Remaining Conspicuous

 

Been an extremely busy few weeks, testing kit, preparing for winter; talking to Tegan Phillips and being invited to the odd, impromptu photo shoot…Having reached some definite conclusions about Pro-Green MX triple pack  

http://www.sevendaycyclist.com/pro-green-mx-triple-pack    I’ve turned my attentions

to this Pro Viz reflect 360 helmet. Despite widespread acceptance, helmets still divide opinion. Though, I almost never ride without one, I fiercely oppose compulsion and that contributory negligence card, so often played in cases where someone has sustained serious injury.   

Like most other bike apparel, purchase power means standards and to some extent, expectations are higher than ever before. Some respected sports chains are offering extremely well finished models for £20. Admittedly, these are made in the Far East, where production costs are lower and savings can be passed to the end consumer.

The reflect 360 is made in Germany, meets the usual CE 1078 and though branded as a road design but the peak and insect net, suggest love child consequence of a passionate tryst between road and trail lid.  

Like many others at this price point, it comes complete with an “intelligent” adjustment system which allows precise alignment and theoretically, improved protection to the skull’s occipital region. 

This works to the same principle as a car roll cage, preventing twisting injuries that can result from bouncing along tarmac. I was a little disappointed to discover the EPS liner exposed around the rim, leaving it vulnerable to knocks and dings but we’ve not crossed into deal-breaker County.

Now to their patented K star technology. This apparently took two years to develop.

Millions of tiny mirrored glass beads are impregnated within the outer shell; then sealed under a lacquer top coat. Theoretically this also serves an amplifier while safeguarding against peeling, or otherwise getting stripped under normal use.

Pro Viz says the depth of illumination is superior to any other helmet on the market. It’s certainly brighter than any I’ve tested to date. Aftermarket helmet retro-reflective neoprene, halo type bands are a cost effective option but even these don’t come close to the K star system. 

Talking of illumination, I’ve reverted to carrying a spare AA blinkey, especially on longer rides. I know run times are generally pretty accurate these days but I’ve had a few unexpected power downs lately. 

I was chancing my arm a bit with the Cat Eye Rapid X (it had been pulsing away for about three weeks without refuelling) but a Lezyne KTV and Moon Comet X both powered down unexpectedly, fifteen murky miles from home.

Thankfully, I’d had the sense to clip Moon Shield X auto onto my jersey pocket. Not that Cat Eye’s rapid micro rear could be considered impotent-it’s a lot brighter than 15 lumens suggest and will hold its own around town. However, by my reckoning, more bite is required for regular rural riding.

Personal favourites include Topeak Redlite mega and the almost iconic ½ watt Smart complete with elastic band type rubber seal. Cheap as chips, this one’s been a faithful standby for several years now. Replacing depleted dry cells promptly and giving contacts a quick lick of Vaseline seems the secret to its long and productive life.

Technically, we’re still in late autumn here in the UK, gusty winds are stripping trees and hedgerows of their, rich auburn leaves, which blow across the wet roads before forming a slippery carpet. We all have our favourite tyres but arguably there is no definitive model, perfect for every condition.

Generally speaking, I’m a horses-for-courses man and I often slip on spiked rubber when the iceman, or indeed maiden cometh. However, daily drivers call for an all rounder.

We’ve been putting a series of rugged commu-touring models through their paces at Seven Day Cyclist and though one of the coarse 28tpi casings succumbed to a nasty cut (sealed with a healthy dollop of high quality superglue), these 1.6 section Vittoria Street Runner are proving surprisingly sprightly, yet dependable four seasons’ budget option.

Having retired the Vittoria Randonneur trail (which amassed phenomenal mileage before finally succumbing to a series of savage and ultimately, irreparable cuts) the street runner have been coping handsomely with tarmac duties. Even along those mulchy lanes at 25mph plus, they’ve never shown hint of turning bandit and I’ve only punctured once-during the first, relatively moderate month’s testing.      

With Christmas just over a month away, most people have no problems buying presents but not everyone’s so good at presentation. Dolly blue creative can help-whether it’s the festive season, birthday, anniversary or similar special occasion. Her site’s under construction but drop me an email if you’re based in the UK and like what you see here.

Back soon, in the meantime, here’s a male Bhangra dance group from Derby...

Braking for Cake, Chapattis & Cold Weather Kit

Having celebrated my birthday, complete with homemade cake and Chapattis the customary week later, a fresh box of winter kit arrived, including these lobster mitts from a well-known discount supermarket chain. Supposedly wind and waterproof, sheer purchase power means that prices are falling while performance and spec continue to rise.

Vaguely reminiscent of mittens that some of us were packed off to primary school with, warmth is their main attraction. Dexterity is better than I’d initially predicted too. Thumb and two fingers are nimble enough for gripping bars, changing gear, grabbing bottles and even drinking coffee.

Communication with touch screen tech is something we take for granted; thankfully the fore-finger makes accurate contact. Traditionally, this design has necessitated removal, say when fixing a flat, or rummaging in pockets for keys. The last thing you want when it’s minus five and you’re ten miles from home.

I’ve been able to remove wheels, wield a tyre lever or multi-tool with surprising finesse, although thankfully, the former scenario hasn’t been to frequent. (leaving my blue/grey fixer on the work stand and at a sensible height seems to have deterred feline attack too). Another chain has sent their top-flight sub £20 set, which look very promising.

As with other garments, especially those made from polyester/polyamide blends; there is a trade-off between weatherproofing and breathability. Personally something highly weather resistant and fast wicking over something “totally impervious” that turns uncomfortably clammy over relatively short periods-even when air temperatures struggle into single figures. 

Ensure cuffs are long enough to form an overlapping seal with training jackets and jerseys. An impervious glove is not much use if there’s a gap for wind, rain or snow to get channelled inside. For this reason, gender specific versions are best. A surprising number of female riders I’ve spoken with in casual conversation suggest they get along just fine with men’s kit.

Gender specific designs are arguably best; so long as these are genuinely anatomically designed, rather than smaller versions of the standard pattern. By men’s standards, my wrists are relatively thin and fingers proportionally longer. These days, I can usually compromise a decent fit with most brands’ large size.

Linings shouldn’t be overlooked either. Check these are tethered at the fingers. This doesn’t tend to prove problematic until wash day. Those that aren’t tend to flop out in a big, soggy clump. Persuading them back into individual fingers can prove frustrating.

Continuing the cold theme, local authorities have been out gritting some of the minor roads recently, pelting Univega and I with those tiny, corrosive particles. To date, the weather has been sufficiently dry enough for green oil’s dry chain lube, which is clean and light; though I will probably strip this in favour of its wet counterpart; or something in between as the roads get carpeted in a slimy cocktail.

Perfect conditions for assessing Pro Green MX’s Cycle Aftershine101’s performance; to date, it hasn’t attracted that familiar grimy patina, which I associate with silicone infused polishes/protectant. 

I’m curious to see how the protective barrier stands up to salt and similar corrosive spatter consistent with regular winter riding over the following weeks. Obviously, these are no substitutes for owner involvement. Ideally bikes should be rinsed off with cold water following each salty, slushy ride-it only takes a few minutes.

Storing bikes in cold garages or outbuildings also helps slow the caustic chemical reaction. I tend to wash my cross and other dirt derived builds straight afterward in any case, but if you’re about to head out for a cold, icy ride, leaving your machine(s) outside for fifteen minutes allows them to acclimatise and means sleet, snow, slush and similar contaminants find it harder to stick...

Shoes and clothing also take a beating, so remember to rinse them off and air dry at room temperature, away from radiators and other sources of heat. So long as the comfort is right, budget tights and winter weight jerseys are among my staples for everyday rides/training around the two hour mark.  Right, time I was getting some more miles in and forming opinions. Look out for a winter clothing overview in Seven Day Cyclist www.sevendaycyclist.com

30 Years in Review...

It is literally 30 years to the day since an Austrian AuPair presented me with THAT book and my father relented to months of not so subtle hinting and THAT Holdsworthy built Claud Butler marked my thirteenth birthday.  Both Butler and Buxom woman have long since moved on...

These days Semi/compact geometry frames mean oddly proportioned riders, such as yours truly needn’t go the custom route and in real terms, prices have also fallen quite considerably.

Having Lee Cooper cold set the Teenage Dream’s rear triangle and replacing its pretty patchwork parts for a more contemporary groupset has often crossed my mind. Something along the lines of Shimano’s Tiagra, maybe Microshift...I have a Sun Race equivalent tucked away somewhere. A new rear hub and wheel build would complete the transformation. Calling in a favour or two, the cost implication is a very tempting £150...  

These thoughts call particularly loud when I’m out of the saddle. Powering along the climbs and dancing on the pedals, there’s some definite whip felt around the bottom bracket shell. Outclassed is sporting terms, these thin walled tubes still deliver a lively ride that has my soul singing and a massive grin engulfing my face.  

Ride quality is also determined by builder skill. The Holdsworth was built to a standard, rather than a price, which is very telling when hammering along at 35mph plus. By contrast and though technically made from a “better” tubing, the Teenage Dream’s build quality was decidedly “British Leyland” in places.

This was common to a lot of small manufacturers who were trying to compete with both the established masters and higher end volume producers during this era. That said; I recall a big French marque being plagued by similar woes. They too were offering complete machines for little more than the groupset, so even with their purchasing power; corners had to be cut somewhere.

Runny brazing, poorly reamed seat tubes and faced head tubes were commonplace. I even recall several customers getting the wrong paint job! Runny brazing, reasonable reaming and treat-like eggshells enamel demons were exorcised from my frameset in 2009.  

With this and the ill fated British motoring conglomerate in mind, it should come as little surprise to learn I also remain fascinated with the Kirk magnesium frames from this period.

Though these were flawed in many ways, I’d like one hanging on my wall. Frank Kirk came from an automotive background and sought to apply the same mass production techniques to lightweight bicycle frames. Seems they were also finished in house-powder coating, of course.

Simon Haydn http://www.kirk-bicycles.co.uk/Kirk.htm is particularly passionate about them. 

Under the metaphorical tutelage of Richard Ballantine, I love most genres of machine and also have a soft spot for rigid cross country mountain bikes. I spent many years thundering along the forest trails and getting seriously filthy on steel-tubed, fat-tired Kona and later Univega based builds.

Lights from this era fell into three basic types and in my view, grossly inferior to that available to us now. It basically boiled down to dynamos, home brewed Lead Acid masters blasters, or truly cheap and extremely nasty “Halogen” units, which were of the glimmer variety. These days, even a very basic LED blinkey is light years ahead, in every sense.

Some, such as this See Sense unit can even collect data about that potholed lane you would’ve only known about, having trashed a rim with those glimmer types. Once the preserve of suburban commuters, there are plenty of compact torch types packing 600 lumens plus.

Sure, there are still some minor limitations, usually in terms of run times in the highest settings. Here’s a few we’ve recently tested at Seven Day Cyclist www.sevendaycyclist.com     http://www.sevendaycyclist.com/moon-lx760-front-light  http://www.sevendaycyclist.com/moon-meteor-storm-pro-front-light

http://www.sevendaycyclist.com/sigma-buster-600-front-light

Elsewhere, having heard of my recent puncture plague, the good people at the inner tube shop www.innertubeshop.com sent me a batch of five. I have since discovered my not so friendly farm feline has, for reasons known only to himself, been biting the tyre sidewalls! 

He’s not been able to reach the Univega, or Teenage Dream, hence no flatting there.  

If recent commentators are to be believed, we’re due for a serious cold snap, involving a healthy carpeting of snow. Perhaps I should be dusting down these 700x42 42mm Continental and my Univega's Schwalbe winter spiked rubber...

Whoppers

Puncture season has well and truly struck and Tuesday’s night’s wet n’ windy lane-side pit-stop saw my endless gratitude for this helmet mounted BBB Scout light. 200 lumens doesn’t sound much these days but the really pure crisp arc of light made locating spare tube(s), tyre levers and Cool tool (not to mention the job itself) that bit easier.

It also ensured I didn’t lose anything, or litter the verge when bunging everything back in. Talking of lights, while there are some minor compromises, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the Xeccon Zeta 1300r Wireless Front light http://www.sevendaycyclist.com/xeccon-1300-wireless-front-light

This was the second flat in two successive evenings, so has me questioning whether unbranded tube bundles are little more than false-economy. Fine for getting back on the road and other contingencies, but not as everyday staples; neither puncture seemed the result of a sharp piercing the Clement USH casings. Both rim tapes are pristine too.

Graciously the supplier is sending me a replacement bundle, in case these are a rogue batch.I’m likely to revert to a thicker gauge butyl, possibly a Kenda thorn resistant on the rear, store branded goo-filled model up front.

Having reviewed the contents of my wedge pack, I retrieved a CO2 inflator and spare cartridge to further minimise roadside indignity on a wet and blustery night. That said; I never ride anywhere without a decent pump riding shot gun on the bottle mounts, or in a jersey pocket.

Research suggests the brain is in fact, phenomenally active when we are consciously resting. Talking of customisation, I awoke on Wednesday morning with the idea of a tyre swap. A 35mm Vittoria Voyager hyper at the rear and a 42mm Maxxis Roamer 2ply up front…Hmm, well best laid plans…

Despite the MkII Ilpomopino’s rear triangle supposedly swallowing 35mm sections (sans guards), the voyager hyper was tickling the chainstays at their narrowest point, so I reinstated the 35mm Continental.

I suspect, given their portly profiles, the Voyager’s 32mm counterparts would still be in fag paper territory clearance-wise. Shame, since they’re a really, nice compliant tyre with magic-carpet ride quality. We reviewed them in issue 7 when Seven Day Cyclist was a monthly, downloadable PDF publication. http://www.sevendaycyclist.com/pdf-reader  

https://issuu.com/vortexcreative/docs/sdc_7?e=0/14991072SDC8

 

The 42mm Maxxis and Kinesis fork proved a much happier marriage.

Grotty roads, oily finger prints and similar caked-on spatter also presented opportune moments for further testing of The Pro Green MX triple pack. Having sprayed the drivetrain degreaser on the ring and sprocket, before working it into their inner side and then into the links using an old brush.

Most bike cleaners are marketed as kind; or at least safe on plastic, composites and rubberised components. Experience leads me to conclude, some are kinder than others so I took this opportunity to give the tyres a really good scrub too. 

Though a big fan Green Oil’s bicycle brush this Oxford tyre scrub continues to grow on me.  The rubberised contoured handle sits naturally in the palm and allows really efficient cleaning. Sculpted nylon bristle plot is angled perfectly for lifting impacted gloop and sharps from the casings, restoring the aesthetic and greatly reducing the likelihood of punctures and other damage. 

Generally designed for mud and other organic contaminant, the relatively gentle cleaner continues to impress, shifting oily finger marks and even some internal frame preserve that oozed out from the bottom bracket shell.

The drivetrain degreaser has also shifted more sophisticated petrochemical chain lubes and caked on residual stuff clinging to the cranks inner spider. Having dried and re-lubricated the chain, it was time to give everything (bar contact points, disc and rotor components a misty blow-over with their all-over shine formula.

I could easily lose 30minutes to polishing-often it’s a therapeutic, reflective exercise. However, applied in a gentle mist, this formula cures to a really jewelled like effect within thirty minutes. A gentle breeze certainly helps but isn’t essential. So far, judging by my Univega, it isn’t attracting a dirty patina in the usual places-fork crowns, bottom bracket shell and rear triangle.       

Polished Performance

Well, the wetter weather has arrived, meaning dirtier bikes and presenting an ideal opportunity to put this Pro Green MX triple pack through its paces. 

These are a little different to the classic bog standard, blow, scrub and rinse staples.  

Devised by a team with Moto Cross roots, I was expecting something a bit special from the Coventry based brand and generally speaking, I’ve been impressed. First up, we have their hi-performance cycle wash, which is a super rich, lathery, surface-friendly brew. Now, park bikes in your usual scrubbing spot, flick the trigger and apply top to toe from around thirty odd centimetres away.

Give ingrained gloop a quick tickle from your favourite soft brush, then leave marinating for five minutes, yes-five minutes before rinsing off with tepid water. I’d deliberately left the Univega’s middleweight PTFE infused chain prep cultivating gritty, lumpy contaminant to see how their drivetrain degreaser would shape up.

This one is also supposedly surface friendly, although clearly contains some mildly corrosive nasties given the warning labels. It can either be decanted into a clip-on chain bath, or brushed into the chain, cassette, rings and jockey wheels old school mechanic style.

Calling their bluff, I basted a light coating around the tubby tourer’s Shimano dynohub shell, rings, derailleurs and went in search of fresh water. This also needs five minutes to marinate. Time up, I sloshed water over the transmission parts. A tsunami of dull grey sludge pooled by my feet, leaving behind a gleaming chain, cassette and rings, which just needed a quick wipe-dry before being treated to some fresh lube. 

For the grand finale’ I treated paint and bright work to the brands’ After Shine 101. This is a blend of “emulsion silicones and waxes” designed to be applied in a fine mist and left air drying for thirty minutes-without any owner input.

Again, I was a little sceptical about the streak and sticky-free claims, especially since the pump-spray nozzle deposited splodges, rather than a fine mist, resulting in some unsightly runs.

These evaporated within a matter of minutes, almost before my eyes, imparting a really smooth, glossy coat. Not that the enamel was in poor shape but the after shine 101 masked some very minor imperfections and battle scars that come with eighteen years and 113,000 all weather miles.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be testing their prowess on different kinds of grot, more sophisticated lubricants and of course, seeing how effective the silicone infused film is at repelling spatter. 

In my experience, many silicone-based products produce a rich glossy shine but are ultimately sticky, attracting a grimy patina after only a few damp rides, so we’ll see...