Brighter Days & Lighter Lubes

There’s nothing like testing chain lubes to encourage big mileages. I’d gone way past the 800-mile mark with Motoverde PTFE chain lube, when these two arrived from One Ride Cycling. Stripping the remaining lube from Ursula’s chain and cassette required a generous blast of Motorex Drivetrain Cleaner and some tenacious scrubbing, suggesting it could go another week or two-250 miles, from the original application.

My fixed gear winter/trainer has exceeded 900 road miles mark. I digress... There’s the Momum Mic Wax Chain Lube, a blended formula using microcrystalline wax and ceramic particles for maximum, possibly optimal penetration of host chains.  

It's reckoned stoical enough to withstand wet weather, which isn’t territory synonymous with waxes per se. The Momum Mic Oil is a synthetic oil that uses ceramic particles for similar effect. What better excuse for deep cleaning Ursula and the Teenage Dream’s drivetrains... Both bikes were deserving of a good wash n’ waxing. I also needed to use up the last, useful dregs of some degreasers, so they weren’t taking up unnecessary space.

  

Given we’re creeping toward summer; I’ve treated both to the wax.  Modern chain lubes, (waxes in particular) require pristine hosts, so get recipients really clean-rings, jockey wheels, cages too before giving the bottle a vigorous shake and apply to every link. Keep a rag hovering beneath to collect any overspill.

Unusually for a wax blend, Momum suggest 15-minute curing times. This may be so, say on a very warm morning- I tend to leave lubes curing overnight per se in any case but I wasn’t surprised to find it anywhere near set, after 15 minutes, at 8 degrees.     

Mornings, though much lighter, have still been suitably crisp, meaning for the most part I’ve been donning a mid-season long sleeve jersey (primarily since I’m reviewing it) and middleweight, full finger gloves. However, I’ve also put this Funkier Ixara Gents Elite Jersey through its paces and am suitably impressed Funkier Ixara Gents Elite Jersey | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)   

The Seal Skinz Leather Road Cycle Gloves are a particularly good pairing with the Ergon Gravel Bar Tape, although others, with silicone detailing including these Specialized Grail Long Finger Gloves are proving a very agreeable union.  

Aside from being a great bridge option, they also double as effective liner gloves during winter. They will also slip beneath some classic, looser fitting mitts too, including these Passport Crochet Back Cycling Mitts TEST & REVIEW: PASSPORT CROCHET BACK CYCLING MITTS (sevendaycyclist.com) are still going strong, several seasons down the line.  

The palms aren’t on par with pricier models and the leather benefits from a lick of hide food to keep it supple and the elements out. About lighting, I could get away with switching the dynamos off and stick with blinkies, since it's a matter of remaining conspicuous, rather than needing to navigate.  

I’ve gone for the Ravemen LR500s and of course, the loyal ½ watt AAA powered rear. Now, watts are a rate of consumption, not of output, but often assumed to be. The 500, as its name would suggest, delivers 500lumens but the arc of light means its more useable than many along darker roads.  

However, given those light mornings, I’ve been banging on about, the 200lumen rapid flash is my mode of choice and will go near 15 hours from a full charge. However, keeping the lithium-ion cell charged (or at least, not falling below 70% too readily) is the best way of optimising run times and prolonging battery life.   

The Holdsworth is still sporting the Magicshine Ray 2600 Smart Remote Bike Light and has Moon Sheild clinging on to the seat pack's tab and Tern Vizy adorning the seat post. Overkill some might say but I like the security of two-just in case. Ursula’s default is Ravemen TR30 rear light RAVEMEN TR30M REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) (Although I switch between that and its CLO5 cousin RAVEMEN CL05 SENSORED REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com))

Flanked by The Cat Eye Viz150 (which boasts a daylight running mode) and Topeak Tail lux 30 rear light. The fixed gear winter/trainer’s seat post is hosting The Lelumia The Beast LELUMIA THE BEAST REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), which also sports an 150lumen daylight mode.  

There have been many times during my life where I haven’t been where I’d hoped-professionally and personally. Conversely, I’m pleased with my achievements and my ability to adapt to unpredictability, but a little bit is missing dunno where it’s gone...wonder when, or indeed, if it will return.  

 

 

Riding Out & Letting Rip

  

Progressively lighter mornings have meant I’ve switched from the mighty Sigma Buster HL 2000 SIGMA SPORT BUSTER HL 2000 | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), to a compact Ravemen torch slipped into a jersey, or gilet pocket (for roadside inspections).   

Lighter Abus lid, especially since I spend more time on the Holdsworth and Teenage Dream. MTB biased lids, though aesthetically fine on a cross, touring, or gravel bike look weird on pure road bikes.  

5 am starts have been a theme for the past two years but have often proved the best move, in the event of poor sleep and/or periodic nightmares. While matters have been explored and addressed. I retain a small but significant and seemingly permanent disconnect from the civilian world. We have a right to our feelings; we do not have a right to negatively project them upon others. Riding as therapy is a common theme. Simon Parker is another author exploring his own journeyRIDING OUT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

The Motoverde PTFE chain lube continues to impress with its longevity and staying prowess. 500 miles down the line, it behaves like a middleweight wet lube, with similar cleanliness, although conditions have been relatively dry, so I'd expect at least 700, from a single helping. Lots of brands suggest their chain lubes are also suitable for cables and other surfaces, which isn't always so. Thankfully, the Motoverde is keeping inner wires happy, ditto cleat hardware (although grease would be my default, especially during the winter months.) 

Not that I’ve needed to, but Motoverde confirmed my suspicions that it shouldn’t be topped up. Rather, drivetrain components should be thoroughly cleaned with Motoverde Drivetrain Cleaner Motoverde Drivetrain Cleaner | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), or indeed, your stripper of choice, first. Introducing the chain checker confirms the KMC chain remains in good health. While searching for the crown race tool, I uncovered a couple of replacements, which was another welcome surprise.  

The ORP Smart horn TESTED: ORP SMART HORN (sevendaycyclist.com) has been playing flashing companion to the K-lite Bike Packer Pro dynamo- just to announce my presence to other early risers, before the lamp kicks in.  

Not needed to deploy the horn function (not sure if rabbits or red deer would respond positively to it, either). True, the Spyre SLC/ Swiss Stop Swiss Stop Catalyst Disc Rotor | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) braking upgrades certainly help on the aversion front. I’m pleased to report the Tektro RL340 are fully compatible, and I won’t be switching to a V brake compatible model.

I've adjusted the cable tension very slightly, due to periodic binding issues and added an additional strip of  Zefal Skin Armor ZEFAL SKIN ARMOR ROLL | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) on the fork leg, to prevent cable rub induced paint damage. I’ve also switched the Velo Orange Rubbery Bar Tape VELO ORANGE RUBBERY BAR TAPE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and Ciclovation Grind Touch CICLOVATION GRIND TOUCH BAR TAPE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) for this 3.5mm thick Ergon Bar Tape Gravel. 

The Holdsworth and Teenage Dream’s dual-pivot Miche calipers are also extremely efficient stoppers and (especially with the upgraded front pads) I’d not revert to period-authentic single pivot designs, including the original Campagnolo Athena- much as I love their aesthetic.   

Though conditions are increasingly spring like, dawn and evenings can be tricky, so Oxford Venture Jacket OXFORD VENTURE JACKET | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and a lightweight cap are my defaults. I’m a big fan of the Buff Pack Bike Cap BUFF PACK BIKE CAP | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) both have the advantage of packing very small, so can be slipped into jersey pockets, if not required.   

Lusso Pain Cave Summer Cap is my next in line. Both feature generous peaks to protect from the sun’s glare. I also own a more traditional Buff with a peak, which was arguably a little more versatile.   

These are great for children, protecting them from wind, chill and intense sun, given these will easily cover the neck.  The Venture jacket also has a hood, one of the few I’m really taken with. However, if you’re not, a water repellent model, such as this Prendas Ciclismo Lisboa Waterproof Cycling Cap PRENDAS CICLISMO LISBOA WATERPROOF CAP | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)