Up Front

No sooner had I switched Ursula to the Schwalbe Marathon Mondial, I acquired another sharp, which infiltrated the casing and nicked the tube. Another very slow flat and I was suspicious about the barely discernible spitting that seemed to strike when I was speeding through lanes, seemingly paved with acres of slippery bovine dung.  

Tube patched, I switched to the spare and decided I’d leave the rear Marathon Mondial and run the Schwalbe Marathon GT365 up front. TESTED: SCHWALBE MARATHON GT 365 TYRES WINTER UPDATE (sevendaycyclist.com) At 1048g apiece, they are very portly but the aesthetic blends with the Mondial and will resist pretty much hell and high water. Given as the gearings’ right, overcoming the increased rolling resistance hasn’t been overly taxing. 

As their name implies, the GT365 are a heavy-duty tyre, prioritising reliability, in every sense. Whether you are commuting through winter’s worst, need something for the child/trailer tug (where a puncture can turn a chill outing from stimulating to distressing- for all parties, but protégés in particular)  

For the record, I’m yet to flat with the 365, so I expect to sit back and enjoy the lanes, while I await the arrival of the new rear-wheel and contemplate which rubber route, I will take next. I will also replenish tube stocks, since it’s always good to have a few in reserve.  

I generally pension tubes, past the third patch but may keep one, as an emergency spare, should I, or indeed another rider find themselves in crisis. There is a fine line between the principles of self-reliance and being tone-deaf. Having the emotional intelligence to realise the best prepared machines and riders can run into difficulties is equally important. 

For the time being, I’ve done away with the Topeak Midloader frame Bag TOPEAK MIDLOADER FRAME BAG | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and redistributed its contents between the Zefal R5 ZEFAL ADVENTURE R5 WATERPROOF SADDLE BAG | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and See Sense Handlebar Bag SEE SENSE HANDLEBAR BAG | cycling,-but-not-usually-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

One thing led to another and I turned my attentions to my fixed gear winter trainer. Justin Burls had kindly sent me a Ti track sprocket, which prompted me to attempt removing the existing 16tooth Cro-Moly unit from the traditional, threaded side of the Halo Fix-G Track hub HALO FIX G TRACK HUB | Seven Day Cyclist Tourin Tests Commuting . Thankfully, though it had weathered a little over the past year or so, I’d greased the threads liberally.  

 

A liberal blast of GT85, a gentle tap of the Pedros Vice whip using an engineer’s mallet and-bing! the sprocket released. Sometimes, a liberal blast of solvent rich sprays, including disc brake cleaners DIRT WASH DISC BRAKE CLEANER | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) can make passable penetrants, shifting moderately stuck components.   

A moderate helping of Park grease to both hub and sprocket threads to avoid almost certain galvanic seizure later down the line, then I spun it home. Huzzah!  I also fitted a Bontrager AW 3 hard Case Lite Reflective Road tyre, since opportunity presented.  

I’m increasingly warming to the AW3 Hard-Case Lite and its quick, supple ride characteristics, which have made my fixed gear winter/trainer even more fun to ride. That being said; I am wondering if it’s Hard Case sibling with an aramid sub layer and bead to bead anti-cut casing, is a better bet for year-round/winter duties where punctures can be a miserable experience. 

Sadly, Control Tech no longer produce their Silicone High Performance Handlebar tape.  

Though tricky to wrap, the combination of superb grip, damping and durability means it’ll be adorning the Univega for some time to come. Talking of silicone, several weeks later and I’ve reached my conclusions regarding the T-One Mr Fantastic Handlebar tape, which comes in other colours, if orange isn’t your flavour T-ONE MR FANTASTIC HANDLEBAR TAPE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

 

 

On Track

 Having wandered around the web and along some blind alleys, I settled on a Shimano XT/ Rigida Sputnik rim build. A definite upgrade on the existing cheap, but decidedly cheerful Deore build, which has served me well for the past 5 years. Though Ursula will be sticking with the Shimano cantilevers, I’ve gone for the disc version, since I wanted a modern variant and like options.  

The (XT FH-M756) hub is a 10 speed, which is fine for my purposes and I don’t plan on going for an extra sprocket. It features double contact sealing to keep mud and water from the bearings. Borozon treated races supposedly offer a more precise rolling action. Nice but it’s the weather sealing and bearing quality that’s highest on my list.   

Rigida’s Sputnik is renowned for being very strong and lending itself well to touring, commuting and general riding-whatever that means, these days. 32-hole laced with double butted spokes on the non-drive side, Sapim Extra strong on the freehub side. 

I’ve also reverted to the Schwalbe The Schwalbe Marathon Mondial Double Defense tyres TEST & REVIEW: SCHWALBE MARATHON MONDIAL TYRES (sevendaycyclist.com), since the otherwise charming Billy Bonkers succumbed to another sharp and I fancied a mixed terrain competent change.  I’m also reaching the conclusion that the gearing’s right across the board. Errs on the side of torque but no spin out and I’m using a reasonable spread of the cassette.  

 

Ursula wasn’t the only one to get a tyre switch. My fixed gear winter trainer got treated to this 32mm Bontrager AW3 Hard-Case Lite Reflective Road Tyre. These promise unicorn type performance-supple, grippy, invulnerable to flats and serious speed. On the strength of three recent outings, I’m seriously impressed by their speed, agility and compliance, even at the higher end of their pressure range (95psi).  

Comparisons with an otherwise likeable but arguably more traditional 32mm section rubber, such as the very likeable Kenda Kwick Journey KS, which weight 757g apiece aren’t appropriate, save for anecdotal observation. The latter is a tough and relatively quick design and with a decent puncture repelling belt.  

However, they are over twice the Bontrager’s weight (359g) and described as a trekking tyre, characterised by reinforced sidewalls, 60TPI casings and compatible with 50kph e-bikes. The Vee Tire Baldy TEST: VEE TIRE CO BALDY CYCLE TIRE REVIEW (sevendaycyclist.com), are closer to the Kenda in terms of genre, although 238 grams lighter than the Kenda. Talking of e-bikes, those looking for a retro-fit system might be interested in The Swytch Universal E-Bike Retrofit Kit ProSWYTCH UNIVERSAL EBIKE RETROFIT KIT PRO | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Essentially, the Bontrager seem to be aimed at fast tourers, trainers, cyclo crossers living lives on the tarmac, rather than working bikes/beasts of burden. That said; there is a 38mm option. Will be interesting to see how durable and puncture repelling they are, in the real world. Bontrager says they are 78% more puncture resistant than their predecessors, so I’m expecting great things. 

 

These are on the narrower side of 32mm, so reach for the 25-32c tube, in preference to a 32-40mm. Otherwise, there’s the risk of pinching the tube, inducing a flat. Yes, I learned the hard way, so you don’t have to.  

The Bontrager is offered in other sections, including a 38mm option but 32mm seems the best default for my needs, and the machine’s clearances. 

VDO computer got the sulks, and the head unit went into “transport” mode, this was traced to a dead CR2032 sensor battery-switched for a new one and a lick of Vaseline on the contacts to ward off corrosion-related hassles later down the line. Prevention is more convenient and cheaper than cure.   

A couple of months down the line, I’ve reached my conclusions regarding the Squirt Low Temperature Chain Lube SQUIRT LOW TEMPERATURE CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and have for the time being, gone back to the Weldtite Ceramic. Main reason being that I’m wanting to see how the latter behaves in milder, drier conditions, which claims to be an all-weather lube, so want to see how it compares with The Juice Lubes Ceramic Juice JUICE LUBES CERAMIC JUICE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) in drier contexts.