Yay! New Wheel Day

A couple of days after dropping the rim and Shutter Precision SD8 hub with Mick Madgett, he’d built the wheel! Much whooping and cheering (to coincide with The KA’s service and MOT pass) followed and I arranged to collect at my earliest, practical opportunity. Not least since I needed to put the hub through its paces.  

No sense spending good money on wheel(s) than skimping on rim tapes and inner tubes either, so I got some fresh Schwalbe and bought in three tubes, but the second Schwalbe Marathon GT365 TESTED: SCHWALBE MARATHON GT 365 TYRES WINTER UPDATE (sevendaycyclist.com) eluded me. Not the lightest by any means but extremely durable and dependable on and off-road. 

I’ve sent the PD8 over to the UK importer so they can organise servicing and once that’s back, I’ll get it built into the White Line rim and it’ll serve as the second/spare front wheel for my fixed gear winter/trainer.  

Now, one of the minor things about the Shutter Precision hubs is that they come sans skewer. Not sure what I’d done with the Shimano quick release, since I had defaulted to the Kryptonite Wheel Boltz security skewers, which though not impenetrable, offer decent defence from casual tea leaves- say when parking up for short periods- bladder, or colon smoothie stop anyone?  

I poached the gold  Halo, since that wheel was doing something close to nothing and I couldn’t find that belonging to the Nexus. I still have a soft spot for the humble commuter hub, it’s just the resistance and specification aren’t of the sort, conducive to the K-Lite lamps, or indeed the 800lumen Exposure unit that preceded them.  

The Nexus in question is a 6V 2.4-watt model. Sanyo and Shimano both produce 1.5-volt units and they’re very affordable, but again, inadequate for my riding needs. Staying with hubs, John Moss did indeed have an Alfine unit, but I’ve metaphorically missed the boat- he'd had a clear out, donated it and his tyre mountain to a cycling charity. Wasn’t meant to be.  

Another time, another place maybe a suitable hub will materialise. For now, I’ll enjoy the a ’la carte mix of Sputnik rim, XT hub, 11-25 cassette and Tiagra rear mech.  

Dynamos aren’t everyone’s bag, nor are they suitable for all contexts. I’m still very interested in powerful, rechargeable units, especially on pared to the essential's road bikes.  

Steve’s been racking up the miles with Sigma’s smaller Buster- the 700, which I also have a fondness for, although primarily as a helmet-mounted companion. The sensible range of modes and high-quality optics also caters for town and suburban work, with enough bite for letting off some steam along semi-rural escapes. SIGMA BUSTER 700 FRONT LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Up the rear, I’m still fond of the German marques’ Blaze SIGMA BLAZE REAR LED LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and Infinity SIGMA INFINITY REAR LED LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)rear light, which are bright and in the latter context, very frugal, especially for a single, constant mode.   

Trail Distribution has kindly sent me some Bike Medicine Purple Extreme Chain Lube. It’s a synthetic blend, originally conceived for oil rigs and similarly harsh conditions. It's claimed to perform in temperatures between +400-100 degrees Fahrenheit, so the average British winter shouldn’t tax it. In common with some others, you can scoot off but ideally, leave curing overnight. 

Bike Medicine claim it will extend the life of older components, while enhancing the performance of packet fresh drivetrains, without attracting dirt and contaminant. Will be interesting to see how it holds up against some wallet-friendly favourites, including Weldtite TF2 Performance All Weather Lubricant TF2 PERFORMANCE ALL WEATHER LUBRICANT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)          

There is a school of thought which says dry lubes for spring/summer and wet for winter. Makes sense on some levels and keeps things simple. However, these things are nuanced. I err towards stay put synthetics on daily drivers and working bikes. Price aside, I’m impressed by Muc Off Ludicrous AF and have returned 700miles from a single application. The Peaty’s Link Lube Premium All Weather Chain Lubricant PEATY'S LINK LUBE PREMIUM ALL WEATHER | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) is another decent default, ditto Rock N’ Roll Gold LV ROCK 'N' ROLL GOLD LV CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), which is also incredibly clean running-welcome any time, but especially winter.  

Ursula is the beneficiary for now. The chain is also in surprisingly good shape- at present rate, I’ve probably got 500miles before it’ll need pensioning off. I’ll wait until the Christmas break for the wheel- will likely coincide with other little, mid-point maintenance jobs. Gives me chance to get some spare cables and straddle wires in. Nothing worse than getting immersed only to be thwarted by a frayed/damaged cable, especially when you can’t just nip out and buy a new one.  

Cable-wise, I’ve gone for some Transfil, a brand supplying cabling to the French automotive industry and producing some decent, virtually maintenance-free cable sets. A great option for bikes in hard service. The outers are quite abrasive though, so be sure to apply some helicopter tape where they touch the frame/forks.    

  

 

Hubs n' Hoops

 Shutter Precision got in touch, inviting me to test their SD8 hub, which is very timely, given recent events. The S series is apparently, the lightest, smallest models in the Shutter Precision range. In this instance, reckoned to tip the scales at 350g. By mine, it's 399g.  

After a decade or so, the Halo Aerotrack wheel is needing some slight TLC. Nothing major- tensioning the spokes, new axle and bearings. The former had started shedding threads, so an opportune moment to fit new cartridge units, while the hub is open. Manufacturers and their UK distributors have been extremely helpful and despite the UK’s third country status, some brands in mainland Europe have also reciprocated. Again, greatly appreciated.  

Given this backdrop, I am going to build the PD8 built into a 26-inch wheel, a spare wheel for Ursula, should the Ultegra unit require servicing/rebuilding. Similarly, though still very solid, rims don’t last forever, even with the most disciplined maintenance. I’ve acquired a 32-hole Ryde Andra 40, which isn’t the lightest but promises to be strong and dependable. While hardly obsolete, 26 –inch mtb is no longer the default, so choice is a little less plentiful than it was, say a decade back.  

I’ve always erred toward a little overbuild, especially on touring, working and mountain bikes- save for cross country racing.  In some respects, the Rigida Sputnik would’ve been a more obvious choice and the Andra have a reputation for being tricky to build, hence why I’ve commissioned Mick Madgett with the job. The other reason I’m having a “second” wheel built for Ursula boils down in part, to the fact the Rigida Snyper rim has served ten years and though seemingly solid, won’t last forever. 

I’ll inspect it properly while I’m testing the SD8.  

Talking of overbuild, I’ve formed a fond bond with the Sigma Buster 200 FL, which though less potent than some, on paper, remains very relevant and versatile enough for most riding contexts. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/sigma-sport-buster-hl-2000    

The weather has only just become recognisably autumnal and despite apocalyptic forecasts, conditions are still permitting stock tyres. The Muc-Off Ludicrous AF chain lube is still clinging on, although cleat and brake mechanisms, pivot points etc are needing the odd short of Jokker 440 to keep them sweet and crud free. This presented an ideal opportunity to tweak Ursula’s rear brake slightly. Not that I employ the rear brake very often, but I want it sweet, responsive, and dependable.

  

 Weekly sudsy bucket washes and periodic waxing are a must right now. The single application of Muc Off Ludicrous AF chain lube was finally relenting, so time to purge the residual and modest contaminant. I was promised another blend of tenacious chain lube, so until that arrives, I’ve returned to the Weldtite Ceramic WELDTITE CERAMIC LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

I’ve also been promised some very refined bar tape. I haven’t decided whether Ursula, or my fixed gear winter/trainer, will be the recipient, much will depend on whether I switch to the Tektro RL520 lever sooner, or later.  Though hefty, Schwalbe Marathon GT365 TESTED: SCHWALBE MARATHON GT 365 BICYCLE TYRES (sevendaycyclist.com) are super dependable, offering excellent traction and moreover, puncture resistance through the dark, slimy, slippery roads. 

I run wider sections, where possible (a) Provides greater cushioning from the lumps and bumps that creep in (b) Improved contact with the road surface. High-quality suspension posts are another definite plus, giving some additional refinement along winter roads and trails, without the heft and complication of suspension forks.    

Cane Creek Thudbuster ST G3 TESTED: CANE CREEK THUDBUSTER ST SEATPOST (sevendaycyclist.com) and G4 and Kinekt 2.1 Suspension Seatpost KINEKT 2.1 SUSPENSION SEAT POST | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), (which is still offered in a 25.4 diameter) so an excellent, dare I say, viable option for older mountain bike framesets converted to working bikes, rough stuff tourers, or indeed, gravel builds. Just don’t skimp on the shim. They’re not expensive but even at the upper end, £20 is much cheaper than the cost of frame repair, or worst-case scenario, scrappage.  

    

Winter-specific thermal kit has been donned- bib longs, long sleeve base layers, thermal jerseys, gilet, and full-finger gloves. Despite a generous thatch, I’ve also reached for thicker caps and socks. The mercury has slid to minus figures, although thankfully, no ice, just arctic blasts, and sleety interludes   

Turning lower gears means a higher cadence and improved blood flow, so cold doesn’t bite so intrusively. I’ve also switched to the FLR Defender MTB Thermal Dry S-Tex Boot FLR DEFENDER MTB DRY BOOT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com