Smart Sam Succumbs...

The rains came and with a vengeance, but this was a refreshing contrast to the heat of recent weeks. It also presented an ideal opportunity to assess The Schwalbe Smart Sam’s wet weather competence.  

Swooshing through the standing water and slippery mud, I was reassured by their sure-footedness, simultaneously annoyed that I’d decided against waterproof socks but thankful I’d donned the lightweight but effective Madison Road Race Super Light Men’s Waterproof Softshell Jacket Madison Road Race Jacket | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) before heading out. A few hundred miles down the line, I’m forming the opinion that the Smart Sam are very capable “all-terrain” tyres that are surprisingly swift over metalled roads, while still delivering over unmade roads and hardpack.  

Their performance reminds me of WTB Allterrainasaurus (now the “All Terrain”)- I ran a set of 26x1.5 on my drop bar cyclo cross/mtb Frankenbike some twenty odd years back. Relatively quick and surprisingly compliant for a 30tpi casing, they were perfect for my commute through inner city London with genuine off-road potential- hard pack, dirt road, canal path etc.   

The Smart Sam’s 60tpi casings predictably give a plusher ride and are better off road, provided things don’t get boggy. I'd be looking towards something more aggressive for British trails in mid-winter and they’re a competition tyre but sporty enough without being ponderous, or noisy on the road.  

Until this point, puncture resistance had been reassuringly good. Cue a slimy, slippery lane at 530am and a very audible “Pop!” coupled with a similarly aggressive loss of pressure. Pulling over, a rogue hedge clipping proved the culprit.

Of course, rains joined the gloom, but thankfully I had the Ravemen PR1200 Dual Lens Front Light to work by RAVEMEN PR 1200 DUAL LENS FRONT LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and of course, spare tube and Topeak Gravel 2 Stage Mini Pump Topeak Gravel 2 Stage Mini Pump | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) to spare me the seven mile walk home.   

I’ve always had a soft spot for Topeak. Products are decent quality but over the years, it's their innovative design that has captured my imagination. Back home, I took the opportunity to give Ursula a good sudsy bucket wash and once-over.

Replenished the spare tube, added a Co2 inflator/cartridges and patched the wounded butyl. I was a little shocked by how deeply the clipping had cut into the tyre’s shoulder. Not deep enough for a boot but a liberal helping of superglue, which of course, I had run out of. I reverted to the Maxxis Ikon Maxxis Ikon Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)   

Timely too that some interesting products from Topeak have just arrived for testing.  I don’t obsess about “wasted” space on a bike but I’m fond of making clever use of it. Take Hollowtech II cranks for example.

The hollow section is an excellent host for water and other dodgy stuff, but it also presents a useful stash point for a multitool. I am still quite taken with this Torque Covert TORQUE COVERT 7 CRANK MULTI TOOL | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  although the magnet could be stronger and while the electroplated tooling is decent quality, it tended to show signs of the dreaded taint through a wet winter. 

 

Against this backdrop, I was pleased to receive this Topeak Hide N’ Tool. Another 7-function model, at £57.99 it's a good bit dearer than the Torque so it’ll be interesting to see how they compare and whether the Topeak’s on-paper refinements make a difference in practice.   

Portable quick tune-up stands are another useful addition to the workshop. Static models can be had for as little as £10. Or indeed, you could make one from scrap metal, a MIG welder and leftover paint. Either way, I’ve had a couple of cheapies and found them great for tuning derailleurs and other little jobs where you need the rear wheel held off the ground.  

They also double as useful storage stands. Cheaper models tend to be less stable, which can be annoying/frustrating. Enter another Topeak solution, the Topeak Flashstand e Up. Designed to handle e-bikes up to 30 kilos, it bodes well for other, heavier solos or specialist builds. It also folds, which is another nice feature.     

There’s talk of another “Beast from The East” promising months of snowfall, which will mean a switch to the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro  Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) . 140,000 miles together, Ursula is close to a cherished, though certainly not pampered pet. So many memories crafted together through hell and high water. Trailer lugging, hauling Joshua on his tagalong.

A broad spread of gears for grinding, cruising and bombing, huge tyre clearances (and choice of tyres), dynamo lighting... It’s not difficult to see why I’ve defaulted to her as my daily driver/working bike, especially through winter’s worst.  John Moss has taken the decision, after much soul searching to part with his Sinner Mango Tour Velomobile. Genuinely interested parties should contact me in the first instance.   

Fifteen Years On...

I acquired the Holdsworth frame and period fork 15 years ago. With the help, skill and kindness of a few people, the 50's frameset underwent the first of two restorations. Road Path to Enlightenment: Primed, Painted and Restored to its Former Glory 

Road Path to Enlightenment: Blink n' You'll Miss It 

Road Path frames were versatile but with minimal compromise.  

Designed to be raced on the track, yet with geometry and clearances that allowed everyday practicalities-full length mudguards, wider tyres and geometry for predictable, yet engaging road handling.  

There was a trend for running track bikes on the road, fuelled in part by the messenger circuit, but stock, a machine designed for track is challenging on metalled roads, given the geometry, fork rake etc.

  

This did give rise to some very practical "off the peg" builds during the 2000s, including Kona's Paddy Wagon, Specialized's Langster and Surly's Steam Roller. I've a soft spot for all three, having ridden all three for a few hundred miles apiece. Of these, the Kona was most compatible with my riding style and indeed, the UK climate. The Holdsworth also signalled a new chapter in my life, the end of a loveless marriage and some might say, reclamation of self.  

There was no need to reinvent myself, I knew exactly who I was, had just been silenced and sidelined for years.  

There's more to bikes than a collection of tubes dressed in components to make them go, stop and handle well. There are miles, memories and other sentimental stuff making them unique and cherished. 

Coinciding with the fifteenth anniversary (of acquisition), I'd dropped by Maldon Shotblasting & Powder Coating, since I was in the area. Aside from a Ferrari shell awaiting blasting, and a beautifully refinished Trek gravel frameset, there was this unidentified lugged road frame hiding away in a corner.  

It had been given a protective red oxide primer coat by the owner and judging by details such as the brake bridge, cable guides and lug work, is a mid-range training frame from the 70s, possibly early 80s. Curiously, braze-ons-bottle bosses, gear levers and top tube cable guides are conspicuous by their absence.  

It was due to be blasted and refinished in a classic chrome effect/blue powder coat, which in my view is infinitely nicer than electroplating (a process tantamount to vandalism in my book and indeed, Tony Oliver's).  

The rains came- well, put more accurately, when a divine entity was washing his tandem trike, he graciously offered to wash his neighbour's tandem triplet. Roads turned to shallow rivers have taxed the otherwise refreshingly stoical Momum Mic WaxMomum MIC Wax Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) so I've switched to Muc-Off -50c chain lube MUC-OFF -50C CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) since its thin, yet reasonably stout and attracts less dirt than a more traditional wet blend.  

One thing led to another (doesn't it always) and I found myself switching Ursula's Selle San Marco Concorde for the slightly wider (145mm) BBB Echelon, which is lighter and has a pressure-relieving cutout.  

I've also swapped the Magicshine Ray 2600 for the Ravemen PR2000, which needed some shim experimentation before I'd achieved the desired, limpet-like tenure to the Velo Orange Handlebar Accessory Mount VELO ORANGE HANDLEBAR ACCESSORY MOUNT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com).  

I was also curious to see whether the PR2000 wireless switch would command its smaller stablemate. I'd had mine a few seasons, so wasn't expecting so but nothing ventured and all that...Ultimately it didn’t but worth a shot. Talking of the Ravemen, here’s Steve’s review of the Ravemen PR1400 Ravemen PR1400 Front Light | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Back in the late 80s and early 90s September temperatures were in the low teens, much cooler in the mornings, now we are seeing them reach the mid to high 20s in this region of the UK, which concerns me and is a topic all to itself. There have been a few mornings when the mercury’s dropped to 6 or 7 and I’ve been reaching for gilets and three-quarter lengths. Oxford Venture Windproof Gillet OXFORD VENTURE WINDPROOF GILET | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) is my default.  

Features include impressive retro-reflective panelling, four sensibly proportioned pockets (three at the rear and a zippered breast). The fluro version is my preference for murkier, overcast mornings but thanks to the retro-reflective panelling, the stealthy black counterpart is still very conspicuous.  

The only downside is that it’s not one you could tow around in a jersey pocket, should the temperature rise significantly. The Madison Freewheel Men’s Thermal Bib Tights with Pad Madison Freewheel Thermal Bib Tights | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) have also made a reappearance on the pre-dawn outings, supplying some welcome warmth to the knees and protection to the legs when indulging in some off-road exploration, without being overly warm. I'll leave you with my review of the Ravemen TR200 USB Rechargeable Sensored Rear Light Ravemen TR200 Rear Light | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)