Perched & Polishing

 

Sixteen years down the road and I was experiencing some uncharacteristic discomfort while out on the teenage dream, specifically my inner thigh. Closer inspection revealed the Selle SMP Strike Plus’s Selle SMP Strike Plus saddle - BikeRadar foam padding was beginning to soften and disperse, thus supplying no support at key points. With heavy heart, I slackened the Thompson post’s cradle and set it free. I’d originally reached for the Selle Italia Turbomatic Gel Flow Team Saddle.  

However, the carbon rails were too wide for the cradle and at 153mm (about 6.02 in) wide, it’s a bit broad for my sit bones and this particular machine. After some thought, I reached for another Selle Italia, their Sport Gel Flow FEC-Alloy Saddle. It's 55g heavier than the relatively exotic, carbon-railed Turbomatic Gel Flow but narrower and incredibly supportive with a decent cut out. Level pegging weight-wise, with the Strike Plus, too.  

Less exotic than some but an extremely comfortable perch, nonetheless. Talking of carbon, Carbon Cycles have sent me a rather fetching carbon post. At 27.2, the Teenage Dream’s out but The Holdsworth’s not.  I’m fond of the Holdsworth’s Crank Brothers Cobolt3 Seat post- it measures a giraffe-like 400mm and is made from 7075 aluminium, so despite being wafter thin, is also surprisingly stiff. 

I’m not overly keen on single-bolt cradles and to some extent, it started here. Thankfully, it doesn’t happen very often, especially since I’ve got it torqued to 12nm (the design’s recommended maximum) but it’s a nuisance when slack strikes 15miles from home-an even bigger pain if you’ve forgotten a T25 Torx key.

  

Now, the carbon post is lighter and may offer a little more compliance into the bargain. Several hundred miles will be very revealing. I’d been tempted by the idea of upgrading the Teenage Dream’s Campagnolo Xenon crankset for something more modern, employing an external bottom bracket.  

This might improve stiffness around the bottom bracket shell and ultimately, power delivery. However, while I’m one for continuous improvement, there’s also upgrading for its own sake and where performance gains are nominal, compared to the outlay.  

I’d seen some nice carbon fibre cranksets at very tempting prices but then we’re into new bottom bracket too. We’re out of treat territory here. Then along came some mid range silver Campagnolo crank arms-used, in decent shape, and realistically priced. There would, of course, be some polishing and buffing to achieve the correct lustre, before I'd consider fitting rings, let alone to the bike.. 

 

Crankalicious Mayo Jaune Intensive Frame Polish TEST & REVIEW: CRANKALICIOUS MAYO JAUNE INTENSIVE FRAME CLEANER (sevendaycyclist.com) is one of the best I’ve used to date. Automotive cutting compounds also do a decent job of lightly sullied painted, plated, and polished finishes. However, caution is needed on some surfaces, and I'd keep them away from composites. No such fear with the Mayo Jaune, although keep it away from matt finfishes, or they’ll turn satin.  I started by hand polishing but was tired of this and plugged a polishing cloth into my drill.     

135mm BCD meant I could just port the Xenon’s rings over, or indeed, acquire some fresh-maybe go with a 53/36 for a wider spread, without taxing the existing mechs-perfect for hills. Either way, this is another one of those contexts where I want to get the best results for minimal outlay.

There have been several occasions in my 20s, 30s, and 40s when I’ve literally had no money, or at least disposable income. Circumstances attributable to toxic relationships and going against my better judgment. In that respect, I received the spanking I deserved and learned valuable lessons. Be careful who you get into bed with, figuratively and literally, romantically and platonically.  

Under-estimate your income, over-estimate your expenditure and beware the sudden change in tempo, gradient, and holes- cycling and motorcycling are metaphors for life in general. I recall couples commenting that if a couple could tackle the challenges of a tandem tour together, it bodes well for a strong and successful marriage. Paradoxically, I bitterly regret my marriage, the emotional damage, and the fiscal losses incurred. However, this bleaker chapter in my life also built resilience, resourcefulness and a much clearer sense of self.   

Not to be confused with an allegiance with MGTOW (Men Going their Own Way), or indeed the incel culture, which actively seek to form and fuel misogynistic, adversarial attitudes. This latter isolation serves to make young men easier prey for products-coaching, motivational stuff, or opening gateways to other forms of discrimination and ultimately, circular isolation. In extreme cases, it leads to murder, political extremism, and targeted attacks.  

The most frightening thing is the ease at which people are swayed, dare I say funneled, toward hatred. The lessons from history have not been learned, or at least, quickly forgotten. Funny what runs through the mind when out on a ride. Talking of which, here’s my review of the Safety Labs E-BHAN 2.0 MIPS Urban In-Mould Helmet Safety Labs E-Bahn 2.0 Helmet | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

Grease, Shims & Stoppers

The recent episodes of creaking led to methodical re-greasing of fasteners and other easily forgotten parts- across the fleet. Grease guns, though not essential, gets gooey stuff exactly where it’s needed and minimises wastage. 

 

I'm the first to admit I tend to set a glob of something suitably synthetic and waterproof into hub and headset races, giving a luxuriously sticky bed for the bearings. However, the top layer is always carefully piped in.  

Threaded stuff and contact points, such as bottom brackets, derailleur hangers, pedals and seat posts also get the piping treatment. When it comes to posts, Hollowtech cranks axles and skewers, I distribute evenly with gloved digit afterwards.

A Finish Line model has been my go-to for the best part of a decade now.  

It threads nicely on most brands’ tubes and delivery is very precise, although the flow rate can be a little slow. Enter this System EX Grease Gun. Made of metal (Stainless steel and powder-coated aluminium alloy) the nozzle is particularly giraffe-like-perfect for trafficking greasy goodness into freehubs and other recessed parts. Still summer, so I’m continuing to enjoy the Teenage Dream’s charms.   

The CST Cito have continued to impress, and we’ve had some sudden heavy downpours to test their road holding in the wet. Spoiler alert, they’ve gripped winding bends and greasy tarmac like the proverbial leech.   

Greens aren’t everyone’s choice of livery and admittedly, had I been having the frame restored now, I’d probably opt for a chrome effect base and rosso red topcoat- giving the look of a chrome rear triangle but without the nasty processes, compounded by the need for acid etch primers to make the paint stick. Oh, and the electroplate always wins, eventually. 

Now, you’d never (or at least, shouldn’t) electroplate thin wall tubing such as 531c given the filing and acids involved but some did and with the inevitable structural damage. I recall experienced frame builders recounting tales of them emerging from the methyl chloride tank disintegrating before the eyes. 

 

Some folks have suggested 531c was a good bet for smaller riders and lightweight touring. Not sure I subscribe to that. A compact bar bag and a post-mounted SQR Tour-type saddlebag are pretty much where I’d stop. I’m 70 kilos and there’s some small but tangible whip around the bottom bracket shell when powering away-especially climbing out of the saddle. Experienced frame builders have suggested additional “braze-ons” are not problematic, so long as silver, not brass is employed.  

Anyhow, I still love the RAL 6010 green, it’s a little different-not a colour I’d generally default to. I also had flashes of inspiration, ideas of going for a pursuit-type bar- I had a set of Carbon TT levers knocking around somewhere... 

However, this was also switching for its own sake. Unless of course, something suitable landed in my lap...Higher-end brake pads might be a better performance upgrade. Not that the existing aftermarket Fibrax Wet Weather and Jagwire pairings are lacking but pads and cables often reap surprising and very inexpensive performance benefits.  The Holdsworth’s Miche Primato and BBB Tech Stop pads offer superb braking, with excellent modulation and feel. No need to change here.  

I’d recently switched to the Ravemen LR 1600 Ravemen LR1600 Front Light | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) up front. It’s a light I’m very fond of, and despite using the LR500’s “watch strap” type mount, slippage hasn’t been a problem with 31.8 bars. However, this wasn’t so with the Salsa Bell Lap which are 26.0. Obviously, this would be a moot point with its lighter LR500 stablemate.RAVEMEN LR500S FRONT LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) Indeed, since I’m not doing dark roads proper, rather wanting something to be seen by, the LR500’s flashing setting would arguably be ideal.  

Anyhow, some experimentation with shims did not offer the vice-like tenure I was seeking, and though safely packed away, the OEM LR1600 mount wasn’t to hand so I opted in favour of Sigma’s 700-lumen Buster. This, along with its 2000lumen stablemate SIGMA SPORT BUSTER HL 2000 | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) employs a thumbscrew clamp, which sorted things.  

Oh, and the flashing mode is 700lumens, so no issues when it comes to being conspicuous on dawn blasts. Rear shifting had suddenly gone off mid-ride slipping-a cable tension issue by my reckoning. I returned and found the inner wire fraying, so replaced it. A particularly quick switch on old-school, friction shift downtube levers.  

Five minutes and that included snugging down the Campagnolo Victory mech’s cable bolt and pruning the inner wire. Yes, that is a bolt, not an Allen bolt. Thankfully, I had my trusty 34-year-old Y wrench handy, so easier still.