Autumnal Promise

 

Not had the cool, bright ambience I’m particularly fond of, rather the rush and rumble of sugar beet being funnelled into trucks and lanes carpeted in a mixture of leaves and acorns, bringing a new dimension to riding. Acorns can prove surprisingly good at testing a tyres traction, especially when the rains strike. No issues with the Maxxis Ravager Maxxis Ravager TR Tyres | cycling-not-racing, Rambler Maxxis Rambler Tubeless Ready Tyres | cycling-not-racing, Vittoria and Continental Pure Contact-plenty of feedback and compliant casings certainly help. The Weldtite All Weather is doing its thing impeccably too. It’s a lower viscosity formula, so a little trickier than some to get a really controlled, sparing coating on the chain. Doing so rewards with much less grit, grot and ultimately need for weekly wipes of the side plates.  Fitting the Zefal Crank Armor presented an ideal opportunity to check chain health-just shy of .5, so a reasonable amount of life remaining. .7 is pension point for 10speed chains, although sometimes, say following a more involved strip, or deep clean and there’s a replacement to hand, I may switch at .6.

There’s no such thing as the wrong weather, rather the wrong clothing- a phrase credited to Alfred Wainright, back in 1973 but it certainly resonates with me, both throughout my riding “career”. Basically, the notion we can enjoy any kind of weather, with the right kit. Admittedly, while I accept punctures and other mid ride mechanicals are “part of the ride”, not to mention product testing but they’re not my favourite experience when it’s raining dogs in the wee small hours. While DWR coatings found on jerseys are great for an unexpected showers and will typically buys 30 minutes to either reach home or don a technical jacket.

The Castelli Do Di Ci to my surprise, forgoes the DWR component in favour of rapid wicking (which it seems to do very effectively) although surprisingly enough, I’ve remained dry in the showery contexts described above. On longer, or potentially changeable outings, I default to Madison Road Race Super Light Men’s Waterproof Softshell Jacket Madison Road Race Jacket | cycling-not-racing since its packable and offers a decent level of protection. Unlike, the classic “condom” jacket, which are great if you want to sweat some weight off, the Madison breathes very effectively and packs nicely into a bigger wedge pack, assuming if like me, you prefer it didn’t consume a jersey pocket.    

Continuing the right kit narrative, packable garments have their place and can be a serious godsend. However, more persistently wet, wintry weather calls for a more traditional technical jacket. A sudden onset of “stormy” weather saw me reaching for this Showers Pass Elements Jacket SHOWERS PASS MEN'S ELEMENTS JACKET | cycling-not-racing which boasts excellent 15000mm waterproofing and breathability, not to mention some very clever retro-reflective technology. The only thing I’ve really missed is a breast pocket for easy access to my compact camera. It also proved an ideal opportunity to don the Sidi Algor, which have held up very well against deep standing water and similarly wet and occasionally gritty stuff. I’ve gone for waterproof socks in the first instance but will also get soe miles in wearing traditional merino blend socks to see how the boot’s water repelling properties hold off the elements.    

 

I was delighted to receive this Altura Night Vision Storm Jacket. The Night vision could arguably be described as something of an iconic model for commuting and general riding. I’ve used previous versions long term and found them very practical and surprisingly durable. Waterproofing and Breathability are 10,000mm apiece, which is my yardstick, for this kind of garment-one that will wick fairly effectively when turning a decent tempo.

That said, I prefer those with a breathability rating closer to 15,000mm for longer, more intensive riding. Weight is another consideration, this Altura tips the scales at just under 500g, which again is typical of this genre of garment but a higher end model, such as this Gore are around the 300g mark, which is quite considerable. Similarly, while models such as the Altura are packable, we’re talking 126-20 litre pannier, or Bike Packing Seat pack such as this PASSPORT CYCLES BIKEPACKING SEAT PACK | cycling-not-racing  or the Lomo 13 Litre Bikepacking Seat Pack  Lomo 13 Litre Bikepacking Seat Pack | cycling-not-racing not rack bag, let alone jersey pocket.

Fine on a tour, but not necessarily ideal on a training run, or day ride. Oh, and if you’ve gone this route (or at the other extreme, returned from a hell and high-water mission) hang the jacket out to dry properly.  Polyester blends are pretty easy to wash too-pop in the machine at 30 degrees, minimal detergent, line dry (or indoors) naturally away from sources of heat.   

 

Booties, Jerseys & Bar Tape

 

Cooler conditions have seen a transition from wax to middleweight wet lubes and more layers. Castelli’s UK importer were generous enough to send the marque’s Do Di Ci Jacket, which promises “unmatched breathability” coupled with a water repellent finish and is designed for temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees.

Following the all-important layering principle, its designed for use with a base layer and on longer outings with a rain jacket to protect against more persistent showers.  Corresponding big longs were also included in the bundle, which is similarly welcome, although ironically the mercury had slid upwards again, to the high teens come midafternoon.

No sooner had I dusted down the Mighty MW7, I was invited to try Sidi Algor MTB Shoes. I’m a big fan of booties for winter-bit of a luxury in some respects but infinitely more convenient than overshoes. Algor is Latin for “Cold”, which is bang on from specification and marketing standpoints.

I’ve opted for a two bolt SPD/Time/Crank Brothers model since they are my default and frankly, the most practical option for the wetter, slippery months.

Available in our monochrome, or black/grey, the Algor feature uppers fashioned from a hybrid of textile and TPU, a triple closure system comprising of a waterproof YKK outer zipper, Velcro® strap and Quicklace Closure System. Primaloft internal lining promises excellent insulation from winter’s chill.  Retro reflective detailing around the heel, piping and heel pull.

 I’m excited and keen to see how they compare with Shimano MW7, which could be rivals, given the price point Shimano MW7 (MW702) Gore Tex MTB Shoes | cycling-not-racing.  At 1048g for the 44, they’re 90g weightier and while the sole is a mix of carbon and nylon the stiffness rating is 5, at the lower end of their stiffness range, so it will be interesting to see how they compare.  

Fresh cleats spun home-with a liberal helping of Zefal Pro II Grease, I’m wondering if sole stiffness might be closer to the Shimano MW501 Shimano MW501 Dry Shield SPD MTB Shoes | cycling-not-racing Reinforcement is apparent around the toe warp bodes well for longevity, while promising some additional protection from stones, stubbed toes and trail debris.  Studs are viable up front, but as with the Sidi Aertis Sidi Aertis MTB Shoes | cycling-not-racing aren’t included in the package, which though not a major thing, is perhaps slightly disappointing, given the asking price.  

Wetter autumnal conditions have meant sudsy bucket washes for Muffin and with it, switching from the Weldtite Wax Weldtite Wax Lube | cycling-not-racing to its All-Weather Stablemate, being mindful to apply it very sparingly. Thankfully, the moderate flowrate makes this very straightforward, and this PTFE free version doesn’t seem so prone to fling. A little too heavy for cleat mechanisms, but fine for cable ends and perfect for adjuster screws, where they enter the frame ends, which can be conduits for trafficking moisture inside frames... 

I wasn’t surprised to discover the no brand crank protectors have disintegrated, so I’ve binned them and replaced with some genuine Zefal Crank Armor ZEFAL CRANK ARMOR | cycling-not-racing, which have lasted over five years without any sign of wear.  An illustration of the old adage buy cheap, buy twice. True, crank arm (or indeed, brake lever protectors) aren’t essential, but they will defend expensive comments from needless accidental damage, especially on a gravel, cross, or mountain bike.

As the temperatures slowly slip downward, the benefits of thermal bottles start becoming particularly apparent. Ok, that’s not strictly so, since thermal bottles have a lot of value during the hotter months, when we want drinks to retain that cold, crisp, dare I say palatable. There’s little merit in tepid tea, or cold coffee. Not the most obvious choice perhaps, but I’ve found traditional Thermos designs surprisingly practical and compatible with standard composite cages.

These are around £25. At the other extreme, there are bike specific models, which promise to keep beverages at their optimal temperature for 12 hours or so and theoretically slot into a standard cage. This Bivo Trio 21oz Insulated Bottle is proving a good fit with standard designs, including these rather nice stainless steel Wolf Tooth Stainless Steel Morse Cages presently adorning Denise’s seat and down tube bosses.

Though generally impressed by the Silca Nastro Piloti Bar Tape Silca Nastro Piloti Bar Tape | cycling-not-racing , I’ve also found some limitations when doing long, steady miles along green lanes and unmade roads. While the grip great, allowing for a more relaxed tenure, it’s a road tape and unless you’re going for gel underlays, I’d steer you towards something thicker. I’m also quietly annoyed I sold a set of On-One Midge drops a few years back, since these are shallow and swoopy for great control sans asphalt. Still, I’ve spent time and effort with stems and other mods, so Denise’s WTB drops are staying.   I’ll leave things here and with Steve’s review of the Magicshine Hori 900 Magicshine Hori 900 Switchable Bicycle L | cycling-not-racing

Longs, Gilets & Other Seasonal Resurrections

 

Autumn progresses, so with the fleet prepped, it was time to bung gilets and other seasonally appropriate riding attire that had been hibernating in various drawers, in the wash.  Base layers, gilets, arm warmers, ¾ lengths…bar tape, cargo nets… Yes, I uncovered the cargo net while hoovering out the garage and investigating some corners.

Cargo nets are really useful for capturing overspill that might not fit into a pannier or rack top bag- particularly useful for awkward items, such as balls, helmet, mangos, melons, clothes, or ensuring provisions don’t escape from an open top basket. Think this one’s a Delta, but Topeak and several other brands produce them. Both net and bar cape emerged pristine from their 30-degree machine wash.  The MW7 bootiesShimano MW7 (MW702) Gore Tex MTB Shoes | cycling-not-racing also got a good scrub, since I’d been a little remiss on this front-beyond testing, not my usual approach to kit.

I’ve switched to Muffin, given the more changeable weather and of course, to play with the Sigma Buster 1600 and the RL150 pairing now the nights are sunrise is slower to arrive. In common with the Magicshine Hori 1300 Magicshine HORI 1300 Front Light | cycling-not-racing , Magicshine Evo 1700 Underneath Mounted Bike Light Magicshine Evo 1700 Underneath Light | cycling-not-racing and the Gaciron Cetus 1700, there are a sensible staircasing of modes, catering for most riding contexts.

I’ve switched Muffin back to the recently re-greased Shimano M540 since they (and indeed, other dual sided designs) are the most practical options for swift re-engagement. That said, the PDES600 Shimano PD ES 600 SPD Pedal | cycling-not-racing and A520 remain good bets, if you wanted a road specific, single-sided design. Packing them with a suitably stiff grease also helps with weighting, meaning it's easier to clip in.  I’m still running Muffin’s Izumi chain on the Weldtite Wax lube, since I’ve not had reason to change and I’m very taken with the cleanliness and low friction. I also tweaked the chain tension very slightly, suggesting some very minor wear. Nothing I was going to get excited by, although chain health is less of an exact science, compared 3/32, so I’ll be keeping a closer eye on things.  

 This brings me nicely to the Zefal Pro II Grease, which seems to be holding out very well against sudsy bucket washes and moving components seem buttery smooth, which bodes particularly well for winter, and I'm pleased to note that to date, it hasn't done anything nasty to seals, or composite components. Again, I’ll reserve judgement until mid-November or so, when the elements have been a bit harsher and possibly to coincide with a bottom bracket upgrade.

Headsets, hubs and bottom brackets benefit from stiff greases and good weather sealing, although in fairness, most seem to solider on very reliably and then unexpectedly get the grumbles. Usually at the least convenient moments!  For context, I’ve had a titanium Hollowtech II pattern and Tiagra do precisely this, same story with the UN55 cartridge type.  

 

One thing I will not be reserving judgement around is the seemingly limitless plastic patriotism and flag shagging engulfing certain sectors of the public consciousness. From an academic perspective, it illustrates how people are so readily mobilised and moulded into false narratives, replicating that which swept Europe during the mid-1930s. From a pragmatic viewpoint, true patriots help within their communities, whether it be painting a community centre, litter picking, helping a neighbour, or helping someone who is struggling. Not for validation, or self-promotion, but because they genuinely care about others, seek to build people up, and bring them along.    

 

Level Headed...Lids, Mental & Physical Loads

 

“It doesn’t matter how good a rider you are (or believe yourself) you will always come off”. Source my late father, who had for a time worked for Matcheless Motorcycles in Plumstead, South London. His role was in personnel, looking after the test riders who were employed to test machines in some cases, literally to destruction.   

I hold dear the right to choose when it comes to helmets, but I also hold dear the ability to think, to make decisions and enjoy my own sense of agency. Against this backdrop, I ‘ve been sent this MET Miles Mips helmet. It’s a sub £70 model defined as being “A touring model with roadie spirit”.

On paper at least, specification is favourable, taking everything into account. Aside from the MIPSC2 system, we have seventeen vents, washable pads, ponytail compatibility, compliance with CE, AS/MZS and US standards.  This one’s gloss white but there’s four other choices, including a very fetching teal.

Loosely speaking, MIPS should be thought of as a roll cage for the head, protecting the head against twisting, rotational forces which are contributary to concussions and more serious brain injury. Afterall, falls and crashes tend to involve tumbles, not s singular strike onto a hard surface. It’s a very thin, low friction layer moving within the helmet, helping to redirect this force and with it, brain injury. 

Neurological injuries have scary, life-changing implications. I’ve worked with acquired brain injuries and related conditions, such as stroke and cardiovascular incidents in previous careers. Sometimes full recoveries are possible, but sometimes the person we knew is lost. I recall walking into a Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit and seeing a woman in her mid-twenties who could only cry-no other form of expression. She had been the pillion rider in a motorcycle accident. It turned my blood cold.

It's important to note that helmets, like locks are only effective if used correctly. Anecdotally, I see a lot of people riding with badly fitting helmets, whether this be down to sizing, or adjustment. A helmet tipped back exposing the wearer's forehead will offer no protection in a crash and could also cause injury.  Measure your head's circumference (using a fabric, not steel) tape measure) just above your ears and brow in centimetres.

This will give you the correct size, but it's worth noting some styles and designs may also influence this, so it's worth trying a few. "Ponytail ports" have become increasingly popular in recent years, allowing an easier exit for one's mane and seem genuinely more comfortable for riders with longer hair.   Similarly, trail, or commuter models often come with peaks and a profile more accommodating of lights and similar, although I'd resist fitting action cameras and similar tech, since these can also cause injuries in a spill.  

The helmet should sit horizontal and with a small (1-2 finger width) above your brow. Fine tuning the helmet is usually a question of loosening, or tightening a thumbwheel, or similar ratchet-type system at the back and either slackening or tightening the straps.  These should, ideally sit just below the ears and snugly around the chin, while still allowing you to chew, or chat comfortably. With the chin straps secured, tweak the ratchet type closure and check there's no movement, but without the sensation of your head being compressed in a vice.  From here, you're unlikely to adjust frequently, only when wearing a cap, or similar beneath.  

 A life without risk is no life at all. I’ve also run services for people with learning disabilities and while an understandable reaction, many parents had wrapped their children in bubble wrap and sought to eliminate any potential risk. This was very sad and regrettably also backfired.

Just a small snapshot of my thoughts while meandering down the backroads, lanes and trails. A drier, mild interlude has seen me exorcising sections of superficial surface rust along the KA’s sills (signalled by unsightly bubbling) and return to Denise, testing the Weldtite wax lube, stem swap and Gaciron Cetus 1700 front light.  All continue to impress, albeit with some limitations and compromises, although nothing I couldn’t live with long-term.  There’s still a few weeks before I reach any firm conclusions.Meantime, I'll leave you with my review of the Magicshine Hori1300 Magicshine HORI 1300 Front Light | cycling-not-racing

 

Falling Leaves & More Lumens

 

The roads lanes and trails are increasingly carpeted in leaves, horse chestnuts and acorns. I love autumn and always have. The wilder winds continue to bestow us with interesting lights. Gaciron has sent me their Cetus and Loop lights. The 1700 lumen Cetus bears striking resemblance to the Magicshine Evo 1700 Underneath Light Magicshine Evo 1700 Underneath Light | cycling-not-racing tested last year, so it will be interesting to see how the two compare.  

The Gaciron tips the scales at 269g, the Magicshine is smaller and slightly lighter at 216g all told, scotching suggestion of badge engineering. Both offer 1700 lumens, employ “cut off beams”, like those employed on car headlights and are designed to be mounted beneath the bars.

The longer brackets might lack the aesthetic purity of some, but I’ve found them a better fit with bar bags, where compatibility hassle can arise-especially with the capacious bike packing types.

The cut-off beam patterns are becoming increasingly popular and for tarmac duties, I’m forming the opinion they’re a plus point. However, a dual flood and spot system rules the roost when you’re venturing away from asphalt, or indeed down some very lonely, singletrack lanes.  Both have wireless remotes as standard, which is very welcome, the Magicshine HORI employing an integrated rechargeable cell, the Gaciron a disposable CR2032. Both have their pros and cons and playful testing confirms they will not command the other.   

As for the Loop, this is a six-mode rear light capable of producing 100lumens. As is the trend these days, it features a “braking” function, which I’m pleased to report, can be disengaged. IPX6 for weather resistance and a CNC machined aluminium housing bode well for durability.  Aside from post, there’s a saddle rail mount and I’ve found the post mount will also entertain thicker diameters of rack tubing.  The mounting hardware, plastics specifically feel lower ren than some but is nonetheless, sturdy enough in situ.

Talking of durability, after a few weeks and a fair bit of trail action, I’ve given Ursula a thoroughly good deep clean and waxing, stripping any residual, filmy remnants of Weldtite Wax, replacing it with the latest version of their All-Weather Lube. Mysteriously the right bar con shifter decided to go on strike. Nothing a minute slackening of the tension and turning of the rear mech’s barrel adjuster couldn’t correct.

Although not ideal, one of the definite advantages of bar end shifters is the ability to switch to friction, should circumstances dictate. That’s not to say that I don’t like brifters-in the right settings, they’re very pleasant to use. However, their complexity renders them vulnerable in a spill and by definition, stuff wears out faster.  

Not ideal on a rough stuff tourer, drop bar mountain bike and I would also argue, gravel bike. However, all these constructs mean different things to different people.  That sorted and a couple of hundred miles with the All-Weather Lube, I got curious and whipped out the chain checker .6- .7 means Great Bike Shop in The Sky for 10speed chains.

Since opportunity presented, I gave the drivetrain a good exorcism, then fitted a new KMC X10.Shifter blip aside, changes were smooth, right until replacement but beyond a certain point, it’s amazing how much difference a fresh chain makes-confirmed by a sweep of the block on the work stand. Another little job off the list ahead of the potentially wet and unforgiving months ahead. It’s always cheaper to replace a chain than allow a worn one to consume ring(s) jockey wheels and cassette.   A great opportunity to test out the Oxford Chain Scrubber. Formative impressions are favourable. Much comes down to a combination of tenacious bristle plot that grips the grot and an unexpectedly ergonomic handle.

 

I’m still Running Denise’s X10 on the Weldtite Wax Lube, since it’s been drier and I’m interested in seeing how it performs on a geared build in drier, sometimes dusty contexts. Switching to a shorter stem was definitely the right move and the Profile quill stem converter, perhaps unsurprisingly, seems much stiffer than the auction site special, which is another definite plus. I’ve concluded there’s no call to place spacers beneath the stem. Aesthetically, it doesn’t add much and there’s no engineering grounds for doing so, either.        

Progressively cooler temperatures have seen me reaching for long sleeve, super tactile Merino blend jerseys and when the harsh winds blow, a gilet too. ¾ lengths and full finger gloves are my other defaults and generally this ensemble serves me well, at least on early morning outings when the mercury’s slow to rise beyond single digits. Talking of digits and purchase, here’s my review of the M Part Primo Anti Slip Silicone Gel Bar Tape  M Part Primo Anti Slip Silicone Gel Bar | cycling-not-racing