even plastic surfaces. However, steer clear of contact points and braking surfaces, for reasons, which should be obvious… I was surprised to learn it’s actually silicone based since while these usually deliver a protective showroom shine fine for bikes in seasonal hibernation, they generally attract, rather than repel dirt.

Talk of the devil; its solvent carrier gobbles dilute spatter and similarly light road grime on contact but salt encrusted winter hacks and muddy crossers will need a good old fashioned bucket wash n’ dry first (cold in the first context since hot only serves to accelerate the chemically corrosive reaction). From here, it’s simply a question of spraying short bursts into a clean lint-free cloth and buffing to a jewelled effect. Previous blends have been really handy for my cyclo crosser, although several tins of beeswax furniture polish can e had for the same money and do broadly the same thing, although admittedly require more frequent application. 

    

Their dry lube is another curiosity, not least since it’s actually a hybrid, supposedly offering the cleanliness of dry and wets tenacity. Since the brand specialises in petrochemical products, I expected it to perform well but hadn’t bargained for the speed at which the chain and to a lesser extent, cassette looked grubby. 

Having cleaned the chain thoroughly to rule out cross contamination, simply twist the spout and apply, holding some more clean rag or kitchen towel beneath since it literally races into every link. Initial impressions are favourable- slick, silent and very tenacious but side plates are demanding weekly wiping. This sounds ideal for Joshua, since he’s suddenly spread wings and begun riding to school, although I’ve discovered he’s be sneaking out sans lights-hence these Torch/One23 have found themselves tethered to handlebars and helmet.

Soggy feet are another unwelcome winter experience. Overshoes are the obvious solution since they also protect expensive race slippers from the salt monster. However, I find them cumbersome at the best of times so was suitably cheered by the arrival of these thin, calf length Seal Skinz Socks. Fully waterproof when immersed to the elasticated cuff, they’re incredibly comfortable worn with all genres of riding footwear and an obvious choice for mountain biking and cross antics. Odour control seems generally good but washing’s no more complicated than popping them on a cool, machine cycle.