Review: Interflon Fin Super Multi-Purpose Lube

 

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Who?

Interflon make lubricants for Industrial and Food Processing machinery. Among their line up of specialist products is Fin Super,  a multi-purpose lube suitable for cycling, cleaning, lubricating and protecting.

Once applied it leaves a dry film that won’t drip, stain or attract dirt and dust. Luckily for us the weather has run the full gamut of conditions over the test period and we’ve been able to try Fin Super both on and off-road.

What?

Fin Super comes in an aerosol like WD-40. It is made from a blend of Mineral and Vegetable oils and contains Interflon’s exclusive MicPol formula. It seems that MicPol (or Micro-Polarisation) means the lube is attracted to whatever it is applied to. This prevents it being wiped off or washed away easily.

Fin Super has a working range between -43ºC and +170ºC. That’s adventures in the Arctic AND deserts covered then!

Apparently, Fin Super will not damage rubber or plastic so a bit of overspray on your tyres won’t harm them.

By displacing moisture it means there is no water to freeze up in icy conditions. That’s handy for cold rides, or where you finish the day at a bivvy spot!

How?

We tested Fin Super on both 2x and 1x transmissions, on sandy beach rides and typical UK gravel and road riding.

On the beach and dirt rides, we did pick up some debris but nothing significant.

I also used it for a wet and drizzly 200km road ride. Inevitably the chain finished with the usual grey film, but no squeaks or shifting issues.

Once home,  a quick spray and a wipe over with a rag was enough to clear the contamination and leave the chain clean. I also used it to lubricate the derailleurs and pedal mechanisms where it  performed admirably and resisted the build up of dirt and grime.

Summary:

As a lube, Fin Super is easy to apply, resists dirt, and lasts in testing conditions.

It works well on both chains and derailleurs and is light enough for general use and corrosion prevention. This makes it perfect for multi-day rides where carrying several products isn’t practical. One niggle is that the aerosol uses a ‘slot in’ straw which will inevitably go missing if packed for a ride. Interflon tell us they are looking into a more ride friendly dispenser. While Fin Super is among the most expensive chain lubes, there aren’t many that I would also use for other components.

100ml Aerosol RRP £15.00

300ml Aerosol RRP £30.00

 

My Tour Divide, an incomplete record of events!

 

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Oh man, the Tour Divide. What a ride, a dream come true, taking part in the legend and all that. I had great plans to write up my experiences and a couple of technical cock-ups put paid to a detailed account. 12 months on I still have my notes here sat gathering dust so I’ll commit them to a blog, they’ll be disjointed but what the heck.

Friday 3rd June 2016

Flew West-Jet into Calgary, the original plane was grounded so I arrived via stand-ins Omni, could have put me onto a Dakota with a folding chair and I’d have been happy. I’m off to Canada baby! 🙂

It was to be the last flight for my trusty Salsa Fargo cardboard box as I dumped it without ceremony in a Calgary Motel dumpster. Popped into MEC to buy bearspray and endured the obligatory training and signed the waiver. Can’t remember if it was to say that I wouldn’t spray humans with it or I wouldn’t sue if I got eaten by a bear.

Bears weigh heavy on my mind as I pop into Tim Horton’s for a coffee and snack…a bear claw.

Saturday 4th June 2016

Ah, a 5.30 am start and time to put the bike together and breakfast at 7am. Iced water in my bottles and off we go up the 1A towards Banff.
Leaving Calgary is a right faff, the bike paths don’t follow the 1A so I say sod it and join the freeway and hug the shoulder. It’s now Smokey Bears I expect to run into as surely I shouldn’t be riding my bike up here….

To relieve the boredom of the freeway I divert into the the Glenbow Lake park and crucnch some gravel to Cochrane via Glen Eagles (Yes, with it’s own golf course). The Garmin craps out in Cochrane after I’ve ridden about 26 miles, Lord no, please don’t let this be the theme for the next three weeks!

Stopped at one of the oldest churches in Canada for a bit of shade and to take a few snaps. Getting a real Little House on the Prairie vibe.

It’s 80 miles from Calgary to Banff and the emptiness of Canada is soon driven home, past Cochrane I find one Gas Station to buy snacks before arriving in Canmore. It’s also a quick lesson in North American cuisine, bigger is better and there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing.

I decided that Canmore would be my base before the TD kick-off, if for no other reason that it was waaaay cheaper than staying in Banff. I find myself a reasonably cheap cabin to lodge in and enjoy the strolls into town playing gopher spotting.

As suggested by Gabes I seek out some Poutine. Chips, gravy, cheese and bacon, what’s not to like?!

Sunday 5th June 2016

Starbucks has become my Canmore eatery of choice. The staff seem baffled by my request for a pain au chocolat and insist it’s a chocolate croissant. Whatev’s, the wifi is much better here than in McDonalds.

6th June 2016

I move from downtown Canmore into Harvie Heights, even by cabin standards it’s rustic. Still it’s got a big TV and a variety of terrible TV channels to keep me amused.

As the weather looked good I decided that I ought to hit some gentle trails, enough to be fun but not so much that I break myself or the bike before the Grand Depart.

The ride up to Goat Creek was dusty as hell, I ask a chap for directions and it turns out he’s from Halesworth, crazy huh. We ride into Banff together and I tell him about how Suffolk has evolved since he emigrated.

7th and 8th June 2016

Mainly mooched about town and enjoyed the river walk in Canmore.

So goodbye Canmore, next stop Banff and TD butterflies!

Review: Endura Hummvee Shacket

 

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While there’s no doubt that modern riding gear is a boon on a long ride, it can sometimes be a bit full-on. If your day out is going to involve melting into the crowd at the pub , or lounging around at camp, something a bit more relaxed might be what you’re after.

Pretend you didn’t hear the name

The Endura Hummvee Shacket (Shirt/Jacket) fills that niche, a performance riding layer that can pass for a normal top. The fit is a good balance between ride and casual. Compared to the same size in other Endura riding jerseys it is a more relaxed fit, a sweatshirt fits underneath without bursting at the seams. When on the bike, the rear is long enough to cover your lower back. Crucially the sleeves don’t ride up over your wrists, something many bike-specific tops seem to struggle with! The press-stud poppers are a welcome change to velcro that sticks to everything. The downside of of course is that they can let a breeze through.

As far as you can get from a pro-tour jersey plastered with logos!

Two in one

The Endura Hummvee Shacket has a pretty neat party trick. It’s reversible. One side fulfilling the lumberjack plaid shirt casual look, and the other a windproof shell. Sandwiched between the two is a layer of synthetic insulation. The good news is that the patterned side doesn’t look or feel synthetic. To the casual observer it just looks like a cotton shirt. Similarly the windproof shell doesn’t feel cold or rustle against your skin. The check side has a small Endura leather tab on the breast pocket and the windproof shell has stealthy grey-on-grey branding.

Even the zips are stealthy on the windproof side!

Summary

The Endura Hummvee Shacket fulfills the role of the casual/performance role admirably. The insulation is enough to keep the chill off without it becoming a winter only top. When it’s blustery the windproof face lives up to its name and can keep a light shower at bay until the weather clears. Another bonus is the Shacket’s every-day appeal, it’s not just an expensive item that only comes out for rides at the weekend. It’s a great piece of kit.

Find out more about Endura and your nearest dealer at: www.endurasport.com