Reflecting in the Rain..

 I’ve entered my 49th year and it marks the 36th anniversary of receiving a Holdsworthy-built Claud Butler, and Richard Ballantine’s legendary “Bicycle Book”. Mine was the copy with him fettling a Dawes tourer, sporting 70’s beard and jumper. Cycling (and indeed motorcycling) is a metaphor for life. It's exhilarating, challenging has ups, downs, and builds resilience, character, and resourcefulness.  

There's no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong kit...Something I reminded myself of while battling a squally crosswind and a carpet of leaves and dung at 4.30am. Ursula’s big Soma Condor 2 Shallow drop bars SOMA CONDOR 2 SHALLOW DROP BARS | (sevendaycyclist.com) beefy Schwalbe Land Cruiser and Vittoria Evolution Vittoria Evolution Road Bike Tyre | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) held their line impeccably, allowing me to fight the gusts and keep momentum.  

Yes, I know the British are obsessed with the weather, but, leaving aside the political and economic climates, its surprisingly mild here in the UK presently. 10-12 degrees, meaning I ‘ve been donning short sleeve base layers, lightweight long sleeve jerseys and only donning a lightweight shell jacket, such as the Oxford Venture OXFORD VENTURE JACKET | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) or the 7Mesh Cypress Hybrid Jacket 7mesh Cypress Hybrid Cycling Jacket | Seven Day Cyclist 

Its occasionally dipped lower, meaning I’ve reached for the full-finger Seal Skinz, but these Passport Crochet Back Cycling Mitts TEST & REVIEW: PASSPORT CROCHET BACK CYCLING MITTS (sevendaycyclist.com) have often been sufficient which coincidentally, remind me of the first Caratti pair I bought just after receiving the Holdsworthy Butler.

  

Lights have come so far since those days and the infamous Wonder, or Ever Ready glimmer-type filament models. Take this Ravemen TR500Ravemen TR500 Rear Light | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) for example- 500-lumen day flash, braking function, intelligent sensors, and though relatively hefty by contemporary standards at 93.5g, unimaginably light back in the late 80s. I’m developing a fondness for the Ravemen LR1600- big brother to the LR1200 Ravemen LR1200 Front Light | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) tested by Steve, recently, same goes for these Infini Tron and Infini Metis.  

Then along came another saddle, this 137mm (about 5.39 in) Smanie GT, which is reckoned to be all things to all mile-munching riders, be they asphalt, or dirt devotees. It’s a little narrower than my 143mm “ideal”. Ursula might be an odd host but, a good starting point. Faux leather coverings and Cro-moly rails might not set anyone’s Lycra ablaze but strike a good balance between performance, weight, durability, and price, in my experience.  

I was also pleasantly surprised to discover it allowed me to raise the Axiom Ocean Wave City+ Seat Bag slightly, meaning the LED light tab was parallel (or as close to) 

Arguably the Holdsworth is the best host. However, said machine is a sunny day’s plaything and right now, the roads are decidedly waterlogged, which is where these Q36 5 Anfibio Winter Rain Cycling Gloves and Showers Pass Atlas Cycling cap come in.  I’m still fond of Prendas Ciclismo Lisboa Waterproof Cycling Cap PRENDAS CICLISMO LISBOA WATERPROOF CAP | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) although, hand wash only can be a drag sometimes.  I’ve returned to the Shimano MT701 GTX SPD shoes Shimano MT701 GTX SPD Shoes | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  360 Dry calve length socks and have alternated between these Primal Dawn Bib Knickers TEST & REVIEW: PRIMAL DAWN MEN'S BIB KNICKERS (sevendaycyclist.com) and some surprisingly capable, wallet-friendly Triban.  

These form a nice, weather-cheating union without recourse to full-length tights, overshoes, and similar jazz. I’m generally of the opinion that talk of snowfall and “whiteouts” in November are little more than distractions by tabloid newspapers. I’m also tempted to say, “heard it all before” and whipped out the spiked Schwalbe winter, only to discover the narrative was wet and soggy.  

However, there’s a palpable uncertainty at present. Blackouts, anyone? Not that I’m a fan of the salt monster, but with local authority budgets slashed to the bone, gritters may be conspicuous by their absence. A winter wonderland would be an ideal opportunity to evaluate the higher-end Schwalbe spikes but also reminds me that many of society’s most vulnerable will be plunged into circumstances we would’ve considered unimaginable a few years ago.

 

The sudden onslaught of wet, mulchy conditions are great testing grounds, particularly for chain lubes and I’m pleased by how well the Momum MIC Wax Lube Momum MIC Wax Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) is holding up in these contexts- staying put without attracting loads of transmission killing grot. Unlike more traditional waxes, there’s a corrosion inhibiting part, so no orange taint come the first hint of a puddle.  

However, when I last reviewed it, sustained wet stuff still resulted in some tell-tale freckling so we’ll see how much impact November makes. 440 miles per application was returned during the spring, wonder what we’ll achieve this time round...  

Beacons of Hope?

The leaves are rustling, daylight is fading, and the UK is facing the prospect of blackouts during the darkest, coldest days of winter... Well, my blood will certainly boil, and don’t anyone dare throw a romanticised “It’ll be just like the 70s” line my way. Madison www.madison.co.uk sent us these rear lights to test. We’ve the Infini Metis, the Infini Tron, and The Kryptonite Incite XBR Rear Brake Light.  

What’s interesting about these then...Well, they’re all at the same price point (£34.99) and the Metis and Kryptonite feature “braking” functions. Interestingly, and more accurately, Kryptonite describes theirs as an “acceleration sensor”. Unlike some others, they cite the sensor will trigger the designated LED when it detects speed dropping by 3.58 mph (5.76 Kmh). Otherwise, it’s a 7-mode model with memory and run times, cited as between 10 and 36 hours.  

The Metis has 5- two steady, three flashing-including a daytime running flash. In terms of output, we’re talking between 10 and 80 lumens. I’m particularly intrigued by the Flashing 2, which is 40 lumens and reckoned to manage 28 hours from a full charge. We shall see... 

 

I like daytime running modes, especially on overcast autumn and winter mornings. The Infini Tron pumps out a maximum of 40 lumens but also has a 50-lumen day flash.  

The latter sounds a little tame by some standards- 100 and 150lumens are increasingly common.  

Indeed, they’re brilliant for soup-like conditions but there’s some debate as to whether these are otherwise anti-social. It does, however, enjoy a large surface area and employs a 42 chip and 10 SMD LED, so will be interesting to see how these lights compare in real-world conditions.  

I’m an advocate of always carrying a contingency light on long rides-even with disciplined charging, lights can suddenly power down, or fail. Risks are minimised by proper charging and other, basic care but just as the best-maintained bikes can succumb to a mechanical, the unexpected can strike.  

An integrated lithium-ion or lithium Polymer cell can only withstand so many charge cycles before losing some endurance. To illustrate my point, the Kranx Strix 100 came to my rescue when an excellent Magicshine unexpectedly powered down, meaning I was still obvious to other road users from a good distance and for the remaining 10 extremely dark miles.  

During this point, I also noted the Souma Leather handlebar tape Souma Leather Handlebar Tape | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) had stretched a little, causing it to turn a little baggy just below the brake lever. To be expected after a few thousand miles and easily sorted in five minutes. Unwrap at the tops, just below the hoods. Tension tightly and uniformly while weaving back up. Some fresh electrical tape sealed the deal. The Souma is certainly weathering and wearing well-not that I’d expect any different from a hide of that quality and price point, but reassuring, nonetheless.   

 

One thing, of course, leads to several others. Next thing I knew, I’d stripped the chain and cassette, given the bike a good wash, since I was there. The Green Oil Dry Chain Wax Green Oil Dry Chain Wax | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) for the theoretically more stoical Momum MIC Wax Lube Momum MIC Wax Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) , then of course, I decided the saddle height was a little too lofty, then a fraction too low. The former causes undue and unnecessary strain on the knees, while also hampering efficiency. (Too high, or too low is inefficient and can lead to knee and other joint mischief).  

Then of course, the seat collar sheared-I should stress I had been using the torque wrench, set to the prescribed 5nms. Thankfully, I had a replacement in the small parts drawer, so switched and took this opportunity to blast some spray grease inside the seat tube and apply a light coating to the Kinekt 2.1 Aluminium Suspension Seatpost KINEKT 2.1 SUSPENSION SEAT POST | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) Shim and height checked, I snugged everything down to 5nm and ticked another series of little jobs off my doing list.

I have ordered a couple of 28.6mm BBB, just to keep in stock should another failure strike here, on the fixed gear winter/trainer (Although I have a nice Salsa lip lock somewhere in the spares bin, so will root for that, should need arise.)