Subtle Stockpiling

 

Bargains are to be found everywhere and seemingly limitless temptation. However, I always remind myself something is only a bargain if I actually need or want it. There are exceptions to every rule, but impulse buys don’t typically fall into this category. Some things I stockpile while cheap- deodorant, shampoo cleaning products, coffee, since they will always get used.

Same goes for chains, cassettes, and cables. I keep three sets of each aside, since these things usually wear out quietly, typically demanding replacement when you’re doing an impromptu check and the shop’s shut. I also keep a couple of cleats handy, for the same reason, although I seem to go through these at a more pedestrian rate.

 I picked up several blue KMC Z1 for £5 a few years back, but default to KMC X10 for the geared builds, KMC Z510 for fixed and single speed. While I like stuff that compliments, if a white, or “tarts handbag” gold are offered at the right price, on they go. Both the KMC X10 and Z510 are inexpensive and will last, with basic maintenance.

Conditions and chain lubes play their part, but I bargain on 1200 miles from an X10, 1700 from the Z510. This gives me three months to source some suitable replacements, at the right price. The most I’ve had from a track chain is 3,000 miles- the KMC Inox SEVEN DAY CYCLIST'S 3000 MILE TEST OF A KMC INOX CHAIN and Gusset S-Link. I retain considerable fondness for, but they’re not the lightest. I’m also fond of their nickel-plated Z1eHX, particularly on winter and working bikes, it’s just dearer than my defaults. I ‘m not a fan of missing links when it comes to fixed gear, preferring the old school prune and push, chain tool method.   

I function fairly well in extremes of temperature, although experience a gradual, palpable fatigue when the temperature creeps into the high 20s. Against this backdrop, the timing of Castelli’s offer to review the UPF 50 jersey couldn’t’ve been better, Conditions were optimal for evaluating the garments claims too.

Like-for-like, the UPF50 has a slight, tangible edge on the otherwise very comfortable Espresso Castelli Espresso Jersey | cycling-not-racing and Espresso 2 Castelli Espresso2 Jersey | cycling-not-racing jerseys.  The original Espresso fabric offers SPF30 protection, which is very welcome and covers a lot of bases in the broad strokes sense. However, where offered, I’d go for factor 50.  

Some faint increase in friction led me to checking and ultimately topping up the All Mountain Style Miami Glide Chain Wax The All Mountain Style Miami Glide | cycling-not-racing This also presented an opportunity to treat Muffin and Ursula a good wash. Though primarily dry, a tangible layer of stubborn, filmy grime clung to the bottom bracket shells, chainstays, fork legs, wheels etc. An excellent opportunity to test the stock blend Juice Lubes Bike Wash.   I’d also noted some very subtle oxidisation on Ursula’s Ryde hoops-just the machined sidewalls, since I’m not running disc brakes. 

Easily dismissed with some titanium cleaner I had nestling in my cleaning potions box and a medium stiff brush. A light, periodic coating of wax on the sidewalls, while I’m treating the frameset and components should lock the elements out.   Mid ride, I also discovered the Dia Compe 287 lever had suddenly worked loose. Nothing a few turns of a 4mm Allen key couldn’t fix and much easier to access compared with Tekro’s venerable RL520 and 340. While we evolve, our formative years retain some powerful influence.  

Au pairs aside, my fragile teenage mind was blown by the drop bar mtb concept.

Lightweight, rugged, go anywhere machines that were engaging to ride over any terrain, could carry me and luggage away from every torment. During that pre internet era, Mountain Bike Action was as close as we could get to the longer established US market, developments and technology. These were only found (sporadically at that) in bigger retailers, so Muddy Fox’s Trailblazer and Specialized’s Rock Combo were my first exposure to the concept. The latter was particularly well executed.

Fast forward nigh on four decades and the appeal remains immensely strong, life’s challenges just become more significant. Packing up and pissing off for a bit, to process, reflect and formulate plans of action should never be confused with running away. Running away solves nothing and just compounds issue(s).

Mercifully, jettisoning baggage didn’t extend to the Topeak Pannier Dry Bag 16litre, which has proved very secure along rough, churned trails. Rixen Kaul has a small, yet palpable edge on the limpet-like retention. Topeak’s Handleloc system performs very well, and release is much smoother but allow for a little more audible chatter and "bob" if rough stuff’s your thing.        

Winter Smiles

 

It’s no secret that I struggle with Christmas, something that began creeping in c. 1986 following the death of a close family friend and though it hasn’t worsened, I prefer to plan ahead, keep busy and to some extent, to myself.  

Positive mental stimulation is key here, not unhelpful distractions. Cold but bright weather and empty roads are, to some extent magical though-at least when bike(s) and rider are correctly dressed. Seasonal strife can strike if you’ve broken a cable and the shop’s shut, so I always ensure I’ve a few brake and gear inner wires in stock before the holiday season hits proper.  

Sealed, maintenance-free systems such as the Jagwire Road Elite are a particularly worthwhile investment, but if you’re on a tighter budget, Transfil Flying Snakes are another good bet. The outers can be a little abrasive though, so ensure you’ve slipped some cable cuffs where these brush against painted, or lacquered surfaces. Strips of helicopter tape are advisable, too. Brake pads are another consumable that can wear at an alarming rate. I took this opportunity to inspect Ursula’s front pads-still a decent amount of life left, but I’ve just dialled the pads a little closer. I’ve also another set of semi-metallic Disco Brakes on hand, should the situation change between Christmas and New Year.  

I happened upon some track chains offered at £1.99 apiece- rebranded, cheerful KMC with brown, rather than electroplated finishes. I bought two for the fixed gear winter/trainer since at that price it would’ve been silly not to. Even if I only get 1300 miles from them, I’ll have recouped my money several times over. While doing a stock take, I also happened upon a 12-28 cassette that I’d seen silly cheap and squirreled away, which was a bonus. 

Changing the bar tapes- Ursula's, Denise’s and the fixed was another inspired move for several reasons. A change of tape is one of those things that can help coax us out on cold, grey days. Denise’s Wolf Tooth Supple Bar Tape is sublime on the comfort front-not overly surprising, given its 5mm thick.  

It isolates road and trail buzz beautifully, greatly reducing fatigue and common to other silicones I’ve used, super grippy, regardless of palm type, temperature, or weather. The Wolf Tooth Supple employs silicone finishing strips, which, despite some initial scepticism are proving very tenacious. That said; decent quality electrical tape is another staple- nothing worse than redressing bars, only to discover the finishing tape’s decidedly lacking. I’ve opted to dress Ursula’s Soma Condor 2 in the thinner 2.5mm Wolf Tooth Supple Lite Bar Tape. This may sound a strange choice in some respects but it’s worth noting Ursula is basically a drop bar mountain bike with carbon fork and 2.1-inch tyres, which afford plenty of compliance and comfort. Some riders don’t like bulky tapes, especially with mid-winter gloves, partly due to a loss of connection with the bars. Then of course, a chunkier aesthetic isn’t for everyone either. The Supple Lite is made from an EVA foam-no polymers, or silicones, significant since the grip and control is proving reassuringly good.      

It’s been milder in the main, although still a little stormy so I’ve switched to the Altura All Roads Gloves, which are highly water resistant but more dexterous than traditional midwinter types, making little tasks, such as pannier rummaging, or taking photos that bit easier.  Talking of gloves, here’s Steve’s review of the Sportful Fiandre Sportful Fiandre Gloves | cycling-not-racing 

The Continental Pure Contact are proving similarly dependable and compliant, allowing me to relax and enjoy the ride. We’ve had some fun through storm Darragh and ankle-deep watery backroads, mucky lanes, frosty stuff, too. Thus far, there’s a decent turn of speed, grip and no punctures. Though very welcome, not surprising since I find most puncture resistant breakers hold out well for the first 1200miles. Mudguards (fenders) may not be glamourous but save bike and rider from being blasted in crud.  

I’ve returned from a few excursions aboard DeniseGravel on A Dustbowl Budget PT V Lesson | cycling-not-racing with a very soggy derriere. However, being a gravel bike (gravel crosser, even?) I’m shunning guards and accepting the downsides. Easier to clean, too and I’ve taken to post ride bucket washes every third outing ort so- dismissing the worst crud but without going “dinner plate” when conditions are slimy and well, wintry.  Besides, it’s organic grot, no sign of the dreaded salt monster yet.  

Worst of the storms subsided, I returned to the fixed gear winter/trainer for some quicker, some might say, simpler fun. I’ve warmed to the Deda tape, forming the opinion it’s a solid bet for road-biased riding where bulk is unnecessary and undesirable aesthetically, particularly on an older, steel frameset.   

Given the bike’s road reversions in recent seasons, some might see the Mud Hugger Gravel Mudguards MUD HUGGER GRAVEL HUGGER MUDGURADS | cycling-not-racing a curious choice. While I’ll agree traditional full-length mudguards offer better coverage and smoother aesthetic, they make roadside wheel removal, say tackling a flat more complicated. That last thing I want when light’s fading and temperature’s tanking. I’ll stick with the more industrial aesthetic and some compromise in protection.     

Seasonal Wanderings

 The corridor between Christmas and New Year has always been one of reflection and preparation. You know the sort. If we had the space, the money and could justify, etc. I’ve always been drawn to daily drivers, those that rack up massive mileages and become a highly regarded member of the family. Steve’s 30-year-old Dawes Galaxy frameset had succumbed to terminal fatigue. I learned of this while we were discussing a missing parcel. 

 

The courier documented it as delivered but clearly not to the intended recipients. I’d done some multi-drop courier work while desperate some eighteen years back and was only too aware of some casuals who’d dump consignments.  We discovered it had been “delivered” in a doorway in an adjacent industrial estate. Thankfully, it was retrieved, and the story ended well. I’d also like to make clear, multi droppers are some of the hardest-working and most diligent people I’ve ever met. The nature of my business means I’ve met (and been extremely grateful to) plenty over the years. My own experiences of multi-drop means I try and make life as simple as I can for them. 

 

Back to Steve’s Galaxy... I suggested salvaging what he could from the Galaxy and porting it over to a Thorn Sherpa...Thorn Sherpa MK3 Frame (sjscycles.co.uk)  

Thorn’s Sherpa is another of those framesets that fired my imagination and the flame never quite extinguished. It's been around for over 20 years and is essentially a do-all 26-inch wheel tourer built from the marque’s 969 Cro-moly with incredibly smooth welds, cast ends, every kind of braze-on, and a powder-coated finish. Cantilever, or V brakes only, which could be a deal breaker for some folks these days. The same might apply to 26-inch wheels.  

Remarkably similar in principle to Ursula, although with touring, rather than mtb DNA. Complete builds using Deore components are offered and are arguably an excellent fit for the workhorse narrative. Rugged, pleasant to use but not too showy. If anything were to happen to Ursula (God forbid), I’d switch whatever was compatible, to the Dawes Edge frameset. GRAVEL BIKE ON A BUDGET: PART ONE (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Both have a generous range of braze ons, high-quality tubing, accommodate winter spiked tyres, and will do everything I need of them. Yes, that’s me closing down any Sherpa yearnings. Window shopping can be fun, and a source of inspiration.     

There’s been no relent of wet, greasy, and generally stormy conditions. The sort that induces punctures and strips chain lubes with ruthless finesse. Mercifully, the Pirelli Angel DT and CST Expedium haven’t succumbed and haven’t given any cause of concern over raised ironworks. However, wet and grit have made a tangible impression on the   Zefal Extra Wet Nano Ceramic ZEFAL EXTRA WET NANO CERAMIC CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 225 miles down the line.

A check during daylight confirmed a decent amount clung to the rollers and inner sanctum, but it sounded gritty, so I gave the gunge a cat lick. I checked the chain tension and wear since I was there.  One thing led to another, and I found myself replacing Z1 ESP and switching over to the Mavic Open Pro/ Halo Fix G hub HALO FIX G TRACK HUB | Seven Day Cyclist Tourin Tests Commuting build, since that sported the other Pirelli Angel DT and I’d run the CST Xpedium CST Xpedium Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) as a control for 200 miles. I also switched Ursula back to the Ryde/Halo Spin Dr and Ryde/Alfine combo since these sported the Maxxis Ikon Maxxis Ikon Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and conditions had turned too mild for basic spikes, let alone the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

I’ve also discovered some limits to the Shimano MW501 booties’ weatherproofing.  

They are highly weather resistant but will turn soggy after three hours of persistent rain, so waterproof socks come into their own. They also take a while to dry thoroughly when truly saturated. Pack with old newspaper and leave at room temperature, but away from sources of direct heat- general practice for technical kit.  

Hands have remained temperate and dry, courtesy of these Altura All Roads Waterproof Gloves, which have a more civilian style than traditional winter models, but with no loss of performance. Grippy silicone detailing on the palms and digits offers excellent tenure to bar wraps.  

The ENVE and silicone bar wraps are perhaps unsurprisingly, their best pairing but I’ve also had reassuringly good experiences with traditional leather handlebar wraps. Less padding hasn’t been an issue to date, either-that did come as a surprise. The knitted exterior has also proved excellent for taming runny, snotty noses-a real boon while I’m exorcising the remnants of this midwinter lurgi.   

Right, we’ve been through the shortest day of the year, Winter Soulstice if you prefer but here’s a quick overview of seen-by lighting IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE: SAFETY LIGHTING FOR CYCLISTS (sevendaycyclist.com)