Manic Mechanic

What works on the stand and what performs on the road can be two entirely different things. I was delighted with Ursula’s reconfiguration and though I loved the Soma Condor were a great fit, the Soma Condor 2SOMA CONDOR 2 SHALLOW DROP BARS | (sevendaycyclist.com) seem an inspired upgrade. A little on the tall side for my fixed gear winter trainer but bang on for the tubby tourer.  

Being a four seasons’ machine, the sudden transition to heavy rain prompted a 20-mile shakedown ride. Though counterintuitive, thanks to years of brifter use (yes, my index finger has been gravitating to the imaginary paddle on the Tektro levers) the Microshift bar con has performed faultlessly.  

Click shift, click shift, click. No slips, no hesitation. The front brake showed some hesitancy on the return but easily corrected with ten pumps of the right lever. Otherwise, I relaxed, enjoyed the ride and vowed to resist further cable fettling temptation. Well, save for replacing the rear brake’s straddle wire. While functional, it was fraying badly and very much on borrowed time.  

Problem-solving and working things through is all part of riding. 

Ok, by the roadside, you want to get going again, as soon as reasonably possible but developing familiarity and understanding the components leads to a much better riding experience and mechanical sensitivity. As I’ve said before, there is also a good case for outsourcing some work, where it's more cost-effective. I don’t build good wheels, so for me, leaving my wheels in the hands of a skilled wheel builder is money well spent. 

Despite the changeable conditions, the Peaty’s Link Lube Dry PEATYS LINK LUBE DRY CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) has impressed me with its staying prowess, despite the changeable conditions. Plenty remains on the chain and is readily reclaimed from the cassette. I’m still on the second helping several hundred miles in.   

Closer inspection of the rear, Schwalbe Marathon Mondial Double Defense Tyre TEST & REVIEW: SCHWALBE MARATHON MONDIAL TYRES (sevendaycyclist.com) suggested it was also nearing the end of its dependable life. Not bald as the proverbial porn star’s bits but their centre strip was beginning to show obvious signs of wear and I found several sharps burrowing into the casing. I had one in ruder health, so superglued some superficial cuts, then switched to that until I find a suitable replacement. 

Now, I’m a fan of connectivity but there are boundaries. I have no desire for a foreign power to launch a missile strike via a wi-fi enabled kettle in my kitchen. Professionally, I am interested in GPS and similar bar-mounted tech. Personally, I don’t want to share my ride routes, time, location etc. 

Any GPS function on a camera is also turned off, for these same said reasons.  

Ursula has been sporting this Cat Eye Quick for a couple of years- a very simple 7 function design, which is compact, intuitive and reliable. However, at £44.99, its relatively expensive, relative to functions. I found myself yearning for something more sophisticated, yet still offline.  

Since the weather is still ambient; I am continuing to enjoy spirited playtimes on the Teenage Dream. I’ve found the bigger Axiom wedge pack’s saddle loop Velcro was becoming slightly unreliable. Not to the point where it would come adrift and cause the bag to land on the tyre but this was a distinct possibility, so I switched to this smaller Axiom, which employs a quick release saddle rail clip and two Velcro post straps. Sorted-Huzzah!  

I was also struck by the ungodly, unmistakable funk of trench helmet. My long-serving do-most but mtb biased Bell, on this occasion. Now, I could go the same route as Steve and use a capable commercial product, such as this Oxford Mint Helmet SantizerOXFORD MINT HELMET SANITISER | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) but, given as I was headed that way, plumped for a post-ride shower and shampoo, instead. The shampoo route is surprisingly effective but best done more frequently, to keep funk at bay. 

 

 

Back To The Old School

I’ve managed to acquire sufficient chains and control cables for personal consumption and am delighted with Ursula’s Kinekt2.1 upgrade. This final switch has realised my 80’s vision of a drop-bar all-terrain bike. An engaging, lightweight go anywhere, four season’s machine.  

One I sketched, while completely disconnected from the school curriculum and for the most part, my classmates. Sketched without a clue as to how it might be realised, I might add. Daydreams alternated between building a bespoke frameset of my own, to buying something high-end.  

While I would never snub a genuine opportunity to build a frame (as distinct from attending a frame building course) I have decided paying a frame builder, such as Lee Cooper Home - LEE COOPER CYCLE FRAMES (webs.com) to execute my vision, or buying off the peg framesets are more cost-effective, time-efficient options for me.   

Now, I’d be the first to point out that the cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. Building a frameset on a residential frame building course would be incredibly satisfying. However, my money is better invested in a suitable welder and tackling less specialist metalworking projects. Some for my own enjoyment and home economics, other for more immediate, fiscal gain.  

  

Ursula’s frameset is 24 years old, in my possession for 22 of them (bought new old stock). I’ve switched the Zefal Adventure R5 Waterproof Saddlebag ZEFAL ADVENTURE R5 WATERPROOF SADDLE BAG | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) for this Carradice SQR Tour, which is twenty years old. Its waterproof cotton-duck fabric has cultivated a faded patina, but for me, this just adds to its character and testament to its build quality.   

Portly compared with bike packing luggage and can be a handful, laden to the gills but lighter and nimbler than an expedition rack and pannier configuration. Besides, I’ve the trailer for those occasions when I want to haul heavy/awkward loads.  

Unexpectedly, shifting had become unreliable. Cable was the most obvious culprit, since the chain had only recently been replaced, cassette was good. Ditto rear mech and hanger... Inner and outer cable replaced but no matter how much mechanically sensitive tweaking of the rear mech, the brifter remained out of step and a little sloppy.  

Dejected, I packed up for the day and after some reflection, decided on some Tektro RL340 drop levers and a Microshift ten-speed bar-end shifter. This combo might lack the outright refinement, dare I say convenience of Sti/Brifters. However, I ran a similar configuration (Shimano Ultegra) on the original build and there are several distinct advantages, especially on a machine of this kind.  

Aside from reduced vulnerability, in the event of a spill (worst case scenario, they are also cheaper to replace). Shimano Ultegra and the Microshift bar end shifters can be switched to friction, should need arise. Setting up the Microshift was more time-consuming, than the Ultegra.  

However, it all came together nicely, once I decided to take the gear cable in a more ‘cross traditional direction.  Part of the challenge and satisfaction of working on bikes (and machines generally) is working things through and getting them right. 

This also spelled the end for the discontinued (and in my view, fabulous), Control Tech bar tape and prompted a switch to the Soma Condor2 Shallow Drop Bars SOMA CONDOR 2 SHALLOW DROP BARS | (sevendaycyclist.com), since I was in the mood for switching things around. For the time being, I’ve dressed them in the orange Acros Silicone Wrap Handlebar TapeLONG-TERM TEST: ACROS SILICONE BAR WRAP | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), which is a more flattering contrast than I’d anticipated.  

The Peaty’s Bicycle Assembly GreasePEATY'S BICYCLE ASSEMBLY GREASE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) although will revisit in the depths of winter to see how well it performs, long term and in more challenging conditions.  This enforced leave, coupled with the good weather meant I’ve been getting the miles in on the Teenage Dream and enjoying every moment.  

However, the BBB guards had finally succumbed to fatigue at the mounting points, resulting in some periodic but irritating binding. I’ve stripped them, which has obviously solved the problem while resulting in a cleaner aesthetic.