Something for The Weekend Sir... Welcome Surprises & Dynamo Delights

No sign of these sunlit uplands and the unicorns promised, are little more than donkeys with dildos strapped to their foreheads... 

The weather here is more aligned with early April than late May, so for time being, the Teenage Dream remains safely tucked away, cosseted from the elements. While rooting around the garage a week or so back, I was delighted to resurrect these Gore Tex over mitts (yes, heavy, sporadic showers remain the narrative). I’ve switched from Zefal Extra Dry Premium Quality Chain Wax.ZEFAL EXTRA DRY CHAIN WAX | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) for SKS Lube Your Chain TESTED: SKS LUBE YOUR CHAIN (sevendaycyclist.com) (Another waxy type formula) since the weather errs on the wet. 

When it comes to traditional waxes, the absence of an oily component (one that leaves a filmy protectant layer on the chain) means superficial taint following exposure to wetter rides/roads. This coincided with a generic deep clean, inspection and other light maintenance.  

 A welder’s grandson, I take a keen interest in welding, so after fifteen miles of headwind, decided to stop and scrutinise this gate. A little workmanlike by my grandfather’s standards but neat enough, ditto the “red lead” finish. 

After some explorative/diagnostic efforts, I have been unable to coax the Apeman A80APEMAN A80 ACTION CAMERA | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) back to life. 

The sudden and unexpected demise (I hadn’t exposed it to wet, wintry weather, or anything else that might induce catastrophic failure). I’ve concluded fault lies with the power switch since the battery and charge life indicator are communicating good health. A pity since I’ve found this model intuitive to use and image quality adequate for my needs.  

I’ve missed being able to capture hares and deer leaping across my path these past few weeks. I am optimistic for this Campark unit, which promises a higher overall spec and a “waterproof” body.  

Now, waterproof is a tricky term on many levels. Watches for example are not permitted to be described as waterproof, only water-resistant. This is because there is always the potential, given the right circumstances for water to infiltrate. The Apeman and Geonaute cameras had never been exposed to damp, let alone wet weather, without wearing their protective housings.  

Budget action cameras offer a lot of bang for very modest buck these days but the mounts/accessories tend to be a weak spot. More cheap than cheerful. The Geonaute’s weather-proof housing needed sanding around the lugs to fit a Go-Pro mount, whereas the Apeman’s case was compatible but fractured at the lugs. The Campark uses similar housing and accessories, although time will tell how durable they are. Housings are good ideas in any case since they protect the lens, screen, and other components from nasty, abrasive grit.  

Now to the dynamo lamps. Kery Staite has sent me a replacement for the Bikepacker Pro V2 that unexpectedly developed a gremlin. He’s also sent me the K-Lite Ultra Road LD (Low drag). The latter is “only” 750 lumens, which is a little over half that of the Bike Packer Pro V2K LITE BIKEPACKER PRO V2 FRONT LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and the Bike Packer UltraK LITE BIKEPACKER ULTRA DYNAMO LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), so has me eager to assess performance along the unlit lanes and backroads, given I’ve been spoilt by the 1300lumen siblings. 

 

I’m also curious as to how it ranks against the Exposure Revo Dynamo, which pumped out 800lumens and adorned Ursula’s bars for several years and many thousand winter miles. Initial impressions are favourable and the drag is palpably lower than its more powerful Bike Packer cousins. In some respects, Ursula isn’t the most obvious host but as my daily driver, I’m going to notice any subtle tweaks/changes.    

These also arrived with nice new composite mounts, moving the lamps proud of the bars. I’ve mounted the Bike Packer Pro beneath the fixed’s Soma Condor 2 Shallow Drop barsSOMA CONDOR 2 SHALLOW DROP BARS | (sevendaycyclist.com) for a neater aesthetic, and to avoid potentially dazzling anyone. Not that this has been an issue to date, although I have needed to tilt the Ultra siblings very slightly.  Right, I’m off to brew some more wax-based corrosion inhibitor-seems we’ve run out.  

 

 

 

Gripped

The weather is showing some signs of a spring-like renaissance, which is nice, since I now have the Teenage Dream running like, well, the machine I remember so fondly. Discovered the front hub had a little play, so eradicated that and then investigated some boxes that had been left in a corner of the garage since moving.  

Much to my delight, I found a mixed bundle of better-quality tubes –700x18-25 and mid-section 23-40. All packet, so I’ve added those to the appropriate clear storage box and one apiece to the wedge packs. I’ve also decided to switch the Teenage Dream’s PDW (Portland Design Works) Big Silver Road Pump for this Lezyne Road drive Alloy Mini Pump.  

A few millimeters shy of 300, both are best described as midi, rather than mini pumps and in my experience, the PDW has an edge on the resuscitation speed and pressure fronts. However, I’ve found the bracket tenure a little less than ideal, so incremental creep has seen it shuffling down and “wood-peckering” the front mech. Distracting and unwelcome.

  

Interestingly, the Lezyne proved a better guest in the Portland’s bracket, so stays for now. I’ll be carrying CO2 cartridges along though, since I don’t fancy trying to deliver 110psi plus into the bikes’ 700x25c following a flat, although hopefully these will be infrequent, warded off by the pump, tubes, and similar rescue apparel. One thing led to another, and I began foraging for lights.  

Not that it’ll be seeing the depths of winter, but a compact 450/500lumen unit with backing singer and a decent rear blinky are wise precautions from a seen-with perspective, especially enjoying summer evenings. Time flies and light fades when you’re having fun... 

For the time being, I’ll alternate between this Moon Meteor and Bontrager Ion 350 RT front lights, although the Ravemen LR500S front light RAVEMEN LR500S FRONT LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) has a bit more clout, thanks to clever lens technology. Chances are I’ll be running them in their frugal flashing modes but a bit more oomph is always useful.  

I found an old but very worthy AA cell model for hanging on the wedge pack and an Oxford Ultra torch Mini+ USB Rear Light 15lm. The latter is a five-mode (one steady, four flashing) rear light that is a good bit brighter than the numbers alone might suggest.  

It's small enough not to interrupt the clean aesthetic. Was never totally convinced the Fuschia pink Knog wireless computer sensor was the best fit aesthetically, but never so offensive as to induce change. Mid rummage, I unearthed a black counterpart, so fed it a new LR44 button cell and swapped them over. 

Minor cosmetic stuff but worth doing, since I was there. It communicates very well with the elderly but very solid decathlon head unit. Not that I would advocate the “Frankenpute” route but I’ve had a few that have performed very reliably. 

Several weeks down the line, Ursula’s shifting had suddenly gone a little “off”. I knew the chain, cassette, ring and derailleur were fine but suspected the cassette’s lock-ring needed snugging down slightly. Job done; I stripped the Weldtite Ceramic, with a liberal helping of Muc-Off High Pressure Quick Drying Degreaser Chain & Cassette MUC-OFF HIGH PRESSURE DEGREASER | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) Zefal Extra Dry Chain Wax ZEFAL EXTRA DRY CHAIN WAX | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  was the substitute of choice. I also honed the front Genetic CX Cantilever TEST & REVIEW: GENETIC CX CANTILEVER BRAKES (sevendaycyclist.com)   for some additional bite, since opportunity presented.  

A week later and I’d forgotten that wet roads can have a zapping effect upon more traditional wax lubes. Nothing that wasn’t cured, once the flaking residual wax had been reclaimed, and worked into the chain.  

Zefal have also very kindly sent me some luggage- The Z Adventure C2 and Z Adventure C3. These took longer than expected since one carrier refused to bring them into the UK. Much of Brexit’s impact is being hidden by the pandemic but is presently “knee-capping" the UK economy.    

At 2.2 litres, the Adventure C2 is arguably a better fit on a bigger frameset, where it can cosy up against the headtube. However, Zefal also suggests it can be mounted in other ways. I think it complements the Univega quite well, doesn’t obscure the down tube bottle cage/bosses.  

The C2 is water-resistant, rather than proof, so will be interesting to see how it fares on wetter rides, not to mention my garden hose torture testing...  Testing aside, I’ll go with a dry sack to seal the elements out, full stop.