just because...

Toys out of the SRAM

Apologies for the lack of recent blog content, too much time spent away from the bike. Thankfully, the sun has been out and a new purchase has rekindled the passion for two wheels.

The latest purchase is proof that my 'one bike for all' test almost worked. Time also had to be allocated for a spot of tweaking and personalising the new bike. That allocation of time has resulted in a very frustrating and time consuming experience.

I’ve decided to replace my go to bike – Boardman CX Team with a Boardman CXR 9.2. The price was right - without sacrificing a family holiday! The CX team is up for sale and being someone who wants the new owner to enjoy their purchase and not have to spend time fixing and adjusting, I decided to do the right thing; replace cables, brake pads, deep clean etc etc. The fun really started when I started to change the gear gables on the SRAM Rival Double Tap levers.

Let’s take a moment to think about who the SRAM Rival components/groupset is aimed at. Would I be wrong in suggesting that it is at the lower/mid end of the groupset spectrum? For someone on a budget starting out? As fitness and ability levels improve, they may also start to consider replacing and upgrading components from the same manufacturer to ensure that everything works. That user may also have plans to build skills and knowledge in bicycle maintenance, buy tools for the job and have a sense of achievement in making the bike run smooth and quiet. If that’s the case, SRAM think about your user! Maybe I’m wrong and naive, maybe the market is the bike manufacturers looking to shift units and accessories.

Sometimes, a single speed is the only way to escape

The interface and experience of a product does not start and finish at the immediate touch points. For me, and I'm sure many of us out there, who take pride in maintaining and servicing our bikes. Well thought out placement of fasteners and clear access to mechanical features provide you with a sense of confidence that the team responsible for bringing that product to market have considered us, the market.  In the case of SRAM Rival (I don’t have knowledge of their other gruppos) this is far from the case. I have never had to refer to bike forums to workout how to change a gear cable. I have also never wasted 2 hours of a lovely sunny evening also fitting said gear cable. If I had recently started cycling and fell into the 'user profile' listed above, the experience would result in me never specifying SRAM components or considering bikes with their groupsets. 

Have Shimano closed the patent loop hole to such a degree that the competition are really struggling to improve upon STI component packaging? If this is the case, should we accept that the trade off with combined brake/shifting is the complexity of the actual components and how to maintain it? In short, no.  At one point last night I had an image of a very helpful and understanding bike shop mechanic looking forward to an early escape and heading out into the sun. Just at that point, in walks some chap, his rear mech cable has snapped and he really needs to get the bike fixed asap. Good luck and there goes today’s servicing profits!

I’m wondering what levels of training and product awareness are now in place for bike mechanics? I was recently chatting with a bike industry rep and he had an interesting take on the proliferation of Standards, he prefers Options. I can appreciate the marketing logic behind Options. If I ever have the opportunity to spec a custom bike with Options, where would I start? Note to self: One bike for all rule kicked into the long grass, I am now thinking about a new MTB. Hydro Electrical rear set up, cable front, or go 1 x whatever, 29+ boost rear end with 5" Full Fat hub spacing upfront, frame geo corrected for suspension for when I want to fit electro active bouncy forks that understand the terrain based on previous rides, GPS data and telemetry.....We have now entered the generation of syncing ourselves and bikes to apps. The developments are no doubt exciting and keeping the jockey wheels of the trade lubed. However, I am wondering what the total user experience and journey will be like? How long will that Option remain current before it is made obsolete by more ratios, mm/inches (don't you just love the unit of measurement wonders of the bike trade) and girth? If my recent experience is anything to go by, I sincerely hope that the current company making the e-generation headlines has got their act together.

Stay upright and connected

1 x 2 = 4 seasons?

A few months back there was a very brief post covering new wheels and bike consolidation. The size of the quiver remains and the Boardman continues to be the go to bike. The lack of miles is also a constant. The Boardman did have a predictability about it, you knew what to expect - it never did feel that sprightly. It's the bikes ability to overlap conditions and surface that kept me coming back to it.  For someone who is lacking fitness and time to ride any bike, dependability versus outright performance is acceptable..... You know what is coming next, a cyclist with a test/plan in mind.  I want to reduce the number of bikes and have to accept that a few compromises may be made along the road less travelled. The Boardman's dependability is all very well and good, but some things had to change. It is now even more enjoyable to ride thanks to the Hunt hoops. This may be a bit biased, but I also think the deeper section rims and clean, considered graphics have made the bike even easier on the eye.

Those of us that have fitted new wheels will no doubt be in similar territory and will question - will the new wheels offer any improvements over the old? In the case of the Mason x Hunt 4 Season Disk Wheels, improvements are most certainly the case. I'm not the heaviest rider, but I make up for this by not being blessed with a deftly level of bike handling finesse. 1585 gram wheels, 24 spoke count and 35ish psi Schwable Sammy Slicks may not be the best choice for some of the mtb focus trails that I find myself on, but they are fantastic on gravel, tarmac (smooth & awful), grass, etc, etc.

clean and prior to Sammy Slicks being fitted

The increase in acceleration and lack of effort required when keeping up the pace is very noticeable. The front end of the Boardman is more road geo (73º) than cross and the extra speed carried into bends with the new wheels can easily upset the balance. I've found myself deliberately locking up the back wheel, letting in slide out, turn in a little opposite lock and slide through gravely corners. A little extra rpm of spinning rear wheel can be felt when sprinting out of such bends. This can be attributed to the tread of the Sammy's, but I have the feeling that the new set up encourages you to play. Apologies for the skid marks.....

no need to feel blue

The Boardman does kick you in the back, this becomes noticeable after an hour. Hey, it is a cross bike with road geo! The harshness can be contributed to a number of factors, main culprits being the aluminum box section chain stays and wishbone seat stay. We have no doubt read reviews of wheels that offer compliance, comfort and claims of %off your best time, ever. Up until now, the only wheels that I can confidently say met those claims were my sorely missed Dura Ace C24.  The 4 seasons wheels offer a subtle improvement with the overall comfort, the bike feels energised and ready for its next chase doon the lanes. 
Judging by the strava feed, I'm also covering the ground quicker. Google the RRP, they are half the price of the C24s.

The plan/test is set to continue with the fitting of 28mm Conti 4 seasons for longer rides over quiet local roads, lanes and sustrans no 7. When the leaves begin to fall, I may attempt to go tubeless with Michelin Mud 2s. Can 1 pair of versatile wheels with 2 types of tyres make a bike for all 4 seasons? Time will tell.

Stay upright

just because...

a few guffers travelled across the pond during summer. I forgot to post this beauty from NYC

full sus basket & seat

first of the year

It is not uncommon for there to be reference to the weather on this guff post and here is another post making the same point. Moaning. Again. Yes the weather has indeed been guff this so called summer. So much so that it has taken until this weekend, that's 8 August 2015 for this guffer to experience a bike ride that started and finished in short sleeve jersey, shorts and without getting wet. That's not quite true, I should say without getting rained on. There was plenty surface water running off from the fields to contend with along the way. And it wasn't that warm either come to think of it.
I blame the jet stream for taking a detour through La Manche/English Channel and pulling round some cold Siberian air. Correction. I blame climate change, not as it is often mistakenly called, global warming, since the change of direction has left us here experiencing what can reasonably be called indifferent weather where we are unable to distinguish between any of the 4 seasons. There is a certain irony in this complaint given the eco benefits of cycling. Looks like those telephone holding tunes are going to have to be replaced. No longer will we have the jaunty Vivaldi but instead something a bit more monotone. Come to think of it it has been a wee while since the sounds of Stereolab have graced this house.

grandstanding

no trip to arizona is complete without a visit to the grand canyon. in the reading prior to going the guidebook pointed out that it can make a pleasant bike ride 25 miles from grand canyon village to the east rim exit. strange how an idea gets planted, takes root and won't leave. quite glad about that.

that's not cgi honest

nice view

just messing

this north american trip has revealed a few new experiences. remarkably supportive drivers who moved across already wide roads to give the rider room and the chance to enjoy the scenery.

humphreys' peak