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) 

Fact & Friction

180 miles in, and I’m bonding with the 38 tooth Raval oval ring, the improved mid-range has given a better spread of power, improving cruising and climbing prowess quite considerably. It’s worth noting that oval/elliptical rings require careful consideration and favour a smooth, relatively high cadence. For these reasons, I (personally) would be inclined to shy away from them on a purebred MTB. 

Otherwise, there is the temptation to turn a taller gear than ideal, which can result in a jerkier pedaling motion, inducing precisely the knee and back strain the concept was intended to alleviate. Shimano’s bio-pace was originally marketed at tourists and time Triallists but over time, marketing shifted to novice and returnees. By the mid-90s it had fallen out of fashion, meaning decent cranksets with said rings were plentiful and very cheap. 

The Pro Gold Pro ink chain lube is also proving a reciprocal compliment to this setup, although I’ve decided topping up around the time its ¾ spent stage (150 miles, or so, during a dry spell) is the best means of appreciating its qualities, rather than allowing it to become a thin film. I’ve also applied it to the fixed’s new KMC HL710.  

I also discovered, on our first outing, that I’d got the tension too tight-this wasn’t obvious on the work stand but immediately apparent, when I headed out, on Sunday morning. It remained a little agricultural, so I’ve switched back to the PC1, using the Topeak All Speeds Chain Tool https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/topeak-all-speeds-chain-tool. One thing led to another and in this instance...A lower headset bearing strip, cable strip and re-lube, then I found another 35mm Zilent https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vee-tire-co-zilent-mark-2-tyres, so popped that up front.   

Elsewhere, Redshift Sports have sent me their Shockstop Suspension Seatpost. Available in either 27.2, or 31.8mm diameters, it’s likely to sit pride of place on the Holdsworth. Not the most obvious choice perhaps, given the bike’s minimalist “enough parts to make it stop, go and handle in good proportion” persona and those relatively compliant plain gauge 531 tubes but we’ll see...Since we’re on the subject, here’s a seatpost overview...https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/a-guide-to-seatposts  

Set up is more involved than some, so set aside some time to familiarise yourself with the instructions- their youtube video is particularly insightful. It’s pretty low maintenance from then on. No need to lubricate the moving parts (although the internal preload spring may require occasional re-greasing) and obviously, regrease the post periodically, if you are pairing it with a metal frameset. 

Elsewhere, Buff has sent me their new, improved original Buff, which is now made from 95% recycled Polyester and their Pack Bike Cap. Pleasant, funky and very welcome surprises.    

https://www.facebook.com/sevenday.cyclist/videos/2275936309368820/ 

Roads remain quiet with most people broadly adhering to the UK’s lockdown policy-at least in this part of the South East but there’s a palpable, simmering restlessness. I can envisage the present administration banning all exercise, and that includes going out, into the garden. (Yes, and you thought the turbo trainer would sort this!)  

However, there are two potential scenarios (a) They won’t since they will not want to experience a backlash at the ballot box (b) People will simply flout this in bigger numbers. Indeed, many will argue an under-funded police force will not have the resources.  Therefore, even with drone and similar remote technology, enforcement, beyond major cities, will prove extremely difficult. My hope is that people will behave sensibly and responsibly, without recourse to further curbing of freedom.  

If you do fancy a read, this link will take you to a book review “The Story of A Bike” The Lotus 110 bike and its 108 predecessor https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/the-story-of-a-bike