Big Grins

 A week on from the Maxxis Re-Fuse TR arrival, the brand’s Ikon (26x2.0) were being handed to me by a very amiable courier. The following day I whipped them aboard Ursula’s Shimano Alfine/ XT wheelset, complete with fresh butyl. They’re slightly reminiscent of Kenda Small Block Eight, which I had run in 700c and 26 versions and similarly straightforward to fit.  

Interestingly, the Ikon have a maximum payload of 90 kilos, so best suited to lighter riders. Ours is the baseline model with a 60tpi casing and isn’t tubeless compatible (ready, if you prefer) and doesn’t feature a puncture-repelling bet, so it will be interesting to see how they fare in terms of rolling and puncture resistance.  As a precaution, I’ve gone for some Schrader valve tubes, so I could get some sealant sloshing around them.

    

With a maximum, tame by road standards 65psi, I was also surprised by the number of strokes needed to deliver the full 65- that's with the SKS track pump.

Beyond 50 and my biceps were beginning to course with lactic acid, and we were close to locking out at 63psi. Now, arguably you wouldn’t go to the maximum, but I like to see how a tyre behaves at the cited maximum, before tapering down to find the sweet spot for different contexts.   

Anyhow, I’ve put them to one side for a moment while I concentrate on racking up miles on the fixed with the Maxxis Re Fuse. I’m finding the latter very dependable-in every sense thus far. Not the most compliant ride but by no means harsh and what I’ve come to expect from 60tpi single compound casings.  

May has seen an improvement weather-wise, namely drier (although still very cool in the morning)- single digits mean I’m sticking to the three-quarter lengths and long-sleeve jerseys and indeed full finger gloves when it’s sliding down to 5 or 6.  Baggier fitting mitts also allow liner-type gloves and this combo can be a great middle point for changeable conditions-long rides, in particular.  

Anyhow, the more Spring-like weather has meant the Teenage Dream has come out from seasonal hibernation, giving me chance to get some miles in with the CST Cito. For the uninitiated, the Cito are a dual compound 170tpi model available in 23, 25, and 28mm sections. Formative outings have really brought the best from the build, which may be quaint by contemporary standards but still brings huge grins.  

I ran Vee Tire Co Rain Runners for a good while and was impressed by their low rolling resistance, compliance, and wet weather grip. However, the Cito are a notch better in my book and very competitively priced. The ride quality doesn’t match that of a mid-range tubular but isn’t that far behind either and without the maturing, gluing and sewing that came with them. 

  

125psi is their maximum and even at these lofty pressures they’ve never felt harsh, or skittish and have held their line impeccably. CST hasn’t cited a minimum pressure and at present, they haven’t released a tubeless compatible/ready version but I’m reckoning the sweet spot for me and my 70kilo frame is between 105 and 110psi.

Not that we’d want to invite these things but puncture resistances courtesy of their EPS lining, which also features in their Czar CST Czar Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) cousins and indeed, the Pika CST Pika Gravel Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). This is a flexible Poly fibre strip running beneath the casing’s centre strip. This doesn’t run bead to bead, which may have implications for puncture resistance.  

However, the Cito are intended as a fair-weather training/competition tyre, 5mm thick Aramid belts and similar technology is uber dependable, but tyres featuring these tend to be on the weighty side- think 700g or so apiece, not the sort of heft you’d want on a pared to the essential's plaything, race, or TT bike.   

Talking of which, for those of you wondering why I hadn’t whipped the Cito aboard the Holdsworth, it’s primarily because the Holdsworth has bigger clearances- could go up to 28 up front and 32mm plus at the rear, while its 25mm tops, with the Teenage Dream. Every so often, I contemplate upgrading the latter's frameset, probably bespoke, but definitely steel and fillet brazed.  

However, I’ve let these thoughts drift since I can’t justify it on grounds of cost and space. Practicalities aside, I’m also very fond of the frameset and then there’s the memories tied up within it. Bikes are like friends. Some come and go, and others stay a lifetime.  

 

The Joy of Robust Rubber & Other Reflections

To my delight, Madison sent me a set of Maxxis Re fuse TR 700x32c. TR denotes Tubeless Ready, but I’ve gone the tube route since it’s the best fit for me. However, it's nice to know that I can convert, later down the line, if fancy takes me. Talking of fits, they were surprisingly easy to slip aboard the rims- just a little help from the Topeak Shuttle 2.1 News about Seven Day Cyclist levers getting the last quarter home.  

Maximum pressure is a modest 75psi and out of curiosity (rather than reaching for the track pump), I grabbed the Topeak Road Master Blaster frame fit to see how efficiently it could perform roadside rescues. 200 strokes and 3 minutes had it to the maximum- a steady rhythm but minimal effort.  

Reassuring- our large is also the perfect fit for the top tube. The Maxxis Re Fuse have already inspired confidence-speed and rolling resistance are also good-although what I’ve come to expect from 60 tpi casings- a less supple ride than models like the CST CzarCST Czar Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) but I’m hoping the bead-to-bead puncture repelling belt prove ultra reliable, more so than the otherwise likeable Silk Shield employed in the Maxxis Overdrive Excel.  

I returned from a longer ride on Sunday morning and decided the fixed’s aheadset bearings needed tweaking slightly. This struck toward the end and upon returning home I concluded a spacer revision was needed. I removed a black 10mm and replaced it with 3x5mm blue, which sorted minor, but impactful tension issues.    

Potholes have been breeding faster than corrupt politicians, sending the senses screaming with alarm and testing my bike handling skills. In common with tubes, certain sections of road really need resurfacing, rather than sporadic patching. However, cash-strapped local authorities just can’t afford to entertain this. Not something the public understands but then, to be expected.  

Tendering sounds the way forward when it comes to getting best value but in practice, it’s a race to the bottom and a lot of work and on a wider level, services are inadequate. Want decent quality services and infrastructure then there’s a cost but managed properly, this will repay the investment many times over.  

I digress...Morning rides have still been unexpectedly chill, so I’ve been alternating between these Madison Bib Tights Madison Freewheel Thermal Bib Tights | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and ¾ lengths. When it's milder, these Funkier Ride Flo Men’s ¾ Bib Tights FUNKIER RIDE FLO MEN'S 3/4 BIB TIGHTS | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) when it's cooler, these  Triban Men's Road Cycling Bib Tights RC500.  

Great pads, extremely comfortable and generally rugged, given their price points.

¾ lengths have long been my go-tos for general road-biased riding. In the height of summer, bib shorts all the way, depths of winter, thermal tights but ¾ lengths cover all the other bases-nicely.  

Long sleeve jerseys and vest-type base layers, regular caps- the Showers Pass Elite Cycling Cap SHOWERS PASS ELITE CYCLING CAP | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and its Atlas stablemate being my favourites.

Gloves-wise, I’ve alternated between some Specialized full finger liner types and these long-serving Passport Crochet back Cycling Mitts TEST & REVIEW: PASSPORT CROCHET BACK CYCLING MITTS (sevendaycyclist.com). I’ve needed to feed the palms more regularly to keep them supple but again, they’re comfortable, and very rugged-with lots of retro charm. Obviously, being leather they also mould to the wearer’s contours.  

200 miles hence and the FLR F70 are beginning to mould to my feet and relax a little at key points. Not in the sense of becoming saggy, or anything similarly unwelcome, rather it means they’re easier to slip on and I’ve switched to some aftermarket insoles. More because I could, rather than a reflection on the FLR footbeds.  

Will be interesting (read I hope) they’ll relax sufficiently to allow comfortable pairing with waterproof socks... Yes, I know we’re heading toward summer, and it doesn’t rain that frequently (or heavily) in the UK but. Things can get boggy under tyre, especially along the trails, dab a foot down and yes, wet, gooey stuff can make itself known through the cleats first-assuming full immersion doesn’t catch you first.  

That said; the British justify their preoccupation with weather on the defence it is so changeable. I’m not a subscriber to this. I’ve found Belgium and the Netherlands more changeable, especially during spring. Maybe it’s another example of that infamous British Exceptionalism...In my book, there’s no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong kit for it.