ABC Off!

Armadillo Still Mounted on Frankenbike's Rear Wheel. Sidewall Was SAD, but Tread Separation was the End of the Tire

I’ve been an ABC Quick Check Failure for many years. It isn’t that I don’t DO ABC Quick Checks, but rather that I typically make a mental note to “fix that later” as long as I decide it will not keep me from completing my immediate trip. Sometimes, that approach proves less than satisfactory. Sometimes, it merely allows one to combine multiple fixes into one session. I’m fortunate enough that this time, I got to do the latter.

This all started back in late spring. My rear tire on Frankenbike was flat one morning. Adopting my usual approach, I pumped up the tire and it held air just fine for my morning journey. The next morning it was flat once again. I pumped it up again and this time it stayed inflated for an entire week. After about four episodes, I decided that my wife’s bike needed exercise (she rarely rides it) and I’ve been using it for the entire summer. After some experience with it, I’ll make a future post about my summer with “modern” bike technology. Needless to say, while I was going through these gyrations I was making mental notes about truing my front wheel and adjusting the brakes, not to mention cleaning and lubing the chain. I also picked up a new tire; a low-cost Kenda.

This all came to a head this week when my three daughters came to visit. Suddenly, Frankenbike was needed for transport once again. I pumped up the tire, but unlike past episodes, this time, the tire went flat within a couple of houses and the kids were not really enthused about riding “Madeline.” Apparently, fixies are not everyone’s cup of tea.

To make a long story short, the family wanted to motor in to the big city (Aberdeen and Hoquiam) to go shopping. My request included four spokes and some rim tape. I already had bike chain lube handy. I provided the old, broken spoke so they could be sure to get the proper length. In due time, I had the parts, including an extra roll of rim tape (for reasons unknown). I set to work and discovered just how pleasant truing an old rim can be when you have a bike stand, a comfortable chair to work with, and you are not in any rush.

Now there ARE a few extra items that don’t entirely fit within the narrative. They include:

• This is my second Armadillo tire that failed by separation of the tread from the casing. I am now “Armadillo-free” in Ocean Shores.
• I discovered that rim strips, such as the Origin 8 I have onBuddy, are much less universal than rim tape such as the Velox I used in this repair. The Origin 8 does not come in a 27-inch size and I don’t know if the 700c strip would fit. I’m guessing it’d work fine since the rims are not that different in size, but when the “LBS” bike shop is 30 miles away, I voted for rim tape that’ll fit ANYTHING.
• I used an ultrasonic parts cleaner to clean the chain. It worked OK, but I was wishing I had either my Park Chain Cleaning tool, or my trusty can of carburetor cleaner.
• Shiny new spokes really make their 30-year old ancestors look LAME
• I'm not sure if this is typical, but my new Kenda was MUCH easier to fit to the rim than any Specialized, Vittoria, or Continental I have recent experience with. No "must use hook bead rim" nonsense, either. It also seems that 28c wide Kendas are wider than 28c Armadillos.
• While I was fixing stuff, I fixed my second floor pump as well (it had a failed pressure head) using the head from my lousy third floor pump. My favorite floor pump, shown here, is still in Texas.
• Aberdeen, besides being the hometown of Kurt Cobain of "Nirvana" fame, was also the home of America's most prolific serial murderer; Billy Gohl. While there are no records of Billy's first six years of operation, 41 bodies were recovered in his last three years in Aberdeen.

Armadillo Tire as Removed and Ready for Trash. Note the Separation Between the Tread and the Still-Intact Casing
I'm Not Sure WHAT that White Spot is, but it was on the Inside of the Tread When the Tire was Removed

ABC and Armadillo Tires

LaVogue Bicycle Shop in Hoquiam, Washington - Conveniently Next Door to Tully's Coffee

As noted here, I've been a fan of "Armadillo" bike tires in the past. However, as noted here and here, they are not without their faults. For older bikes, I'm coming to the conclusion that Armadillos may be more trouble than they're worth.

Lately, I've had a failure progressing on Frankenbike's Armadillo front tire. Having had "ABC" failures in the past, I have kept a close eye on it. One problem, however, is that there's really no place to get a 27 inch tire here in Ocean Shores. Ace Hardware actually has "Bell" brand 27 inch tires, but they weigh at least as much as the Armadillo and I really don't trust Bell components other than tubes and helmets.

Can You See Why the Tire Was Making Funny Noises?

There IS a bike shop 15 miles away in Hoquiam. What's more, an express bus runs from Ocean Shores to Hoquiam, though I've heard tales of where it discharges its passengers - a locale nicknamed "felony flats." Luckily for me, my brother-in-law (BIL) in Everett required a visit - going to Everett and back from Ocean Shores using public transit is really a multi-day affair if you aren't going to motor there. I first stopped by the bike store in Hoquiam, but they didn't have anything much more appealing than the Ace Hardware Bell tire. I like the Hoquiam store, though it lacks the "spiff" of a Performance Bikes locale. After continuing, I stopped at a bike store I favor that's close to my BIL's house. They didn't have anything fancy, but the Specialized Trisport, made in Taiwan, seemed several steps better than the alternative Chinese "noname" tire and it was much lighter than either it or the Armadillo it was destined to replace. Reviews on the Trisport are mixed, but unlike the Armadillo, it does not indicate it REQUIRES a hook bead rim. After conversation with the bike shop guy about the tire and its intended rims, I splurged for less than HALF what it's cousin, the Armadillo, would have cost. Heck, if my tire's going to fail due to tread separating from the casing, I might as well spend a little less.

In summary and without further ado, I do NOT recommend Armadillos for old (non hook bead) 27-inch rims. They will eventually blow off same if you pump them up to their specified pressure. Their tread doesn't stay attached to the casing any better than a $5 Chinese tire, and they ride like wood. And that doesn't consider that their traction in wet conditions is, to put it charitably, "challenged." Oh, forgot to mention that they weigh a ton and cost almost as much as the excellent Continental Grand Prix 4 Season tires that unfortunately are not available in 27-inch size.

Tread is Becoming "Dearly Departed" Though the Casing is Still Intact The Sidewall was Originally a Dark Red

On the other hand, even with the rubber detaching from the casing, the tire never actually went flat. Had I felt "ABC Daring," I would have pulled the rubber off the tire and ridden on the casing alone. Perhaps, someday, I will. For now, the love affair with Armadillos is OVER.

UPDATE: In response to Khal's comment, take a look here, here, and here to see more about using Continental Grand Prix 4 Season tires. They're still on my "good" list though they're even MORE expensive than the Conti Gatorskins. I like them despite their own particular faults. The Contis are not available in 27" size and I'd be VERY reluctant to use folding tires on an old rim in any event.

That's the TREAD, Not a Tube! The Red is the Remaining Vestige of the Original Sidewall Color

ABC Choices

Yes, That IS a Bulge. Illustrating the Value of the "A" Part of "ABC Quick Check"

Hmm, my rear tire's had a real SLOW leak for about three weeks now. Each morning, I pump it up from about 60psi to somewhere north of 100. Now, It's developed a "bump bump bump" with each revolution. The symptom isn't getting better.

Looking at it, there's a bit of an "owie" on the tread. Look at the picture carefully and you can see it - a reverse curve that represents a bulge in addition to the gray area that is perhaps coincidentally in the same vicinity. Ironic really, considering that Big Oak just got some new Continental Grand Prix 4 Season tires. THIS is the same tire, and it's only got about 4K miles on it. In the past, if babied, these tires will go nearly 6000. What has German manufacturing come to? Crimeny, these things cost almost half as much as good Jaguar tires!

Well, considering that I've been an "ABC Scofflaw" in the past, I'm considering three options:

• Change the tire and tube (remember that slow leak) before tomorrow's ride. I do have an older, but still serviceable Conti in hand. Actually, I have two, but the sidewall weaving is coming off on the second tire while the first one is mere tired (no pun intended)
• Pump up the tires on Frankenbike and simply defer the issue
• Carry the extra tire along to work tomorrow "just in case" and hope that things will stay stable for one more day (our company will be shut down next week)
• Carry the tire along and change it at lunch time, cutting the risk of a flat on the trip by some unknown fraction

My loyal reader will bet I take option 3. We shall see. Stay tuned.

Same but different

This ISN'T the Last Working Vehicle...

Over the years, I've noticed that transport vehicles tend to be neglected by myself as long as there are more than one option. In other words, broken cars get left behind until the very last one is at stake. Similarly, so it is with bikes. The difference is that it sure is usually a LOT quicker and easier to get that last injured bike back on the road. Now, it is time to zip off on the NEXT TO LAST bike for some coffee...

Therapy Like Knitting

Are Leaky Tubes "The New Knitting?"

When you ride, over time you accumulate bits that need fixing. Tubes are one such. While I sometimes repair them on the spot, more often it is hot or cold or I need to get somewhere and so I use my spare tube.

The leaky ones do not go to waste. Some fail due to things that make them impractical to repair, but many provide therapy somewhat akin to the way that some used to knit during gatherings. I went to a "BikeDFW" meeting and all the tubes shown in the above photo were either repaired or finally retired. Unlike knitting, no needles that the TSA would frown on are involved.

Bike Week ABC FAIL

When I GET AROUND TO IT, I'll Know if THIS is the Cause of a Slow Leak. UV Radiation is Hard on Bike Tires

Steve A, serial offender against the "ABC Quick Check." It isn't that I don't make the check, but the intention of doing so isn't meant to help an ABC scofflaw assess how much longer he can go on anymore than checking the oil on a car is intended to assess how many more miles can be driven before the motor freezes up. I'm bad, I admit it. You can see past episodes here. Among other posts.

This one is different. You see, this is Bike Week and it gives my normally boring commute a little extra spice. On Monday, somehow my front tire got damaged. I noticed it on the way home, but tire pressure was reasonable. On Tuesday morning, my front tire was way too soft. Contemplating things, just as motorists sometimes deliberately drive faster than the posted speed limit. I decided to just pump the thing up and ride the seven miles to work. I figured I'd carry the tire in and fix it during lunch. Little did I know what a conversation starter my front tire would become. Before you knew it, someone had placed a band aid on the tire (obviously someone with a poor eye for tire damage and a sense of humor as odd as mine). Well, at lunch, the tire was still pretty firm and I wound up riding home again on the untouched damage.

Since we met with our financial adviser Tuesday night, I put off fixing the thing until Wednesday morning. With diligent ABC technique, I'm STILL riding the bike, having determined that the tire loses about 100psi over 24 hours. Being the engineer I am, I quickly figured that if I ran it up to 120 in the morning, it'd still have 80 for the trip home without even a single stroke of the mini pump. 80 is not bad for the front tire on Buddy, particularly since my riding is biased towards smooth pavement.

All this on a bike that has a brand new replacement tire laid out for it and THREE spare tubes. But this is Bike to Work week. I'm going to the event in Fort Worth. I'd go to Richardson but FW is a straight shot and I can get to work only 1.5 hours later than usual if I skip the speeches. Maybe another year when going to work at the same time as non-government people is optional.

I think that this year I will manage to avoid losing my camera AND I'll have the secret pleasure of knowing I'm the only one there who knows how quickly his front tire is going flat. Unless, of course, the slow leak suddenly turns into a quick one. If that happens, y'all may hear how hard bike commuting really can be. But I think I'm gonna try to ride that leaker through to the weekend. If I patch the slow leak, I'll STILL have three spares which will let me keep two of them for my knobbies if we get snow and ice next winter.

Golly, I sure hope Gail, Richard, Chandra, or Warren don't read this!

Encore Last Post of the Old Era and More



Rim Strip Better Than Velox

I really did not plan to do this. What, you might wonder, is "this?" Well I would LIKE to talk about the direction I'm going to take this discussion, and how I've noticed that the vast majority of the 722 posts I made before today have a lot of cycling educational content and how I'm going to be looking for volunteer help to pull this all together into a step-by-step way to transform people from being "people on bikes" to the higher condition of "cyclist."

But all that will have to wait a little bit. You see, unlike my usual routine of fun and safe riding to work, this morning was, well, not any of those things. It was, however, memorable. As I told my wife when I called - "I don't think I got hurt." I didn't know at that point how much further things would go.

Everything started pretty normally. After a mile, I turned on to the half mile of bike path that is on my commute. It is poorly designed, but I still view it as a pleasant interlude, because it is more pastoral than the rest of my route. This morning, on that bike path, suddenly I was flung 15 or so feet off to the left of the trail and my elbows were on the handlebars as I tracked through the grass. For a brief moment, I thought I might go over the bars. Luck and good bike handling skills got things back under control and back on the path. With TWO flat tires. Even a cyclocross bike handles poorly with both tires flat. Looking back, I saw no obvious cause for the incident. I hoofed it home. I had a spare tube but that wasn't going to get me back on track with what were most likely pinch flats - on tires that had over 100psi in them beforehand. Sure enough, I saw a large brown rock in the path that my mind had probably registered as a leaf. Lesson learned the hard way. Actually, it was a lesson learned once again since I'd fallen on that same trail during the 25 feet of it I ride on the way home. On Valentine's Day.

February 14, About Five Minutes Before My LAST Bad Path Encouter

Well, I made it back home and didn't even notice my wonderful wife's futile attempts to find out if I was in shock or whatever. Maybe a little bit of shock. After all, it isn't every day that you simultaneously almost get thrown off your bike and get two flat tires.

Upon my return, I diligently set about reducing any familial sympathy by grumping at anybody around. I also replaced the offending tubes. In my hurry, I pinched one of the tubes, raising my flat total to three. Two front flats and one rear.

One nice aspect of all this was it was fully light by the time I set out again. What's more, I swooped by that brown "rock that looked like a leaf" with fierce abandon. I even started go get a little cocky and snapped a photo of the scene where "green Escort boy" felt it necessary to yell at me as I waited for a stoplight.

What, Exactly, Does "Teal Escort Guy" Expect Me to do at This Intersection?

Well, it wasn't over yet. While I waited at the light, I heard a sickening "bang" and my rear tire lost its air. Apparently, that tube had gotten pinched just enough to get me about three miles before giving up the ghost. Score at this point was two front flats and two rear flats.

At this point, I was out of spare tubes and out of time to get to work. While I don't often give up, four flats in one morning got me to call my wonderful wife for a ride. I admit it. I'm weak.

Fourth Flat. I Give UP!

Resolution Tested

Yesterday morning, my resolution wavered. It was dark. It was cold. The Armadillo blew off the rear rim of my wife's bike (modern tire on an old, non-hook bead rim. About 3/4 miles from home which is too close to want to fix it in the dark but far enough to let me THINK; "Golly, maybe I ought to simply DRIVE" to work. After all, I hadn't done anything to get Buddy properly tuned after I got it back from the shop (at a cost of 0.6 Jaguar Units - bikes ARE different). Even when I got home, I thought about it once again. But then, all the stuff I'd taken off to take it in appeared, the tires were topped off, and then I was suddenly off again. A close call. Seeing the dusty parking pass didn't help...

Opinions Needed from my Loyal Reader

Actually, this involves TWO semi-related subjects. The first is the practical question of how much is a reasonable offer for a broken bicycle. The second is how to induce a "teachable moment" to people who've been hit by motorists recently, and on more than one occasion.

FIRST OPINIONS

Right (Drive Side) Crank Arm Looks OK. Left Looks Like "Toast"

The bicycle in question is a Specialized Roubaix. It's got a carbon frame that's too big for me, that was involved in a collision with an automobile (more on that later in the second subject) when the whole bike had about 100 miles on it. The crash broke the carbon frame seat tube. It also bent the left crank arm and the wheels are out of true. The condition of the carbon fork is unknown. Those with long memories, will remember that I've noted here how to verify the condition of a suspect carbon fork.

Road Rash on Rear Derailleur. Otherwise, Pretty Much What You'd Expect from a New Bike After a Week of Me Riding It

So, why would I consider paying ANYTHING for this? Well, the first item is that Buddy uses SRAM and the remnants of the bike in question use SRAM. What's more, last winter, I bought a ten speed SRAM Force set of shifters, for a future road bike upgrade and this bike has a ten speed rear cassette, along with a SRAM rear derailleur. It's also got a nearly new SRAM ten speed chain. The bottom line is that with a SRAM rear derailleur of any model, I'll have all the parts needed to convert the road bike from an 8 speed Shimano to a 10 speed SRAM system. That would leave the fleet Shimano-free with the exception of Frankenbike which is an entirely different subject. With the cassette, I'd be able to also have a full backup mud/snow set of wheels for cyclocross and snow weather. And chains are a wear item that one will certainly use as the miles pile up.
Stuff I could use almost right away include the rear derailleur, and the chain (Buddy's got nearly 4k miles on its current chain).

Stuff I MIGHT be able to use include the wheels if I can get back into true (by no means certain) - for my knobby tires when it snows around here, and the carbon seat post as an upgrade for the aluminum seat post on my road bike. Not that I'm really LOOKING for a carbon seat post or even for an extra road bike saddle. Also the tires, which look nearly new and those of us that use such up will eventually use any such items that come our way.

Stuff I think might be saleable would include the SRAM Apex shifters, front derailleur (it's a braze-on type which none of my bikes can use), handlebars, possibly the front fork, and the Apex brakes. I do not think the brakes would work on any of my older bikes due to the evolution of brake reach through the years. Still, some person would probably find late model brakes attractive, even if "low end." Of course, I'm really not thrilled with the idea of getting into the parts selling business.
Before I looked at the bike, I said I'd pay $100 sight unseen. That mostly gave value to the rear derailleur, and little for the wheels or drivetrain. Upon seeing the bike, the wheels look like they might be salvageable as a labor of love (they wobble, but there is no VISUAL damage to spokes or the rim), and the drivetrain without even love being needed. I'm not sure the rest of the crank system is even worth a serious dismantle, since the left arm hits the left chainstay. Even a visually good BB is suspect in such a situation. Or so my thoughts go.
Looking at the bike, I add some value for the shifters (almost new SRAM Apex), the handlebars, which are standard, the brake calipers, which are also new standard Roubaix items, and the seatpost, which I think I'm inclined to sell.
SO, y'all, what's the right amount to offer? This guy thinks a NEW, full Apex system is worth $500, and looking at eBay, I'm not sure I'd argue seriously about that. Still, I've already GOT better shifters and wheels, and am not really looking to get into the parts business, so I think the proper value is somewhere between $100 and $300. Over $150 and I think I start to lose a lot of interest and start simply looking for a good, used SRAM rear derailleur. HOWEVER, if I pass, one of y'all might want to sign up for all this? I haven't asked if the person in question wants to ship if you are not local to the DFW area.
SECOND OPINIONS
This bike comes available because the rider got hit in a "left cross situation." I didn't ask, but I suspect the rider was in the "zone of invisibility" at the far right edge of the lane as he was at the stop line. Simply moving left to be more visible might have converted a collision into a situation not even worthy of mention. Coincidentally, I had a pleasant "flat tire and quick release" experience this week. WHAT? You might ask. Well, it wasn't MY flat tire. A fellow bike commuter had a flat tire and I was fortunate enough to come along and help, without even getting cold and dirty. The RELEVANT aspect was that while he fixed his tire, he mentioned he's been hit TWICE by cars. I mentioned back I could help with that and was a bike league cycling instructor.

Joey Fixes His Tire. Buddy and Steve Offer Advice and a Tire Pump. A Tube was Ready if Needed

The question I put to my loyal reader is how do I turn these into "teachable moments?" Two people who ride bikes and three hits by cars is NOT something I can easily ignore, especially since my last real close call was back in the 70's. Motorists may not necessarily LIKE the way I ride, but they absolutely KNOW how to avoid an actual contact. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Second Reason to Fix Flats

Yesterday, I got a flat tire on the way home. With some ongoing pumping action, I got Buddy home. Today was a different experience. THIS time I rode my wife's bike (being too lazy to fix Buddy's flat immediately). Today, I got a flat about five miles from home. Today, I fixed the flat, apparently caused by terminal incompatibility between Specialized Armadillo tires and old-style rims. Bang - and there goes a tire/tube combination that has been on the bike for five months with no prior indication of any problem at all! Walking home five miles or walking to work seemed like much more of a PIA than simply fixing the durn thing. So I fixed it.

It really DOES pay to know how to fix flats. All told, including the very slow pumping action with the mini pump, I lost about 10 minutes and still got to work in plenty of time.

It seems that I shall have to patch some tubes, as I'm quickly running out of them!

Two Bikes, Two Days, Two Flats

Hot Flat

I imagine most cyclists, if a flat occurs on a hot day, a house or two before reaching home, thank their lucky stars and walk the bike into the house. On the other hand, when outbound on a long ride, they'll fix the tire. I'm no different than most in this regard.

However, where do various people draw the line between fixing a flat on the road and limping the bike home? Today, I got a flat on the rear tire (the one with about 6700 miles on the tire) about two miles from home on the way home. It was over 90F and the leak seemed slow enough that it was simply easier to pump up the tire, go a couple of blocks, and then pump it up some more. SOMEHOW, despite the periodic effort of using the mini pump, it seemed better than fixing the flat in the hot sun.

Maybe I've just gone soft...

A Bit of Effort Seemed to Beat Changing the Tire in the Hot Sun Today



Even Though Roadside Conditions Were Much Better Than in THIS Tire Change Photo



Advantage of a Short Commute

Bicycle Shop Salesman?

I've written about the price of a short commute, here. Today, I found that a short commute (under ten miles) has good aspects. I also found that dealing with bicycle shop salesmen has its similarities to nuclear weapons negotiations with the former Soviet Union - "trust but verify." All of this also illustrates that just when everything remotely and conceivably interesting about a commute has occurred, something else will unexpectedly pop up. It also represents one more "ABC FAIL."

Without further ado, without any previous incidents or warnings, I was coming home on the last (and warmest) day of the coldest week so far of this winter when, without warning, my rear tire decided to to go flat. After completing my left turn, I pulled into a local parking lot (with apologies to Rantwick's mom) and found that my tire pump would NOT work with Schrader valves. Ironically, I'd just been by my bike shop last weekend and ASKED the very same question. I was assured that it would work with EITHER Shrader or Presta valves. Just push it on. NOT, as I found out today. Hence the "trust but verify."

Flat Tire in the Rear. This is the Newer or the Two Armadillo Tires

So I hoofed it. No biggie. It's just a little extra work. And a little extra time. OTOH, it saves a trip to the gym since walking, being the primitive form of transport it is, is a LOT LESS efficient way to get from point A to point B. Less efficient means less calories that have to get burned up some other way.



Proof I Actually HAD a Pump - It Just Wouldn't Fit, Unlike a Cheap Pump Obtainable from Wally World

I checked my watch along the way and I discovered that despite all the irritation and delay, I arrived home at ALMOST THE PRECISE TIME that I would have arrived had I been making my v2 commute and nothing went wrong. Walking seems so much slower and it would be if I had to walk 20 miles instead of maybe four.

There really IS an advantage to a short commute. Instead of riding, onecan use a primitive form of transportation (walking) and STILL arrive home at the same time as USED to be considered reasonable. Kowabunga!

Dark Faith revisited will have to await a future post. And my spare tube is still in its wrapper.

File Photo of a PREVIOUS Long Walk Home

Blowing Air




Venus, the Symbol of Friday, or, in "French Canada-Speak," Vendredi. From Wikipedia

 Over the Holidays, I went and fixed all the family bikes. While bikes may have some of the same DNA as old English cars, they’re a lot easier to fix. Unlike old English cars, bikes have a greater propensity to lose air from their tires unexpectedly in a rapid fashion. This has caused a reassessment and an actual RESOLUTION to modify my bike commute routine for 2011. It is ironic that, only yesterday, I sorta sneered at the whole practice of New Years Resolution making.


Sleeping, From Wikipedia

My past commute routine has been to top off the air in my bike tires Sunday night or Monday morning. Typically, each tire will require about four strokes of the floor pump to reach full pressure. On occasion, something will go wrong, like the tire will be flat when I go to pump it or it will clearly have lost an abnormal amount of air. Of such events are part of why the “ABC Quick Check” is a recommended routine action. Well, last night, to get a jump on the New Year, I pumped up the tires on my commute bike a little early; Sunday night. As I put the pump head on the front tire valve, came a “psssss” sound that clearly indicated a problem. Since it was SUNDAY NIGHT and not MONDAY MORNING, there was no rush or panic. I simply took off Frankenbike’s recently repaired front tire and put it on Seth. No need to even disturb my spare tube. No fuss, no muss. Oddly, this caused me to double check the Planet Bike backup light and, sure enough, its batteries had died. Had I forgotten to recharge the P7 Light’s batteries, I could have been lightless (well, I would have been reduced to using a Cateye light, anyway). Since I overslept this morning, the temptation to drive would have loomed. Even with the v3 commute, it’s still quicker in raw time to drive than to ride, because I can dispense with having to listen to the weather report before departure.

This serendipitous failure caused me to resolve to revise my commute routine. Henceforth, I resolve to top off the air in my tires and recharge the P7 Light’s battery at the end of the week's commute (FRIDAY) rather than waiting until Monday morning. This routine change has the advantage that if “unroutine” occurs, I do not have to scurry around to fix it quickly for the Monday morning commute. I can even pick up a replacement item at the bike store if need be, which Sunday night checkout does not support.

PS: In retrospect, since Frankenbike is all fixed, I could have taken Frankenbike today, but that would have involved a bit of changing around of lights. Those tool-free brackets, despite what the manufacturers would like us to believe, are NOT trouble-free. It is also odd that, despite sleeping an extra 40 minutes, I actually arrived at work at the same time as usual without skipping things like the morning shower and shave...

Frankenbike, Innocently Resting, Showing Why Kickstands are Often Extraneous

Bikes are Like Old English Cars Only Different

There was a period when we drove English Cars, mostly Jaguars, every day. One thing about older Jaguars (and other makes as well) is that they silently communicate to each other, enticing all but one to break down and become non-mobile. You could own four or five and find that only one would run. Alfa Romeos seemed to have the same characteristic.

Old Jaguars are NOT Real Reliable! Ours Occasionally Broke Down

In that way, it seems my bikes have gotten infected as well. First, unaccountably, Frankenbike got a flat tire, just sitting around the house. That was compounded by a reluctance on its owner's part to chop down the retention band on the Minoura Besso light holder. Not real hard to fix, but it requires a decision.

Next, for unknown reasons, the road bike's rear brake cable got sticky. That's an easy item to fix, but the road bike's rear cable will work well for the front canti brake on Buddy, which I haven't installed yet.

Third, Buddy displayed a little attitude (as if bikes could do such a thing) last weekend. The night before the ramble, I tried pumping up its front tire. No joy - psss. I had to put a new tube in (this was the tire that I busted the presta stem on a while back). Everything else seemed fine, including the new rear canti brake once I added a couple of extra washers to compensate for the brake difference.

I tried patching a tube that'd picked up a largish hole previously when it failed due to a rim strip break, but that didn't work. As a result, I put in a new tube. Everything seemed fine. A little sloppy, I didn't feel like cleaning the chain the night before the ramble, so I added lubricant without cleaning. Yes, it's not a good practice but it is better than riding with a dry chain. It's an "ABC Cheat."

SKS Fender Snapped for No Apparent Reason

On the ride, the chickens figuratively came home to roost. First, for reasons not determined, the SKS rear fender snapped on the way out. I'd hoped they would last longer than nine months. Then, the rear tire went flat on the way back. As I removed the tire, Doohickie wryly observed my chain could use a little cleaning. Thanks!

ON THE OTHER HAND, bikes may break, but unlike Jaguars, they're a lot quicker and easier to fix. Heck, for the price of a tuneup, you can even get a whole NEW bike.

Buddy, With Half a Fender and No Air in the Rear Tire

Even Contis Don't Last FOREVER

Something Got Through the Tire Casing and Not Even 6000 Miles Yet!

It had to happen. Today, when it came time to go home from work, my rear "Continental Grand Prix 4 Season" tire was getting flat. Luckily, the leak was slow enough that I was able to get home without having to change the tire by the expedient of using my mini pump to keep it rideable. The leak is slow enough that it seems to take two or three hours to go flat.

When I pumped things up to full pressure with the floor pump, I observed damage to the tread that went through the anti-flat caseing, along with a hissing noise, indicative of the correlation with the leaking air.

Is this tire done for? I really don't think it is, and it was actually simpler just to patch things than to walk to the bedroom closet and get the new tire out. What's more, I seem to have spotted a little wire that did the damage. Everything patched up and put right. I'll leave the new tire for a while longer before I put it on. For reference, I used a glue-on patch on the tube, and a glueless patch on the inside of the tire as insurance against a repeat. Because I line up the tire label with the valve, it's easy to line things up again. I'll leave the repaired tire off until tomorrow morning, just in case there is an unexplained pressure loss.

Still Going

As related here, I concluded it was time to replace one of my Continental Grand Prix Four Season tires, based on damage to the tire casing causing me to distrust it. At that time, I bought two replacement tires. However, being one to stretch the envelope a little, I am still using the survivor, 750 miles later, as my rear tire on Buddy. The second replacement tire is safely ensconced in a dark closet, awaiting its own call to glory. Science is more important than an extra flat. Fortunately for me, tire fairies live in the UK and not Texas. That old tire is sitting right about 5000 miles now. And it looks good. Like maybe I'll get even MORE than the 6000 mile target. Yup, I certainly AM tempting the fates. I need to find some wood to knock on, and maybe toss some salt over my shoulder.

Little Details and Photos Missed

Tire Label Centered on the Valve. Valve Size Matters!

While my road bike may have no name, it doesn't mean I don't appreciate it. As a matter of fact, I got a new (to me) set of wheels, which gave me the inintended consequence of creating four spare tubes for Buddy, my commuter bike. Unlike the olden days, when tubes were tubes, now you have to get a tube with the right length of valve. In the case of the new wheels, the valve is 48mm long; the old size of 36mm barely poked through the hole and was too short to get the floor pump attached. You can also get tubes with 60 or 80mm valves. Another detail is the position of the tire label; centered on the left side of the "O" in "Rubino." It has been said that this should be done so, if you get a flat, it's easier to find the spot in the tire that corresponds with the tube damage. There's another reason (besides wanting to do stuff precisely right), and that is so you don't have to look for the valve when it's time to pump the tires up. It's in the center of the label. This results in a massive time savings of at least a half second, and allows the old failing eyes to avoid squinting!

See, They Can't Even Spell "French" Properly!

There are more details, as well. For example, the quick release levers are always in the same spot. And, I've finally given up on the worthless French bike computer. From now on, I'll stick to French wheels and eschew French electronics!

I don't often take photos while riding, and this causes me to miss some good photos. It's why, for example, I've never taken photos of Precinct Line Road where there's a wide shoulder I never ride. It just doesn't seem safe to try to ride while shooting and it seems like a bad place to stop. I did miss a few good shots today, such as the trike guy. The three gentlemen below were discussing if he was going to get run over or not as he moved into the left turn lane. The motorcyclist knew the basics of the law and safe riding. I opined the trike guy ought to get a ticket for not signaling his turn, and maybe a fashion citation for too much high vis and flags. And no, it is not true that I have applied to be in the "Turn Signal Gestapo." Later, on the way home, riding up a quiet side street, I encountered a salmon coasting down the hill. I thought salmon went UPstream. I missed both of those photos. Darn. Just as Scarlett O'Hara never had a handkerchief, I never have the camera out when the action shots come by.

Nice Day for Nice Guys

HAVE A GREAT JULY 4!

Seasonal Commute Adaptation

Front End of the Roadbike in Summer Commuter Trim

No "See" Light is Needed this Time of Year

Minimal Equipment in the Rear as Well

Seat Bag Keeps the iPhone and a Sandwich

Fall, Winter, and Spring, I ride my Specialized Tricross to work. Buddy is almost ideal for my 20 mile North Texas commute, because it combines speed, carrying capability, stopping power, and rugged comfort for the long commute. Still, this is the time of year that I make a seasonal adaptation and bring the road bike into duty, because the days are long and the mornings warm.

Most of the year, the road bike is not well adapted for bike commuting. There’s nowhere to carry stuff, like a cycling jacket that isn’t needed in the afternoon after it has warmed up, not to mention sweatpants and mittens. Skinny, 23c slick road bike tires do not play well with potholes and rough pavement that evade headlights (but not wheels) in the dark.

By May, when the morning temperatures climb into the 60’s and 70’s, the cycling jacket becomes extraneous and “the layered” look reduces down to “the less the better – within reason.” Some bike blogs advocate commuting in work clothes, but I do a 20 mile commute in 100+ North Texas heat. Office clothing is simply not meant for such things. What’s more, Buddy is ready for its 5K overhaul, so it is time to take a minimalist approach until the “Hotter ‘n Hell 100” shortly before Labor Day.

With a cell phone, I COULD just forgo spare tubes and pumps and such for the road bike and simply call for help if something goes wrong, but I have discovered the flat fairy is most likely to appear when I am furthest from convenient help of any sort. On my road bike, I carry a spare tube, a patch kit, two pumps, and tire irons, using one of the water bottle mounts. In the seat bag, I carry my lunch and my cell phone. If I need more carrying capacity, I can bring along my SPI Belt. Conveniently, light mounts on the road bike are the same as on the main commute bike, so the lights move around easily as needed.

Panniers and racks, who needs ‘em? Clunky handlebar or tube bag? I sneer at them. During this season, I can ride Buddy occasionally or drive in “the Laundryschlepper” for laundry exchange. The rest of the time, the road bike keeps Buddy’s mileage down AND it is a good five minutes faster to work.

The "Water Bottle" Carrier Makes it all Work. There's a Spare Tube in There, Too

Steve and the Child Resistant Glue Tube

Y'all saw my inability to match up a Presta valve spare tube with my Presta valve rim, here. Well, thanks to Lizzylou, I now confess that it is even worse than I claimed. In her comment, she noted that "Hm, all of my glue tubes have had a puncture point on the opposing end of the cap, so that was never a problem. I've considered trying those 'self stick' patches, but for some reason I don't want to trust them."

Well, she can consider that innocent observation to be payback IN SPADES for a battery comment I made over her way a while back.

#1 Puncture Point
Here's what the glue tube looks like that I used. Upon careful examination, one will notice a sharp point recessed within the cap, which is designed so that clumsy children will not stick themselves by accident. Well, unobservant cyclists at dusk don't always notice such things while they're searching for something sharp either. After reading Lizzylou's comment, I looked at that glue tube again and find that I needn't have borrowed a pen to puncture the seal from the coffee shop barista. Where was she on Friday? A simple psychic message might have done the trick. In my own defense, I'll note that I did not see any instructions that directed me to look and SEE the sharp point within the cap. Well, perhaps I ought to just shut up here or my wife might reconsider her claim that I am NOT a goofball...

#2 Self Stick Patches
I didn't note it in the previous post, but my patch kit always includes a self stick patch. What's more, I actually used it in the repair. I stuck it on the inside of the failing tire before I discovered that my spare tube had the wrong kind of valve for my rim. I tend to agree with Lizzylou that those self stick patches are worthy of sketicism, but they are GREAT for fixing up stuff where you don't care if they hold pressure over the long run or not. I previously used one to patch my rim strip so the tube wouldn't get punctured by the spoke end. On Saturday, I had a chat with ChipSeal and he swears by the things. Myself, I'm an old fashioned boy. Still, the "self stick" comment made me blush a little. Regardless of what one thinks of the things, it is not a brilliant move to use one's only self stick patch before fully assessing the situation. Had I just stuck it on the tube, it would have saved time and the whole tube puncture thing, and since I align my tire label with the valve hole, it would have gotten me home just fine. Perhaps Lizzylou will consider getting a few, if not for the tubes, where holding air is important, for the TIRE and rim strip, where you just don't want to see something come through the and attack that tube you just fixed. They work GREAT for THAT purpose. What's more, they are cheaper than the old-fashioned solution of using a dollar bill to cover the tire damage and have the added benefit of not moving around inside the tire as well.

Continental Tires Are Better Than I Thought

Continental GP 4 Season Tires at 2300 miles

In my post, here, back in September, about nothing being idiot proof, I noted that I got over 2300 miles before I got my first flat with the 28c Continental Grand Prix 4 Season tires I run on my commute bike. Well, this morning, I had two more flats. The first was waiting for me when I went to get the bike – it’d had full pressure at 10PM last night. I changed the tube and replaced the spare. Mentally, I noted that the tube damage looked similar to the September flat. Hmm. About 15 miles into the commute, the tire suddenly went flat as I was headed north on Katy Road on the Keller/Fort Worth border. It was about three doors north of the tank, shown here. I was really glad I’d replaced the spare!

Sure enough, when I got the tire off, I found tube damage identical to the first two flats. All three were caused by failure of the rim strip at one of the spoke holes (these rims have recessed spoke nipples, being semi-aero). Before installing the spare tube, I took a “no glue patch” and stuck it over the rim strip failure location. These rim strips are the type intended for use with a tubeless tire conversion, not the Velox I normally use.

So, dear readers, my previous report was in error. The tires were blameless at 2300 miles and they remain blameless at 3400 miles. With last weekend’s cyclocross, I took the opportunity to rotate the tires so that wear between the fronts and rears remains equal. At 2300 miles, I estimated the tires would last for 4k-5k miles. Now, I think they’ll last for at least 5k miles. 3400 miles with no tire-related flats seems like a pretty good start to me.

Continental tire (same tire as photo at top) at 3400 miles

Who are these tires for?
Clearly, I’m a fan of these tires, but they’re not for everyone. If you’re a road racer, their 28c profile won’t appeal to you. Their puncture resistance is also more than what you’ll need. On the other hand, if you’re going to go riding through heavy duty debris and glass, the Continentals won’t hold up as well as Armadillo All Condition. They also don't come in sizes wider than the 28c that I run - Dutch bikes need not apply. However, if you want a tire for a fast, long distance commute, and you ride where debris and potholes are a moderate hazard, these tires will get you there, they feel solid and roll nice, and they’re surprisingly light for a puncture resistant tire (lighter, for example, than ChipSeal's Armadillo Elites). Even in the wet, they feel steady.Yeah, I'll probably buy another set when these ones wear out next Spring.

PS:
This morning illustrated why having part of the commute in daylight is REALLY nice. First, I wasn’t changing things in the dark, which I would have been doing had this occurred in October. Second, a Good Samaritan living in the next door house made a special trip outside to inquire as to whether I needed help and he even offered to provide a pump. I didn’t need the help, but it was sure nice to hear the offer all the same. I think help offers would be less forthcoming in predawn darkness. Instead, the owner would see some scofflaw out in the dark, acting suspiciously.

And yes, the patch on the rim seems to have done the trick!