Fast Tangos & Old Faithfuls

 I wanted to get a few last rides in on the Holdsworth and Teenage Dream. Having played around with spacers, I found myself giving the bike a thorough washing and hard paste waxing. This led to me switching its tired looking Guee Silicone bar wrap for the T-One Mr Fantastic Handlebar Tape T-ONE MR FANTASTIC HANDLEBAR TAPE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) Given my 5am riding schedule, I had rummage around the lighting box and found this Cat-Eye Volt 1700.  

The full 1700 is arguably overkill, even for these backroads (although nice to have, especially when things turn misty) and I would’ve preferred a 1100lumen setting to staircase down to. However, it goes from 1700 to 500lumen, which is too steep a drop for navigating.  

Up the rear, I’ve gone for this Moon Shield Rear Light, which is another very potent model and one that I’m genuinely very fond of. During the cleaning phase, I stripped the existing wax lube and though tempted to go the Muc Off Ludicrous AF route, opted for a light helping of Peaty’s Link Lube Premium All-Weather PEATY'S LINK LUBE PREMIUM ALL WEATHER | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

After some deliberation, rather than switch the Cat-Eye between bikes, I decided to partner the Ravemen CR600 to its LR500S RAVEMEN LR500S FRONT LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) cousin, generating 1100 lumens all told. 

The latter’s beam quality is far mightier than the 500lumens might imply, too.  To my surprise, Ursula’s shifting had gone off the boil again, particularly midway across the cassette. Despite close, methodical scrutiny and the root cause elusive but pruning the chain by two links and replacing the shift cable proved the cure.  

Disappointing given I’d only had eight weeks from that inner cable. I ordered a few replacements since these are staples and though there’s never a good time for failure, it usually strikes at the least opportune moment.  

Keeping them clean and lightly lubed with GT85GT85 ALL PURPOSE LUBRICANT (sevendaycyclist.com), or similar maintenance spray certainly helps-particularly through winter but the gritty, grotty weather will still shorten their life. Heavy duty PTFE sprays have their merits but if you must go this route, apply once. Repeated applications will slowly result in a PTFE “fatberg”.   

Inner wires are cheap to replace, so change a daily driver’s seasonally and buy stainless where you can. 

It’s now palpably colder and darker in the mornings- its struggling to double figures, so I’ve switched to the ¾ length bibs and long sleeve jerseys. Middleweight fare for now, and I’m still defaulting to the cheap but very cheerful Passport Crochet Back Cycling MittsTEST & REVIEW: PASSPORT CROCHET BACK CYCLING MITTS (sevendaycyclist.com) That said; stronger winds and falling leaves are nudging me to dig out lightweight full-finger gloves, such as these Specialized, or the Oxford North Shore Gloves OXFORD NORTH SHORE GLOVES | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

Not to mention a thicker, water-resistant cap, I’m still a fan of Prendas Ciclismo  Lisboa Waterproof Cycling Cap PRENDAS CICLISMO LISBOA WATERPROOF CAP | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

While rooting through some light boxes, trying to locate a high-power compact light for the Teenage Dream, I unearthed this now discontinued Xeccon Mars 60 COB Rear Light TESTED: XECCON MARS 60 COB REAR LIGHT (sevendaycyclist.com) A light that might be a little quirky but one I’m still very endeared to .

Nite Rider Solas 30 Rear Light is another rear light falling into this category and mine’s still going strong over five years later.    Talking of which, we’re big fans of E-bikes. To clarify, they may not be my passion, let alone my area of expertise but there’s a lot to like. Contemporary machines making cycling accessible to new audiences.  

Electric-assist cargo bikes are increasingly a viable alternative to small vans, especially in congested town and city centres. Commuting on an e-bike can be more practical than a traditional bicycle, dressed in formal office, or more casual threads, running utility and bike-as-car errands.  

E-assist also ensures older, or more vulnerable riders can enjoy longer distance rides, with a little assistance, as and if required. Steve and his family has enjoyed their time with this model FREEDOM BY DESIGN | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)   

  

Pre-Hibernation Tweaks

 

I’ve been settling to some little jobs before Holdsworth, and Teenage Dream enter seasonal hibernation. I’ve decided to revise the Holdsworth’s stem spacer height and replace the budget expander wedge. I’ve also decided to switch the Teenage Dream’s rear tyre. While I love the Vee Tire Co Rain Runner infinity’s speed, they seem slightly susceptible to punctures, so I had a rummage in the rafters, hoping to find these Schwalbe Lugano TESTED: SHWALBE LUGANO ROAD CYCLING TYRES (sevendaycyclist.com)   

A little portlier and erring more towards commuting and winter training, but given my preference for dawn blasts, some additional reliability is welcome. Instead, I found a solitary 25mm Freedom Thick Slick (which the Holdsworth is shod with), so popped that on the rear. I would’ve preferred a matching set but aesthetic pedantry aside, some would argue this is another example of personalisation and for now, I’ll stick with that!   

I’m still researching potential replacement(s) for the Schwalbe Marathon Mondial Dual Defense, which have done 7,000miles and still going strong, although starting to show some formative signs of wear. There is a school of thought recommending alternating front and rear tyres for longevity.  

I can see the merits on paper. In practice this is a dubious practice-whipping a partially worn rear up front is inviting a very nasty face-plant on a wet, greasy ride. I will often switch the part worn front to the rear, to get my money’s worth, but then, a brand spanking new tyre goes up front! 

No sooner had I switched Ursula’s chain to the Peaty’s Link Lube Dry PEATYS LINK LUBE DRY CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) this Muc Off Ludicrous AF arrived in the post. Claimed to be the world fastest lube brewed for road, mtb and triathletes, it promises to perform in temperatures as low as minus 20, and extend chain life, so it will be interesting to see how the next few months pan out.  Typical of high-end lubes, chains need to be surgically clean before applying and Muc-Off recommends leaving it a full 24hours curing. 

 

One thing led to another (as it invariably does, with me) and before you know it, I’d whipped Ursula on the work stand, out came the rear wheel. Shifting had been slightly off again and I suspected this was down to the cassette's lockring working slightly loose. Snugged tight with trusty cassette tool, I also suspected, the microshift bar con needed to be dialed fractionally tighter- a slight, clockwise turn of my 4mm Allen key-sorted. Out came the sudsy bucket and sponge and the old girl was gleaming again.  

Chain, ring and cassette exorcised with solvent, I drizzled Muc-Off Ludicrus AF into the links. The Teenage Dream’s drivetrain received identical treatment, coinciding with the tyre swap and a review of the wedge pack. Dead CO2 cartridge was consigned to the bin and given the Uk’s present shortage of said gas, it might be a while before I acquire some more... I’ve also been witnessing extensive panic buying of fuel.  

Traffic backed up along the streets, reminiscent of the last fuel shortage, during the summer of 2000. In the corner of London where I was living, some people were actively trying to scale the tankers. On one occasion, I had two 20 litre MOD jerry cans full of leaded fuel for motorcycles (older Japanese machines, though designed for unleaded, had no problems with the more toxic blend).  

People were begging me to sell them it (some more aggressively than others). Leaded petrol is ruinous to catalytic converters, as several hapless people discovered, having filled their late-model Toyotas.  Whether the UK will assume a state of compulsory rationing, last experienced in the early 1970s remains to be seen.    

  

Back on two wheels, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the Sigma Infinity Rear LED Light SIGMA INFINITY REAR LED LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) it’s compact, bright and simple, with favourable run and charge times.  Those looking for a super potent rechargeable front light may like to take a look at The Ravemen PR2400 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/ravemen-pr2400-front-light