Warmth & Waxes

 250 miles in, and I’m warming to the Momum Mic Wax. Several things have stood out. Waxes tend to be less temperature stable than other lubricants but ours is still running very clean. I’m told its best described as a Tribolubricant.  

It contains natural waxes that come from the palm Copernicia and offers high resistance to wear and has a melting point at 85 degrees c. The latter is much higher than traditional waxes, which tend to assume a mushy state and would account for the Momum’s cleanliness thus far.  

Presently we’re experiencing temperatures around 70 degrees, so perhaps not surprising but certainly reassuring.  The blend penetrates deep within the chain’s inner sanctum, so the transmission feels refined, while shifting remains snappy and crisp. No thunderstorms to date, but plenty of wet roads, which are failing to make tangible impression on its integrity.  

Will be interesting to see how many miles I get from a single application...I’m also wondering how well it serves on cleat mechanisms and other metal to metal interfaces.  No sooner had this thought entered my head, Madison Cycles (Shimano’s UK importer) sent me two sets of pedals. Shimano PDM8100 (XT by another name) which almost require no introduction and these PD ED500, which are a slightly more intriguing design.  

Featuring generously proportioned aluminium alloy bodies, these are dual-sided for easy entry, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn, have cartridge bearings. Cro-moly axles aren’t the lightest options but should be ultra-dependable.  Shimano seems reticent to pigeon-hole them but suggest they’re perfect for road touring. Given those strong axles and sealed bearings, I’d wager they’re a good bet for mixed-terrain touring, gravel and indeed commuting, too.  Time and miles will tell...

A bit like these SH-MT701GX shoes, which are built for “all weather mountain touring, bike packing or commuting”. They feature synthetic leather uppers, a Gore Tex  breathable, waterproof liner for dry feet, a Boa L6 dial, for quick and precise adjustment, a toe cap for additional protection and a chunky sole for comfort on and off the bike. 

About soles and stiffness, these are 4 on Shimano’s off-road scale, which goes all the way to 11. Road, to 12 but while I’m fond of mixing things up, I’ve never gone the Look ARC, or KEO route when venturing beyond asphalt. Did run these on Ursula during periods of extended road riding. Primarily since I was curious, and the confused double takes from some road riders always amused me.  

Gravel is arguably an offshoot and “logical evolution” of cyclo cross and mountain biking and to some extent a genre with obvious appeal to yours truly- drop bars, knobbly tyres, wide ratio gearing and the ability to escape the seemingly ever maddening crowd.  

I’m less of a pioneer than I’d like to think, judging by the wealth of photos depicting mountain bikes ridden in competitive contexts, with drop bars. John Tomac was famous for it, during the late 80’s Ross Schafer, too.  However, go further back in the days of quill stems and 25.4 diameters, it wasn’t just Specialized and Muddy Fox who were colluding in this sorcery.  

The Vittoria Evolution Road Bike Tyres are also proving very competent on wet, greasy roads. Particularly welcome since it had been a few weeks since any tangible rain. This means diesel, oil and other slippery contaminant gets flushed from verges and into the road’s surface.  

The next obvious move was to take a detour and see how they’d behave along some varied bridle path. Spoiler alert, if you want to hoss along at warp speed, or tour primarily unmade roads, I’d suggest spending a good bit more and looking toward Schwalbe Marathon Mondial Double Defense TEST & REVIEW: SCHWALBE MARATHON MONDIAL TYRES (sevendaycyclist.com)   

That said, the Evolution are still quite agile and relatively composed in these contexts to around 17mph. Spirited enough to give a sense of freedom, or to engage young protégé's cruising behind in their trailers or contributing on tagalongs. Still miss Vittoria’s Randonneur Trail though... 

Dawns have become sufficiently balmy that I’ve switched from my default 3/4lengths to these Funkier Bib shorts, which have a decent pad and some nice features.  

I initially found the Lycra a little slippery atop traditional leather saddles, such as the Spa Cycles Aire Titanium and Cycles Berthoud Solour CYCLES BERTHOUD SOULOR LEATHER SADDLE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). However, no annoying, power-robbing surf. Moot point with the Teenage Dream’s long-serving and seemingly discontinued Selle SMP Strike Plus.   

Brighter Days & Lighter Lubes

There’s nothing like testing chain lubes to encourage big mileages. I’d gone way past the 800-mile mark with Motoverde PTFE chain lube, when these two arrived from One Ride Cycling. Stripping the remaining lube from Ursula’s chain and cassette required a generous blast of Motorex Drivetrain Cleaner and some tenacious scrubbing, suggesting it could go another week or two-250 miles, from the original application.

My fixed gear winter/trainer has exceeded 900 road miles mark. I digress... There’s the Momum Mic Wax Chain Lube, a blended formula using microcrystalline wax and ceramic particles for maximum, possibly optimal penetration of host chains.  

It's reckoned stoical enough to withstand wet weather, which isn’t territory synonymous with waxes per se. The Momum Mic Oil is a synthetic oil that uses ceramic particles for similar effect. What better excuse for deep cleaning Ursula and the Teenage Dream’s drivetrains... Both bikes were deserving of a good wash n’ waxing. I also needed to use up the last, useful dregs of some degreasers, so they weren’t taking up unnecessary space.

  

Given we’re creeping toward summer; I’ve treated both to the wax.  Modern chain lubes, (waxes in particular) require pristine hosts, so get recipients really clean-rings, jockey wheels, cages too before giving the bottle a vigorous shake and apply to every link. Keep a rag hovering beneath to collect any overspill.

Unusually for a wax blend, Momum suggest 15-minute curing times. This may be so, say on a very warm morning- I tend to leave lubes curing overnight per se in any case but I wasn’t surprised to find it anywhere near set, after 15 minutes, at 8 degrees.     

Mornings, though much lighter, have still been suitably crisp, meaning for the most part I’ve been donning a mid-season long sleeve jersey (primarily since I’m reviewing it) and middleweight, full finger gloves. However, I’ve also put this Funkier Ixara Gents Elite Jersey through its paces and am suitably impressed Funkier Ixara Gents Elite Jersey | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)   

The Seal Skinz Leather Road Cycle Gloves are a particularly good pairing with the Ergon Gravel Bar Tape, although others, with silicone detailing including these Specialized Grail Long Finger Gloves are proving a very agreeable union.  

Aside from being a great bridge option, they also double as effective liner gloves during winter. They will also slip beneath some classic, looser fitting mitts too, including these Passport Crochet Back Cycling Mitts TEST & REVIEW: PASSPORT CROCHET BACK CYCLING MITTS (sevendaycyclist.com) are still going strong, several seasons down the line.  

The palms aren’t on par with pricier models and the leather benefits from a lick of hide food to keep it supple and the elements out. About lighting, I could get away with switching the dynamos off and stick with blinkies, since it's a matter of remaining conspicuous, rather than needing to navigate.  

I’ve gone for the Ravemen LR500s and of course, the loyal ½ watt AAA powered rear. Now, watts are a rate of consumption, not of output, but often assumed to be. The 500, as its name would suggest, delivers 500lumens but the arc of light means its more useable than many along darker roads.  

However, given those light mornings, I’ve been banging on about, the 200lumen rapid flash is my mode of choice and will go near 15 hours from a full charge. However, keeping the lithium-ion cell charged (or at least, not falling below 70% too readily) is the best way of optimising run times and prolonging battery life.   

The Holdsworth is still sporting the Magicshine Ray 2600 Smart Remote Bike Light and has Moon Sheild clinging on to the seat pack's tab and Tern Vizy adorning the seat post. Overkill some might say but I like the security of two-just in case. Ursula’s default is Ravemen TR30 rear light RAVEMEN TR30M REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) (Although I switch between that and its CLO5 cousin RAVEMEN CL05 SENSORED REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com))

Flanked by The Cat Eye Viz150 (which boasts a daylight running mode) and Topeak Tail lux 30 rear light. The fixed gear winter/trainer’s seat post is hosting The Lelumia The Beast LELUMIA THE BEAST REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), which also sports an 150lumen daylight mode.  

There have been many times during my life where I haven’t been where I’d hoped-professionally and personally. Conversely, I’m pleased with my achievements and my ability to adapt to unpredictability, but a little bit is missing dunno where it’s gone...wonder when, or indeed, if it will return.