Cycling Miscellany

[chrisrenrut]

Agree about the Utah weather right now, this is my favorite time of year to be out biking and running. Cooler temperatures and a summer of training make getting out really enjoyable.

I went on a ride Monday morning. I planned on about 40 miles along the Legacy Parkway, but I got a flat about 10 miles in. After fixing the flat, I altered my plans and ended up getting in some hill work in Bountiful while working my way back home.

I have been dreading getting a flat. When I got Gatorskin tires, I had to pay a bike shop to put them on because I couldn't get them on. Even the bike shop took 40 minutes and went through 4 tubes to get them on. And as I suspected, Gatorskins are awesome, but not completely thorn proof.

Knowing this, I bought a Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack. It worked amazingly well, and I didn't end up with blisters on my thumbs or popping the new tube. It's pretty big, so it's not perfect for taking with you on rides, but if you use a Camelback it isn't too bad.

[Eddie]

Agree about the Utah weather right now, this is my favorite time of year to be out biking and running. Cooler temperatures and a summer of training make getting out really enjoyable.

I went on a ride Monday morning. I planned on about 40 miles along the Legacy Parkway, but I got a flat about 10 miles in. After fixing the flat, I altered my plans and ended up getting in some hill work in Bountiful while working my way back home.

I have been dreading getting a flat. When I got Gatorskin tires, I had to pay a bike shop to put them on because I couldn't get them on. Even the bike shop took 40 minutes and went through 4 tubes to get them on. And as I suspected, Gatorskins are awesome, but not completely thorn proof.

Knowing this, I bought a Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack. It worked amazingly well, and I didn't end up with blisters on my thumbs or popping the new tube. It's pretty big, so it's not perfect for taking with you on rides, but if you use a Camelback it isn't too bad.

I picked up some gatorskins and was less than impressed.

I flatted the very first time I took them out, and 2 of the first three times. On one of my long rides I got 2 flats on the same ride.

Before the gatorskins, I was riding on some tires that were so old I was starting to see threads. I only flatted twice on those tires - thin as they were.

I know I've been riding more than in the past, but it is still pretty frustrating to flat that often on new tires that are supposed to be awesome.

[RC Vikings]

I picked up some gatorskins and was less than impressed.

I flatted the very first time I took them out, and 2 of the first three times. On one of my long rides I got 2 flats on the same ride.

Before the gatorskins, I was riding on some tires that were so old I was starting to see threads. I only flatted twice on those tires - thin as they were.

I know I've been riding more than in the past, but it is still pretty frustrating to flat that often on new tires that are supposed to be awesome.

I've got a set of new Continental 4000s and a set of Michelin Pro 4's that I've been debating on using this weekend. I don't want trouble so I've been reading all the reviews and you get everything from these tires are dangerous to I've got 4000 miles on these tires and never had a flat. I'm going to ride on the 4000s tonight and see if I like them. One thing I learned one year at Lotoja was to go for a ride before Saturday with any new tires or tubes or any new adjustment you are doing for the race. It's a terrible feeling to be changing a tire with your start time only five minutes away.

[Pheidippides]

I've got a set of new Continental 4000s and a set of Michelin Pro 4's that I've been debating on using this weekend. I don't want trouble so I've been reading all the reviews and you get everything from these tires are dangerous to I've got 4000 miles on these tires and never had a flat. I'm going to ride on the 4000s tonight and see if I like them. One thing I learned one year at Lotoja was to go for a ride before Saturday with any new tires or tubes or any new adjustment you are doing for the race. It's a terrible feeling to be changing a tire with your start time only five minutes away.

I have put perhaps 5000 miles on my two sets of 4000s. They are my go-to tires. I have had two flats in three years, all the same weekend on the same stretch of glass - strewn road.

[RC Vikings]

I have put perhaps 5000 miles on my two sets of 4000s. They are my go-to tires. I have had two flats in three years, all the same weekend on the same stretch of glass - strewn road.

That's great to hear, it's the set I'm leaning toward using.

[BrutusBuckeye]

I've got a set of new Continental 4000s and a set of Michelin Pro 4's that I've been debating on using this weekend. I don't want trouble so I've been reading all the reviews and you get everything from these tires are dangerous to I've got 4000 miles on these tires and never had a flat. I'm going to ride on the 4000s tonight and see if I like them. One thing I learned one year at Lotoja was to go for a ride before Saturday with any new tires or tubes or any new adjustment you are doing for the race. It's a terrible feeling to be changing a tire with your start time only five minutes away.

I rode on Grand Prix 4000S last year and liked them. I never had any flats until the rear tire was worn quite thin. This year I bought some Michelin Pro4 Endurance and thought they were good tires and wore well. However, they didn't seem to roll as well as the Continentals and even felt a little sluggish at times. I'm not sure which model of the Pro4 you have, but the Endurance compares more to the Gatorskin, so your Pro4s may have a much different feel. I just put on a pair of Continentals before riding Saturday morning and they feel great.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

I ride Pro4's and love them. Flats are extremely rare.

[OceanBlue]

20 miles in 95 degree plus heat, the air so thick you can cut it. Nasty weather.

[OceanBlue]

20 miles today. Only 90 degrees today but still ugly. My son texted me the humidity level in Provo today teasing me.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Is it my imagination, or are most Americans stupid when driving into and out of roundabouts? I came very close to getting nailed today by a minivan that entered a roundabout I was already in. The driver was totally oblivious to me and was looking instead ahead and to her right at the driver of a car that was about to enter the circle from the next "spoke". I hit my brakes hard, swerved hard left into the planter box hub, and then yelled at the idiot driver. Interestingly, the driver of the car that was about to enter honked her horn at the oblivious woman and yelled at her, too. As I rode past the honking driver she asked if I was okay and said something profane about the knucklehead, with which I concurred.

I am also vexed by drivers who are already in the roundabout and yet stop to let others in. Not good, people.

In case any of you don't have roundabouts in your area, drivers about to enter the circle must yield to those already there. Although unnecessary, there are usually yield signs at each entrance but apparently some drivers see them as optional. Once in, you have the right of way until you exit.

[Eddie]

Is it my imagination, or are most Americans stupid when driving into and out of roundabouts? I came very close to getting nailed today by a minivan that entered a roundabout I was already in. The driver was totally oblivious to me and was looking instead ahead and to her right at the driver of a car that was about to enter the circle from the next "spoke". I hit my brakes hard, swerved hard left into the planter box hub, and then yelled at the idiot driver. Interestingly, the driver of the car that was about to enter honked her horn at the oblivious woman and yelled at her, too. As I rode past the honking driver she asked if I was okay and said something profane about the knucklehead, with which I concurred.

I am also vexed by drivers who are already in the roundabout and yet stop to let others in. Not good, people.

In case any of you don't have roundabouts in your area, drivers about to enter the circle must yield to those already there. Although unnecessary, there are usually yield signs at each entrance but apparently some drivers see them as optional. Once in, you have the right of way until you exit.

I submit that most drivers are not intelligent enough to maneuver through a roundabout when there are more than 2 vehicles involved that are entering the roundabout at nearly the same time and from spokes that are not on opposite sides from each other. Heck, many have a hard enough time managing that!

[Dwight Schr-ute]

Is it my imagination, or are most Americans stupid when driving into and out of roundabouts? I came very close to getting nailed today by a minivan that entered a roundabout I was already in. The driver was totally oblivious to me and was looking instead ahead and to her right at the driver of a car that was about to enter the circle from the next "spoke". I hit my brakes hard, swerved hard left into the planter box hub, and then yelled at the idiot driver. Interestingly, the driver of the car that was about to enter honked her horn at the oblivious woman and yelled at her, too. As I rode past the honking driver she asked if I was okay and said something profane about the knucklehead, with which I concurred.

I am also vexed by drivers who are already in the roundabout and yet stop to let others in. Not good, people.

In case any of you don't have roundabouts in your area, drivers about to enter the circle must yield to those already there. Although unnecessary, there are usually yield signs at each entrance but apparently some drivers see them as optional. Once in, you have the right of way until you exit.

Roundabouts. The last of the wild frontiers.

[ERCougar]

Not all roundabouts yield to the cars already in the circle. There's at least one prominent exception that I've driven a few times, but I can't remember where it is.
For whatever reason, the safety statistics strongly favor roundabouts over stoplights. Probably because no one knows what they're doing so they actually pay attention (that, and it's difficult to go blazing through into another car at 60 mph).

[OceanBlue]

18 miles with my wife. Hot and muggy but not over 90 plus so bearable.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

Giovanni Pinarello passes away at 92. I've never ridden one of his bikes, but I've always admired their beauty.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/...dies-92_344049