Post Pondering

 Sometimes I contemplate replacing the Holdsworth’s Crank Brothers Cobalt3 inline seat post. I love the lightweight inline design on many levels but the clamp, despite employing a T25 clamp fastener is a weak spot. In fairness, the clamp seems to settle, requiring just a quick tightening tweak after a few outings following a saddle switch.  

I’ve gone that route and will leave sleeping saddle cradles lie for the time being.  Should this prove a more prevalent experience, I’ll switch but that’ll be a job for another time before it goes into seasonal hibernation. Meantime, I’m enjoying the Madison Flux. Madison says they’ve spent considerable time testing and refining the design, and this shows.  

I’m not sure the Unisex design favours women, primarily because of the length but otherwise, its performance and specification are extremely attractive. Nice enough for a best bike but inexpensive enough for a working bike-although its Cro-Moly railed stablemate might be the best fit, giving change from £30. 4130/Cro-moly rails strike a fabulous balance between weight, strength, durability and price (although they need a decent coat of paint). 

The Burls Ti seat post with 15mm layback sounds like an obvious choice and would complement the stem beautifully. However, I’m an inline fan, or at least I like to be positioned directly over the bottom bracket shell-have done since my mid-teens. Yes, even on a tourer.   

The other contender is this Genetic Syngenic TEST & REVIEW: GENETIC SYNGENIC SEATPOST (sevendaycyclist.com)  which is inline and relatively svelte at 249g. I'd also given the Holdsworth’s pedal tension a quick snug down, having found my left foot unintentionally releasing while pulling away at a set of temporary traffic lights.   

I’ve also been getting some proper miles in with the Ergon All Road Core Comp Saddle and it's proving surprisingly agreeable, despite being wider than my supposed (and generally preferred) ideal. Much of this I attribute to the shape and padding density. A good six hundred miles plus before I arrive at any tangible conclusions.   

Vanguard Cycles have sent me the NZero degreaser and dry wax lube, the latter is a little ironic, given my last entry discussing my preference for hybrid blends. Both are petrochemical free, and the former is reckoned to blitz tenacious petrochemical lubes and greases. Formative impressions suggest its quite potent and effective on chain lube, but greases in my experience, can prove very stubborn (which is obviously a good thing), so we’ll see how effectively the eco-friendly chemical brew breaks them down. 

I was heartened by the news that Mercian cycles has been rescued and will continue building frames in Derby. It was bought by four local businessmen, who are cyclists themselves and will keep the frame builders. That might sound obvious, their main selling point but it could easily have been a case of the brand being bought and essentially becoming a retailer. Frame building being limited to off the peg frames made in the Far East and given Mercian decals. In many respects, I doubt the latter would fly with the cycling community but could’ve easily happened.  

In automotive circles, MG cars and BSA motorcycles have reappeared but have no connection with the original, British brands. Despite this, I’ve heard patriotic breast beating regarding the latter’s “return”. The collapse of Britain’s motorcycle industry was different to other sectors and influenced by changing social expectations, standards of living and the mini. However, in common with the car industry, complacency and a reluctance to develop and innovate on the part of senior managers were major players.  

While deep cleaning the house, I accidentally knocked the believed dead Apeman A80 4K Action Camera APEMAN A80 ACTION CAMERA | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), only for it to mysteriously power up AND begin recording. Puzzled (but glad I didn’t consign it to landfill) I decided to park it on charge and see whether it will perform reliably going forward.  I had a spare battery in any case. The unit needs a weatherproof casing for anything other than dry conditions, hence my defaulting to the Compak, which has an integrated weatherproof casing.  

Talking of waterproof, here’s Steve’s review of the Showers Pass Crosspoint Ultralight Breathable Waterproof Socks ShowersPass UltraLight Waterproof Sockc | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)   

Orange Clockwork

 The continued dry, balmy weather has meant there’s no excuse for not getting some serious miles in aboard the Holdsworth and give Denise a rest. I’ve even switched from full -finger “liner type” gloves to mitts and short-sleeve jerseys.  

I’ve also switched the 137mm wide SR Marnie GT for the titanium-railed 185x142mm Madison Flux Switch to see how the latter performs on a road build. Now, the Holdsworth doesn’t have a particularly long saddle to bar drop, especially compared to a semi-compact geometry frameset but the saddle is geared more toward a traditional road, rather than cross or gravel bike.  

Contexts where a shorter nose is best, given you’re more likely to dis/mount quickly. 200 miles down the line, I’m inclined to say the 137mm SR Marnie GT is the best width for the Holdsworth, although 142 or (or indeed, 143mm) is damn good- the Specialized Toupe’ had served for many years, after all. Miss the Toupe’ but nothing lasts forever and I’m developing a soft spot for the ti railed Flux. The unisex Perineum friendly channel is a case in point, relieving pressure unexpectedly well, despite being very shallow. 

WTB Chain lube is doing its thing, cleansing any grime from the chain and staying put. Reckon it’ll go way beyond the claimed 400-mile per application mark, given the present, arid conditions and I’ll probably stick with it, given the clean, durable characteristics.  

Though I was fond of the budget carbon Acor unit, the thin bladed period typical (I’m led to believe it’s not the original and don’t care) fork adds a bit more zip to proceedings and yes, I still like the contrasting blue.   

Talking of blue, I’m sticking with the Peaty’s Link Lube Dry with Denise- the hybrid quasi wax and oil blend is well suited to these conditions, sifting the contaminant, while the oil part keeps potential taint at bay. Though less tenacious than some blends, including the brands Link Lube Premium counterpart, I’m generally preferring it to waxes for general riding.  

I also took this opportunity to check Denise’s chain health .25, which is middling, given the generally stable conditions but there’s a reasonable amount of life left before I’ll consign it to the bin and replace with another.  

Some say to expect 1500-3,000 miles and I’d loosely agree. However, if you’re doing a lot of mixed terrain, mountain biking or winter road riding, expect a drop. Despite careful maintenance, though a vile, slimy winter I’ve scraped 800miles from a chain.        

I was in the area, so dropped by Maldon Shot Blasting & Powder Coating and saw the Dave Russel frameset had been treated to a RAL6027 atop chrome effect powder coat, replacing the electroplate which looked pin sharp. Blasting revealed the frameset was only chromed at the seat and chainstays suggesting the red was its original livery (some are chromed completely with acid etc primers and enamel atop.)

Personally, decals aren’t my thing-they simply advertise a bike, or frameset is worth nicking in my view. It wouldn’t do to be all the same and though I prefer an air of mystery, the RAL6027 and chrome effect looks really, sharp. The green could well be Ursula’s next livery… Steve’s reached his conclusions with the AS2 inflator Cycplus AS2 Pro Tiny E-Pump | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

They’d also restored this Orange Clockwork frameset (complete with rigid Cro-moly fork).  This looks to be a late 90s model, maybe as late as ‘98, a couple of years younger than Ursula. Its owner is apparently going to ride it across America. Aside from the obvious rush of retro delight (I was really taken by the Orange Clockwork in the early 90s), I also contemplated the shade of orange as an option for Ursula... 

Continuing the summer theme, I err towards full finger designs, even during late spring and summer. Simply on the grounds of greater protection when meandering beyond asphalt. Beyond 20 degrees or so, save for the Madison Roamer and Specialized (model), which are thin but rugged, I’m donning mitts. Aero mitts are second-skin snug, a little harder to pull on off/ but great for blasting along-say on the Holdsworth and Teenage Dream.  

Traditional leather palmed models are lovely from a retro perspective, and I’ve only just had to retire these PassportTEST & REVIEW: PASSPORT CROCHET BACK CYCLING MITTS (sevendaycyclist.com) after six years faithful service. Aside from their classic theme, their looser fit also enabled me to run liner gloves beneath for some additional warmth/comfort during late summer/early autumn, where the temperatures start to drop a little and often without notice.  

I’ll prefer not to reflect too deeply on that latter bit, since it’ll mean the darker months are approaching and I won’t’ve got all I wanted from the summer. I still enjoy the changing seasons and still associate the darker months with positive things-going to university, meeting a woman who would become the human love of my life and the simple things like being able to draw the curtains and protect myself from the world.  

 

Limited daylight, though perfect for testing lighting can present other challenges, and frustrations mind.  Right, I’ll end here with Steve’s review of the Cycplus AS2 inflator Cycplus AS2 Pro Tiny E-Pump | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)