Fork, Rotors Action...

 After some foraging, I’ve everything together for Ursula’s front end upgrade. The Project 2 fork sports a crown race, has some corrosion inhibitor sloshing around its inner sanctum, and the TRP Spyre SLC calliper bolted to the IS adaptor. Following the “use what you have” mantra, I’ve blasted the remainder of some heavy-duty PTFE spray inside.  

The sort that forms a thick, protectant layer and can also evolve into a fat-ball, causing sticky control cables. Great for protecting electroplated frame/fork ends, derailleur cable guides that run beneath the bottom bracket shell, trailer hitches and locking mechanisms, garage rollers. Jobs, where grease is too heavy and traditional maintenance sprays, are too easily dismissed by wet, wintry roads.  

Indeed, a couple of teaspoons of 10w40 motor oil coursing through the tubes would do much the same job, although, in this instance, I’d need to deliver it via a syringe-messy but again, dirt cheap and very effective.   

Now, I’d been believing, nay convinced myself that the RL340 wasn’t compatible with disc brakes, so needed an RL520. However, closer scrutiny of the Tektro site contradicts this (I wanted to swerve travel agent or similar adaptor), so hopefully, that pans out, in the real world. I have a sliver right-hand RL520, but cosmetic symmetry is also important.  

The rotor in this instance is an auction site special. I was curious as to its performance and durability. In any case, I have a Clarkes unit sitting in the brake spares box...Somewhere. The transplant will take place at a more convenient time, probably when the weather turns a little less wintry and I can switch to the fixed for a while.  

However, I’ve gone the slow and steady route to cut down on time and potential snarl-ups. Tucked away in Ursula’s Deore crank, the Torque 7 tool is remaining rattle-free, and pleasant to use. The magnetic components mean everything’s still together. There's been a faint hint of taint but nothing a quick once over with an oily rag won’t arrest convincingly. On the one hand, I’d expect that, given the price point but reassuring and the tool itself is genuinely much nicer to use than I was expecting.  

The Schwalbe Land cruiser has been another pleasant surprise. Traction and rolling resistance have been more convincing across the board, even along untreated, slippery backwaters and at 70psi.  Puncture resistance is lower on their scale than say the Marathon plus but again, thus far no unpleasant surprises. During one freezing ride, I went for Ursula’s bar con, ready to drop down a couple of gears, in preparation for the climb that would take me past the poultry processing plant-an eerie pulsing hulk, especially at 530am.  

Nothing, it was if the lever had frozen solid. Thankfully, I wasn’t in an overly tall, knee popping gear, so cruised my way to the summit. Over the top, the Microshift brifter behaved normally once more. Weird. It did remind me of tales pro mechanics told of treating chains with anti-freeze, during winter cyclocross races.     

For months, the UK media has seemingly been obsessed by whiteouts, “thundersnow” and the general second coming of the ice age. Now, I’m no stranger to spiked tyres and really rate them, for tackling winter’s more extreme conditions. I was very intrigued by Kenda Klondike, but these aren’t so readily available in the UK and then I happened upon what may be the holy grail. Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro. I’ve been impressed by the Schwalbe Winter TESTED: SCHWALBE WINTER SPIKED TYRES (sevendaycyclist.com) and the upgraded Schwalbe Winter Plus.  

However, the Ice Spiker Pro is reckoned to be the “turbo of spike tyres” with a maximum of 402, yes 402 spikes. These are made from tungsten carbide but coated in aluminium. They still weigh 997g apiece (which is still lighter than the Schwalbe GT365 TESTED: SCHWALBE MARATHON GT 365 BICYCLE TYRES (sevendaycyclist.com)  

Continuing the cold weather narrative, here’s Steve’s review of the Funkier Nueva thermal skull cap FUNKIER NUEVA THERMAL SKULL CAP | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Miles of Contemplation

 

January can feel eerily quiet, and an exceptionally long month. One that can lend itself to all sorts of introspection. Found myself looking at Chinese carbon forks again. Not sure what prompted this, but before that idea became the ONLY idea, I reminded myself that I had only recently acquired a decent Cro-Moly set, mount adaptors, and Topeak Versa Mount TOPEAK VERSAMOUNT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)...I also had a hunch I’ve some Axiom Axle Runners, which would’ve been a much better fit, aligning the stays in a much kinder, aesthetically pleasing way.  

Couldn’t find them for love nor money...Thankfully I spotted some stainless-steel Día Compe ENE Ciclo Fender Stay Adaptors, which work to the same principle.  One drilling slips over the quick release skewer, the mudguard (fender) stays bolt on to the eyelet ends.  

 

“All fit for purpose, so use what you already have” My inner dialog gently concluded. I was also rather pleased to receive Topeak Tailux 100, the 30’s bigger sibling, boasting a 100lumen daylight flash, 9 LEDs and four modes, so doesn’t feel overburdened and overly complex, in the way some models can.  The Lelumia Beast Light also arrived, so I wasted no time charging and mounting. 

There were other quiet temptations, searching for old machines/framesets I had lusted after in my late teens.  

A 1990 Orbit Frontier, being the most notable example. I still see the odd MTB frameset (and occasionally, complete bike) bouncing around the forums and auction sites, but it was the drop bar model that always fired my imagination.  

531 tube set, full complement of braze-ons, 700x38c tyres, full length guards, XT thumb shifters and an eclectic finishing kit. The sort typical of the then Dudley-based marque, during that era. Intrigue rather than intent and I certainly wouldn’t pay fancy prices for a frameset.  

Not a question of Nostalgia talking. Rather, the concept really fired my imagination-just like the Muddy Fox Trailblazer and Specialized Rock Combo.   

My fleet has always run in two parallels. Lightweight, pared to the essentials’ competition machines and practical, four seasons daily drivers-whether they be tourers, trainers, or mtb based hybrids.  

Hang on to a bike long enough, and it will become a custom machine, by default. Chains, tape, tyres, cassettes, rings etc all get replaced, and often upgraded. Ursula is a prime example of this phenomenon but the same goes for my fixed gear winter/trainer. Only the frame and two Aheadset spacers remain of the latter’s original, 2005 build.   

Extra UK, Topeak’s distributor also sent me an interesting set of Capgo cables. Aside from highly polished inners, the outers feature a “specially developed” PTFE grease, which promises reduced friction and improved longevity.  Timely, given Ursula’s planned disc upgrade.  

Retro is fun. However, Nostalgia is misguided, some might say delusional.  

Too many people in the UK seem to believe it has the world influence it did c. 1950. Then of course, there were those romanticizing austerity as being the return to a halcyon time of collectivism, “pulling together” and social cohesion.  

Taken to its logical conclusion, since the onset of this pandemic, I've been bombarded by references to a “blitz spirit” (Often by those born in the mid-1990s. Can’t see folks swapping their Audi Q8 for a single-cylinder Matchless & Sidecar outfit, somehow-even allowing for declining living standards and rising prices). Could the UK revisit petrol rationing, as it did between 1945 and 1957, then later, in the 1970s? It does seem to be lurching from one crisis to another and with no obvious end in sight.  

 A few months ago, it was looking less dystopian. The resurgence in cycling as a form of mainstream personal and goods transportation has been very heartening. Infrastructure nurturing this growth is lagging chronically behind, which is still discouraging people in cities and other urban areas. Contexts where e and cargo bikes come into their own.  

Having navigated the capital on bicycles and motorcycles for 12 years, I adapted to, rather than reveled in the traffic-light grand Prix, uninsured drivers, jaywalking pedestrians, and general chaos. Improved my handling skills and roadcraft no end and gifted me some interesting stories. Grassroots racing at Temple Mills Lane and Herne Hill Velodrome are also fond memories.   

Happy to engage with other riders, I like the freedom, prefer the solitude and ability to process my thoughts. Similar story with motorcycles. I am an introvert, which, contrary to popular misconception doesn’t mean I am shy, or socially awkward. Rather, I need time alone, to recharge, reflect and process.   

Many developed economies are beginning to “bounce back” albeit modestly, given the pandemic but the projection is looking as if the UK, specifically Britain, will continue to decline, due in part to a political administration that has no tangible economic plan.  

There is also a chronic shortage of certain skills, which much of the UK appears reluctant and/or unqualified to assume. Continuous development has been a buzzword for a couple of decades and various initiatives were established to improve the skills and life chances of those, often at the lower end of the socio-economic ladder. Well-intentioned, the target audiences either weren’t aware or weren’t able to access them.   

There is of course, a regional slant. Many vacancies are not found in “left behind” communities. Contexts where the infrastructure and indeed, geographical mobility is similarly disadvantaged.  

 

OK, so it’s not difficult to appreciate a longing for a warm, comfortable time, especially during a time of great uncertainty and economic turbulence. However, the rejection of qualified commentary and nuanced opinions in favour of simplistic, popularism is very worrying, on so many levels. However, as modern history confirms, people are very easily mobilised in certain directions.  

Back in the saddle, I’ve reached my conclusions regarding the Gecko Calf Length Waterproof Socks GECKO CALF LENGTH WATERPROOF SOCKS | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

and the Oxford Venture Jacket Fierce red OXFORD VENTURE JACKET | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)