Stormy, Turbulent Times

 

I’m not just talking weather, or global politics (although it certainly applies). The icy weather proved a brief interlude, a five-minute wonder and we’ve returned to the warmer, wetter narrative that has been typical of UK winters the past fifteen years or so. Having set the scene, I received some interesting luggage from Oxford Products and Lomo. The former is a single, 20 litre design made from 500denier PVC, employs a roll top closure and welded seams.  

The latter is a 13litre bike packing model, twice the Topeak Back loader 6L’s size, promises not only excellent weatherproof carrying capacity but reduced sway, courtesy of reinforced panels and double straps. At £36.00, it’s markedly cheaper than the Topeak Back loader family. I’m keeping the Topeak homage saddle support in situ, if only to assess its taming credentials with bigger models.  

Shimano MW7 remain my defaults during this spell, thanks to their temperate weather cheating charms, not to mention the relatively stiff soles and Boa closures. Shimano MW7 (MW702) Gore Tex MTB Shoes | cycling-not-racing I was somewhat disappointed to find the Oxford Venture Windproof GiletOXFORD VENTURE WINDPROOF GILET | cycling-not-racing had become bin fodder, courtesy of a knackered zip and shagged pocket stitching (love this technical terms).  

I recall having a black version somewhere...Will have to dig it out... Meantime, I’ve resurrected a very cheerful Van Rysel High Viz Cycling Jacket- gilet by another name. Day glow yellow body, two rear and one breast pocket, reflective detailing, two-year warrantee and £24.99 are hard to beat.  Cycling’s clothing manufacturers seem to be experiencing something of a slump at present.  

I’m a huge fan of Endura, the Humvee shorts were a bombproof classic that I would argue have stood the test of time and managed to bridge the gap between messenger knickers and trail shorts. Great for touring and general riding where you might want to drop by someone’s for Sunday lunch etc. I’ve also some Xtract bib tights serving me very well, especially given the asking price (£54.99) and they’re made in Scotland, not the Far East.  

Lusso are another UK brand (Manchester based) I’ve had positive experiences with their summer weight jerseys and adventure bib shorts. These, in common with others, including Madison Roam Cargo Bib Shorts Madison Roam Men's Cargo Bib Shorts | cycling-not-racing feature pockets for longer rides and though different takes on the narrative, both are effective and practical.  

However, they’re summer designs, so I’ll be sticking with mid- winter bib tights, maybe ¾ lengths when temperatures climb slightly.  Winter, as any cyclist knows, can be similarly cruel to components- chomping through chains, cassettes- derailleurs and rings too, if you’re lazy, or haphazard. Cables can also fray and gunk up. I spotted Denise’s inner wire virtually disintegrating, so wasted no time in Tackling. However, what should’ve been a twenty-minute job took on a life of its own. I found a problem with the RL200 lever- the plastic cable entry had become misshapen, necessitating lever replacement. I found another what I believed to be like for like lever, fitted a fresh stainless inner wire and dialled in the front brake.  

However, stopping prowess was markedly superior...Closer inspection confirmed I’d picked up an RL520 by mistake. These are designed for V brake and cable- operated discs, not cantilevers. However, while powerful, it’s not throwing me over the bars, so stays for now. Mechanics is not a means to an end. Aside from bonding with my machines, it’s also a conduit for processing and working through other things. This can be personalised and localised to me, or more abstract/generic.    

There’s a lot to be said for winter specific bikes and simple ones at that. Fixed, or single speed cross bikes with mudguards are in some respects ideal-bigger clearances allow stouter tyres. Tyres are our first point of contact, so it pays not to skimp here. Cheap mudguards can also prove false economy, warping and failing at the least convenient moment, so worth spending a bit more.  

Of the traditional types, I’ve had positive experiences with Tortec and SKS SKS BLUEMELS SHINY MUDGUARDS | cycling, but not ususally racing If you’re looking at escaping asphalt, the Mud Hugger Gravel Hugger MUD HUGGER GRAVEL HUGGER MUDGURADS | cycling-not-racing   have impressed me with their solid build quality and levels of protection. Sure, the bike will get a liberal helping of gloopy spatter around the rear triangle but you, luggage and other kit remain broadly dry.   Gravel hybrid more your kind of hack? Take a look at Robert Adair’s Fuji  Enjoy a unique moment in every cup of L’OR coffee. On a strictly personal note, I would’ve applied some marine/high build primer to the bare frame ends/similar before but otherwise, like his resourceful, solid ressurection.  

Gambles

 

I'd been looking at the Campak4 doing something close to nothing for far too long but hadn't found a decent mount to replace the mighty Minoura. In my experience, action cameras themselves have become more solid, feature laden and weatherproof-without recourse to the polycarbonate casings. However, while I’d always prefer money to be invested in the camera itself, bike mounts supplied tend to be very crude and ineffectual.  

Enter a site notorious for bombarding me with offers of inflatable life-size pleasure dolls...A couple of solid-looking designs suddenly popped up in my feed and only a few quid for the pair-including postage. Some goods on these platforms can be false economy, utter junk in some instances but this one looked worth a punt.  

Yes, you can lash something credible together using an old reflector mount, tap washers, rubber shims, ¼ inch threaded bolt and two nuts. The most involved bit of this is rounding up the parts- a three-minute job to fit. Performance-wise, I’ve found these reasonably effective with smaller compact cameras, so on paper, they should be fine with a Go-Pro type action camera.  

Switching Ursula’s wheels over to those with the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro was a shrewd move, although the snowy conditions were a little overplayed. Sure, the temperatures dropped to freezing but the snow’s consistency closer to sleet. Presented the ideal opportunity to adjust the rear mech and dial in the shifting a bit- the Microshift bar con had come loose in the end and the inner wire had stretched a little.  

An easy fix.  In the days leading up to this, I’d been getting Denise muddy, slithering along the singletrack lanes and was pleasantly surprised by how well the 120tpi WTB Nano shed moderate mud, especially when I’ve hit the asphalt, or indeed, leafy hardpack trails. They’re also palpably more compliant than their 60tpi stablemates in the latter contexts, something I was particularly conscious of while navigating a disused airfield.  

I’m also getting familiar, dare I say fond of the Topeak Backloader, which is sensibly proportioned, lightweight and lightweight, without feeling fragile.  The main fabric is ripstop polyethylene/nylon and highly water resistant, rather than proof, but that goes for most in my experience.  

There’s an inner liner with 10,000mm water resistance, which is very welcome and eliminates the need for the humble bin liner-unless you wanted to go the belt n’ braces route. As I said in an earlier entry, despite being the smallest in the family (10 and 15litres being the alternatives. I’ve tried binding old inner tube around the USE post to minimise this but there’s still minor bob and sway-especially when I’ve been climbing out of the saddle. Not close to some of the bigger bike packing designs I’ve tested in the past but the Zefal Adventure R5 Waterproof Saddlebag ZEFAL ADVENTURE R5 WATERPROOF SADDLE BAG | cycling-not-racing  and its bigger, 11 litre sibling ZEFAL ADVENTURE R11 WATERPROOF SADDLEBAG | cycling-not-racing are notably more stable. I’ve wondered if a double hook and loop post strap would cure this, although both the Zefal have only one...

Sat on the toilet, contemplating life, the universe and another Trump presidency, I concluded an aftermarket brace and turned to another auction site for wallet friendly inspiration. I happened upon this Topeak Backloader Wishbone homage, which also features bottle bosses. Some commentators have suggested there are compatibility hassles with luggage and some saddle rails... We’ll see... I’ve switched the fixed gear winter/trainer’s very likeable Cycology See Me Pink Handlebar bag Cycology See Me Pink Handlebar Bag | cycling-not-racing  for the Oxford Aqua Evo Adventure Daytripper Handlebar bag.  

As the name suggests, this is a relatively compact 3.5litre model. Measuring 24x10x14cm, it’s made from 400denier ripstop TPU, with some reflective logos and detailing. Welded seams to lock the elements out, segregated internal pockets for phone and tooling oh and an external cargo net for gloves, packable jacket and similar overspill. Its big enough for day type duties and just fits between the fixed’s bars without obscuring the K-Lite Ultra LD Low Drag Dynamo Light  K-LITE ULTRA LOW DRAG DYNAMO LIGHT | cycling-not-racing  which is a welcome relief.  

Talking of jackets, colder temperatures have seen me dip back into the winter wardrobe for a middleweight jersey cum jacket and Oxford Products Venture Jacket OXFORD VENTURE JACKET | cycling-not-racing. In common with Madison Roam Madison Roam 2.5 Layer Waterproof Jacket | cycling-not-racing, the Venture has a hood and other features that lend themselves equally well to touring, winter commuting, mountain bike and gravel duties.  I'll leave it here with my review of the Madison Isoler Thermal Jacket Madison Isoler Thermal Jacket | cycling-not-racing