Scuzz! Purging Those Drivetrain Demons

 Much as I expected, the snow turned to slush and ultimately lots of surface water. Looking at the Univega’s chain, the Zefal Extra Wet Ceramic Chain Lube ZEFAL EXTRA WET NANO CERAMIC CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) was beginning to look a little filmy, and the chain’s side plates looking like they’d been immersed in instant gravy granules. Interrogation of the cassette and derailleur jockey wheels suggested we were beyond cat lick and top-up.  

An opportunity to test this Pure Bike Degreaser a quick test run. Pure prides itself on being petrochemical free and I’m all for products that are kind and yet effective. This is a citrus-based grime gobbler. However, caution is still required with a lot of plant-based products, solvents, specifically, given the potential for a loud, roof-lifting explosion. 

 

In this instance, there’s nothing to go “bang” but plenty of warnings around potentially serious eye damage. Citrus formulas can also be a little harsh on the skin, so examination gloves and safety glasses are a good bet. In common with a lot of lube-strippers, its designed to be rinsed with water.  

Anyhow, my intended transmission grooming evolved into a full-blown, top to toe wash and Carnauba waxing.  

Now I like waxing and I like testing waxes. Mine is from a protectant (rather than aesthetic) perspective. Opinions vary and to be honest, it will depend on a number of factors, but in my view, bikes should be treated to a good quality paste/liquid wax at least three times per year.  

Doing so nourishes the paintwork and protects finishes from the elements-sap, salt, UV light etc, 

Waxes also prevent water and muck from sticking so readily, making cleaning easier. Basic car types are good enough, for the most part, although those, including this Muc-Off Miracle Shine, offer a better sheen and last a bit longer if you can justify the initial asking price. However, a little goes a long way, so the cost levels out, over time. 

Back to the degreaser, it wasn’t as voracious as I was anticipating-at least on the gunky remnants clinging to my Univega’s cassette. I’d left it a few minutes to marinate, worked in into the sprockets, side plates, and Raval ring (while avoiding any splashes/similar, to settle on painted surfaces.)  

This was subsequently rinsed with warm water, while I simultaneously worked a gel bike cleaner into a lather, using the Zefal ZB Wash Brush ZEFAL ZB WASH BRUSH | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). Much as I suspected, the Pure needs agitating with a transmission/similarly stiff brush. Therefore, best to strip cassettes, chains, rings etc, and pop them in a makeshift/parts washer, rather than tackle them in situ.   

In my experience, bristle plots eventually cultivate greasy, cross-contaminating colic.  

The Zefal ZB Wash Brush has just succumbed to that, so I poured some Weldtite Citrus degreaser into a clear punnet. I worked this into the bristles and left the brush marinating for a couple of days, before flushing through with very warm water.  

Elsewhere, I’ve applied some ACF50 to the cleats, to head off fastener seizure and brown taint on the nickel-plated cleat mechanisms.  A sudden reversion to mild weather means snow has melted, and the return of waterlogged roads.  

However, I’ve resisted switching back to the Kojak, since temperatures could plummet in the coming week, courtesy of Storm Christoph, turning greasy roads to ice rinks and some reports promising 1.5 feet (45cm) of snow.     

Dual-sided SPDs have been my default for a very long time-effortless engagement/release, great power transfer, and easy to walk in, especially when roads and pavements become skating rinks.  

For others, dual-sided models such as these Genetic Switch GENETIC SWITCH PEDALS | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  are the best of both worlds. I’m quite fond of them, too. Especially for commuting and other “working” bikes, since they permit a wider choice of footwear.   

Ending this post on the opening note, here’s my review of the Weldtite Bike Cleaner WELDTITE BIKE CLEANER | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

 

Lights, Transmission, Traction...

 

Small fasteners don’t tend to receive much thought, until/unless we drop one and it vanishes under the fridge, or pings off along a dark and lonely road, never to be seen again. Essentially, it’s good to keep a check on them and where possible, hold a few spares, just in case. I had a reminder this week, when the K-Lite Bike Packer Pro’s K LITE BIKEPACKER ULTRA DYNAMO LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) mount screw made a bid for freedom, along a deserted backroad.  

My complacency, NOT a fault with Kerry’s design. Thankfully, I had a Zip Tie handy, so whipped the lamp back in situ and continued. Always good practice to carry a couple, just in case.  

Back at the garage, I had a quick forage in my little fasteners stash and thankfully, found a couple of compatible screws. A timely reminder to buy some more thread lock, too.  My fixed gear winter/trainer’s K-Lite Bikepacker ProV2 Front light K LITE BIKEPACKER PRO V2 FRONT LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) had been flickering a little and a diode wasn’t firing on all cylinders.  

Chatting with Kerry State designer and owner suggested some water had possibly found its way inside the box component, damaging the PCB. Hopefully, I’ll acquire a replacement soon, but that might be a bit tricky, given the present combined chaos of COVID and Brexit. I was also gripped by the urge to give the bike a deep clean, switching back to the Halo Fix G Track hub, while the opportunity presented. HALO FIX G TRACK HUB | Seven Day Cyclist Tourin Tests Commuting 

Roads have once again become rivers but thankfully, the Zefal Extra Wet Nano Ceramic Chain lube ZEFAL EXTRA WET NANO CERAMIC CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) is doing its thing, ditto the SKS Bluemels Shiny Mudguards ZEFAL EXTRA WET NANO CERAMIC CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and Raw Prismatic Reflective Mudflap RAW PRISMATIC REFLECTIVE MUDFLAPS | cycling, but not usually racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

For a little while, I’d been reflecting on a new, suitable rear mudguard for my fixed gear winter/trainer. Over the last 15 years of ownership, I’ve run some very good, full-length chrome plastics. These offered excellent protection, but the machine has evolved from a road, to gravel configuration.  

Rear clip-ons offer decent rider protection while making wheel removal a touch easier and permitting me to run 35mm tyres in the rear triangle. I've successfully affixed Crud guards to the mono-stay too, using a big rubberised shim- a good setup, for the most part, hence it stayed for a few years.  

I’ve concluded, I wanted something lower-slung, with no risk of fouling bigger luggage-bike packing types being cases in point. A wide section, lower-slung design should subvert wet saddles and buttocks better. I’ll contemplate that while putting the Zefal Adventure R11 Waterproof Saddlebag through its paces-an an ideal opportunity to evaluate just how waterproof it is.  

Big brother to the R5, it features the same single compartment design and semi rigid construction but with some detailing, I really liked about the Passport Cycles Bike packing seatpack PASSPORT CYCLES BIKEPACKING SEAT PACK | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) including the ladder strap LED mounts and cargo net. Both have proved compatible with the Kinkekt2.1 Suspension Seatpost KINEKT 2.1 SUSPENSION SEAT POST | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and the Redshift Sports Shockstop Suspension Seatpost REDSHIFT SHOCKSTOP SUSPENSION SEATPOST | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), which is good news, given the increasing popularity of suspension posts on gravel/adventure bikes.