My Chemical Romance

I’m very fond of testing cleaners, polishes, waxes, greases and lubes. Most work but some perform much better than others. I’ve just received this big soft brush and bike wash from Zefal (along with a side-entry cage). As if by magic, this  Tru-Tension Banana Slip Tungsten All Weather Lube also arrived.  

Timely, since the Univega’s KMC chain had reached retirement, so I exchanged it for another KMC X10 73. 1650 miles seems reasonable from a 10speed, although I’ve stuck exclusively to dry/wax lubes during this period.  

Similarly, though shifting was still reliable, the chain lost its edge at 1250miles. it’s surprising how much difference a packet fresh chain makes, hence chains on race bikes should be replaced more frequently. I’ve also been quite impressed by this wallet and purportedly, planet-friendly Pure Dry Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/pure-dry-lube    

All things being equal, I tend to replace a cassette, every third chain and keep one of each, waiting in the wings. There is a (plausible) narrative, suggesting there is a global shortage of components, given the pandemic.  

I have noticed a pronounced rise in the prices of chains and similar consumables, so took the opportunity to harvest some, spotted at notable discount. Given the present global and political climate, I am not confident this situation will improve significantly in the coming months.   

  

So, to the Tru Tension Banana Slip Tungsten All Weather Lube. Tungsten is reckoned a superior friction modifier, compared with ceramics, let alone our old friends Teflon/PTFE. This is another wax formula but said to cure in minutes, not hours. I’m wondering how it will cope in changeable conditions.  

How well it will repel water, and indeed corrosion during damper rides, whether it is temperature stable, makes good transition to cleat/similar mechanisms etc.   I’ve opted for its wet counterpart on my fixed gear winter/trainer’s chain and have been pleasantly surprised by the low friction and tenacity, in the past sixty miles but I’m looking at another 400miles before forming any viable conclusions. 

Tru Tension also has a maintenance spray within its range. Again, it purports to be “Perfectly formulated cycling spray to loosen stiff components such as cables, linkages and forks”. In common with the breed, Tru Tension says it doubles as a light penetrant spray cum polish. Most do all these things, by degrees, in the one- does- most sense.  

Lighter potions have the edge when it comes to displacing moisture, say from lighting switches and battery trays, whereas the beefier blends keep mechanisms and cables slick for several weeks at a time.  

There is certainly a place for both, on any rider’s shelf. I’d also advocate a tin of penetrant spray to tackle seized and stubborn parts, although in my experience, highly potent aerosol degreasers using strong solvents will also shift some stubborn/seized parts.  

Came in handy, salvaging Shimano cleats from the Scott shoes, which suddenly imploded. The sole literally came away like skin from a salmon fillet. I’ve consigned them to the bin and reverted to the mighty Quoc Pham Tourer. 

I also ported the Shimano cleats, since they work best with both genuine Shimano pedals and their homages. Yes, Wellgo in particular! 

Waxing Lyrical

 The Pure Dry Lube is showing the characteristics of a traditional, petrochemical formula- the sort made from refined paraffin wax and solvent. It’s turned molten and some has migrated to the chain’s side plates, though not the cassette, which surprises me.  

Still plenty on the rollers, 225 miles in and I was expecting to purge a gungy looking beard that had accumulated along the side plates, jockey wheels etc. I was pleasantly surprised to discover it has scabbed off, during subsequent rides.   

Wax formulas, without a PTFE, or similar additives mean chains tend to succumb to light, filmy corrosion, following wet rides. Another reason why I don’t go this route with cleat hardware and others prone to getting blasted with dodgy water.  True to type, the Pure has done just that. Not an issue with the more sophisticated dry blends.  

While they will generally run cleanly, waxes  require a more disciplined approach to drivetrain cleanliness, first time round, hence the argument these have more benefit to racers-time triallists and mountain bikers (during the summer months), rather than commuters.  

One I concur with in some respects. Arguably, working bikes should be ready n’ reliable, with minimal faff. Wet lubes are an obvious choice and will certainly go the distance, but as I’ve said many times before, the side plates will need wiping regularly. Otherwise, accumulated grit/grime turning into a grinding paste, chomping through your bike’s drivetrain.  

If you’re pressed for time, one of the pour n’ go sort, such as Finish Line 1-Step Cleaner and Lubricant https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/finish-lineMight be an easier proposition, even if these require more frequent reapplication.  Once the existing Pure dry lube is spent (coinciding with the chain, I suspect) I may well revert to the low-friction Zefal Pro-Dry Lube.https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/zefal-pro-dry-lube This incidentally appears fully compatible with the Pro Gold Prop Link Chain Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/pro-gold-pro-link-chain-lube if my fixed gear winter trainer’s chain is anything to go by, several weeks down the line.   

Talking of wax, I’ve treated the Univega to another high-quality waxing. Muc-Off Miricle Shine polish, this time around. It’s made using Fluro Polymer Technology and Carnauba wax. The latter is also found in high-quality furniture polish, cosmetics, and even speed boat hulls. Silicone oils are apparently employed to enhance ease of application and, it’s very quick and easy to apply.  

One coat is sufficient but if like me, you like to double up at key areas (bottom bracket shells, down tube, chainstays etc), experience suggests it prefers 24hours between coats. Rounding up this polishing theme is a guide to caring for traditional leather saddles https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/caring-for-leather-saddles . My derriere has very much bonded with the Cycles Berthoud Soulor Saddle https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/cycles-berthoud-soulor-leather-sadd 

Several weeks further down the line, the Kenda Kwick Roller continue to impress with their blend of low rolling resistance, reassuring grip and of course, puncture resistance. A greasy, wet winter may reveal some limitations (specifically the puncture repelling belt, which covers the centre strip, rather than edge to edge).  

That aside; they’re doing everything I ask of them and the slightly narrower (32mm) section is probably optimal, for my fixed gear winter/trainer’s clearances too. Elsewhere, those looking for a responsive and engaging folding bike may want to take a closer look at this Tern BYB S11 Folding Bike https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/tern-byb-s11-folding-bicycle   

Seek and Deploy

This time around I’ve managed 285miles from the Juice Lubes Chain Juice Wax before it required replenishment. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the compatibility of chain lubes. Good practice says strip your chain and transmission of pre-existing lubricant, before applying another brand ort type.  

However, I’ve topped up my fixed gear winter/trainer’s chain with Zefal Pro Dry https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/zefal-pro-dry-lube and the Chain Juice Wax with Pure Bike Dry Lube. While of the same genre, the latter is not petrochemical-based and employs an ethanol carrier. Plant-based ethanol to be precise, which works to the same science and is every bit as flammable as petrochemical blends.  

Like a lot of lubes, the Pure requires a liberal shake to blend solvent and lubricant components. Drizzled into the links it’s visibly stockier than the Chain Juice Wax and supposedly resists water and wash-off very effectively. It also requires 3-4 hours curing time, so I’d leave it overnight, wherever possible.  

Apparently, it’s designed to be deployed elsewhere-cables, pivot points and other metal to metal interfaces. Aside from compatibility, I’m also looking to evaluate its cleanliness, tenacity, and temperature stability.  Thus far, its behaving much like the Juice Lubes Ceramic Chain Wax in terms of friction. However, its closer to a wet, rather than a dry wax and I will be very surprised if it racks up 400 miles per application. By that point, the existing KMC chain will be spent anyhow.  

The Cycles Berthoud Soulor Leather saddle https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/cycles-berthoud-soulor-leather-sadd goes from strength to strength, although I’ve been accelerating the personalisation process, applying a water-based hide food, 20 minutes prior to every other ride, which has certainly made the thick hide very supply, while my ischial tuberoses do their thing.  Continuing this retro theme, I’ve come back to these Passport Crochet Back Cycling Mitts https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/pasport-crochet-back-cycling-mitts. 

Despite being stored indoors-at room temperature, the leather palms had turned surprisingly stiff, so I applied a liberal helping of leather food, so hopefully, that’ll solve the problem. 

Mirror shades and big lenses were another blast back to the past. I’ve been rather impressed by these Merida Race, which in the style stakes, literally transported me back to 1989.  Costing less than £30, they offer excellent defence against strong sunlight, wind, and insects, thanks to the large surface area.  

No problem with fogging either, thanks to the thin cutouts. However, there’s no polarising technology here (a feature that’s increasingly trickling down to the £40 price point) so they don’t react to changing light conditions. Not a lot of use at dusk, or when skies are threatening cobalt, thundery rage.    

The Continental Contact Speed tyres are continuing to deliver a flat-free, magic carpet ride, although being a soft, grippy compound, they’re wearing around the centre-strip, Mohican fashion. Component life varies on some many things but I’m bargaining on 3,000 miles before they’re bin-fodder.  

By this point, I’m hoping to switch to something like Panaracer Gravel King-26x2.1, please. Oh, and of course, a Cane Creek Thudbuster G3 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/cane-creek-thudbuster-suspensuin-se, to complete my wish-list upgrades. The sort that will complete the bike’s go anywhere, four seasons persona as I’d envisaged the concept 33 years back.  

Admittedly, compact geometry and suspension posts weren’t a “thing” then.  I’ve also taken to charging lighting and other tech over the course of a ride, using the K-lIte AC/DC twin-port charger, which is one of those little, yet incredibly satisfying things. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/k-lite-bikepacker-ultra-dynamo-ligh