The Bicycling thread

[QUOTE=skibum69;1204763]This ia the base of one of the cranes, each one can lift 7000 tons!..[/QUOTE]

Ah, the Dutch; they know how to build stuff. :thumb

.

Maybe I found a bike I might like.:brad

[QUOTE=PGlaves;1205280]Maybe I found a bike I might like.:brad[/QUOTE]

People put in a lot of effort... to not put in a lot of effort.

Got off the lazy couch after the big storms yesterday and the crazy winds the last few days. Wasn’t supposed to rain until around 2PM but sure looked imminent as we pedaled out... both of us eyeballing the other with a sanity check of our plans. Neither flinched, so into the low dark clouds we went.
We ended up doing our short loop dodging all the debris from wind and minor flooding and of course the people who need to see how muddy the ranch road or pipeline ROW is today...there is standing water Einsteins! Didn’t want to add another thirty minutes to ride and find the lightning. It would be my fault as usual:violin
Made it home without the rain, but this March type wind is crazy. Better forecast Thursday:thumb
No pics as I forgot phone, the wandering goats whose fence was down were fun to navigate through, was laying back waiting for one to broadside H as she talked to them loudly.

Now this will sound like a what kind of oil thread...

Opinions of running tubeless setups on road bikes? I can on my rims and have been a flat magnet lately... mostly shredded steel cords from tires. We avoid the gators, but those tiny strands seem to be the go to puncture monster. H has learned not to laugh, she has had a few lately as well, more often when solo.

[ATTACH]78553[/ATTACH]

Anyways, thinking about trying tubeless with the slime stuff. Also, have been using Conti race tubes and just ordered some Michelin puncture resistant tubes to change my luck.

The tires on my road bike have kevlar to resist punters, I've yet to have a flat on them. Maxxis.

There is a good solution for avoiding flats. It’s an expensive tire but well worth it: Specialized All-Condition Armadillo Elite.

I haven’t had a puncture flat in over a decade. The tires are not the lightest available, so not intended for racers. But for recreational riding I haven’t found a better option. (Note: “Elite” is the key word in the model descriptor. Standard “Armadillo” tires are not nearly as puncture resistant as the much pricier “Elite” version.)

I use them with tubes, but believe they can be run without.

[url]https://www.specialized.com/us/en/all-condition-armadillo-elite/p/155920[/url]


.

We have used Kevlar belted tires on our older bikes and were just using what came on our Synapses. She has second set of Conti Gatorskin Hardhells and I have the second set of Conti GranPrix 4 Seasons.

Our weak link is our riding the shoulder of the major US Hwy to exit our home locale. Everything that comes off a vehicle makes it to the shoulders. You can dodge the obvious, but after a blowout the shards and strands are everywhere. The positive is we find some really nice tools, knives, and such weekly. H found a $120 Gerber multi tool last week while I was looking at flowers I guess!

Yesterday someone had target practice with Budweiser bottles along a guardrail on the State two lane we use for a few miles making us veer onto travel lanes to avoid the shards. Part of the game you have to deal with to enjoy our passion.

Will prob go back to beefier tires next time if this persists. Was curious about the tubeless option.

I found an interesting bicycling photograph. I decided it would make a good Caption Contest. Post your captions please:

[QUOTE=henzilla;1205672]
Our weak link is our riding the shoulder of the major US Hwy to exit our home locale. Everything that comes off a vehicle makes it to the shoulders. .[/QUOTE]

I was guessing hwy 281 shoulders would be a problem with flats.
For me the chip-seal makes it hard to spot the tiny things that cause flats.

“The English were quick to improvise when there was a water crossing on the way to Normandy”
om

[QUOTE=henzilla;1205672]We have used Kevlar belted tires on our older bikes and were just using what came on our Synapses. She has second set of Conti Gatorskin Hardhells and I have the second set of Conti GranPrix 4 Seasons.

Our weak link is our riding the shoulder of the major US Hwy to exit our home locale. Everything that comes off a vehicle makes it to the shoulders. You can dodge the obvious, but after a blowout the shards and strands are everywhere. The positive is we find some really nice tools, knives, and such weekly. H found a $120 Gerber multi tool last week while I was looking at flowers I guess!

Yesterday someone had target practice with Budweiser bottles along a guardrail on the State two lane we use for a few miles making us veer onto travel lanes to avoid the shards. Part of the game you have to deal with to enjoy our passion.

Will prob go back to beefier tires next time if this persists. Was curious about the tubeless option.[/QUOTE]

I’ve only had a single flat running Armadillo Elite tires. That was about 11 years ago, with a 32c tire. I wasn’t paying attention and ran right over an industrial staple/nail that was sticking straight up out of a thin board. (Narrower tires probably would have passed between the two staple tines.)

They have been impervious to everything else. Glass, sharp metal debris, off-road sharp rocks, thorns, roots, etc etc.

It’s really to the point now I have such complete confidence in them that I don’t need to carry anything for flat repair. (I do carry anyway, but just to help other cyclists.) Eventually, the tube valve stems wear out so I end up replacing them, but not due to punctures.

Hopefully you’ll get some feedback on tubeless. There are definite weight savings there.

We're running road tubeless on 4 bikes. Haven't had a flat with them yet - but I don't get flats with tubes that often, either. The majority of flats that I've gotten with tubes have also been from steel belt shards. Next most popular is glass. But not big shards - tiny ones that embed in the tire and work their way in over time. Those suck because they are hard to find and remove.

Anyway, I'm pretty confident that the sealant would work well against both of those types of punctures. I carry a tube and patch kit just in case. To 'fix' a flat, I would have to remove the tubeless valve stem and then insert the tube. The sealant would make it a terrible mess. I'm not dreading the day - kind of interested to see what would happen.

I find tubeless are a PITA to install. It doesn't seem like there is a standard bead setup so each rim/tire combo presents its own set of challenges. It is a LOT like mounting a MC tire - but imagine you use balancing beads but add them BEFORE you seat the bead. Yeah, a mess. I have used a compressor to mount every tire. Note that you have to top up the sealant every 6 months or so. It dries out apparently.

Here is my one horror story. Mounted a Kenda Flint Ridge gravel tire onto FSA gravel wheel. Everything was all done, bead seated, sealant in. Yahoo!. Wanted to put 40 PSI into the tire and leave it like that overnight. Just as I got to 40 (using the gauge on my hand pump) - the bead blew off the rim and sealant flew everywhere in my garage. Over motorcycles, car (miata), bicycles, walls, floor. I pulled 6 motorcycles out and washed them immediately. But I was still finding sealant a month after it happened. Checked my hand pump gauge against a few digitals (which all read the same on the same car tire). Turns out the hand pump was reading 10 PSI less than what was actually pumped in. Doh. After that, I've learned to either mount the tires outside or inside a plastic bag.

The reason I run tubeless is so I can run lower pressure. I'm running 25C tires at 80 PSI. Michelle runs hers at 60 to 70 PSI. On gravel tires I can run really low. That makes the ride much more comfortable. You don't have to worry about pinch flats as you would with tubes. Coming from 23C at 115PSI, I am ecstatic with the ride. I have run the Kevlar protected tires, like Gatorskins, with tubes and, IMO, that takes comfort in the opposite direction.

All of my experience on the road is with Schwalbe Pro One tubeless. I like 'em and will buy more. The total setup does seem light and responsive but not any different than a light racing tire/tube combo.

I just estimated how many miles we have on the tubeless setup. I have about 800 miles between the two bikes. Pretty evenly split. Michelle has about 1200 miles where 900 miles are on the road bike (25C). The gravel bikes both have 28C tires mounted for road riding.

[QUOTE=kurtr11s;1205697]

Here is my one horror story. Mounted a Kenda Flint Ridge gravel tire onto FSA gravel wheel. Everything was all done, bead seated, sealant in. Yahoo!. Wanted to put 40 PSI into the tire and leave it like that overnight. Just as I got to 40 (using the gauge on my hand pump) - the bead blew off the rim and sealant flew everywhere in my garage. Over motorcycles, car (miata), bicycles, walls, floor. I pulled 6 motorcycles out and washed them immediately. But I was still finding sealant a month after it happened. Checked my hand pump gauge against a few digitals (which all read the same on the same car tire). Turns out the hand pump was reading 10 PSI less than what was actually pumped in. Doh. After that, I've learned to either mount the tires outside or inside a plastic bag.

.[/QUOTE]

You just talked me out of tubeless :rofl

Today's ride was to the small village of Phoenix which is north of us in Oswego county.

[ATTACH]78562[/ATTACH]

Phoenix is located at the confluence of the Seneca and Oneida rivers. The resulting river is the Oswego river which flows from Phoenix to the city of Oswego, where it empties into Lake Ontario.

Along this section of river is a NY state wildlife management area name, appropriately, Three Rivers WMA. We rode through this area and dissected it both in the E-W, and N-S direction. Here is the portion of the road on the E-W section.

[ATTACH]78563[/ATTACH]

It is a wonderful area with ponds, marshes, fields and forest. Although there isn't hunting in the area, it is used by hunters to train their dogs. Particularly equestrian hunters. We like to watch the birds while riding our fat tire bikes on the trails. In the winter we snowshoe through the area. It is amazing how you can get to complete isolation and be less than 10 miles from a city center.

All of these rivers are part of the modern Erie Canal system and there are locks located on each of the rivers. Here is Lock 1 on the Oswego river - right in the village of Phoenix. I took the picture from a draw bridge, which constantly disrupts traffic in the summer. I love it.

[ATTACH]78564[/ATTACH]

And a short walk from that bridge is a place that I love and it makes me sad that our current situation has caused it to be closed. Normally we would stop for a flight of beers (they have a great selection of local brews on tap). Now they are distilling hand sanitizer. I'm not a hard liquor person but we like their cinnamon whisky. We've taken a tour of their distilling process - interesting and they are super friendly folks. Places like this have become catalysts for the revitalization of small upstate villages. Cool places to hang out, very family friendly. The US's answer to the british/irish pub culture.

[ATTACH]78565[/ATTACH]

This is from last July. Our buddy thought Michelle was going to share the samplers (oh, how naive we were pre COVID) ...

[ATTACH]78566[/ATTACH]

[QUOTE=Lee;1205706]You just talked me out of tubeless :rofl[/QUOTE]

Yeah, it isn't all rosy. But I did go tubeless on 4 sets of wheels AFTER that incident. First I gave it a shot on the road bikes - we liked it so much that I bought another set of wheels for the gravel bikes and put the same tires (effectively the same wheels and tires other than disk brake vs rim and the size of the tires).

I also have a backup set of wheels with tubes, just in case.

Again, I would say the only reasons to deal with the hassle of tubeless is 1) you get a lot of flats from small punctures and/or 2) you want to run lower pressure for comfort or traction.

I like them and hope that development continues until they are easy to install and repair on the side of the road. For MTB tires, you fix flats similar to tubeless MC tires: insert a little 'snake' and then refill. I imagine you could do the same with road - but the punctures tend to be different. You would have to really ream out the hole. Then I start to worry about the integrity of the tire.

We are two weeks into the month and I'm going to give you an update on where I am with my challenge - whether you like it or not.

The goal is 1250km and 7500m of elevation gain (that is 777 miles and 24600 ft).

I am currently at 689km (428 miles), and 5424m (17757 ft).

I've ridden 13 out of the last 14 days. The weather has not been great - we are lucky to get into the 50s. So I've had (wanted?) to ride on the trainer 4 days (total of 90 miles/4900ft in the virtual world of Zwift).

The 9 days I've ridden outside, I've had a different 'destination' village for each ride. I'm also trying to ride as many different roads as I can (I'm keeping track by highlighting the routes on a map - I'll post a picture when I'm finished).

I'm a nerd. Villages are in the notes column:

[ATTACH]78568[/ATTACH]

Thanks for the great feedback on tubeless. I’ve often contemplated trying, too, but based on your experience it seems my Armadillo Elite tires are a better option for me. I can run my 30c tires at 60 psi and have a reasonably soft ride. Weight isn’t a big issue for me either, since I’m already on a comparatively heavy bike.

Keep up the good training there. Looks like you are well on your way to reaching your goal! I am training for a marathon in the fall (Covid permitting) so am down to two days/week of riding. I’d have no problem meeting the elevation objectives since a typical ride has anywhere from 3000-4000 feet of elevation, but mileage would be an issue The running is really killing me...

[QUOTE=vark;1205720]Thanks for the great feedback on tubeless. I’ve often contemplated trying, too, but based on your experience it seems my Armadillo Elite tires are a better option for me. I can run my 30c tires at 60 psi and have a reasonably soft ride. Weight isn’t a big issue for me either, since I’m already on a comparatively heavy bike.

Keep up the good training there. Looks like you are well on your way to reaching your goal! I am training for a marathon in the fall (Covid permitting) so am down to two days/week of riding. I’d have no problem meeting the elevation objectives since a typical ride has anywhere from 3000-4000 feet of elevation, but mileage would be an issue The running is really killing me...[/QUOTE]

Thanks. I agree with your assessment regarding the tires. Although if I were in your shoes, I would probably look for some lighter gear. That is some solid elevation! I consider anything over 1k ft per 10 miles to be 'hilly'. My typical rides are rolling, about 500 ft per 10 miles. I can link together specific rides to get above the 1k ft per 10 miles but that doesn't give me a lot of exploring options. Hills are what I would typically be doing at this time of year because most of the gravel events around here are pretty hilly (e.g. 60 miles/ 6k ft). If the weather gets better toward the end of the month, I'll hit some of the good climbs and take some photos. I am trying to do all of my rides beginning at my house (vs driving to the start). If I drove an hour, I would be able to do some great rides.

Vark, what part of the world do you live in?

[QUOTE=vark;1205720]Thanks for the great feedback on tubeless. I’ve often contemplated trying, too, but based on your experience it seems my Armadillo Elite tires are a better option for me. I can run my 30c tires at 60 psi and have a reasonably soft ride. Weight isn’t a big issue for me either, since I’m already on a comparatively heavy bike.

Keep up the good training there. Looks like you are well on your way to reaching your goal! I am training for a marathon in the fall (Covid permitting) so am down to two days/week of riding. I’d have no problem meeting the elevation objectives since a typical ride has anywhere from 3000-4000 feet of elevation, but mileage would be an issue The running is really killing me...[/QUOTE]

Would you mind measuring the width of your 30C tires (can you use calipers at the widest point while mounted on your rims)? Because of the 'new' wider rim profiles I'm much wider than you would expect: 25C measures 28mm, 28C measures 30mm.

My 23C tires on narrow rims typically measure 23mm. 23 to 28 is a huge increase. Looking down it looks like I'm riding a mountain bike!

[QUOTE=kurtr11s;1205729]Would you mind measuring the width of your 30C tires (can you use calipers at the widest point while mounted on your rims)? Because of the 'new' wider rim profiles I'm much wider than you would expect: 25C measures 28mm, 28C measures 30mm.

My 23C tires on narrow rims typically measure 23mm. 23 to 28 is a huge increase. Looking down it looks like I'm riding a mountain bike![/QUOTE]


Focus was too far back, but you can kind of get the picture. 25C on Left, 23C on right. Caliper width was taken from 25C to compare to 23.

[ATTACH]78570[/ATTACH]

Still lots of nubs after >400 miles on the tubeless...

(Chicken strips)

Would that happen to be Boonville NY?
OM

Wow, lots of great info... even the exploding bead... yikes. I may try the tubeless next tire just to check it out. Going from 23 at 115 psi to 28 and 70 psi has been a strange transition but welcome when using a hand pump on the road. I am a pump guy though I do carry and use CO2. Slow leakers just waste a lot of cartridges when you are far from home and you have run out of patches, tubes, and/ or patience.
H always asks how my tires can top off so quickly as she is still seeking 115 on the floor pump and I barely hit mine prior to takeoff.

We passed more tire gators today and I held my breath... worked! Humidity after the rain made the return into the wind a chore today. Might have been the ice cream last night too!

Our two regular rides cover 1600’ of gain in 34 miles which is an out and back and 2000-2500’ in 45 miles and depending on direction on a loop. The 80 miler I did was 4100’ and may repeat that tomorrow with secure water bottles this time! Maybe time for a Camelback.

[QUOTE=kurtr11s;1205746]Still lots of nubs after >400 miles on the tubeless...

(Chicken strips)[/QUOTE]

Needs a shave! :)

[QUOTE]

Vark, what part of the world do you live in?[/QUOTE]

I am in Metro DC area, on the Virginia side of the river.

The elevation range here is 0’ to 460’. I get the elevation totals by stringing together scores of short steep hills (1/8-1/2 mile length, with 75-200’ of elevation gain.)

Most people would find my routine rides dreadful - - it’s just up down up down short steep hills. Kind of like doing interval training or sprints at a track. And because I’m in an urban area, you can’t go flying down the backside. You have to keep your speed in check in order to be able to react to doors, cars, kids, etc etc. So it’s a slow slog. But at least I’m not repeating the same roads over and over - - the one benefit of urban riding is you have almost limitless routes to choose from.

And I don’t waste any time driving to rides - - it’s right out my door and go. Plus I’m rarely more than 3–4 miles from home, so can bail out easily if the weather goes south or I’m just not feeling the love.

I know what you mean about the wider rim profiles. I will try to get you that measurement.

[QUOTE=PGlaves;1205673]I found an interesting bicycling photograph. I decided it would make a good Caption Contest. Post your captions please:[/QUOTE]

Bottom three of class!

That is really a head scratcher

[QUOTE=Omega Man;1205747]Would that happen to be Boonville NY?
OM[/QUOTE]

Baldwinsville. About 75 miles southwest of Boonville.

[QUOTE=kurtr11s;1205758]Baldwinsville. About 75 miles southwest of Boonville.[/QUOTE]

:thumb
Used to go to the big logging expo in Boonville. Nice area.
OM

[QUOTE=Omega Man;1205761]:thumb
Used to go to the big logging expo in Boonville. Nice area.
OM[/QUOTE]

Agree. I like to ride motorcycles up that way. Have a small dual sport (WR250R) that I take up there and ride on ATV trails. Actually bought the WR from a guy in Remsen which is just south of Boonville.

I also enjoy the bicycle hobby and have since childhood.

In recent years, I spend most of my bicycle time on a mountain bike and have participated in a number of ICEMAN races in Traverse City in November. I've also ridden the LUMBERJACK at Big M in Wellston a couple of times earning my "patch" twice.

I started riding on the road but much prefer the trails through the woods. You can't beat the scenery and the workout is tremendous.

Currently working on calculating a mount for my R65 so I can haul a mountain bike to the trail.

Happy riding.

Fred Jernigan
MOA member: 219694

[QUOTE=kurtr11s;1205729]Would you mind measuring the width of your 30C tires (can you use calipers at the widest point while mounted on your rims)? Because of the 'new' wider rim profiles I'm much wider than you would expect: 25C measures 28mm, 28C measures 30mm.

My 23C tires on narrow rims typically measure 23mm. 23 to 28 is a huge increase. Looking down it looks like I'm riding a mountain bike![/QUOTE]

My 30c tires measure out at about 33/34 mm.

I stopped using 23c tires over a dozen years ago. I found 25c and even more 28c tires offered a more comfortable ride, and on repeatable routes my average speeds went up. For pure road riding I wouldn’t go with less than 28c tires anymore.

I only ride one bike. I find the 30c tires offer a very good balance for mixed use between road and gravel. The extra volume of air in these sizes, combined with the lower tire pressure, means they rarely need topping off. (I do check pressure regularly, but they hold very well.)

.

[QUOTE=fjernigan3030;1205787]I also enjoy the bicycle hobby and have since childhood.

In recent years, I spend most of my bicycle time on a mountain bike and have participated in a number of ICEMAN races in Traverse City in November. I've also ridden the LUMBERJACK at Big M in Wellston a couple of times earning my "patch" twice.

I started riding on the road but much prefer the trails through the woods. You can't beat the scenery and the workout is tremendous.

Currently working on calculating a mount for my R65 so I can haul a mountain bike to the trail.

Happy riding.

Fred Jernigan
MOA member: 219694[/QUOTE]


Welcome aboard, and to this thread. If you ever work out a bike rack set-up, be sure to share results. A few pages back someone recommended what look like some good options that are available commercially.:thumb

[QUOTE=vark;1205809]My 30c tires measure out at about 33/34 mm.

I stopped using 23c tires over a dozen years ago. I found 25c and even more 28c tires offered a more comfortable ride, and on repeatable routes my average speeds went up. For pure road riding I wouldn’t go with less than 28c tires anymore.

I only ride one bike. I find the 30c tires offer a very good balance for mixed use between road and gravel. The extra volume of air in these sizes, combined with the lower tire pressure, means they rarely need topping off. (I do check pressure regularly, but they hold very well.)

.[/QUOTE]

Thanks - 30C really does make a difference!

I did have 30C (Kenda cross?) tires on narrow rims for gravel a few years ago. I think they measured 30mm. The had a bit of tread on the sides, so they were OK for dirt. The middle tread wore quickly on pavement, though. I also took it easy on high speed turns - it was probably all mental but I was worried about the knobs losing grip.

I was faster on 23C for sure. Because I was younger when I rode them :).

[QUOTE=fjernigan3030;1205787]I also enjoy the bicycle hobby and have since childhood.

In recent years, I spend most of my bicycle time on a mountain bike and have participated in a number of ICEMAN races in Traverse City in November. I've also ridden the LUMBERJACK at Big M in Wellston a couple of times earning my "patch" twice.

I started riding on the road but much prefer the trails through the woods. You can't beat the scenery and the workout is tremendous.

Currently working on calculating a mount for my R65 so I can haul a mountain bike to the trail.

Happy riding.

Fred Jernigan
MOA member: 219694[/QUOTE]

Welcome! My first BMW was an R65. Rode it to the Oshkosh national in 1993. Went out through the UP and came back across the ferry to Ludington. That isn't to far from Wellston!

I wish that I could ride primarily on trails. The closest trails to me are 10 miles away and the place is small - at least an hour to drive to good riding, and there aren't many of those.

It would be great if you snapped some shots while on your rides and shared them with us. That way I can trail ride vicariously through you :).

Sometimes we just like to putter around on bikes. If local exploring is the objective, nothing beats the fat tire bike - it rolls over everything. So we rode a whopping 7 miles today (at an average speed of 8 miles per hour!) just checking out the local boat launch, locks and generally spinning our legs out.

Here is a beautiful sign welcoming you as you enter our village:

[ATTACH]78579[/ATTACH]

Michelle tries to use the small boat launch as "rollers", notice how high the water level is:

[ATTACH]78580[/ATTACH]

I tried to get a picture of Lock 24 on the Erie Canal. The lock routes around a waterfall, this creates an island that has an inn, some restaurants and a concert venue.

[ATTACH]78581[/ATTACH]

Here is a picture I took last year of the concert island (old timers refer to it as 'Paper Mill Island' - I used to work with a guy who owned this island in the '80s - he had a boat building business there in a steel building that covered the entire island!). This picture is taken just on the upriver side of the lock from the previous picture:

[ATTACH]78582[/ATTACH]

The concert venue is sponsored by Anheuser Busch (one of the largest employers in the village - if you drink Bass Ale in the US, it probably comes from here!). This one is from 'Bud Days' in 2017:

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What tire type does this guy need?

[QUOTE=PGlaves;1205901]What tire type does this guy need?[/QUOTE]

That looks like a pretty narrow tire with a high profile rim. When you are carrying furniture, it is important to be aero.