Categories: Tradition

The Wipe Down

Is that a little flint in there?

Frank’s maddening post about doing things because, well, because that’s the way to do things made me question some of my own questionable cycling behavior.

My sensi taught me to clean off my tires immediately after riding over something that might cause a puncture. This was done while riding, finger tips floating over the tread to dislodge any potential trouble. The front wheel is easy, the rear requires some technique, indexing one’s hand against the seat-stay. Did sensi mention the indexing part? I don’t think so, sensi did not have to state the obvious all the time. The obvious being: if your hand gets too close to the seat tube your hand becomes firmly wedged between tire and seat-tube, hilarity ensues.

Drunk people are not interested in recycling or redeeming the $0.05 deposit on their beer bottles. It is much more fun to throw them out the window, resulting in me wiping off my tires, usually a few times a ride. I do this and have not had a flat tire in a long time so you must all start doing this, except my wife’s bike roll with the same Veloflex Arenberg tubulars and she never does this and she has not had a flat in a long time either. We train together and she blithely rolls over the same glass that I’m madly wiping off my tires.

The conclusion is, on dry roads glass rarely punctures tires. I have found tiny wire segments are what sometimes punctures my tires, possibly from destroyed car tire radial belts but one never rides through a glittering, highly visible, pile of those. All bets are off when the tires, road and debris are wet. My current theory is the water provides enough lubricity to let glass and other fun things go right through the tire tread. I have no data to prove this; it might be standing on the side of the road in the rain makes a more vivid memory of getting a flat.

Paul Sherwen is always saying the rain causes more “flints” to wash into roads, hence more punctures on rainy days. I’m thinking, if anything, the rain washes “flints” off the road but in any case the wet causes the troubles. Again, Paul was a Pro but I’m one year older (we share the same birthday, I did not know that) so that’s a wash.

Have we learned anything today? Not bloody likely as I will continue to wipe off my tires as I ride over bad things despite no evidence that it helps. Have I cursed myself and my wife by mentioning our lack of flat tires, quite possibly. Does this mean I should shift my bike into the small/small cogs when putting her away for the night, no.

Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

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View Comments

girl says:

Jan 9 2016 at 4:26 pm

@the Engine

Also this is part of Rule #40 – because your tyre label is always over the valve, when you find the hole in the inner tube you can match it to the point where the thorn went through the cover.

True misery is detonating your last tube in the pissing January rain because – even though you know that there has to be something sticking in the carcass your fingers are too numb to find it.

Although if you start squelching your way to shelter (looking like one of Napoleon’s currasiers walking back from Moscow after having eaten his horse) Police Scotland will sometimes give you a lift home.

During the drive home they will take a keen interest in your mental health.

Very funny. Last line is gold.
piwakawaka says:

Jan 9 2016 at 7:05 pm

Glove on the front wheel, bidon on the back,

@The Pressure never stop, unless absolutely necessary.
EBruner says:

Jan 9 2016 at 9:35 pm

I have never hurt myself in 30 years of a quick wipe, but I don't use my bare fingers, I have always used the gloved portion on my hand, and I wipe the rear aft of the caliber, not between the wheel and seat tube. Post ride tires always get a good scrubbing and inspection.
Carel says:

Jan 10 2016 at 1:10 am

@PT

@Oli

I take it Andre Greipel hasn’t called asking for his gloves back yet? Or are they Tom Boonens?

Black, red, gold, these are the German colours, Belgian is black, yellow, red!
PT says:

Jan 10 2016 at 2:36 am

@Carel

@PT

@Oli

I take it Andre Greipel hasn’t called asking for his gloves back yet? Or are they Tom Boonens?

Black, red, gold, these are the German colours, Belgian is black, yellow, red!

Thankyou - I should have known, should have checked.....

@Oli - does Didi want them back?
Teocalli says:

Jan 10 2016 at 5:39 am

Hang on a mo, aren't we all crushing it at such speed that nothing could possibly stick to our tyres?
chuckp says:

Jan 10 2016 at 6:14 am

I used to do this when I rode tubulars, but not so much with clinchers. And only at fairly slow speed. My Michelin Pro 4 Endurance tires have a bead-to-bead kevlar belt so are fairly resistant. I rode 4,000+ miles on my last set before replacing them, mostly because the rear had flat-spotted enough. But not a lot of cut marks on the tires.
wiscot says:

Jan 10 2016 at 7:53 am

@chuckp

I used to do this when I rode tubulars, but not so much with clinchers. And only at fairly slow speed. My Michelin Pro 4 Endurance tires have a bead-to-bead kevlar belt so are fairly resistant. I rode 4,000+ miles on my last set before replacing them, mostly because the rear had flat-spotted enough. But not a lot of cut marks on the tires.

I love the Pro $ Endurance tires. Never done 4000 miles though - my fat ass wears them out way before that!
Puffy says:

Jan 10 2016 at 2:37 pm

@luke

I always wipe, but all this talk of bleeding fingers, jammed hands, and resulting mishaps is proof that using hands and fingers is not the proper way. Pull out your bidon and hold it against the tire for a few revolutions to clear debris. Didn’t anyone else learn this method?

Tried it. Makes a mess of your bidden quick smart.
Puffy says:

Jan 10 2016 at 2:38 pm

@wilburrox

gives me the willies just thinking of it… yea man, protect those nerve endings, they’re not overrated! Cheers

I've got to admit, as an industrial designer that spends his days designing against stupidity making equipment "safe", it looks pretty dam stupid on paper.