Comings & Goings

 Having reached the surprising conclusion that my washer “bodge” has improved the Minoura VC100 camera mount’s tenure, I went out for another 5am blast, only to discover an unnerving flicker coming from the Univega’s K-Lite Bike Packer Ultra dynamo light. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/k-lite-bikepacker-ultra-dynamo-ligh 5am BC (Before Coffee) can lead thoughts along some weird warrens.  

In this instance inducing a fleeting fear, said flickering might be a diode/internal issue. Ridiculous given the bombproof build quality but goes to illustrate my attachment to Kerry Staite’s amazing system. Save for its compact Pro V2 cousin https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/k-lite, easily the best dynamo lamp I’ve come across.    

At this time of the day, there’s the occasional huge agricultural convoy, so I pulled off road and ironically enough, into a farm track. A quick feel of the unit confirmed the mount had loosened, fractionally, amplified by some minor loosening of the Velo Orange Handlebar Accessory mount’shttps://www.sevendaycyclist.com/velo-orange-handlebar-accessory-mou fasteners.  

A 3mm Allen Key and the Passport CDW tool’shttps://www.sevendaycyclist.com/passport-cdw-multitool 8mm ring spanner snugged everything down-problem solved in a matter of minutes. Back on the road, I pondered life, the universe, a tanking UK economy and more relevant here, chain lubes. Much as I’d expected, the Juice Lubes Ceramic Chain Juicehttps://www.sevendaycyclist.com/juice-lubes-ceramic-juice has proved much better this time round.  

The ceramic component offers a decent level of lubrication and I’ve passed 400 miles on a single application before that faint metal on metal tinkling struck. While conditions have been primarily dry and temperatures in the high 20’s/30s, I’ve also tested it through winter, confirming the blend’s properties are unaffected by temperature.  

Some gunk has collected around the derailleur jockey wheels and cage.  

This hasn’t fallen away but is easily dismissed with a clean rag, or, a cotton bud if you’re ultra-fastidious. I’d toyed with the idea of topping up but chose to switch to this Muc Off –50 chain lube. 

Not the most obvious choice for late summer perhaps but we’ve entered a wet, thundery phase and I’m curious to see how it compares with Weldtite TF2 Performance All weather Lubricant https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/weldtite-tf2-performance-all-weathe . Their viscosity seems similar and a Canadian rider said it’s the only lube he’s found that will keep going in minus 35... 

This was an obvious time to check the chain for wear. Not that anything felt off but as we’ve already established in my opening paragraph, prevention saves time and money. There are several ways of checking a chain. 

Aside from the vague pull away from the ring test (by which time it’s shot-not good for planned maintenance), you can measure sections with a ruler. However, I much prefer a plug and play approach. Digital gauges have the absolute edge, for outright precision but the simple analogue models are inexpensive, simple and used regularly, will repay their modest investment in no time.   

This nickel-plated BBB has been serving me faithfully for around 12 years and remains my go-to. There is a valve tool at one end and a serrated 8,9 and 10mm wrench at the other, which could come in handy, if you were inclined to carry one in your bike luggage.  

This electroplated Kranx looks like a whale and features a joining tool, holding a new chain in situ, while you drive the pin home. Either way, when it comes to measuring chain health, if the tool will lie flat atop the links, the chain needs retiring. Wherever possible, I replace before this point, in the interest of optimising other component health. With care, a cassette should serve three chains before it needs pensioning off.  

I’ve also been pondering a pad upgrade for my Univega’s Shimano CX50 rear cantilevers, since the originals aren’t really cutting it, for me. By contrast, I’m still really endeared to the Genetic CX Cantileverhttps://www.sevendaycyclist.com/genetic-cx-cantilever-brakes  .  

Ample modulation and feel, not to mention power. 

High quality cables are probably the simplest way of upgrading performance but staddle wires and cable carriers shouldn’t be overlooked. I’m wondering if a wider cable hanger, which hangs lower for additional power, will make a marked difference to the already impressive performance.     

Daybreak Escapes & Other Deviations from The Script

 No matter how well you look after things, components, accessories and clothing eventually wears out. No sooner had I said so, the Cat-Eye Quick Computer’s head unit battery expired! Over to a well-known auction site for a pack of replacement cells. The Tubby tourer’s Minoura camera mount came out in protest jettisoning the cork base, while I was hustling along a backroad at 5am. Since the pandemic, I’ve erred towards early morning escapes since it’s cool and roads are relatively deserted.  

I won’t buy a replacement (assuming they’re available). A quick scrabble around the spares’ tins unearthed a rubber washer, of comparable dimensions., which will do the job for the time being. I may find something more refined. I saw a Joby unit offered at a considerable discount, but unlike their Gorilla pods, this looked decidedly low rent, particularly alongside the Minoura.  

Technically, summer runs until the close of October. However, circumstances have led me to revisit the Juice Lubes Ceramic Juice, arguably giving it a fairer crack of the whip. I'd run it several weeks during a rather damp winter and performance was still very reasonable, given its blended for dry to damp conditions. Talking of which, its closer to a wet in terms of consistency but seems stable in temperatures between +25 and –2.  

Three-minute curing times are another definite plus, making it a more practical choice for roadside reapplication-touring and indeed commuting-on those mornings where you’ve hit snooze and are playing catch up. Based upon the 225 miles per application during a wet and dreary December, I’m leaning towards 400 through a primarily arid August.  

There are drier ceramic blends, there’s also some evidence of it congealing around the jockey wheels and side plates but much less than some traditional wax types and it will be interesting to see whether this falls away or lingers with use. 

Thankfully, there have been some periodic, heavy downpours, which have given me the opportunity to assess the water-resistance of the FLR Rexston shoes, which I am really warming too, for general riding, not just gravel flavoured outings. 

Talking of which, Steve has been suitably impressed by these Showers Pass Gravel Shorts https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/showers-pass-gravel-shorts 

Gravel shorts take various forms. From evolutions from the messenger/mtb long hybrid type, designed to be worn atop regular Lycra, to those, such as these Polaris Challenge Nexus Ride Shorts https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/polaris-challenge-nexus-ride-shorts . 

A rear zippered pocket and an elasticated one on the thigh are the obvious deviations from traditional road-biased Lycra. However, these and other models I’ve been testing recently also seem to be made from a heavier weave. Yes, a no-brainer in some respects, given the increased likelihood of a spill.  

 

 

Save for an undignified incident, racing at the old Eastway Cycle Circuit, I’ve never torn a pair of shorts off road but there’s a lot to be said for a heavier yarn in these and indeed, touring contexts. “Gravel” models are also intended for touring and other forms of endurance riding too, if the former seemed like marketing hype. 

Need some ride inspiration? Why not have a look at Steve’s three counties day escape  https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/a-day-cycling-in-three-counties  > Thinking of investing in an E-Bike? here’s Richard’s test of the Kalkhoff Entice 3B https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/kalkhoff-entice-3b-e-bike  

 

I digress, back to the Juice Lubes Ceramic Chain Juice...    

Friction is refreshingly low, and this is very apparent when snatching away at the lights, or when the transmission is otherwise underload-dropping three gears on a sharp climb, for example.   

It can also be used on cables and cleat mechanisms, which is handy by the roadside, although otherwise, I’m always inclined toward maintenance sprays such as their JL69https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/juice-lubes-jl when it comes to keeping cables and mechanisms slick. Elsewhere, See Sense have sent me their Multi Tube and Sun God, their   Velans sunglasses-modelled by Miriam.