Master Blasters & Brake Upgrades

I’ve been curious about some ultra-powerful lights for a while now. A deviation from my dynamo devotion, perhaps, but I’ve also been feeling those unmade roads and dirt trails calling Ursula and I as we whizz past. Magicshine offer models with 8,000 and 12000 lumens but I was more intrigued by Ravemen’s interpretation of the “turn night into day” narrative.  

Their UK importer (Bob Elliot & Co Bob Elliot Co Ltd - Suppliers of high quality bicycle supplies to registered traders (bob-elliot.co.uk) sent me the Ravemen XR6000, which delivers a maximum of 6,000 lumens and reckoned good for 1.2 hours. Crucially, there are trail and road settings too, so you’re not going to be dazzling everyone and there’s a wireless remote to make responsible use effortless.   

Aside from the headlining 6,000 lumens, the next prod down is 3,000 lumens (2 hours) and low, 1500 lumens, reckoned to return 4 hours from a full charge of the 8000mAh/7.2 v battery. There are similarly versatile road settings too, projecting a localised flood for broad sweeps and a long-range spot for picking out the detail. The road is a more moderate 1500lumens, 1000lumens and 500 lumens with official run times of 3.5, 5.5 and 10.5 hours, respectively. There's also a rapid flash, for emergencies. 

Build quality is extremely high, not that I’d expect anything less from Ravemen and it's reflected in the £389.99 asking price. The head unit meets IPX8 for weatherproofing (in common with the PR family) and (along with the mount) is made from aluminium alloy with a Mill Type III hard anodised finish.This also serves as a highly effective heat sink, meaning diodes and circuitry stand a sporting chance of leading long and happy lives.  

Naturally, there’s also a thermal cut-out for added protection. 9 diodes in total are projected through an anti-glare lens that produces a T-shaped beam, much like those common in automotive applications.  

The high-low system works in much the same way, so you can quickly dip, to avoid dazzling. The 18-watt battery requires 4.5 hours for a full mains charge and is encased in a “high-quality plastic” which meets IPX6 for weatherproofing. Another similarity with its PR cousins is the easy-to-read OLED display, so you can easily see how much juice/ride time’s left.  

You can also plug in a power bank and other goodies, such as a phone, should you need to refuel them mid-ride. The complete system weights 661g which is a mere 24g portlier than the Sigma Buster HL2000 SIGMA SPORT BUSTER HL 2000 | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

Elsewhere, I’ve concluded the RL520 levers are a better fit with discs than the otherwise likeable RL340. The latter still offer reasonable performance but the RL520 are designed specifically with V brakes and cable-operated discs in mind. In truth, I’ve gone for black and kept the RL340 behind since it’s designed for cantilevers, and I don’t fancy locking the rear wheel every time I grab the rear brake with any conviction.  

Regularly alternating between the Fixed and Ursula (both running TRP Spyre SLC callipers, identical discs and cables) confirmed the fixed’s RL520 supplies palpably more power. Dia Compe’s 287V Aero V Brake levers pull a claimed 20mm of cable and though highly effective, erred on the fierce side.  

Either way, I took that opportunity to introduce it with a new cable. The 520’s hood profile is slimmer than the RL340, but you’d have to inspect very closely, and the levers aren’t going to present an issue aesthetically, or operationally. A bitterly chill 20-mile test run confirmed this was the right move- oodles more progressive bite, no judder or squeal either.

I say bitterly chill but winter weight soft shell jacket with wind and waterproof membrane locked the wind out and Madison Freewheel Men’s Thermal Bib Tights with Pad Madison Freewheel Thermal Bib Tights | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) are still going strong. I’ve not reached for the Belgian cap just yet but that’ll appear, along with the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro this week Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Talking of change, this grey EVE handlebar tape arrived, and I decided it was best adorning the fixed’s Genetic D-Riser 4 bars. GENETIC DRISER 4 HANDLEBARS | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). But before I disappear to the workshop, here’s Steve’s review of The Castelli Commute Reflex Jacket Castelli Commute Reflex Jacket | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

 

Released

 I acquired a tapered carbon fork. Well, one with carbon blades and an alloy steerer specifically. It belonged to a 2016 Raleigh Strada hybrid e-bike, so had the overbuild I was looking for on a cross/gravel type concept. Probing questions confirmed the owner had switched to a suspension model and wasn’t passing on something crash-damaged.  

There were the usual, superficial marks I’d expect to find on a used fork. Easily re-touched with some high build marine primer and the right colour coat. However, I couldn’t shift the crown race and I’m guessing the original owner couldn’t either in retrospect. I’d tried with my crown race remover and after three attempts decided I ran greater risk of damage.  

Cue an email to Mick Madgett at Madgetts Cycles about (madgettscycles.com) to solicit his advice.

He commented this was increasingly common on “integrated” designs where the sealed bearing race fits directly atop. This doesn’t apply to the forks in question but nonetheless he was happy to perform an exorcism. Done for the princely sum of £5. I do most work myself but sometimes it’s about knowing when to pack up and ask for help-better to outsource something rather than damage stuff or do a bad job.   

Crown race removed, I applied some high-build primer to some minor chips and left curing. Research suggests it’s “Red lilac”. A matt lilac by my reckoning but we'll see...  

Less apocalyptic conditions presented an opportunity to throw a leg over the fixed gear winter/trainer for some faster-tempo road fun. Interesting that the fixed and Ursula have, to a lesser extent, switched identities.  

The fixed reverting to a more traditional road-biased trainer, Ursula a Monster Crosser. None the worse for it, either.  That said; I’ve not reverted to traditional chrome plastics. Elegant and effective they undeniably are, they also make roadside wheel removal trickier, especially when light’s fading and temperature’s tanking. 

  

This shouldn’t be interpreted as me rebuffing the concept of single speed cyclo crossers. Simple, lightweight, and easy to maintain-especially in boggy conditions where you’ll be shouldering/otherwise carrying the bike. Hmm, yes, I’m thinking 4130 double butted Cro-moly frame, carbon fork, clearance for 700x43 tyres (and mud) 120mm spacing, flip/flop (fixed/freewheel) hub, cantilever brakes, beefy track chain. Halo hubs have always impressed me, particularly their TK units. I’ve one still going very strong, with only a recent rebuild (new bearings and axle) in fourteen years.  

Old school grassroots racing- enough components of the correct quality to make everything go, stop and handle in good proportion. However, nothing unnecessarily exotic...  

Anyhow, I’ve been enjoying the fixed’s friskier persona, the comfort of soft-shell jackets and winter weight gloves. The Altura All Roads have been my defaults, although I’m also quite taken with these Bodylite Gear Reflective Winter Gloves.  

Comparisons with the Pro-Viz Reflect 360 PROVIZ REFLECT 360 CYCLING GLOVES | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) are perhaps inevitable. They are quite similar, although the Pro-Viz employ hook and loop cuffs, which offer a more tailored fit. Both (and this applies to commuter biased gloves in the broad strokes sense) are a little shallow in the cuffs, which doesn’t provide the best overlapping seal with jerseys and jackets.  

Moans aside, they’re proving warm and waterproof- provided you don’t dunk them to the cuff line, offer excellent grip wet, or dry and damping is also impressive-even off road.  

Following my episodes with erratic CO2 cannisters- not brand specific, by any means, I am contemplating resurrecting and carrying this Fumpa Pump FUMPA PUMP | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) mini compressor system on longer, colder rides. Contexts where I just want to get going again, with minimal fuss, or delay-especially with larger volume tyres. 

Rain and standing water finally consumed the Muc Off –50 chain lube- indicated by a gritty, slightly arthritic sound as I powered the last couple of miles home.

I’ve stripped the remnants and applied the SKS Lube Your Chain as it’s durable and the bottle was almost depleted. I’m continuing to be impressed by the stability and convenience of the Topeak Flashstand eUp. Great for those little jobs where a more traditional work stand is inconvenient. Being designed for the greater heft of e-bikes, its very steady-pulling cables through, binding bar tape etc won’t cause any worrisome wobbling. The Maxxis Re Fuse finally succumbed to a flat. It was one of the wettest rides, roads a carpet of mulch, leaves and muddy silt and I suspect a flint of something had burrowed inside the casing (although curiously, I couldn’t trace it). Mercifully, it had the good grace to hit once I’d got home-especially since it bit the rear- not surprising, given that’s where there’s most weight. A small nick in the tube and away from the seam, so another easy fix.

I saw this as an opportunity to switch to the CST Xpedium 6, which are a very durable, belt n’ braces model with an aramid belt running bead to bead. Sizing might be a deal breaker for some- 35 or 42mm being the only options. Clearance in the fixed gear winter/trainer’s rear triangle isn’t in fag paper territory but the limits of what I’m comfortable with. I added another spare tube to the rack bag, as a precaution. I also dug out the Schwalbe Ice Spiker since the red top press is predicting heavy snowfall sooner, rather than later.   Right, I'll close here with a Black Friday deal from my friends at CST tyres https://shop.cst-tyres.co.uk/

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