Choppin' n' Changing

April remains decidedly chill, so I’m sticking with long sleeve base layers, 3/4lengths and bridge jackets (the jersey cum jacket type, that offer decent protection from chill and showers). Am delighted to report that the VDO3.1ML wireless computer is performing perfectly. No interference hassles with the Shutter Precision PD8 dyno hub https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/halo-rim-and-shutter-dynohub-disc-b

This wasn’t so with Knog’s lovable Nerd, or indeed my recently departed Frankenpute.  I’m also pleased with its positioning-nicely within my eyeline. Funny how those little things make all the difference. Talking of which, here’s my review of Genetic Neuron Accessory Bar https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/genetic-neuron-accessory-bar

Elsewhere, I’ve changed the bar tape. This seems to be more frequent than a politician switching stance. I wasn’t expecting the Acros Wrap Silicone Handlebar tape to contrast so nicely with my fixed gear winter/trainer’s colour scheme.

Blue was a more obvious (some might say, default) choice. Much to my surprise, the pumpkin orange contrasts beautifully. Silicone wraps are naturally tenacious, which has obvious advantages when riding in the wet. It also negates the need for adhesives, which is an obvious boon, for cable replacements, or indeed, bar swaps.

At 3mm thick, its an obvious option for gravel and cross riders. Its thicker and, uncut heavier than than other Silicone designs I’ve run for several seasons, including Genetic Flare Silicone Bar Wrap https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/genetic-silicone-bar-wrap

Allowing for some additional stretch, packet fresh, it measures 185cm. Ample for buxom flared designs, including the Soma Condor https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/soma-condor-2-shallow-drop-bars.

Uncut, its 59g heavier but trimming is to be expected. I’ve needed to lop a fair bit from ours, given these Genetic DRiser 16 are a little narrower. Wrapping requires a slightly firmer hand too and it’s shown an annoying tendency to unravel around the tops, so keep the finishing strips/electrical tape ready.

As for the Genetic D-Riser, they’re noticeably narrower than I’m used to, which gave the bike a slightly twitchy feel, for the first five miles. By this point, I’d acclimatised and was enjoying the ability to hunker lower and shelter from the headwind. I’ve continued to bond with them, as the past 100 miles have whizzed by.

Even on my traditional road bikes, I’ve gravitated towards this breed of flared bar. Primarily, because I find them more comfortable. I’m much broader across the shoulders than my build and stature suggest.

The Teenage Dream’s Salsa Bell lap being a prime example. The Bell Lap are no longer in production. In case you didn’t know, Bell Lap, refers to the final lap of a cyclo cross race, so something of a giveaway, in terms of intended audience.

Elsewhere, I’ve only just needed to replenish the Squirt Long Lasting Chain Wax. A very faint filmy patina remained, but the chain’s galvanised links were peeking through. I had toyed with a single coating but opted for two, leaving twenty minutes between.

Where possible, and appropriate, I leave lubes curing overnight. However, temperature allowing Squirt seems good, after four hours, or so. There’s also a cold weather version, which I would like to try, as a comparator.  

Staying with weather a moment, I received these Supacaz Spua G gloves. To me, they appear a liner type design, great for providing additional warmth on bitterly cold rides, or packing, should the temperatures suddenly drop on a spring evening ride. They are certainly thin enough to slip beneath skin mitts.

Seamless construction prevents chafing around the finger tips. SiliGrip refers to interesting silicone gripper pattern, which promises excellent purchase in all conditions.  Much the same promises as others, then.

The palm is Clarino, a faux leather hide, which promises to be hard wearing, flexible and temperate. I was surprised to discover they are marketed as a standalone glove. They’re incredibly thin, so I’m wondering if they’re going to keep numbness and tingling at bay, on their own, especially since they’re reckoned capable of coping with trail duties too. Hmm…Only one way to test these claims.

Three Wheels on Your Wagon?

John and Jane are selling their beloved Tandem Trike. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/love-resurrection-john-moss-s-tandem  If you are genuinely interested, please contact me in the first instance. Either via this email roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com or Michaelsevendaycyclist@gmail.com

Schoolboy Errors, The Brexit Blues & Big Bars

Schoolboy error, indeed. I am of course referring to my Univega’s chainline.  In my haste to instate the new Talon ring, I accidentally mounted it to the outer spider. Yep, threw the chainline right royally out.  Very apparent when dropping to the lower ratios.

Eureka moment struck and ring repatriated, shifts are crisp, clean and predominantly silent. What you’d expect from a new chain, ring and cassette, essentially.  Corrections made, I’ve concluded that the gearing is now, where I need it for most contexts.

An 11-30 (rather than 11-28) will be my next move but otherwise, the existing setup offers enough grunt, cruising and bombing prowess. Solo and with Bob Yak homage en-tow. Can comfortably cruise up a 1in7 at 13-14mph, 20 plus on the flat.   

Straying from variable gears but staying with gearing and chainline... Those looking to optimise precision with their fixed are well served by Halo Fixed -G Track Hub.  https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/halo-fixed  I’m extremely impressed by the concept and its execution. Some might consider it a bit pricey for winter/hack duties but it’s a better option for nicer conversions.

An acquaintance used to own a 1948 fixed gear Freddy Grubb. Beautifully made, with original gloss black enamel, ornate lugs and an interesting, road friendly fork rake, it had horizontal, road ends…An ideal candidate.

So, with a looming dental appointment, and the UK administration following the British Leyland model of breath-taking incompetence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsizoYrceOg , I needed a distraction. Off came those Soma Condor 2 Shallow drop bars https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/soma-condor-2-shallow-drop-bars  and in their place, these Genetic DRISER-16 bars.

Their flatter, semi aero profile top sections provide better mounting points for lights and other accessories. Using the Genetic Neuron, I’ve been able to mount the Trelock dynamo switch https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/trelock-ls906-dynamo-front-light  and route its cabling more neatly, too. The Genetic DRISER-16 are marketed as a great option for cyclo cross and gravel racing, while also suitable for touring and commuting.

They’re made from heat treated T6 6061 aluminium alloy, the 20mm rise supposedly works to the same principle, as the Soma. Namely, providing a higher riding position, without faffing about with spacers.

The top, semi aero section is designed with cruising on the tops, in mind. 16-degree flare in the drop supposedly provides an additional control, which would tally with the design brief.

Ours is the widest, 44cm version. I typically go with 46cm upwards, so we’ll see. For the time being, I’ve dressed them in some salvaged Lizard Skins DSP 2.5mm wrap. However, we’re expecting some competitor test-tape to arrive very shortly, and the Easton Pinline Foam Bar Tape is well suited to my Univega’s mixed terrain, daily driver duties. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/easton-pinline-foam-bar-tape

While the UK isn’t affected by rapid and extreme changes in climate, early Spring can still prove a very changeable period. I’m still sporting ¾ lengths, Lake Winter booties, Buff, winter weight jersey cum jacket and full-finger gloves. Prendas Cyclismo https://www.prendas.co.uk/ have also sent us some Jerseys, bib shorts, socks and other Spring goodies for testing but with the mercury struggling towards 7/8 degrees, they’ll have to wait until things thaw a little.  

After last week’s sad demise of Frankenpute, Paligap www.paligap.cc kindly sent me this VDOM3WL. Setup was intuitive, following their You Tube tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA_JqUSNGko  

Wax based/emulsion type lubricants have come a long way in recent years. Most noticeably in the context of stoicism. Both bikes are still on their first helping of Squirt Long Lasting Dry Chain Lube. 200 miles apiece, neither chain looks thirsty, and on this basis, I’m reckoning on 300 plus before topping up is required.

Squirt has transferred more readily to hands and clothing, than some petrochemical blends and required a couple of machine washes to shift it. Bodes well for longevity but Something to consider, if you commute in light coloured trousers.   

Command Centre

Having recovered from crank extracting efforts, I switched to my Univega and away from the increasingly maddening crowd. An ideal opportunity to see how well Squirt Chain Lube copes, in changeable conditions. This Apeman A80 Action camera had also arrived for testing. Initial impressions are favourable, relative to price point.

It seems intuitive to use, and image quality broadly comparable, with this Geonaute I’ve owned for a few years.  The Apeman A80 comes with a lot, as standard, including 2^nd battery, weatherproof casing and several mounting options. I’ve opted to fit ours via this nicely finished Minoura VC100 Quick Release Camera Mount. Works well with compact cameras and Go-Pro homages.

This Genetic Neuron Accessory Bar arrived and prompted some tidying of my fixed gear winter/trainer’s cockpit. The old resin accessory mount had served me well, but was slowly falling apart and ultimately, consuming unnecessary space.

I simply mounted the Trelock LS906 Bike-I PRIO Dynamo Front Light https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/trelock-ls906-dynamo-front-light  and bracket to the Soma Condor 2 bars https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/soma-condor-2-shallow-drop-bars , then ported “Frankenpute” and Xeccon Spear 900 front light https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/xeccon-spear-900-front-light  aboard the CNC machined Genetic. The 22.5mm bar is designed to accommodate computers/GPS and other “lightweight” accessories.

In real terms, it seems perfectly happy with a 200g payload. Standards of construction and detailing are impressive, especially for the money. CNC machining and anodised finish aside, it comes complete with aluminium spacers (rather than the crude, but generally effective rubber type), to achieve rock solid, scratch-free tenure to 26.0 bars.

Alas, my beloved Frankenpute, then decided it no longer wanted to live. Mysteriously ejecting itself from its mounting bracket, and beneath a following SUV. Sentimental soul I am, I retrieved what remained and was astonished to discover some functionality.

A few days later, this very simple, lollipop shaped Cat Eye Quick Computer arrived for review.  Professionally, I’m interested in the latest “Make the tea” technology but personally, lean towards simpler stuff.

The Quick is a five function, wireless model. We’re talking current, average and maximum speed, trip distance, total distance, total distance, moving time, and clock.

I’ve had plenty capable of scrutinising every scrap of ride data, and I understand how useful that can be. However, though I love riding, racing hasn’t been part of that diet some years.

So then, the Genetic Tibia Track Cranks. Well, any component change generally makes a bike feel different. Ours were the 165mm versions but there are 170 and 175mm alternatives.

These are arguably better suited to taller riders and/or road biased builds. With this in mind; my working fixed, originally sported 175mm SRAM cranks. Given the frame’s lofty bottom bracket, spirited cornering didn’t lead to “grounding” or similar fun-disruptive nastiness.

Some studies suggest moving to a shorter crank, can improve comfort. These cite reduced scope of motion at the knee, hips and lower back. Sounds good to me, all things being equal.

However, if you’re not sure, or suffering discomfort, go for a bike fitting consultation and solicit medical advice/as appropriate.

I wasn’t surprised to find myself turning a slightly higher cadence during my formative twenty-mile test runs. Neither do I run knee-popping ratios, in any case. Nonetheless, a good fit, now feels that bit better. Not that I have any intention of wholesale fleet conversion.

Squirt chain lube is proving clean and relatively stoical. Both tubby tourer and fixed gear winter/trainer are still on their first helping, 180 miles in. To be frank, given the relatively dry climate these past few weeks, I’d expect even the most basic formulas to last 200miles.

However, cleanliness seems excellent, with little evidence of contaminant. In common with other emulsion types, I wasn’t surprised to discover my Univega’s cassette cultivating a waxy patina. One that will hopefully, protect the bright electroplating from light tarnish and can be reclaimed by the chain in due course.

Despite incessant promises of balmy days, the mercury is still struggling to nudge 12/13 degrees during the day, so I’ll have to wait before I can do these Primal Onyx aero gloves justice.

Rings & Ratios

My Univega’s gearing has always been something of a compromise, since 2017’s new paint and 1X9 makeover. A 34-tooth ring and 11-30 cassette would’ve been too low.

The 44x11-28 gives a range between 103 and 40.5 inches, which is generally practical for road duties, although, I’ve missed the additional torque offered by the 30- tooth sprocket. Especially when climbing a 1 in 7 and battling a headwind. Plenty of the latter, this past fortnight, or so.

Having just replaced the chain and cassette, buying another would’ve been silly, so I turned my attention to the front ring. 94 BCD…Nothing suitable “in stock” but a witching hour wander round the web, unearthed a black 42 tooth Talon for £9.99.  Apparently, these had been purchased from the distributor, in huge quantities and originally retailed at £35 apiece.

I was relieved to discover the old Shimano ring’s mounting hardware released with minimal effort. Moreover, though most patterns are accurate these days, I was pleased by the Talon’s fit. Anti-seize on the crank bolts, snug tight with a long 5mm Allen key-sorted.

Gearing now ranges from 98.3 and 38.6 inches without major jumps (38.6, 45.1,51.5, 60.1,67.6,77.3, 83.2,90.1, 98.3).

Arguably a 40 would’ve been better still, offering a 36.8-inch bottom gear. However, I’m not going to lose any sleep over it and will probably switch to a 11-30 cassette, next time round.

Continuing this theme, I’ve been fortunate enough to receive some lovely Genetic Tibia track cranks (and Tibia 7075 T6 ring). The cranks are JIS (Japanese Industry Standard) rather than ISO. Indeed, to my knowledge, this is comparatively rare. Though not overly problematic in the general sense, its worth noting that ISO tapers are slightly longer than JIS. This means you will need to buy another bottom bracket, to achieve correct chainline.

I was sent the 165mm arms. 5mm shorter than the System EX Track https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/system-ex-crankset , I suspect these were selected because of the road bike designation. My working fixed has a relatively tall bottom bracket, so less problematic (The original build had 175mm arms) but shorter arms provide additional cornering clearance on a conversion. I simply raised the saddle by 5mm to compensate.

Shimano’s UN55 is ideal (read all you need) for these duties. Inexpensive, the sealed cartridge bearings have been known to reach 10,000 miles, before slop sets in. The existing unit is still in rude health.

However, rude, agricultural language followed when I tried to remove the long standing, and very likable System EX. Self Extracting crank bolts are an absolute godsend. Univega and working fixed do not feature these, but their cranks are seldom removed.

Save for bottom bracket replacement, and periodic re-greasing of the bolts. On this occasion, after 29 years, my Sugino crank extractor finally died. Stripped tool threads meant it couldn’t divorce arms from tapers.

Enter this cheap, but cheerful X tools replacement, which arrived the very next day. Credit where due, it did the job handsomely. Nonetheless, prising those cranks from their tapers, still required copious amounts of penetrant spray, a very long 8mm Allen key and the sort of primal grunting more commonly associated with a labour ward.

Now, I don’t grease tapers but the bolts themselves were given a liberal helping of Park PPL-1. Ditto the reinstated ISSI pedals. The 44 tooth Genetic ring keeps gearing at 78.3 inches.

Taller than text book perhaps but avoids knee trouble, yet tall enough to dodge comical, warp-speed spin out along 1in7s. The new setup weighs 717g (48g heavier than the System EX) but I’m suspecting there will be other, tangible benefits…

Revisions

Chain and cassette replaced, I still had a good 250 miles or so to go before nearing anything like a conclusion regarding the Halo Fixed G hub and fat cog system. Wet, greasy lanes with waterlogged sections, mulched equine dung were perfect and rather welcome, given the mild February we’d been experiencing. A subtle “phantom” squeak permeated my serenity. Snugging the track nuts and 8mm crank bolts down proved the antidote.

This gold anodized Halo skewer presented itself, so I thought “why not”. Cured some very minor pad rub, which pipped up, when I was out of the saddle, and dancing up the climbs. Disc rotor was true, cables and callipers were correctly adjusted, and everything behaved impeccably on the workstand (doesn’t it always?).

Therefore, perhaps a tighter union at the dropouts…Niggle, and episodic tinkle muted.  The passport anti rust single speed chain continues to do its thing silently, and the galvanised surface does an excellent job of retaining lubricant.

I was a little surprised to discover some orange taint. Especially since Weldtite TF2 extreme wet lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/weldtite-tf2-extreme-wet-chain-lubr  is one of the most tenacious (albeit not the cleanest) wet lubes I’ve used to date.  

The watery corrosion vanished, upon contact with a clean rag. Some Squirt chain lube arrived for testing, so I treated the transmission to some Green Oil chain degreaser jelly, as part of a sudsy bucket spruce-up. Talking of which, Steve’s been putting Silkolene wash off, to the test https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/silkolene-wash-off

A reminder that Spring can still prove very wet and mucky, so I’ll leave the KMC dressed in its factory lube. Once that’s thinning, I’ll swap to the Squirt. Dressing appropriately for the changeable conditions, is another challenge.  Thankfully, softshell jerseys and ¾ lengths with water repelling top layers plug the gap.

Early morning outings are still quite chill too. I’ve always found this very refreshing and for the time being, I’m still sporting a “Belgian style” cap beneath my lid and Oxford Bright 4.0 gloves https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/oxford-1 . I pack a buff and the Oxford bright waterproof cycle gloves 3.0 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/oxford-bright-3-0-gloves  on longer rides, when temperatures can climb into the low teens.   

Full length guards make a world of difference, keeping bike and rider, presentable. Cue the Univega and putting miles on the Selle Italia Sport Gel Flow FEC-Alloy saddle.

Thus far, its proving music to one’s derriere, whether I’ve been cruising along the asphalt, or tackling more technical terrain. Soft, yet supportive, which can be a very difficult balance to strike.

The relatively narrow profile is also very conducive to fast tempos, although I’m generally cruising along at 85-90rpm. Another intermittent phantom squeak (traced to the M45’s jockey wheels), prompted me to carry a small dropper bottle of simple lube.

Saddles and pedals are the first components I replace, on off the peg bikes (purchased, rather than tested). The Inbred, fitted to my stock MKII Ilpompino, was a notable exception. It eventually migrated to my MTB based crosser, with similarly pleasing results.

That had 46cm road drops, which were up to the job in the “Use what you got” tradition. It was On-One Midge drops, that really turned me on to the big, swoopy sort. The 25.4mm versions were a bit whippy but the 31.8 firmed things up a treat.

WTB Mountain drop bars are another firm favourite of mine. Especially for a rough stuff tourer, or tagalong/trailer tug, although to my knowledge, they’re no longer made. No surprise then, that I was generally impressed by Soma Fabrications Condor https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/soma .

Something of a talking point, the shape generally suited me. However, the original pastern had some drawbacks. Soma have revised the shape. The MK2’s top sections are also straighter, allowing easy fitment/alignment of lights, and more hand space. That said; drops and hoods, are my go-to defaults.

Speaking of revision, it’s been a good few years since I towed Joshua behind, on the tagalong. He turned 16 this week and will be sitting his GCSEs this summer. That chapter of my life remains ingrained, almost thirty years hence.

Provisional places on courses at FE college. The opportunity to study subjects I was interested in, focused my mind. Riding kept me sane in between revision, exams and anxiously awaiting results. Whether examinations, is the best means of assessing knowledge, or competence, is somewhat debateable.

Nonetheless, undertaking previous papers, to strict exam conditions, will hone these skills, and is, like time trialling-the race of truth. It will reveal where your weaknesses, and gaps in your knowledge lie. Everyone’s different but don’t sit more than two “mocks” per day, tops.

Remain structured, it’s easy to kid yourself your knowledge is better than it really is. Or, at the other extreme, hammer yourself into the ground. Papers aside, set revision in two-hour blocks, and slot in regular food and sanity breaks.