Mid-range Power & Medium Cage Musings

 

After some deliberation, I happened upon a medium cage 10 speed Tiagra rear mech at a very favourable price, so indulged on the basis it would come in handy. Whether Ursula’s existing and long serving Tiagra turned sloppy, or I fancied running a 32 tooth rea sprocket for some additional winching prowess, when towing a trailer, or heavily laden panniers. Of course, it arrived and needing a break from the screen, I elected to switch things around. A simple job. I’d not touched the short cage mech save for minor adjustments, cable replacement and cleaning since Ursua’s refurbishment two years ago. The frame mounting bolt proved a little arthritic, so I squirted some MO94 and allowed it to seep in a few seconds.

 The last thig I wanted was to risk the frame thread’s integrity. The bolt released easily and I was pleasantly surprised to find some Oxford Mint Assembly Grease Oxford Mint Assembly Grease | cycling-not-racing clinging to the threads, but another reminder about regreasing at least annually. I reached for the Zefal Pro ii Zefal Pro II Grease | cycling-not-racing this time round, which I’ve found a very durable, corrosion resistant default.  

Cable connected, chain fitted, everything seemed to be moving up and down the block snappily enough while Ursula was held by the Topeak Flashstand e Up  Topeak Flashstand eUp | cycling-not-racing . Proof of the pudding is in the riding, so I hopped indoors for some food and headed out an hour later. Much the same story for 10 miles and then some clicky hesitation. I initially thought this might be a b screw tweak, something I’d tackle upon my return…

Upon powering away from a concealed junction, I was serenaded by a loud ping and loss of power transfer. Inconvenient, but an easy fix, provided you’ve some spare links and a magic link connecting pin. Oh, and a chain tool. In this instance that belonging to my beloved Topeak Alien ii. Five minutes later and we were homeward bound, harmony restored.

Another mixed terrain ride the following morning confirmed this. Rains- heavy showery interludes struck and though I’d left out sans micro jacket, the cooling precipitation felt delightful after several weeks of sustained intense heat and drought. It also presented the perfect opportunity to see how hydrophobic the Leatt glasses and shoes were.   I also treated the long-serving short cage Tiagra mech to a seriously deep clean. It wasn’t obviously mucky.

A liberal blast of Muc-Off Chain Wax Cleaner Muc-Off Chain Wax Cleaner 500ml | cycling-not-racing quickly flushed out embedded wax from the derailleur's inner sanctum and jockey wheels, resulting in a shallow, oily pool, which was strangely satisfying. I'd treated the mech’s inner sanctum to a further stiff brush tickling for optimal effect. Rinsed, dried and a shot of MO94 Muc-Off MO94 Multi Use Spray | cycling-not-racing later, inspection revealed the mech was mobile and slop free, so was popped in the drivetrain spares box.

I'd been experiencing some intermittent disc tickling (as distinct from rub) at the rear and had reached the conclusion it was down to friction, specifically attributable to the galvanised steel cable that was used since it was "in stock". Some further wandering around the web suggests the 287's design is another contributory factor. I've had no problems up front, although the cable run is much cleaner and I'm running a pre-lubed premium grade stainless inner wire.

I noted a little additional stretch at the cable, so pulled it through, and dialled the lever's 2mm nipple screw down to ensure complete release, theoretically eliminating drag. I'd also ordered some replacement stainless inner wires, since they're a workshop staple. Chances are, I'd be wanting to upgrade the galvanised stand-in due course, certainly before winter.

An easy fix and a metaphor for wider life. Sometimes things are a work in progress. Take a break but persevere until you're speaking their language and have them sussed. Little breakthroughs can be incredibly satisfying. 

Continuing the sticky theme, the sprung mount assembly on the Yak homage had gummed up, meaning they weren't closing on the skewer hitch. Something that caught me by surprise on our second laden outing. Just a question of easing them closed, then giving the sprung components a liberal blast of MO94 upon returning home.

Snappier engagement and secure tenure sorted, I could let rip and cruise in confidence, although I was considering making a shim from old butyl for the skewer hitch to provide a more tenacious, vibration- busting connection. With Denise's KMC chain registering north of.5, I decided to replace and fit the medium cage Tiagra mech- another straightforward twenty-minute job.

I'd acquired a replacement spring kit with the trailer, just in case the original failed and replacements proved hard to come by. The only minor niggle I've got with the mighty Topeak Uni Super Tourist DX Topeak Uni Super Tourist DX Rack Disc | cycling-not-racing concerns their pronounced feet. These prevent me from tethering the Yak homage.

Now arguably most tourists would run either panniers, or trailer, but there are times, say when running errands, or collecting stuff when you'd want to pair the two. Since the frame only features a single eyelet, I can’t position the rack higher, thus providing suitable clearance. Hmm, I’ll reflect and consider my options.

I've also been putting in some decent miles with the Leatt ProClip 6.0 Trail Boa MTB Shoes. Soles strike a good balance of efficient power transfer and walkability- stiffer than the Shimano GTX. For the most part, I've paired them with a traditional cross-country spud, but wasn'’t surprised to find models with bigger surface areas the ideal marriage. I've gone for the dual side Shimano M530 and ED500, the latter being a road-biased touring design- very solid and supportive, albeit with a slight weight penalty. 

Mud clearance won't match that of a true cross country, or trail model, but still better than I'd expect. I've had no issues clipping in/out, provided things aren't too boggy. They're also a doddle to strip and service Simple Pedal Overhaul | cycling-not-racing 

Given twenty minutes along wet roads, I wasn't surprised to find some water had crept in through the Leatt's cleat drillings. Slightly damp soles with traditional merino blend socks, but there's scope for waterproof designs, including these Muc-Off, which have been firm favourites of mine and served me well through some decidedly wet, winter rides.  Staying with Leatt, I’ll close here with my review of their Ride Viz Pro Small Clear PhotochromicSunglasses The Leatt Ride Viz Pro Small Clear Photo | cycling-not-racing

       

 

Tweaking The Tempo

 

I’m consistently told that I’m very adaptable and for the most part, that’s very positive. To some extent, there’s never the wrong conditions, just the wrong equipment. Whether that be coping mechanisms, or material stuff. I’d been pushing myself very hard in broader contexts, to the point of chronic emotional depletion. This was only evident to a very select few and I was struggling to pinpoint; dare I say articulate the experience and root causes.  I’d been down to London to experience BTS  BTS World Tour London: 70,000 ARMYs Fill Tottenham Hotspur Stadium!

Not my genre of music but the spectacle and company were fantastic. The fanbase seemed a really supportive and positive collective- this was incredibly palpable at every point, within the train carriages, the stadium and the immense crowds snaking through the streets of North London afterwards. Potentially a mugger’s paradise, the sea of bodies flowed without incident, although we were exhausted after the two-hour journey back to our Goodge St hotel.

The sustained heatwave hasn’t negatively impacted my riding pattern, rather I’ve taken more time to explore the lanes and byways. Being mindful to cover my neck, apply a high factor sunscreen to exposed skin and carrying two full trade bottles. Soda water is my mid-ride tipple of choice, although plain tap water comes a close second. I don’t miss sugary, caffeine-laden drinks, but I’ve always missed the carbonated fizz.

Some years ago, I encountered a recovering alcoholic who told me he was able to quit gin but not the tonic water.  

Two hundred and fifty miles later and I’m forming the opinion that Juice Lubes Slick Juice is loosely comparable to Peaty’s Speed Grease PEATY'S SPEED GREASE | cycling-not-racing on the friction front. I’ve also applied some to Ursula’s Kinekt post, since I was doing some seasonal checks, topping up internal frame preserves etc, while the weather was particularly conducive.

This is particularly apparent on the Hollowtech II axles and anecdotally, contributing to a higher average speed when measured over a particular circuit. I’ve been defaulting to these Sidi Aertis Sidi Aertis MTB Shoes | cycling-not-racing, which are a sporty cross country mountain bike shoe but one that makes ready transition to gravel, audax and general road duties. Contexts where safe, dependable walking is desirable.

The soles have marginally more give, compared with the Shimano SHRX600 Shimano SH RX600 Gravel Cycling Shoes | cycling-not-racing  , which is welcome off the bike but doesn’t impair efficiency when I’ve been tackling extended, or sharp climbs on the fixed. As gravel and backpacking has evolved, manufacturers have responded by introducing models with more and less compliant soles to suit different tastes.

Stiffer, dare we say sportier soles are fabulous for pedalling efficiency, but can induce fatigue on long rides.  Models, such as Leatt Pro Clip Endurance Shoes  Leatt Pro Clip Endurance Shoes | cycling-not-racing  are aimed at those wanting “dependable performance and all-day comfort but without the race focus stiffness”. I’ve found they meet this mission statement handsomely and also have scope for touring. The wider profiles are also very accommodating of waterproof socks, which is significant, especially given the extensive mesh panelling. This also extends their horizons to winter.  Compared with the Shimano and Sidi discussed; the sole has a little more give, which is apparent during out of-the-saddle efforts on the fixed and I’ve noted a little extra cleat clatter off the bike. 

Genre blurring is nothing new. Mountain bike drivetrains became the norm on road going touring bikes and higher-end hybrids back in the late 80s, especially as triples became increasingly expected on new builds. I’ve never been shy of mixing and matching to suit gearing and indeed taste. For example, Denise sports a 2x10 Deore crankset, Tiagra rear mech and an old Deore LX front mech commanded by bar end shifters.

I’ve had a Shimano 600 road front mech commanding a touring triple and it could struggle bringing the chain over to the big ring. Back in the days of square tapers, I originally paired a Stronglight 100 Touring triple to Ursula, although even with relatively long axles, the cranks ran a hairs’ breadth from the chainstays-literally. Hence, I ultimately opted for an Alivio, when one came along at the right price back in November 2009.

 There’s much less scope for adjustment with a contemporary external bottom bracket configuration, meaning a gravel specific crank is likely to present Q factor, chain line and chainstay whacking issues.

Again, these things are nuanced. Experimentation is one thing; fool's missions are quite another.

If you’d one laying around, or gifted you, it might be worth exploring. However, it could also turn into a time sapping saga. For me, I’d reach for a 68mm Deore bottom bracket and crankset. I initially fitted a Tiagra bottom bracket when Denise was built as a 1x10, but switched for Deore when that mysteriously got the grumbles and an XT is the planned successor.  Right, I’ve just bolted some pattern cleats to these Leatt Trail shoes and will head off on Ursula to explore…