Lubes & Links

 I’ve noticed an interesting dual persona to the Blub Ceramic Lube now that temperatures have crept a little higher and roads a little drier. 4 degrees or so and it requires eight hours or so to cure and assumes a state closer to a lighter middleweight wet lube. Muckier to touch but has stayed put for 280 generally wet, gooey miles before topping up was needed. Interestingly, Blub says it will also need topping up on bikes left standing (i.e. not ridden) longer than 48 hours. It took a week before this became plain during March, and with the temperatures wavering between 3 and 16 degrees.  

Same story with the fixed gear winter/trainer. 10-25 degrees is apparently where the lube’s qualities are best. Having replenished Ursula’s thirsty links, I only needed to wait five minutes before it turned from creamy to glazed. Much cleaner too.  Not necessarily ideal for weekend/ sunny days’ bikes but not necessarily a bad choice either-so long as you don’t mind reapplying a light coat each week. Talking of lubes, I’ve played with the Silca Secret Formula Chain Lube long enoughto form firm conclusion Silca Super Secret Chain Coating | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Steve's also been impressed by the Blub Chain Lube BLUB Chain Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)Though unplanned, the Continental Cross King has proven a positive move. In common with the Maxxis, it’s relatively quick on tarmac and hardpack surfaces and sufficiently nimble along gravel roads, green lanes, and forest trails. I’m pondering going the Continental route up front too-again, with the puncture-repelling belt.       

As for the camera mount, well, that’s going to need some revision. The preset positioning is obscuring the Giant computer and I’ve also noted the camera platform, coupled with the use of resins isn’t adequately supporting the camera’s weight, resulting in shake and therefore blurred footage. I’m pondering whether I can revise this mount, or maybe salvage the Minoura. Perhaps a “permanent” bar bag, rear mudguard upgrade...Aside from consumables and testing, I’m not looking to change Ursula’s spec. The old girl is staying in Monster Cross guise.  

The recent blowout allowing, all the tubes have been easily patchable and have returned to the Axiom Ocean City Wave City+Seat Bag AXIOM OCEANWAVE CITY+ SEAT BAG | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), a packet fresh WTB tube has also been parked in the bottle cage caddy. It’s been a bit of a journey, these past 25 years in life and indeed, component changes reflect this. Ursula: The Never-Ending Story | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Tag along tug, four seasons hell n’ high water, Ursula has been a friend, a confident and a reliable companion through some extremely turbulent times. While the days are quite chill suggesting winter hasn’t relinquished its grip just yet, there’s a brighter, sometimes drier narrative. It’s light by 630, enticing me to head out earlier and enjoy the peace.  

I’ve reached the conclusion that the most important components on a working bike are well sealed, hubs, headsets, bottom brackets, and sturdy paint.  

Opinions vary when it comes to colours. Skid mark brown certainly has a wealth of benefits, especially on the theft -repelling front. However, I’m drawn to more neutral livery- dove grey, cream, blues etc. I’ve occasionally toyed with the idea of a bold, vibrant purple next time round but “light” (Ral 7035) grey with a tough clear lacquer coat seems the most likely candidate, come the time the timeless cream starts looking, er, tired… (tyre photo Michael’s garage).     

Not to be left out, the fixed now features this rather lovely Ritchey WCS Carbrillo Saddle. Aimed at road and gravel audiences and measuring 260x146mm, it’s slightly shorter and broader than my “bike-fit” ideal but this wider, flatter shape has some other interesting features.  First up, there’s the patented “Vector Wing” technology, which I’m told features across all Ritchey saddles.  

This means the rails (stainless steel, in this instance) are isolated to help prevent hot spots by dissipating pressure more evenly, away from the sit bones for “all day” comfort. The cover is also noteworthy since it's seamless and attaches to the base without glue, staples, or stitches.  As for the padding, it's a light polyurethane foam.  As the name and 227g might suggest, there’s also some carbon involved. It features in the shell, which is a nylon/carbon fibre mix.  

Shorter nose saddles are designed for riders who want to assume a lower more aggressive stance, although at 260mm, the WSC is much closer to a traditional road saddle (and none the worse for it). Stubbier designs have been compatible with me in the short terms but in practice, I favour something slightly longer.  These things aren’t an exact science and as I’m always saying, contact points are the most personal, some might say, divisive points. 

Plan is to do three hundred miles on the fixed and then switch to Ursula, to test not only its comfort and performance on and off road, but to see if a more upright positioning, placing greater weight on the saddle has any impact. Then of course, there’s the flat profile. Does this have any impact when re/mounting along more technical, or potentially boggy sections of trail for example. 300 miles on each should give sufficient insight into its longer-term comfort, considerations, and potential limitations.  

Do those extra 3mm improve, or detract from comfort, does the sculpted design make any tangible difference? Racing and touring may seem worlds apart but the common link concerns equipment. Saddles being obvious examples, but it goes much wider and includes a change, or tweak to positioning. Never roll up to the start line, or into the wide blue yonder with equipment that’s fresh from the box- get at least a couple of hundred miles with it, while the stakes are low. New bike, groupset, wheels, panniers, shorts, shoes, shifters, the rule applies. I'll close here with my review of the Leatt Jacket MTB Endurance2.0 Leatt Jacket MTB Endurance 2.0 | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

 

Return Of the Bar Cam?

 

Glancing down at Ursula’s riser-drops while hossing along a particularly muddied byway, I decided there was plenty of available real estate and it might be time for the bar cam to return... Once its rear wheels had been sorted by Mick Madgett, obviously. I’d had another six mile walk of shame, courtesy of a blow-out and pothole tag team. I decided to prune the expired Ikon Maxxis Ikon Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) down and it could live on as a belt, rather than becoming landfill. Mick had finished building the new XT wheel and tweaking the Rigida Sputnik/XT the following Friday.  

Not to be out-done, the fixed gear winter/trainer’s rear Pirelli Angel DT Pirelli Angel DT Urban Tyre | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) succumbed to a hedge clipping-close inspection of the tread suggested it had struck just proud of the centre strip and 5mm puncture repelling breaker strip- a hedge clipping the culprit, although it was only a tiny pin prick in the tube.  

Comes with the season and of course, wet, greasy roads make a sharp’s progress that bit easier. Winter and early season riding is hard on even the best maintained bikes. Aside from taxing tyres, it’ll chew through chains and other drivetrain components, mechanisms can gum up, contact points can seize.  

Periodic re-greasing of the latter, regular washes and inspections go a long way to prevent mischief, not to mention long walks home. Then of course, wheels get more punishment courtesy of poor infrastructure. Again, vigilance certainly helps. However, due to chronic lack of investment, the UK’s roads have been falling into serious disrepair. Local authority budgets squeezed to oblivion by central government is compounding matters.         

Ironically, the temperatures rose, and roads dried out sufficiently for the Holdsworth to appear briefly from seasonal hibernation. My first opportunity to evaluate the repaired steel fork and its impact on the bike’s handling. Spoiler alert, it was worth the switch- handling is still very engaging, just a little less twitchy and whisper it, more comfortable over longer distances.  

The CamparkV40 had been doing something close to nothing for a good while, too. Action cameras have improved over the years, but the small sensors mean footage in low light is so-so and, in my experience the V40 is no exception. However, I was attracted to its solid build quality and highly weather resistant body.  

No call for a separate, audio distorting polycarbonate case-a definite plus. Google had been floating several other options at me. Go Pro 12 was an obvious choice, DJI Osmo Action 4 another but there’s no justification for shelling out if existing kit is otherwise solid. (I already had an ancient but very worthy Geonaute G-Eye 2 doing not a lot- it has outlived the Apeman A80).  

 

With the Leatt Endurance 2.0 enjoying a well-earned wash, I’ve resurrected an impressive Gore Torrent Men’s Jacket. It’s a lightweight three-layer model made from polyamide. Water resistance is superior to the Leatt (although I’d expect so, given it was £229 back in 2021) and the medium tips the scales at 190g.  

 

Fit is decidedly snug, but sizing is perfectly accurate. I should also point out, it’s a road rather than gravel, or trail garment and, it's also less packable, which may also be significant in the latter riding contexts.  

 

The 7Mesh Cypress Hybrid 7mesh Cypress Hybrid Cycling Jacket | Seven Day Cyclist is a more packable design, much closer to the Leatt in this respect and indeed, at £131.25, pricing. The 7Mesh is made from Gore Tex Infinium, the body being 50d polyester, the back body is 78% polyester and 22% elastane. Really close fit eliminates flutter and similar distractions, while the dual zippered side vents allow more tuneable airflow, while simultaneously improving access to jersey pockets. 

  

Talking of jerseys, I’m a major fan of long- sleeve summer models, especially since they offer greater protection against sun and to a lesser extent, wind burn (which can be an issue when riding in and around coastal regions). They’re also useful for when the temperature’s a little changeable-late summer evenings, early autumn and of course, spring.  

 

Cycology has sent me their Summit Lightweight Long Sleeve Summer Jersey and Baja Blue Classic Cycling Cap. The Summit follows the Polyester/Elastane narrative, and the yarn offers SPF50 protection, which is very welcome (although I’m still inclined to apply a high-factor sunscreen during the height of summer).  

 

Three large rear pockets and a fourth zippered design are hardly front-page news but again, very welcome, and sensibly proportioned. A full-length hidden zipper gives a seamless look, while affording excellent, tuneable airflow and temperature regulation.   

 

The Baja Blue Classic Cycling Cap follows the brand’s tradition of lively artwork and is made from a polyester/cotton mix. (65/35%). More cotton than I’ve come to expect from the technical variants, so time will see whether this has any impact upon moisture management and odour control.  It does have a very generous peak, which can be flicked up, or down, depending on choice and riding contexts.  Enough chat, time to get some more miles in...