Worth The Squeeze

200 miles in, I’m pleased to confirm that upgrading my Univega to the Centos 10speed setup, has been a resounding success. Even this horse was intrigued by my setup. With the Sun Race SP570 mech extender, the Centos copes effortlessly with the 11-28 setup, without feeling over-stretched. Ratios between 36.8 and 93.6 seem to cater for most occasions, and weary legs.

Plenty of torque when accelerating away from the lights, yet tall enough to avoid spin out down 1in7s at 35mph. Some initial cable stretch combined with a quick shot of lube, seems to have corrected minor indexing reticence. Most obviously clambering to the 28-tooth sprocket, and mid-way through the cassette.

Though far from spongy, pulling the front brake’s inner wire through a few millimetres, restored familiar “stop on a sixpence” bite. This is helped in no small part, by the lever’s travel, which is much greater than the shallow reach 9spd predecessors.

Last but no means least, I dialled the left pedals’ tension screw a little tighter, since there had been episodic, unwelcome release. The cleats were only recently replaced, and in good health. However, patterns are by nature accurate by degrees.  

During this bedding-in phase, I stuck with the FSA chain’s factory lube, rather than opting for the otherwise excellent Squirt Long Lasting Dry Chain Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/squirt-long-lasting-dry-chain-lube . These lubricants are widely revered for their relative cleanliness and staying prowess (I’ve had 400 miles from a helping, during a dry summer).

Serendipitous too, since these Zefal Extra Dry Premium Chain Wax and Zefal Pro Dry lubes arrived from Bob Elliot &Co. Seems the first batch were coveted by a courier. Thankfully, the second arrived without incident.

I seem to be gravitating towards wax-based lubricants these days, so have taken that route, first. Will be interesting to see how it compares to the Smoove https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/squirt-long-lasting-dry-chain-lube , Weldtite TF2 Advanced Ceramic Chain Wax https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/tf2-1 , or Weldtite TF2 Ultra dry chain wax https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/weldtite-tf2-ultra-dry-chain-wax

Cool mornings are a theme of late, so I’ve reverted to long sleeve base layers and jerseys. This Prendas Ciclismo Bordeaux-Paris Long Sleeve Jersey is proving perfect for temperatures between 9 and 14 degrees.

At the upper end of this scale, a bit of zipper dropping comes in handy but that’s what I’d expect, from long sleeve garments. Balmy weather, we’re promised, is just around the corner. So, in anticipation, here’s my review of its short sleeve sibling https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/prendas-ciclismo     

Elsewhere, Emma Hillyard has been putting the Primal EVO2.0 Women’s Short Sleeved Jersey through its paces. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/primal-evo-2-0-jersey  

The Velo Orange Accessory Mount has been growing on me too. We had a few teething problems. The combination of “bolted” construction and relatively generous payloads have demanded re-tightening. Thread lock appears to have cured this. The resin camera mount also proved annoyingly prone to misalignment.

This was traced to the ball joint top. Switching to the mighty Minoura V100 has sorted that. Vice like grip, perfect for bridal path blasting and unaffected by persistent, low level vibration.  Not that I’ve noticed much of that, thanks to the Acros Wrap Silicone Handlebar Tape and Primal Onyx gloves… https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/primal-onyx-gloves   

And Then They Were Ten

So, with my Univega’s long serving and super faithful M45 rear mech, singing its swan-song, the Alivio was looking an obvious replacement. However, for some reason, I wasn’t feeling it. Nothing wrong with Alivio, by the way. Nor was I about to buy another mech…However, some late-night auction site meandering ignited a creative spark.

One that fired the practicalities of running a 10spd Microshift rear mech, with the bike’s existing 9spd configuration. Down to the garage, where I fed a little used Microshift Centos rear mech a 9spd chain to ensure .5mm wasn’t going to pose any real-world headaches.

As you will note, the Centos has a maximum 27 tooth capacity. My Univega runs an 11-28 cassette…Enter this Sun Race SP750 Extender link, kindly supplied by Ison Distribution https://www.ison-distribution.com/english/product.php?part=GPSRME570K . Oh, and given my recent crank bolt dramas, I bought some self-extractors, while opportunity presented.  

Some online experts have rubbished maximum derailleur capacities… Only to look decidedly red faced when its broken. Not only have they kissed the tarmac, but they’ve wrecked a mech, frame hanger, paint and several spokes for good measure. Not my idea of a good time. False economy too.

A long arm rear mech would’ve only cost £40. Then again; we all have our lessons to learn. If you can’t dodge a hole, at least, avoid falling into the same one, twice.

New extended hanger in place, I added a generous lick of grease to the derailleur hanger threads and bolted this in situ. Cable and chain reconnected...Drum roll please… Prodding the Brifter paddles saw the mech sweep the chain across the recently replaced cassette with grin inducing finesse. Elation was short-lived when it seemed the pull ratio was out. No sense having a profoundly compromised setup.

Back to the parts stash. Within 5 minutes, I’d harvested Centos 10spd brifters, brake and gear cables, 10speed cassette and a new (9spd) chain…Yep, wholesale upgrade to 10speed. Getting everything to play nicely was relatively straightforward. The Centos lever travel worked beautifully with the IRD CAFAM2 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/ird-cafam-2-cantilever-brakes , although I desperately need a decent 3^rd hand tool to facilitate faster setup/adjustment.

By this point, it was 23.00…Since the Acros Silicone Handlebar Wrap was off (and sporting plenty of oily grime) I popped it in the wash at 30 degrees. Acros suggest this, in their care instructions. After a few tense moments, it emerged packet fresh, so I lost no time in dressing the bars.

As I’d suspected, the silicone was more supple this time round, which made it much easier to wrap. Fear not, it also responds well to a gentle tickling with a medium stiff brush. First time round, I dismissed an ingrained grimy patina with a shot of Green Oil Chain Degreaser Jelly  https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/green-oil-degreaser-jelly  and Oxford Products Tyre Scrub  https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/oxford-products-tyre-scrub

Staying with the cockpit, though I’ve found the moustache bars, perfect for the bike’s designated duties, useable space for accessories is at a premium. Dynamo lamp, LED and computer are pretty much your lot. Velo Orange have kindly sent me their Accessory Mount. Weighing 99g, it’s made from CNC machined aluminium alloy and available in anodized silver or gloss black.

In common with the Genetic Neuron, it features a hinged clamp but several shims. This means it’s a great fit on narrower 25.4 and 26.0 bars. The spare shims can be used to pack out the removable “barrel” mounts.

There’s no designated weight limit but Scott says a Go-Pro and light are the maximum they’d recommend. I’ve ported the Apeman A80 Action Camera without any problems (Once I’d ditched the resin pattern in favour of this Minoura camera mount).

Cable stretch countered, I went for a formative 20-mile blast (battling a headwind) and it’s proving a worthy, well-behaved upgrade. Will stick with the FSA chain’s factory lube for now, while things are settling in. Then I’ll probably plump for Squirt https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/squirt-long-lasting-dry-chain-lube

Tweaks

Sometimes it’s those little victories…I’ve been doing some very small-scale tweaks to the Univega. Closer scrutiny suggested the chain was fractionally longer than ideal, so I pruned a couple of links. I also added another helping of Squirt Clean Long Lasting Chain Lube, since this was waning, after 280 odd, mixed terrain miles.

I also raised the Selcof post by a few millimetres and dialled the rear brake’s barrel adjuster, a couple of turns. A subsequent blast along the backroads confirmed my intuition was right. I was stunned to discover the front Schwalbe Marathon Mondial https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-marathon-mondial-tyres  flat as the proverbial, when I went to ride the following morning.

Given I was testing some clothing, I switched to my fixed gear winter/trainer. Inner smile restored; subsequent investigation revealed the Schwalbe Marathon Mondial had succumbed to a tiny cut. However, the casing wasn’t harbouring any sharps, so I fed a fresh tube, then patched the original.

This also presented an ideal opportunity to give my mile munching, four seasons’ friend a good wash. I’ve recently reached my conclusions re Velo 21 Dirty Weekend Bike Pre Wash https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/velo-21-dirty-weekend-bike-pre-wash and I’ve treated the frameset to their Blueberry Glaze Wax. There are plenty of boutique waxes around, all promising to outshine and outlast everyone else’s.

This is the first designed to work with gloss AND matt finishes. Will be interesting to see how it compares with Crankalicious Crisp Frame Wax, in terms of durability. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/crankalicious-crisp-frame-wax  

Since we’re on the subject, bikes should be given at least two thorough, hard paste waxings, yearly. Doing so nourishes the paintwork, and protects finishes from salt, UV light, petrochemical spatter, oxidisation etc. The slippery barrier means dirt doesn’t stick so easily and so; bikes are easier to wash.

During the winter months, rinse dirty bikes down with cold water first, especially if you’ve been racking up the miles along heavily gritted roads. Warm water at this stage will simply accelerate that reactive, corrosive process.  

Car type wash n’ wax formulas are dirt cheap and super convenient. Much as I love tending to my two wheeled fleet, time is also at a premium and not to be squandered. Like common or garden bike washes. the surfactant properties loosen the grime, which vanishes during the rinsing phase.

A thin waxy barrier remains afterward. Beeswax furniture polish is another useful hack, during the drier months. The solvent properties consume light/filmy grime, the polish leaves a very glossy, protective barrier. A trick I picked up, working in moto/cycle dealerships

April is finally feeling more spring-like, here in the UK. I’m still favouring ¾ lengths but I’ve switched to liner gloves beneath mitts, short-sleeve base layers and jerseys (albeit with sleeves). I’ve also switched to a two tone (black & white) theme, due in part to the arrival of Prendas Ciclismo Bordeaux-Paris kit https://www.prendas.co.uk/collections/the-forgotten-races . I’ve also resurrected this Giant Strive Mips Aero Road Helmet, which has some nice touches, including an LED light that latches on, via magnets.  Twelve vents seem meagre, but the inlet and exhaust system rams in, and expels air at a consistent and moreover, decent rate.

There are some who demand that cyclists, motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users should be compelled to wear acres of day glow. I have no issue with day glow, where the cloud is low, and visibility hampered. However, I’ve lost count of the SMIDSYs (Sorry Mate, I didn’t See You”) experienced, when I’ve been lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree on acid.

Indeed, twenty years later, I still suffer from injuries sustained in a motorcycle “accident”. I was stationary at the lights, which were red. A young woman ploughed her car into me, from behind, claiming she “didn’t see me”, or it would seem, the red light…

I have a quiet suspicion the driving force, campaigning compulsory day glow, arises from an imminent roll-out, of autonomous (driverless) vehicles. These may employ sensors, which identify fluorescent colours as a hazard, and a course plotted round them.

Then of course, there has been a subtle, insidious slide to victim blaming, which appears to have run in parallel with a wider, right-wing, popularist narrative. One that insists someone “deserved it”, based upon the length of their skirt/underwear/choice of activity/mode of transport.

Choppin' n' Changing

April remains decidedly chill, so I’m sticking with long sleeve base layers, 3/4lengths and bridge jackets (the jersey cum jacket type, that offer decent protection from chill and showers). Am delighted to report that the VDO3.1ML wireless computer is performing perfectly. No interference hassles with the Shutter Precision PD8 dyno hub https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/halo-rim-and-shutter-dynohub-disc-b

This wasn’t so with Knog’s lovable Nerd, or indeed my recently departed Frankenpute.  I’m also pleased with its positioning-nicely within my eyeline. Funny how those little things make all the difference. Talking of which, here’s my review of Genetic Neuron Accessory Bar https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/genetic-neuron-accessory-bar

Elsewhere, I’ve changed the bar tape. This seems to be more frequent than a politician switching stance. I wasn’t expecting the Acros Wrap Silicone Handlebar tape to contrast so nicely with my fixed gear winter/trainer’s colour scheme.

Blue was a more obvious (some might say, default) choice. Much to my surprise, the pumpkin orange contrasts beautifully. Silicone wraps are naturally tenacious, which has obvious advantages when riding in the wet. It also negates the need for adhesives, which is an obvious boon, for cable replacements, or indeed, bar swaps.

At 3mm thick, its an obvious option for gravel and cross riders. Its thicker and, uncut heavier than than other Silicone designs I’ve run for several seasons, including Genetic Flare Silicone Bar Wrap https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/genetic-silicone-bar-wrap

Allowing for some additional stretch, packet fresh, it measures 185cm. Ample for buxom flared designs, including the Soma Condor https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/soma-condor-2-shallow-drop-bars.

Uncut, its 59g heavier but trimming is to be expected. I’ve needed to lop a fair bit from ours, given these Genetic DRiser 16 are a little narrower. Wrapping requires a slightly firmer hand too and it’s shown an annoying tendency to unravel around the tops, so keep the finishing strips/electrical tape ready.

As for the Genetic D-Riser, they’re noticeably narrower than I’m used to, which gave the bike a slightly twitchy feel, for the first five miles. By this point, I’d acclimatised and was enjoying the ability to hunker lower and shelter from the headwind. I’ve continued to bond with them, as the past 100 miles have whizzed by.

Even on my traditional road bikes, I’ve gravitated towards this breed of flared bar. Primarily, because I find them more comfortable. I’m much broader across the shoulders than my build and stature suggest.

The Teenage Dream’s Salsa Bell lap being a prime example. The Bell Lap are no longer in production. In case you didn’t know, Bell Lap, refers to the final lap of a cyclo cross race, so something of a giveaway, in terms of intended audience.

Elsewhere, I’ve only just needed to replenish the Squirt Long Lasting Chain Wax. A very faint filmy patina remained, but the chain’s galvanised links were peeking through. I had toyed with a single coating but opted for two, leaving twenty minutes between.

Where possible, and appropriate, I leave lubes curing overnight. However, temperature allowing Squirt seems good, after four hours, or so. There’s also a cold weather version, which I would like to try, as a comparator.  

Staying with weather a moment, I received these Supacaz Spua G gloves. To me, they appear a liner type design, great for providing additional warmth on bitterly cold rides, or packing, should the temperatures suddenly drop on a spring evening ride. They are certainly thin enough to slip beneath skin mitts.

Seamless construction prevents chafing around the finger tips. SiliGrip refers to interesting silicone gripper pattern, which promises excellent purchase in all conditions.  Much the same promises as others, then.

The palm is Clarino, a faux leather hide, which promises to be hard wearing, flexible and temperate. I was surprised to discover they are marketed as a standalone glove. They’re incredibly thin, so I’m wondering if they’re going to keep numbness and tingling at bay, on their own, especially since they’re reckoned capable of coping with trail duties too. Hmm…Only one way to test these claims.

Three Wheels on Your Wagon?

John and Jane are selling their beloved Tandem Trike. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/love-resurrection-john-moss-s-tandem  If you are genuinely interested, please contact me in the first instance. Either via this email roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com or Michaelsevendaycyclist@gmail.com

Schoolboy Errors, The Brexit Blues & Big Bars

Schoolboy error, indeed. I am of course referring to my Univega’s chainline.  In my haste to instate the new Talon ring, I accidentally mounted it to the outer spider. Yep, threw the chainline right royally out.  Very apparent when dropping to the lower ratios.

Eureka moment struck and ring repatriated, shifts are crisp, clean and predominantly silent. What you’d expect from a new chain, ring and cassette, essentially.  Corrections made, I’ve concluded that the gearing is now, where I need it for most contexts.

An 11-30 (rather than 11-28) will be my next move but otherwise, the existing setup offers enough grunt, cruising and bombing prowess. Solo and with Bob Yak homage en-tow. Can comfortably cruise up a 1in7 at 13-14mph, 20 plus on the flat.   

Straying from variable gears but staying with gearing and chainline... Those looking to optimise precision with their fixed are well served by Halo Fixed -G Track Hub.  https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/halo-fixed  I’m extremely impressed by the concept and its execution. Some might consider it a bit pricey for winter/hack duties but it’s a better option for nicer conversions.

An acquaintance used to own a 1948 fixed gear Freddy Grubb. Beautifully made, with original gloss black enamel, ornate lugs and an interesting, road friendly fork rake, it had horizontal, road ends…An ideal candidate.

So, with a looming dental appointment, and the UK administration following the British Leyland model of breath-taking incompetence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsizoYrceOg , I needed a distraction. Off came those Soma Condor 2 Shallow drop bars https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/soma-condor-2-shallow-drop-bars  and in their place, these Genetic DRISER-16 bars.

Their flatter, semi aero profile top sections provide better mounting points for lights and other accessories. Using the Genetic Neuron, I’ve been able to mount the Trelock dynamo switch https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/trelock-ls906-dynamo-front-light  and route its cabling more neatly, too. The Genetic DRISER-16 are marketed as a great option for cyclo cross and gravel racing, while also suitable for touring and commuting.

They’re made from heat treated T6 6061 aluminium alloy, the 20mm rise supposedly works to the same principle, as the Soma. Namely, providing a higher riding position, without faffing about with spacers.

The top, semi aero section is designed with cruising on the tops, in mind. 16-degree flare in the drop supposedly provides an additional control, which would tally with the design brief.

Ours is the widest, 44cm version. I typically go with 46cm upwards, so we’ll see. For the time being, I’ve dressed them in some salvaged Lizard Skins DSP 2.5mm wrap. However, we’re expecting some competitor test-tape to arrive very shortly, and the Easton Pinline Foam Bar Tape is well suited to my Univega’s mixed terrain, daily driver duties. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/easton-pinline-foam-bar-tape

While the UK isn’t affected by rapid and extreme changes in climate, early Spring can still prove a very changeable period. I’m still sporting ¾ lengths, Lake Winter booties, Buff, winter weight jersey cum jacket and full-finger gloves. Prendas Cyclismo https://www.prendas.co.uk/ have also sent us some Jerseys, bib shorts, socks and other Spring goodies for testing but with the mercury struggling towards 7/8 degrees, they’ll have to wait until things thaw a little.  

After last week’s sad demise of Frankenpute, Paligap www.paligap.cc kindly sent me this VDOM3WL. Setup was intuitive, following their You Tube tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA_JqUSNGko  

Wax based/emulsion type lubricants have come a long way in recent years. Most noticeably in the context of stoicism. Both bikes are still on their first helping of Squirt Long Lasting Dry Chain Lube. 200 miles apiece, neither chain looks thirsty, and on this basis, I’m reckoning on 300 plus before topping up is required.

Squirt has transferred more readily to hands and clothing, than some petrochemical blends and required a couple of machine washes to shift it. Bodes well for longevity but Something to consider, if you commute in light coloured trousers.