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.
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View Comments
@RobSandy
That's about the most sensible suggestion anyone's had on this tread. The handle will (theoretically, at least) keep ones fingers away from the spinning spokes and if you drop it, no biggie (unless you stick it through the wheel then all bets are off). One question: Old school brush or one of them fancy new ones that massage yer gums?
@wiscot
We could also send this fella out in front
Though in looking for a photo I came across the low(er) tech version...
@Teocalli
Sure looks like COTHO in that first pic. How apt that he's scrubbing the roads clean!
@wiscot
Ideally, you would cut part of the handle off. Lighter that way.
(this was a common strategy for backpackers)
@robA
Or mount a jet wash in a backpack and hose down your tyres with high pressure water to clean them.
Have I gone too far yet?
@Gianni ,
Is it true you will be penning a sequel, entitled "Dirty White Bar Tape" ?
@Oli
Nice one.
@Carel
And ... Tom Boonen rides without gloves ;-)
@osbk67
In the old days, badasses had a piece of wire attached to the brake-bolt and skimming the surface of the tubular to remove grit. Take a look at this 1920s picture of Lucien Buysse, just behind the crown of his fork.
@fignons barber
What is that? Hemp bar tape? Out damn tape, my eyes!
Whatever that is, it's very wrong. And needn't be written abooot.