More Muck & Punctures Than Paris Roubaix

 

The past week or so has been so wet that local roads are closer to what I’d expect at cyclo cross meets. Lanes carpeted in bovine and pig dung, developers have added their fair share of greasy slippery gloop, which has put the spice in slide on 4am blasts.  

These often hold thorny hedge clippings. Two pierced Ursula’s rear Vittoria Evolution Road Bike Tyre Vittoria Evolution Road Bike Tyre | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), inducing a slow flat and meant I was once again, running the final two miles home. Sure, I had a spare tube and other kit but being tight on time, running seemed the best bet. Also confirmed the Shimano RX6 soles have sufficient give for running-It felt like I was tackling a moderately mucky cyclo cross course, not metalled road. 

I’ve left the Ryde Andra 40/ Shutter Precision wheel SHUTTER PRECISION SD8 HUB DYNAMO | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) with Mick Madgett for some judicious tweaking and switched to the Ryde Andra/Alfine Shimano Alfine UR700 Hub Dynamo | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) I’ve also gone for the Landcruiser Plus at the rear, standard Land Cruiser up front. Ursula was filthy. Undersides of the guards were caked with slimy stuff, ditto the chain, so since I was replacing tyres, tubes etc, I whipped the rear wheel out for a deep purge.  

Cassette and chain got similar treatment; the latter treated to some more Weldtite Ceramic WELDTITE CERAMIC LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) A quick shot of PTFE infused maintenance spray to the brake and gear cables to drive any stiction inducing moisture...Some quick tweaks to the rear pads and air to the tyres we were clean and ready once more.  

That was of course, until we succumbed to yet another, rear flat. I switched to the basic, clean Land Cruiser at the rear and ditched the wafer-thin ITS tube for one of two middle weights holidaying in Ursula’s Axiom Ocean wave City+ AXIOM OCEANWAVE CITY+ SEAT BAG | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) then ordered a stock of three, just in case.  

I’d had to consign two spares, including a Schwalbe to the bin-patched three times-a fourth would be silly. A decent tube with three patches, I will carry as an emergency spare but not my go-to.  I was pleasantly surprised to find the ITS repairable-a tiny pinprick well away from the seam.  

However, very much “a get you home” for the wedge pack, not a default. Patch quality is also pivotal to a realistic repair. Rema Tip Top are pretty much the best there are. Weldtite and Cure C Cure have also proven themselves over the years. 1800 odd miles along, Ursula’s KMC chain still has a decent amount of life left. However, I’m down to my last, so added another to stock, while I could acquire once at the right price. 

Predominantly pitch-black, sometimes misty conditions mean I’ve dug out the Sigma Sport Buster HL 2000 SIGMA SPORT BUSTER HL 2000 | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and popped that atop the Kask helmet. I’ve a better sweep of the lanes and whisper it, stand a sporting chance of spotting holes and tending mechanicals. See Sense See.Sense BEAM & BEAM+ (seesense.cc) have sent me their Beam+ Front light. 1500lumens but with a downloadable app, so the light can detect and choose to intensify, or indeed, reduce output at key points.  

For example, pumping out more light when at roundabouts/entering the flow of traffic, dipping when you’re grinding along a climb.  This genuinely seems to work and moreover, reliably, bringing a big smile to my otherwise stern face. 

The app also includes ride stats, crash alerts (advising of an accident) and theft.  Otherwise, there are four modes. Three steady (High-1500 lumens, Med 450lumens, low-250) and an adaptive flash, reckoned good for 30 hours.  I’m presently running it “stock” while I develop familiarity and will explore the app, dare I say the light’s true potential in the coming weeks. Right, snow’s forecast, signalling a switch to spikes... 

 

Changing Rubber, Switching Routes

 

My recent reversion to the dependable and moreover, likeable 700x38 Vittoria Adventure Tech and 700x32 Kenda Kwick Journey KS plus KENDA KWICK JOURNEY TYRES | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  has proved a wise move, on the reliability front without sacrificing smiles.  Then along came some CST Pika Gravel and Xpedium Tyres. Ours is the skinny, old school cyclo cross 700x32c but there’s a 42mm (about 1.65 in) for bigger, gravel and adventure bike typical clearances.  

They’re a 60tpi dual compound with EPS (Extra Puncture Protection) puncture repelling belt, sturdy looking sidewalls and run between (35 and 75psi). At £31, they fall into the budget boat, so it’ll be interesting to see how they perform. Bickers LTD www.bickersltd.co.uk , the UK importer also sent me CST Xpedium. A 700x35c commuter biased tyre with a tread pattern superficially like Ursula’s Schwalbe Land Cruiser (no sign of the snow threatened by tabloid press outlets, yet.)  

The Xpedium feature a very comprehensive Aramid belt, which follow a narrative closer to some commuter/touring favourites from Schwalbe and indeed Vee Tire Co Zilent TESTED: VEE TIRE CO ZILENT MARK 2 TYRES (sevendaycyclist.com) although at 715g a bit lighter than both. This season, roads and lanes are paved in dung and similar gooey stuff, add hedge clippings to the mix and yes, the odds of flatting increase quite considerably.  

Blow-outs are relatively rare, although I’ve had a few over the years. Arguably the most hilarious was while riding my hack mtb (based around a Raleigh Maverick frameset and whatever I had, back in 1990/91).  

Hammering through a winding section of singletrack, something pierced the rear tyre’s sidewall and 50psi roared out, inducing a rear wheel slide and a mange et trois...Such weas the force, I was swept into a hedge where a couple were in a passionate tryst. Not sure who was more surprised to see who.  

Replaced that tyre with a 1.75 CST funnily enough- had a beefy 2.1-inch Hutchinson up front. MKS sealed bearing pedals, Zefal clips n’ straps, Weinmann cantilevers, Le Chi levers, thumb-shifters, Exage bio-pace crankset, SR seat post, Turbo homage saddle, 6spd block...A summer distraction while I awaited my GCSE exam results and sold on a year later to fund “The Teenage Dream”, my 531 Competition tubed road frameset.

I digress... A new set of brushes arrived for review, so I wasted no time in getting my filthy fixed lathered up and spruced. Looking in the cleaning bucket, I noted I had a few bottles of cleaner that were basically empty but had enough concentrated surfactant to do one last deep clean. Now, generic car wash n’ wax formulas are a default for me, (when I’m not putting products through their paces).  

 

These cut through the grime and when rinsed, leave a thin protective wax barrier behind. However, after five years regular use, the dregs of Crankalicious Mud Honey Foaming Bucket Wash TESTED: CRANKALICIOUS MUD HONEY FOAMING BUCKET WASH (sevendaycyclist.com) deserved a send-off. The rich later made short work of a week’s slimy spatter and caked on gunge (including some stubborn chain lube).  

The other reason I didn’t reach for wax was that I wanted to lay some helicopter tape atop the fixed’s top and head tube, where the Oxford Evo Top Tube bag was resting. This would prevent any potential swirling, or similar, should the bag move around, or wet gritty stuff get swept between bag and paintwork.  

I also decided the fixed’s KMC Z1 chain was too long, so pruned that by a few links (Claiming a multi tool’s chain function into the bargain. Luckily, I had this Topeak All Speeds Chain Tool TOPEAK ALL SPEEDS CHAIN TOOL | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) so, crisis averted).  

As a side note, I’m fond of multi-tools and especially those with a chain breaker. However, these tend to be weak spots. Even my Gerber Cool Tool’s pin has failed. Final job was a pedal switch.  

Again, I’m attached to the Shimano PD ED 500 Shimano PD ED 500 Pedals | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and though not desperate to save 160g from the build, I was keen to see if the PD M-540 would have any bearing upon my experience with the Shimano RX6 shoes.

I also noted the Sigma Infinity Rear LED Light SIGMA INFINITY REAR LED LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) had mysteriously powered down. So frugal, it gets forgotten, not a fault, or victim of water ingress. Since I’m talking rear lights, here’s my review of the Infini Metis Infini Metis 1-465R Rear Light | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Fixed beautified, I decided it was time to hop back aboard Ursula and to judge whether another pair of long-serving bib tights had become bin fodder, courtesy of a knackered insert. Chafing around my inner buttock was the clue and confirmed during the next ride. This also coincided with an early morning road closure.  

Inconvenient, especially on a Monday morning, when I needed to be home by c. 545. That said; I followed the diversion, upped my tempo and was seemingly guided by some benevolent force along the even darker, narrower lanes. Having pulled up outside my house, with time to spare I considered it a blessing in disguise and looked forward to indulging in its charms, while works continued.