Optimal...

The lockdown is showing obvious signs of recession, although outside of certain hours, the roads remain refreshingly silent. Another week, a further 150 miles drumming my shape into the Univega’s saddle, while enjoying the more willing persona and supple ride quality, provided by those aptly named Continental Speed Reflex tyres.  

I’d also set aside some time to dial in the shifting (which wasn’t quite so precise at the lower half the cassette), then craft some custom paint protection using the Zefal Frame Armor. Rubberised cable buffers have greatly reduced the dreaded cable rub and my fleet has very thick, powder-coated finishes.

  

However, grit and oily contaminant can get lodged between the frame and soft polymer cuff, gnawing away at the lacquer and colour coats, albeit at a comparatively pedestrian rate.  

Pre-cut sticker sets have been around for donkeys and the more expensive versions are not only thick but employ strong adhesives. The sort highly resistant to solvents, oils, UV light and frequent washing. High-quality workshop type rolls are the most cost-effective options. They also permit custom shapes. The trade-off being achieving this demands a methodical, unhurried approach.  

Whether you’re applying these, or pre-cut types, give the frameset a sudsy bucket wash, then designated areas a quick rub with an alcohol-based wipe. This will remove anything dirty oily/waxy that would otherwise impair adhesion. 

I’ve also applied a strip to the underside of my fixed gear winter/trainer’s downtube since opportunity presented. Placing a strip here is a good move, even on a mountain bike using a crud catcher style guard, since the zip ties securing them can slip/move gnawing into the frame finish, over time. Especially when wet, gritty mud’s thrown into the equation 

Staying with the fixed, I’ve switched to the 32mm Kenda Kwick Journey KS Plus-wholesale. Much roomier around the rear triangle (Not that 35mm was problematic, per se) and true to their moniker, noticeably livelier, than the otherwise likable and very dependable VEE Tire Co Zilent https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vee-tire-co-zilent-mark-2-tyres.  

This also brings the gearing down a fraction, to 75.6 inches, which is also more manageable in less fluid traffic and when climbing.  The 5mm thick puncture repelling strip doesn’t run bead to bead, which hasn’t proved problematic thus far and may also account for the friskier persona.  

However, we’ve passed hedge clipping season and wet, slimy winter roads might reveal some vulnerabilities.      Those looking for a budget digital pressure gauge might find this Lifeline Digital Pressure gauge fits the bill https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/lifeline-digital-pressure-gauge 

32mm was once the preserve of traditional touring and off duty ‘cross bikes but allowing for the trend towards bigger sections (I’m more inclined toward a 700x38c for road-biased touring)  it still strikes a good balance between speed and comfort, especially given the UK’s patchwork infrastructure. Talking of which, I’ve just received this latest incarnation of the Cane Creek Thudbuster.  

Specifically, the Cane Creek Thudbuster ST G4. The latter denoting 4th generation. The Thudbuster ST https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/cane-creek-thudbuster-suspensuin-se had a phenomenally long run and still has a lot of merit, especially on older, higher-end cross country mountain bikes. Not least since it's available in more sizes, with shims to bridge the gaps.  

This time around, it's only available in 27.2 or 30.9 and 31.6mm. (There are also two lengths-345mm for 27.2 and 375mm for 30.9 and 31.6mm). However, they’ve updated the linkage design. Elastomers are more easily swapped around, and it theoretically caters for riders up to 350lb.  

I say theoretically since the saddle clamp is a single bolt affair. A moot pint for a 70 old kilo “whippet” but experience suggests riders teetering around the 110-kilo mark might notice some saddle-rail creep. In terms of travel, the G4 has 50mm. 17mm more than the long-serving ST and 15mm more than the Redshift Shock stop Suspension post, presently pride of place on my Holdsworth. I’ve had to forgo the Carradice Carradry SQR bag https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/carradice-carradry 

But thankfully, this Altura Aero Post Pack was doing something close to nothing and capacity aside, the powder-coated aluminium alloy frame keeps it away from the post, thus solving potential compatibility hassles. Of course, you could always go the rider mounted route, for commuting and light trail duties. Oxford Aqua Evo 12 Litre Backpack is a lightweight and genuinely waterproof option. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/oxford-aqua-evo-12-litre-backpack 

Good Moves

So, as predicted, I switched chain lubes, from the Zefal Pro Dry Chain Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/zefal-pro-dry-lube  to the Weldite TF2 Ultra Dry Chain Wax https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/weldtite-tf2-ultra-dry-chain-wax which also led to closer interrogation of chain length. 

I decided to prune the KMC by another few links, which made for crisper shifts but without putting the rear mech under undue load. Ironically, the Weldtite TF2 Ultra Dry Chain Wax also coordinated with the celeste Jagwire Pro Road Brake Kit https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/jagwire-pro-road-brake-kit cables and See Sense Bar Bag’s cargo net. 

April has been markedly drier and quite sunny, compared with previous months, so the cleaner running dry wax seemed an obvious choice, entering May. It’s one of the cleanest, temperature stable wax formulas I’ve used. Meanwhile, Steve has been putting Rock n’ Roll Holy Cow Chain lube through its paces https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/rock-n-roll-holy-cow-chain-lube     

During a moment of (lockdown?) madness, I contemplated adding another (22-24 tooth) 94 BCD ring to the old school LX crank and wiring up a front mech (probably the Microshift centos).  

Yes, I would’ve had an even greater range. Gearing with enough grunt for riding up down and along the Great Wall of China, with low slung trailer en tow. However, the faff of trying to get a road front mech to play nicely on a frameset intended for top pull front mechs (Yes, I know Problem Solvers make a fetching adaptor), the added weight and complication means it's staying on the drawing board.     

A subsequent 20mile loop affirmed trimming chain length paid dividends.  It also confirmed switching to those Continental’s nigh on slick tread have improved my tubby tourer’s responsiveness, while providing a supple, magic-carpet ride, ironing out washboard and more overtly pock-marked tarmac.  

Just how much speed and ride quality preside over puncture resistance remains to be seen.  I’ve also been playing musical rubber on my fixed gear winter/trainer. This time, we have these 60tpi Kenda Kwick Journey KS+ in 32mm sections. Slightly narrower than my 35mm default but frees up some space at the rear triangle.  

In common with some old favourites, these employ a 5mm thick puncture resistant belt. That said, it only covers the centre strip, rather than running edge to edge, which might leave them more susceptible to sharps.  Thus far, they’re reasonably swift and corner better than I’d expect. Mucky, gritty stuff and stones get impacted within the tread, leading to that annoying tick-until it’s ejected, or extracted. Those folks who are particularly puncture prone might like to bolster otherwise sound tyres with the Tannus Insert Armor https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/tannus-armour   

Having resurrected those Scott Sport shoes, I was surprised to find the sole’s lip coming adrift. Thankfully I had some suitable glue, you know, the one for the toughest jobs on the planet...However, I couldn’t find a way of binding it to the upper... Enter, this old nylon toe strap. So, hang on to them if you’ve gone clipless, they’re surprisingly useful. The glue had seemingly set two hours later but much like the lube, I left it curing overnight-just to be sure.150 miles in and it’s holding up just fine.