Rise of the Machines

For some years, I have felt like a humanoid. I can be relied upon to perform very complicated tasks and processes with the ability to adapt to fast-changing situations, environments. Different to the “Robot Welders” anonymous, hydraulic arms work tirelessly spot-welding car bodies on assembly lines (while their human counterparts become robots for 9hrs 37minutes of ten-hour shifts).  

I read people very well and possess sufficient social skills to avert unwelcome introspection but often, I’m going through the motions and feel distinctly alienated. I’m probably my most open during photoshoots and some years back, motor/cycle touring.  

Weaving through the lanes, I often wonder if we are going to reach a stage where that cyborgs will become a prominent group-an organic/mechanical hybrid.  

The technology has existed for some time and it’s not unreasonable to think, given the increasing uses of prosthetic technology, that people could be “rebuilt” following accidents.  

I can also envisage a time where we have fully synthetic humanoids employed to undertake dangerous, labour intensive or potentially monotonous jobs-rather akin to the replicants in Ridley Scott’s original (1982) Blade Runner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_9rhPDLHWk . A film that explores these issues and other constructs, including the narrative of intimate relationships forming between the replicant and human. 

Since we’re on this winding road, I was clearing out the loft and found some genuinely useful stuff, hidden treasures you might say and others that transported me back to childhood and a path towards a very technical, well-paid but dangerous career. At various points in my life, although most notably that crossroads between A level and higher education. Diver. As a child, what might be termed “The romance of the sea” applied There were various routes in. 

 

Commercial was the most exciting but arguably the most dangerous and requiring other sources of income, since there can be several months without commercial work. The Bends (decompression sickness) getting trapped within wreckage and explosions being three very real threats. Joining the police and taking that route was another, less glamorous and arguably more secure, though less exciting route. However, becoming a Police officer held little, save for instrumental, appeal.  

Hence, I took the academic route and pursued other interests/qualifications in parallel. So, the purpose of this indulgent meander? There is often much more to people than meets the eye. Cycling and other things are major passions of mine, ones which shape my perspectives and relationship with the wider world. However, they do not define me. So, these treasures... 

I was delighted to unearth this Cro-moly Soma Crane Stem. It's designed to offer a sympathetically classic look to steel framesets using Aheadsets. The length is closer to that of the quill stem and negates the need for piles of spacers. I’ve always been indifferent to spacers per se and regard them as “coming with the territory” but the ability to forgo most of them certainly appeals.   

I was contemplating retiring the Univega’s KMC chain this week, when it made the decision for me. While I was accelerating along the high street a sudden snap and tinkling followed by a pronounced lack of drive. Having coated to a safe spot, I inspected the damage and coasted home.  

Upon returning, I discovered the chain’s implosion had taken a chunk from the Microshift Centos rear mech. Into the drivetrain box we go, new chain and this Sun Race NRX 10speed rear mech from 2009. The joys of New Old Stock. This is also a notch or so higher than the Microshift Centos, featuring sealed jockey wheels.  

I’ve begun finding some minor limitations with the Continental Contact Speed Reflex. 2000 miles in, the supple, grippy and ultimately fast compound seem more susceptible to sharps. These seem to be striking around the shoulder, rather than centre strip and I’m slowly coming to the idea of running tubes with sealant-I.e. filling standard butyl with aftermarket sealant kit. 

 

The Muc-Off Puncture sealant seems to work very well but I also have some SKS sealant doing something close to nothing. Some consensus suggests the Continental are good for 3500 (rear) and 5,000 up front so we’ll see. Be interesting to see how a similar model, such as Schwalbe’s long-running Kojak fares in comparison. In the meantime, here’s an overview of tyres for commuting and everyday riding  https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/rubber-fetish-talking-tyres  While not as “invulnerable” on paper, as Schwalbe Marathon GT https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-marathon-gt-tyres  and Marathon Plus https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-marathon-plus-tyres 

The Kenda Kwick Journey KS Plus tyres continue to bowl along without missing a beat and roll much faster than their specification would suggest, so shaping up as an excellent everyday tyre, for general riding.  

The darker months call for durability but without sacrificing to much zing-the sort that makes bikes and riders feel alive.  I’ve switched to Muc-Off E-Bike Wet Weather Ceramic Lube on the fixed, so I can see how that really holds up, long term, now autumn and cooler, damper conditions are creeping ever closer. Here’s my interim review of the Muc-Off –50 degree chain lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/muc-off-50   

 

New Cassette Then...

  

Look through any forum on the internet, raise the topic with any group of riders and you will get a bewildering array of opinion when it comes to drivetrain life. Much will depend upon how meticulous your maintenance is, riding context and to some extent, rider weight/riding style. Mountain biking/gravel, rough stuff touring and winter are going to chew through chains and cassettes at a much faster rate than those belonging to best bikes brought out on sunny days.  

Rule of thumb and with generally good maintenance (Clean chains, lightly lubed and replaced at.75 wear) I get through three chains to every cassette.  

Shifting had suddenly gone off-phantom stuff, so hustling along the backroads at 5am, I reasoned cable stretch the most obvious culprit, so I tweaked the barrel adjuster. Seemed better for a while but still phantom shifting under load. Chain was well within acceptable tolerances, but closer inspection of the cassette suggested this was the culprit. In fairness, it’s been chugging along since May 2019, so didn’t owe me anything.  

A rummage through the transmission box revealed two new chains but only a part worn 9spd cassette, which was of no use, so consigned to the bin, along with its 10speed counterpart. It makes good sense to buy chains, cassettes and other consumables in multiples-two of each, so there’s no dramas when the bike shop’s shut.  

Particularly when they’re cheap...While the global supply shortage seems to have eased slightly, getting hold of things, especially at the right price is still proving trickier than before. I went for another Tiagra since these seem to strike the best balance between performance and economy. I’ve never liked Shimano chains, so KMC, SRAM etc are my defaults. 12-28 is pretty much ideal, given the build’s brief.   

On the plus side, the replacement arrived within 24hours, which was totally unexpected. These Muc-Off mechanics gloves had arrived just an hour before. On went the cassette! I also discovered the Univega’s front Continental Contact Speed reflex was pancake flat, courtesy of an easily spotted flint embedded in the shoulder.  

Not a nasty cut, but one that needed filling with superglue, nonetheless. At present they are wearing at the expected rate and across the centre strip Tube switched; job done. An ideal opportunity to polish the frameset, check and clean the brake pads, clean the rim side walls with a medium stiff brush etc.    

The chain was still in very good health, so I’ve stuck with it for time being. Judging by the analogue gauge, at present rate, I should get another five hundred miles, (3 weeks or so) from it, then I’ll consign it to the bin and so the cycle will continue.  

I’d got past the 500miles on a single application of the Muc-Off –50 chain lube, which does transfer quite easily to hands but less readily than many wet lubes I’ve used in the past. No worse than Weldtite TF2 Performance All Weather Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/weldtite-tf2-performance-all-weathe , which is a comparator in terms of viscosity and operating range (also reckoned very good in freezing temperatures). I’ve also grown fond of the Ravemen TR50 Rechargeable Rear Light https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/ravemen-tr50-rear-light      

The ongoing pandemic and localised lockdowns has made travel and touring a more considered affair. Cicerone’s guide to riding Hadrian's cycleway could provide useful inspiration https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/cycling-hadrian-s-cycleway