Navigating The Maddening Crowd

With lockdown long since imploding and societal angst seemingly accelerating several notches, I’ve resumed a state of hyper-vigilance on the roads-on two wheels and four. No sooner had the old Scott shoes imploded and I switched to the legendary Quoc Pham Tourer, my kettle followed suit.

  

Thankfully, I found a passable spare, while waiting for this red replacement to materialise.. Bob Elliot & Co graciously sent me some of their own brand tooling and these FLR Rexston Active Touring Trail shoes.  

The latter are a wallet-friendly design with a seemingly rugged synthetic upper with lace and a Velcro closure to keep the former neatly tamed and out of the transmission. Glossy synthetic uppers should prove easier to clean and are a much better bet than Cordura Nylon types traditionally used on street-styled trainer types.  

Mesh vents will hopefully permit a cooling free flow of air. The sole is reinforced nylon- what 

I’d expect from a trail/tour type model and moreover, this price point. Formative impressions suggest they’ve less rigidity than the Quoc Pham, but it will be interesting to see how they’ll compare with these Triban, in terms of power transfer.  

They’ll be my default, riding the Univega, the Quoc Pham, on the fixed. I’ve added a fresh set of cleats too since the only free set were Wellgo, which now seem incompatible with contemporary Shimano (although Shimano work just fine with Wellgo).  Here’s an overview, if you’re new to riding and considering going clipless https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/stepping-in-a-guide-to-going-cliple    

Was rather surprised to discover the Univega’s rear Continental Contact Reflex Tyre pancake flat. Whipping the tune out revealed a very tiny puncture wound. Nowhere near the valve, or seam, so easily patched and back in the wedge pack.  

I took this opportunity to clean the bikes’ rear triangle, using the Tru Tension Cycle Snow Foam, nip the mudguard’s chainstay bridge bolt tight and feed some Muc Off tyre sealant inside the tube. This also served to cement just how clean the Tru Tension Banana slip Tungsten All Weather Lube is to touch.  

Yes, its tacky but there’s been no annoying transfer to hands and consequently everything they encounter.   Its wet counterpart also continues to impress me on the friction and cleanliness fronts Now, long term life with the Acros Silicone Bar Wrap is also very favourable and the wrap seems very durable.  

However, the matt, embossed texture means that grimy patina, say following some fettling and indeed a roadside mechanical. It responds very well to machine washing but that’s not always convenient, let alone desirable. Sudsy bucket solutions and medium-stiff brushes will dismiss the worst of oily petrochemical spatter but still looks jaded. Enter the Tru Tension Monkey Juice Gel Bike Cleaner.  

Aside from the slightly synthetic banana odour and colour, the gel is designed to cling to the surface, thus giving the chemicals longer to break the grime down, on a molecular level. 3minute recommended standing times are also longer than the blow n’ go blends, although not unheard of. Thus far, given a medium-stiff bristle tickling, two minutes in, dirt and grime fell away, come the first warm water rinse.          

Elsewhere I’ve had to employ some lateral thought and these Topeak gizmos to attach this rather fetching Apidura Racing Bolt-On Top Tube Pack. One of my minor bugbears with traditional top tube/frame bags, is their tendency to rotate and leave “tan lines” in the lacquer/paintwork. Bolting to the frame is the obvious means of swerving this issue. However, my fixed gear winter/trainer (nor any of my fleet, for that matter) isn’t blessed with this feature...

  

Therefore, after a few minutes lateral thought I decided a modern composite band on interface would subvert this issue. Hence, I opted for another set of the Topeak Versa mount, which will comfortably handle the payloads involved.   

My Chemical Romance

I’m very fond of testing cleaners, polishes, waxes, greases and lubes. Most work but some perform much better than others. I’ve just received this big soft brush and bike wash from Zefal (along with a side-entry cage). As if by magic, this  Tru-Tension Banana Slip Tungsten All Weather Lube also arrived.  

Timely, since the Univega’s KMC chain had reached retirement, so I exchanged it for another KMC X10 73. 1650 miles seems reasonable from a 10speed, although I’ve stuck exclusively to dry/wax lubes during this period.  

Similarly, though shifting was still reliable, the chain lost its edge at 1250miles. it’s surprising how much difference a packet fresh chain makes, hence chains on race bikes should be replaced more frequently. I’ve also been quite impressed by this wallet and purportedly, planet-friendly Pure Dry Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/pure-dry-lube    

All things being equal, I tend to replace a cassette, every third chain and keep one of each, waiting in the wings. There is a (plausible) narrative, suggesting there is a global shortage of components, given the pandemic.  

I have noticed a pronounced rise in the prices of chains and similar consumables, so took the opportunity to harvest some, spotted at notable discount. Given the present global and political climate, I am not confident this situation will improve significantly in the coming months.   

  

So, to the Tru Tension Banana Slip Tungsten All Weather Lube. Tungsten is reckoned a superior friction modifier, compared with ceramics, let alone our old friends Teflon/PTFE. This is another wax formula but said to cure in minutes, not hours. I’m wondering how it will cope in changeable conditions.  

How well it will repel water, and indeed corrosion during damper rides, whether it is temperature stable, makes good transition to cleat/similar mechanisms etc.   I’ve opted for its wet counterpart on my fixed gear winter/trainer’s chain and have been pleasantly surprised by the low friction and tenacity, in the past sixty miles but I’m looking at another 400miles before forming any viable conclusions. 

Tru Tension also has a maintenance spray within its range. Again, it purports to be “Perfectly formulated cycling spray to loosen stiff components such as cables, linkages and forks”. In common with the breed, Tru Tension says it doubles as a light penetrant spray cum polish. Most do all these things, by degrees, in the one- does- most sense.  

Lighter potions have the edge when it comes to displacing moisture, say from lighting switches and battery trays, whereas the beefier blends keep mechanisms and cables slick for several weeks at a time.  

There is certainly a place for both, on any rider’s shelf. I’d also advocate a tin of penetrant spray to tackle seized and stubborn parts, although in my experience, highly potent aerosol degreasers using strong solvents will also shift some stubborn/seized parts.  

Came in handy, salvaging Shimano cleats from the Scott shoes, which suddenly imploded. The sole literally came away like skin from a salmon fillet. I’ve consigned them to the bin and reverted to the mighty Quoc Pham Tourer. 

I also ported the Shimano cleats, since they work best with both genuine Shimano pedals and their homages. Yes, Wellgo in particular! 

Waxing Lyrical

 The Pure Dry Lube is showing the characteristics of a traditional, petrochemical formula- the sort made from refined paraffin wax and solvent. It’s turned molten and some has migrated to the chain’s side plates, though not the cassette, which surprises me.  

Still plenty on the rollers, 225 miles in and I was expecting to purge a gungy looking beard that had accumulated along the side plates, jockey wheels etc. I was pleasantly surprised to discover it has scabbed off, during subsequent rides.   

Wax formulas, without a PTFE, or similar additives mean chains tend to succumb to light, filmy corrosion, following wet rides. Another reason why I don’t go this route with cleat hardware and others prone to getting blasted with dodgy water.  True to type, the Pure has done just that. Not an issue with the more sophisticated dry blends.  

While they will generally run cleanly, waxes  require a more disciplined approach to drivetrain cleanliness, first time round, hence the argument these have more benefit to racers-time triallists and mountain bikers (during the summer months), rather than commuters.  

One I concur with in some respects. Arguably, working bikes should be ready n’ reliable, with minimal faff. Wet lubes are an obvious choice and will certainly go the distance, but as I’ve said many times before, the side plates will need wiping regularly. Otherwise, accumulated grit/grime turning into a grinding paste, chomping through your bike’s drivetrain.  

If you’re pressed for time, one of the pour n’ go sort, such as Finish Line 1-Step Cleaner and Lubricant https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/finish-lineMight be an easier proposition, even if these require more frequent reapplication.  Once the existing Pure dry lube is spent (coinciding with the chain, I suspect) I may well revert to the low-friction Zefal Pro-Dry Lube.https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/zefal-pro-dry-lube This incidentally appears fully compatible with the Pro Gold Prop Link Chain Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/pro-gold-pro-link-chain-lube if my fixed gear winter trainer’s chain is anything to go by, several weeks down the line.   

Talking of wax, I’ve treated the Univega to another high-quality waxing. Muc-Off Miricle Shine polish, this time around. It’s made using Fluro Polymer Technology and Carnauba wax. The latter is also found in high-quality furniture polish, cosmetics, and even speed boat hulls. Silicone oils are apparently employed to enhance ease of application and, it’s very quick and easy to apply.  

One coat is sufficient but if like me, you like to double up at key areas (bottom bracket shells, down tube, chainstays etc), experience suggests it prefers 24hours between coats. Rounding up this polishing theme is a guide to caring for traditional leather saddles https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/caring-for-leather-saddles . My derriere has very much bonded with the Cycles Berthoud Soulor Saddle https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/cycles-berthoud-soulor-leather-sadd 

Several weeks further down the line, the Kenda Kwick Roller continue to impress with their blend of low rolling resistance, reassuring grip and of course, puncture resistance. A greasy, wet winter may reveal some limitations (specifically the puncture repelling belt, which covers the centre strip, rather than edge to edge).  

That aside; they’re doing everything I ask of them and the slightly narrower (32mm) section is probably optimal, for my fixed gear winter/trainer’s clearances too. Elsewhere, those looking for a responsive and engaging folding bike may want to take a closer look at this Tern BYB S11 Folding Bike https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/tern-byb-s11-folding-bicycle