Tests of Time

Nostalgia is very comforting and there were some genuinely great products and concepts back in the late 80s. Many I recall from the cycling press, read during my otherwise instantly forgettable, and decidedly dubious school career. Some have stood the test of time and remain very relevant, others consigned to history.

Anything dirt based with drop bars obviously grabs my attention. Specialized’s Rock Combo (sadly short-lived) and Muddy Fox’s Trailblazer being two prime examples. Seems I'm not the only fan, either! https://bikesboardsandphotos.wordpress.com/2018/01/21/specialized-rockcombo/ 

I’m not convinced U brakes were an inherently bad idea. They certainly offered considerable stopping prowess.

However, chain stay mounting was more conducive to dry, dusty California. Not the damp, leafy climes more commonly experienced in the UK and Canada. Little wonder why Kona mountain bikes were such a hit in the UK. Compact geometry framesets with sensible clearances. Designs that look current and still perform beautifully today.   

Some saddles fall into the classic narrative. Aside from traditional leather saddles, which has remained a quiet institution among tourists, there’s the Selle Italia Turbo, the Rolls etc. The catalyst for this sudden rush of retrospective was induced by the arrival of Selle San Marco Concor Super Corsa saddle. Tipping the scales at 320g, it’s not the lightest but hardly outlandish, so now sits pride of place on my fixed gear winter/trainer.

I had a Concor on my first fixed-a conversion based around a 501 tubed Raleigh frameset. 

When that frameset died in July ’92, I bought a comparable frameset from a small scale, midlands-based builder. Ported most of the stuff over and headed to London’s East End. University and idealism followed. Come ’94, I’d worn it smooth, the rails a little wobbly where they slotted in the base.

Flogged it to a cash strapped land surveying student for as little as I paid for it (Having bought a luminous yellow Turbo gel from a shop’s bargain bin). Not a bad buy and it matched the frameset’s lurid enamel. Shortly afterward, I’d primarily switched to cross country mountain bike racing and a flyte.

Had a couple of the minimalist, ti railed wonders and got along with them surprisingly well. Back then, saving every last gram, as economically as possible, was the primary focus. Though I keep a keen eye on my machine’s girth, it’s not at comfort’s expense.

That said, I was pleasantly surprised to discover this PRO Stream Off Road Saddle weighs a positively feathery 207g. Surprising, since the rails are stainless steel (Inox) Yes, there’s a bit of carbon involved, and on some levels, a less obvious choice for my Univega. However, I’ve been running the BBB Echelon with good results. Besides, being a mixed terrain, four seasons’ build its perfect for assessing the design’s capabilities and potential limitations. 

Classics aside much technology has improved considerably. Clothing is one area, where materials have become more sophisticated on the one hand but crucially budget and mid-point clothing staples arguably represents better value than ever before. I’ve been quite impressed by these middleweight Prendas Ciclismo Winter Cycling Socks https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/prendas-ciclismo-coolmax-winter-cyc   

Lighting and other, electrical tech are another, prime example. These days it’s difficult to find a poor light, thanks to competition. I’ve been particularly impressed by this Moon Meteor.

Not the most powerful designs (400 lumens steady, 500day flash) but extremely compact and a great companion to my high-power dynamo units. 

A good choice for pared-to-the essentials best/winter bikes.  Intelligent and tuneable designs are another clear trend. Knog Cobber Mid rear Light https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/knog-cobber-mid-rear-light  being one example. At the time of writing, these are at the upper end of the market. However, like most tech, it’s only a matter of time before this technology trickles down. 

Others, such as this See Sense Icon2 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/see-sense-icon-2-rear-light offer these options but are also capable of monitoring road surfaces and a wealth of other information. This can be shared, via their app and theoretically, has the power to shape town planning and improve safety. However, you don’t have to use all these features to appreciate its intelligent design.  

At the other end of the market, this Oxford Ultratorch R75 pumps out an impressive 75 lumens (tops) and so far, decent run times, from a full charge.

There are four modes in total. Three flashing (high, medium and low) modes and my default, flashing.  COB (Chips on Board) technology intensifies output, since you can pop more diodes within the same space. In this instance 24. 

These are fuelled by a lithium polymer cell and the unit meets IP65 for weatherproofing. To date, ours has been swamped with dodgy standing water, silt, spray and similar unmentionables with no issues. Talking of subverting wet stuff, I’ll close with my review of the Raw Prismatic reflective Mud flaps https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/raw-prismatic   

More Filthy Fun & Tumbling Temperatures

The recent wet, stormy narrative meant I was washing the fixed every three/four rides. 

No great hardship. The powder coated frame and components are treated to a premium quality wax. In this instance, Naked Bikes Pro Wax Special edition https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/naked-bikes-pro-wax-special-edition and thankfully, gritting lorries are conspicuous by their absence.  

Perfect conditions for evaluating a wet lube. I'm staying with White Lightning Wet Ride . It's a blend of synthetic oils and water repelling polymers. 

No curing time either and in theory you can just top-up, as required. In practice, you'll need to clean the residual (and it's ingrained gritty contaminant first). 

Packing a Crankalicious K- wipe https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/crankalicious-kwipe-chain-cleaner  (or a decorator's solvent wipe) is another good tip, should you need to clean and replenish on a big ride/tour. Same goes fort some middleweights, such as Juice Lubes Viking All Condition High Performance Chain Oil https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/juice-lubes-all-condition-chain-lub and Weldtite TF2 Performance All weather Lubricant

https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/weldtite-tf2-performance-all-weathe 

Otherwise, by this point, I'd also be inclined to cleanse the cassette. Again, a brush dipped in turpentine is very effective. When time's at a premium, aerosol based solvent degreasers come into their own.

During winter, when washing bikes, start by rinsing bikes with cold water first. This will dismiss road salts/similarly caustic stuff. Then take the warm, sudsy bucket route. Hot water will simply awaken the salt monster's malicious side. Then reach for your bike wash, or warm, sudsy elixir. 

Car wash n' wax formulas are very convenient and time efficient. My default, assuming I'm not testing bike washes. The surfactant lifts the grime, then imparts a thin, protective wax barrier. 

As with most things, quality varies, depending on price. However, several litres lasts several months (and that's factoring frequent car washing into the mix). 

Quite effective on sullied bar wrap too. I had been tempted to pop the ACROS Silicone Wrap Handlebar Tape https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/acros-silicone-wrap-handlebar-tape in the wash, following last week's switch to the D-Riser 4. The former (not the bars!) is designed to do tours de Zanussi/Mele/Hotpoint/Indesit/Samsung (* Other brands are available*). 

However, this Oxford Products Tyre Scrub https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/oxford-products-tyre-scrub proved the most convenient method. Its also one of my favourite acquisitions and costs a measly £3.99 . Oxford has also sent me their Cliqr Out Front Handlebar Mount. Phones might be the obvious choice but its reckoned to manage compact action cameras. So, we'll see how it behaves with this Apeman A80   https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/apeman

Prevention is always more convenient (and usually cheaper) than cure. 

Little and often inspection and maintenance keeps problems to a minimum and stops most before they strike. While switching bars, to my horror, I discovered the brake's inner wire a few strands from oblivion. A few inner wires-brake and gear are bread n' butter staples. 

This coincided with a more generic sort out/rationalisation of the garage. I unearthed another two Co2 inflators and the straps for the Fibre Flare USB light. The latter is just the right length to sit on my Univega's seat stays-without fouling feet, or rear brake. Well, it pleased me. 

The fibre flare might lack the outright punch of many modern blinkies. That said; the surface area compensates and in my view, they're particularly suited to tagalongs and trailers. 

A quick lick of Vaseline/silicone grease keeps the switch and contacts corrosion free. 

On the subject of switching, after many happy weeks testing, I've reverted to the XLC SPD pattern pedals. Now, I like dual sided flat/cleat designs, some more than others. Despite the platform's size, there's been no clearance woes with the Look. Nor have I been floundering away from the lights. 

However, for me cross country mtb types win by a nose, when all's said n' done. An editor once suggested I had a fetish for "lookie-likies" (patterns). Yes, was my polite and truthful response.  To clarify, I'm curious to see how patterns perform, relative to the real McCoy. 

Similarly, they are typically cheaper, which is also welcome on winter/working bikes. Wellgo Ritchey patterns are one of my all-time favourite homages. Staying with feet, I've also switched to waterproof socks and synthetic shoes for a while. Primarily since these Oxford Ox Socks arrived for testing and in the latter context, I fancied giving my mighty Quoc Pham a break. I'm no fan of overshoes. 

Not that they aren't an effective way of protecting expensive footwear from the ravages of winter and feet from nasty chill, I just can't abide the faff of trying to tug them on/off. 

My traditional objection to impervious socks is breath ability. While they will keep mother nature firmly at bay, immersed up to the cuff-line. TPU linings tend to leave feet feeling "boiled in the bag" i.e. clammy and uncomfortably moist. 

Worn for prolonged periods, especially in milder weather and/or with synthetic shoes, I've succumbed to athletes' foot and similar nasties. 

Now, the Oxsocks are also supposedly impervious, with a laminated membrane. However, thus far no sign of the clamminess/discomfort. Something that I attribute to the use of merino blend, rather than purely synthetic yarns. 

Despite sensationalist forecasts, the sort implying the country will grind to a pronounced and snowbound halt. In practice, its only turning icy. Not icy enough that I'm inclined to switch to the Schwalbe Marathon Winter Plus https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/after-the-gritters-went-home but exercising more caution. 

Fixed is particularly useful in these contexts. The ability to regulate speed by holding off against the cranks gives much better feedback. Situations where engaging a brake lever runs the very real risk of a spill.

Chain Reactions

Stoicism, the correct kit and sensible preparation are what gets us through the depths of winter. Yet another example of how cycling, is a metaphor for wider life and freelancing, in particular.

By mid January, New Year hype and best intentions seem to flat line. January tends to be a very quiet month, economically, so needs careful management. Secure as much work as possible, during November/early December. Always have a couple of private projects planned. The latter will boost morale, should a lull strike.  

Aside from racking up the miles and testing products, I set myself the target of finishing some short fiction. Deadline, end of January. A different project to reignite creative sparks and crucially, distinguish 2020, from 2019 etc. 

I'm nearly done with the first draft. Once that's finished, I will leave it marinating for a few days, whereupon the baggier bits and minor holes will be obvious.

Elsewhere, the Sugru didn't completely cure the Bandit bracket's minor rattle. Some intermittent, low-level chatter remained, when tackling washboard tarmac.  Rides usually boost mood and inspiration. At 23mph round a sweeping bend....Zip Ties!

I always carry a couple with me, but wanting to keep those for emergencies, such urges were arrested until I returned home. Funny how these little victories can bring so much joy.  

Staying with tooling a moment, there's a lot to be said for custom, machine specific tool kits. That said; some generic tooling is always sensible. I always carry a comprehensive multi-tool, patch kit and spare chain links. 

I even carry a few 9 and 10  speed chain links along with a few for the fixed. This way, I can help someone else, if they're in a jam. A small dropper bottle of pour n' go lube, on longer rides, just in case. 

The drier, cooler spell has presented an opportunity to assess the Juice Lubes Ceramic Juice. This version seems to attract less grime than its predecessor, while still offering decent lubrication. I decided to check my fixed gear winter/trainer's chain. 

Plenty of Viking Juice still present. While scrutinising the chain, I discovered the Halo Fix-G Track Hub https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/halo-fixed  bearings were slightly loose. Nothing serious but nipped snug, there and then, with a 15mm wrench. One thing led to another...I stripped the Genetic Tibia Track Crankset's https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/genetic-tibia-track-cranks-ring bolts, which freed with reassuring ease. The Mighty UN55 bottom bracket remains in rude health, although I always keep one handy, in case the grumbles strike.

Oh hell, since I'm here....Bike washed, chain stripped and fed four helpings of Juice Lubes Chain wax. Not the most obvious choice, but I was curious to see how it copes in colder weather.  

Unlike summer (where wax melts into the chain and where relevant, cassette), theoretically, wax will simply flake off, taking the contaminant while leaving a thin lubricant layer, behind. 

From here, simply top-up. No cleaning, no drama. At least that was the plan. Then along came Storm Brendan. 50mph crosswinds and plenty of standing water. https://www.facebook.com/sevenday.cyclist/videos/vb.100008574185706/2220873604875091/?type=2&theater&notif_t=video_processed&notif_id=1579097264815732

Lube literally licked clean in 58 miles. I've gone for White Lightning Wet Ride Extreme Conditions Heavy Lube for now. I'll probably revert to the Weldtite TF2 Performance All Weather Lubricant https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/weldtite-tf2-performance-all-weathe or possibly Rock n' Roll Extreme LV https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/rock-n-roll-extreme-lv-chain-lube?

fbclid=IwAR0PMV6Wpug4USjedaGu2FuqnR6ShaOEEQm_AvBNs1eYGdJq2XGMKqgkIIE when the chain's looking thirsty. 

Part of me is temped to brew my own wax-based chain lubes, using a mix of candle wax, turpentine and Xylene. Watch this space. For the moment, think I'll run through my stock of "off the shelf" blends. 

I've switched the D-Riser 16 bars https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/genetic-d-riser-bars  for their D-Riser 4 siblings. The latter have been developed for road biased riders, who found the 16 degree flare excessive. However, it still offers 17mm to the overall width, so theoretically our 440mm are in fact 457mm. 

Something to bear in mind, if you commute/ride in congested traffic. The Driser16 remain my favourite riser-type drop bars for a road/cyclo cross bike. 70mm reach would be fine for my Univega. However, 125mm drop way too deep. I won't be switching its Soma Condor https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/soma

 I also needed to snug the Univega's guards https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/sks-blumels-shiny-mudguards and Gusset Uni-head by a quarter turn.  I've also discovered the rear guard's serrated section, is designed to be easily removed, should the guard foul, or impair a front mech. A moot point with my Univega, and other 1x drive trains, but good to know.  

Dogged Persistence

I was pursued by a very determined and extremely aggressive Alsatian, while negotiating a particularly dark lane. Dropping to a 36 inch gear,  fuelled by a rich mix of caffeine and adrenaline, I dropped said disagreeable canine on the climb. 

I've been attacked by an Alsatian, on four separate occasions in thirty years. Thankfully, my tetanus was up to date and injuries superficial. At time of writing, the UK is still rabies free. However, even though the treatment has gone from 30 to 4 shots, I've seen them administered, and they look decidedly painful. 

Animosity towards cyclists, was once thought to be triggered by the freewheel mechanism. I Consigned that generalisation to  the bin, when I had to out-sprint one, riding fixed.  

A dog dazer, or similar humane deterrent, might be a useful acquisition. 

These send out an ultrasonic frequency that dogs cannot handle, causing them to retreat. Thinking about it, there's probably a phone app that does much the same thing. However, inm these scenarios I want to press and go, not fumble with my phone!

There's no footage of this encounter, since I've been frustrated by some low-level mount chatter that manifests as a very audible rattle. Its particularly apparent over washboard tarmac. 

I've checked the metal bracket's hardware is fully snug and research suggests its a quirk of the design. Therefore, since I'm a couple of years post warranty, I modified  the composite component. 

This Thermoworx Whitemorph polymer sounds like an obvious candidate https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/thermoworx-whiemorph. However, while its very effective for some jobs, including this resurrected Fibre Flare Single Tail rear light, it sets hard. I needed something supple that would dampen this annoying vibration. 

Experimenting with off cuts of scrap butyl and Acros Silicone Wrap Handlebar Tape https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/acros-silicone-wrap-handlebar-tape  proved fruitless. 

Enter Sugru. It's a single use, mould able silicone putty, which sets flexibly, so hopefully that'll cure this annoying trait. January has seen a trend towards drier conditions. 

Since the Univega's chain was looking patchy and the cassette sporting a layer of ingrained gunk, I decided it was an ideal opportunity (a) to put some chain cleaners through their paces (b) Switch back to the Juice Lubes Ceramic Juice to see how it fared in drier conditions. 

Worked one lot into the cassette using an old, clean paintbrush and decenated some into the chain bath, which stripped the chain back tpo its electroplated state with Piranah-like efficiency. Very satisfying. 

Obviously, two cheap nail brushes, doused in solvent, will have similar effect. However, thist tends to be messier. A moot point if part of a more comprehensive, sudsy bucket scrub is on the cards. My Univega was, given the wet, wintry conditions. I started by giving the Fizik Vento Microtex Tacky Bi-Colour Bar tape https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/fizik-vento a good tickling, to remove some ingrained petrochemical patina. I then turned my attention to frame and wheelset. 

 I also took this opportunity to give my Carradice SQR bags a deep clean and switched them over. Both are waterproof but the black cotton duck SQR tour coordinates better with the Univega's aesthetic and the Carradry's glossy fabric makes more sense for my fixed gear winter/trainer (which doesn't sport mudguards). https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/carradice-carradry 

 I've found these Funkier Aqua Gents Pro Water Repellent tights particularly welcome https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/funkier-aqua-gent-s-pro-tights

Being steel, little surprise that the new seatpost binder bolt stayed snug. However, I wasn't sure whether the collar would stretch, or not. So far, so good, although I do give the saddle a quick tug, before setting off. We've also been very impressed by the budget Schwalbe Road Cruiser tyres https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/scwalbe-road-cruiser-tyres . 

Although less bullet proof than others in Schwalbe's range, the Kevlar banding seems pretty dependable. Steve succumbed to a hawthorn but I've remained unscathed, despite the greasy mulch carpeting many of the roads I navigate. Another pleasant surprise is their relatively supple compound, which combines great handling and compliant ride.  

Knowing The Drill

 After the frenzied pre-Christmas preparations, the corridor linking Christmas and New Year can be perfect for catching up with friends and small jobs. Aside from ignition tumbler woes striking my KA, my fixed gear winter/trainer's seat post binder bolt needed replacing. 

Since it was secure and I didn't need to adjust the post height, I left it a couple of months. All the same, I wanted to avoid the expensive, titanium post/Cro-moly frame galvanic union.  One last try, with Torx bits confirmed drilling-out was the only option. 

Cordless drill charged, and bits found... 

I also harvested a compatible replacement bolt and collar, in case the 14 year old On-One also decided to give up the ghost. Knew they'd come in handy... Bike in the workstand, It took a few minutes cautious drilling before the once 5mm Allen head disintegrated. Thankfully the threaded section also required little coaxing. 

Much as I suspected, the On-One collar had succumbed to fatigue, so that was substituted for an Atomic22. Though not unexpected, it was still a relief to discover the post was also very mobile. I eased that free, removed the remaining greasy film and introduced a liberal helping of ceramic prep. 

While harvesting bolts, I also discovered two packet fresh 26x1.75 inner tubes. Timely, since my Univega's supplies were dwindling and I'd patched a few to their limit recently. I took this opportunity to carve another section from a dead 26x2.0 and make a seat collar boot for my fixed. 

Post reinstated, fasteners greased and snugged tight, I slid the boot so it obscured the frame's collar slot. 

In some respects I could've cut it longer, overlapping the post for optimal protection. 

However, this would've been as pain, should I need to re-tighten the collar bolt mid-ride. I also replaced the VDO computer head unit's battery.Mercifully, it has a memory function, which saves time and minor hassle. 

Those Raw flaps have made a huge difference to the amount of spray thrown over the bike, shoes and other riders. I've swapped the Topeak Shuttle for the Zefal Pulse Z2 to see how it performs on a small, compact geometry frameset. Oh, another opportunity to re-grease some small, easily overlooked fasteners too. 

Little jobs off the list, I've dedicated time to reflection, testing, day riding and a few projects I want finished, before 2020.  The holidays should always involve doing something different. Otherwise, life can feel like the stripped thread. Turning monotonously, without achievement. 

Gave myself a New Year deadline, for finishing a short story (at least in draft form) and have some other irons in the fire. Sleep-walking into a new year (let alone decade) invariably leads to disappointment, and is likely to accentuate any hint of the mid-winter blues.