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RBR Newsletter No. 379
02/05/09
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This Week's Content
______________________________________
RoadBikeRider.com Newsletter
Issue No.
379 - 02/05/09: Uphill Lowdown
ISSN 1536-4143
Produced almost every
Thursday by RBR Publishing Company. E-mailed without cost or obligation to
more than 62,000 roadies around the world.
______________________________________
VALENTINES
SPECIAL -
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- FREE SHIPPING!
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1. WEEKLY
DISPATCH
ED'S NOTE:
Goodness, what an outpouring
of well-wishes and advice
following last week's hip
update.
More than 80 of you posted
comments, which are now in
the archive at the end of
newsletter
No. 378, and I received
a bunch of e-mails. If good
vibes did the job this hip
would be 100% better
already.
There were so many
treatments and remedies
suggested that it's hard to
know where to start. I'll
certainly seek a second
opinion before agreeing to a
third surgery or even
another cortisone injection.
Perhaps the most actionable
recommendation came from an
experienced hip replacement
surgeon in
Illinois, who urged blood tests to look for
infection. Based on my
description of the soreness,
he thinks the metal parts
could be "malpositioned,"
causing internal turmoil as
I've resumed riding and
other exercise in the year
since the surgery.
I'm arranging those tests.
Meanwhile, my leg arteries
were termed "gorgeous" by
the technician who did the
venous duplex scan last
Friday, and my chest CT scan
and lab work also were
negative. So my likelihood
of suffering another deep
vein clot is low and that
means I'm finally off
Coumadin blood thinner after
some 360 daily doses.
I celebrated on Sunday with
a 3-hour ride in near
spring-like weather. It
wasn't hilly, I wasn't fast,
and the hip didn't bother me
while pedaling.
All in all, it was a great
week. Thanks to everyone who
gave it such a positive
start.
Ed Pavelka
Editor, Publisher,
Appreciator
Comment
______________________________________
One Year in the Slow Lane
Here's a wrap-up from Gary
"Slow Guy"
Kirkland, a
writer in
Gainesville,
Florida, who resolved to start riding his bike
to work in 2008. In his
first two reports
(newsletter Nos. 342 and
346), he told about getting
started, gaining experience
and finding his groove.
By Gary Kirkland
One morning as I was pulling
on my gloves and hat and
wrapping up to face the
fierce Florida winter --
really, it was below
freezing -- it hit me that
my experiment/commitment to
bike commute for a year had
rolled right past its
2-wheeled anniversary.
My original goal wasn't all
or nothing, it was 100 days
of commuting, figuring it
would put me on my bike
twice a week, reducing use
of my car by 40%.
My final bike-to-work tally
for 2008 was just over 150
days, or 3 a week, a 60%
auto reduction. And on most
of those non-bike days I was
able to carpool.
So, what did I gain?
My commute is not huge, just
under 6 miles roundtrip, but
I figure I saved at least 35
gallons of gas.
I've since learned that an
engine's efficiency from a
cold start may reduce the
advertised mpg by a third or
even half during the first 5
miles of a trip. This would
make even my fuel-efficient
economy car a gas hog coming
and going.
There was another savings I
hadn't thought about.
Putting a bike into the
commuting equation allowed
the 3 adults who live at
home to go our different
ways but comfortably share 2
motor vehicles. So we gained
transportation flexibility
without adding a car
payment, insurance payment
and maintenance, while still
keeping an open space in the
driveway.
And, I had
a good time riding and
burned some calories instead
of fossil fuel.
What did I learn?
Some lessons came slowly. In
one of my earlier
installments I'd mentioned
how my natural curb-hugging
instincts made me feel
safer. A reader responded
that there's a difference
between feeling safe and
being safe. He said that in
the long run, claiming a
lane rather than cowering
curbside was the better way
to go.
As my comfort level with
traffic grew along with my
confidence, I've done a
better job of following that
friendly advice.
I've continued my research
on visibility for safety,
with some help. My wife, who
often spots me both coming
and going, says the flashing
light in the middle of my
back, even in full daylight,
keeps me from blending in
with the surroundings.
And the return of winter
added an unexpected
visibility lesson. On cold
frosty mornings, many
motorists believe scraping a
small peek hole in the
windshield is all they need
to get by until the
defroster does its magic.
Still iced over are the rear
window and often the
passenger windows, putting
me in a much bigger blind
spot for their right turns.
I've also had rides where
the lessons come in bunches.
One evening I was cruising
home, mentally chalking up a
"fiver" (a week when I'd
ridden all 5 days) when I
noticed my pedaling was
having no effect on forward
progress.
I got off the bike, looked
for a problem, but didn't
see it. Fiddling with the
chain seemed to have no
impact other than putting a
greasy streak down the
middle of my nose.
So, I walked the bike home
and called my local shop,
which was just minutes from
closing. They said they'd
stay until I arrived. I'd
barely pulled the bike from
the car rack when they
spotted the problem and
fixed it at no cost. It was
simple: The chain had
managed to slip between 2
cogs, engaging neither.
I counted 3 lessons from
that ride:
-
put on my glasses when
troubleshooting so maybe
I'll spot the problem
-
carry some rubber gloves
in the bike bag to
minimize grease smears
-
becoming a loyal
customer at a good bike
shop pays big dividends
So now in 2009 my resolution
for 2008 has become a way of
life. If you've thought
about bike commuting, take
it from this slow guy who
started from scratch: Try
it. I think you'll like it.
Comment
______________________________________
Overheard:
"It's fun to commute on
cold days. I've found that
staying warm is much easier
than staying cool, and the
reaction of coworkers is a
real bonus: You rode today?" --
Gary
Kirkland
______________________________________
Garmin
Power for the Long Haul
Garmin makes an impressive
line of cyclecomputers that
display GPS satellite
mapping and directions.
They'd be great for
navigating long brevets and
multi-day tours except for
one drawback: Their built-in
rechargeable battery runs
out of power at 12-15 hours.
Here's a solution, spotted
on the Garmin sports
listserv by RBR Review Crew
member Fred Zahradnik.
Dr. Z keeps his eye on such
sites for his job as GPS
authority at
About.com. He's
responsible for testing all
kinds of units, not just
those for sports, and making
the technology
understandable.
Here's the post that caught
Dr. Z's eye, written by
"Dominique B." last Sunday:
"Just to confirm that the
AA-powered USB rechargers
work. I do randonnee rides
and have been powering my
Garmin Edge 305 on the bike
up to 38 hours at one go,
using 2 lithium AA batteries
that still appeared to have
plenty of power left at the
end with the Edge fully
charged up.
"I found a cheap Energizer
USB charger in the cell
phone section at Fry's, but
there are lots of them
around. I had tried one that
runs off a 9-volt battery,
but that didn't give me more
than an extra 4 or 5 hours
of charge. Could have been a
fluke, but I found the AA
charger works fine, so I
didn't bother trying to
troubleshoot the 9-v setup.
"I attach the charger to the
stem with a Velcro strap or
a cut-up inner tube. With
the very short USB cable
it's totally out of the way.
I secured the cable to the
charger with a piece of tape
as it kept falling off (the
GPS end seems to stay in
OK). It's resisted many
miles of rough roads as well
as a few wet rides. But like
all cheap electronics, I'd
weatherize it thoroughly for
long rides in real wet
weather."
The formal name of the
product Dominique bought is
the Energizer Energi To
Go Instant Cell Phone
Charger. You can see it
at
http://tinyurl.com/6otyjy
and buy it for about $20
plus batteries at many
stores (and websites)
including Fry's Electronics,
Best Buy, Office Depot, Home
Depot and Target.
The guess is that this
charger will work for
Garmin's top-end bike
computers, such as the 705,
as well as Dominique says it
does for his 305.
Comment
______________________________________
Call for a Cell Phone Ban
The U.S. National Safety
Council is asking motorists
to stop texting and talking
on cell phones (even
hands-free) while driving.
Further, the NSC is urging
governors and legislators in
all states and the
District of Columbia
to make cell phone use
illegal for drivers.
A study from the Harvard
Center of Risk Analysis
estimates that cell phone
use while driving
contributes to 636,000
crashes per year
at a cost of $43 billion,
accruing from 330,000
injuries, 12,000 serious
injuries and 2,600 deaths.
It's estimated that more
than 100 million Americans
use cell phones while behind
the wheel.
"When you're on a call, even
if both hands are on the
wheel, your head is in the
call and not on your
driving," says Janet
Froetscher, head of the
NSC. "Unlike the passenger
sitting next to you, the
person on the other end of
the call is oblivious to
your driving conditions."
More info at
http://tinyurl.com/c34a25
Comment
______________________________________
RBR's QUESTION of the Week
Would you favor a law
banning the use of cell
phones while driving?
We give you
3 ways
to answer when you
click here. Please vote and come
back to finish reading.
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2. CYCLING
SHORTS
-
Quick
Tip:
This
week's
words
of
wisdom
come
from
Edward
Fink,
M.D.,
avid
roadie
and
orthopedic
surgeon
at
Children's
National
Medical
Center in
Washington,
D.C.
"You
have
mentioned
several
times
the
need
to
keep
handlebar
plugs
installed
to
prevent
injuries,"
Dr.
Fink
writes.
"I
think
RBR
readers
may
take
notice
with
this
radiograph.
"It
is
from
a
13-year-old
girl
who
was
riding
a
bike
with
no
handlebar
plugs
when
she
fell.
The
handlebar
impaled
her
pelvis,
fortunately
missing
internal
organs.
And
fortunately,
the
injury
--
the
round
hole
on
the
left
(with
the
arrow
pointing
to
it)
--
healed
without
any
problems."
Check
your
bar
plugs
to
make
sure
they're
secure.
If
one
or
both
should
be
missing,
invest
some
pocket
change
at
your
LBS.
In a
crash,
an
unplugged
bar
end
could
take
a
core
sample
from
a
thigh
or
even
a
kidney.
-
Lance
Armstrong
is
far
from
No.
1
but
he's
holding
off
Britney
Spears
for
No.
2.
That's
from
the
Feb.
2
ranking
of
the
top
50
"celebrities"
being
followed
at
twitter.com.
Top
dog
by a
long
shot
is
comedian/actor
Stephen
Fry
with
98,616
followers
(people
who've
signed
up
to
receive
his
micro-blog
messages).
Lance
has
53,813
followers
and
Brit
is
third
with
53,290.
Rounding
out
the
top
5
are
Rick
Sanchez
with
48,825
and
Shaquille
O'Neill
with
46,296.
Michael
Phelps
was
36th
with
2,239
followers
but
for
some
reason
that
total
has
nearly
doubled
in
the
last
3
days.
See
the
full
celeb
ranking
and
representative
messages
at
http://tinyurl.com/bsmkyz
-
Why
do
tubes
filled
with
CO2
go
soft
so
soon?
You've
probably
noticed
this
phenomenon
if
you
use
cartridges
instead
of a
pump
during
puncture
repairs.
The
answer
is
provided
in
Lennard
Zinn's
Technical
Q&A
column
at
velonews.com.
Click
http://tinyurl.com/d2qw9z
to
find
the
mystery
solved.
-
PowerBar
is
out
and
GU
is
in
at
Carmichael Training Systems. The world's largest network
of
cycling
coaches,
clinics
and
camps
announced
the
switch
in
energy
products
after
coming
to a
multi-year
agreement
with
GU,
which
in
1994
was
the
first
company
to
market
energy
gel
in
packets.
CTS
had
a
long
run
with
PowerBar
and
even
claimed
to
have
helped
that
company
develop
its
products,
which
CTS
promoted
heavily.
The
switch
seems
to
have
made
some
people
skeptical.
Wrote
one
on
the
CTS
website:
"Obviously
GU
is
paying
more.
But
the
sudden
change
in
affiliation
certainly
calls
into
question
the
obvious
conflict
of
interest
and
makes
it
difficult
for
CTS
to
make
a
scientific
argument
of
the
superiority
of
the
product
group
compared
to
PowerBar."
-
The
U.S.
cycling
industry
(and
numerous
other
industries)
dodged
a
bullet
last
Friday
when
the
Consumer
Product
Safety
Commission
agreed
to
extend
the
testing
deadline
for
lead
content
in
children's
bikes
and
other products.
A
strict
new
limit,
set
to
begin
Feb.
10,
has
been
pushed
back
at
least
one
year.
Manufacturers
will
still
need
to
meet
a
600
parts
per
million
restriction,
but
they
won't
need
to
pay
for
costly
third-party
testing,
an
expense
that
posed
a
threat
to
smaller
companies.
In
related
news,
a
petition
by
the
Bicycle
Product
Suppliers
Association
is
asking
the
CPSC
to
exempt
lead
contained
in
steel,
aluminum
and
copper
alloys
used
in
ubiquitous
bike
parts
such
as
valve
stems
and
spoke
nipples.
Those
metals
exceed
the
lead
limit
specified
by
the
new
law.
-
Achtung,
biker!
Germany
is
cracking
down
on
law-breaking
cyclists.
Beginning
this
week,
the
max
fine
for
riding
through
a
red
light
jumps
from
100
to
180
euros
($230),
and
if
that
red
light
happens
to
be
at a
closed
train
crossing
the
violation
costs
350
euros
($450).
-
New
on
the
RBR
website:
Polar's
RS800CX
bike
computer
features
heart
monitoring,
training
software
and
optional
GPS,
which
RBR
Review
Crew
member
Fred
Zahradnik
ordered
for
his
test
unit.
Click
here
to
read
Dr.
Z's
assessment
of
how
this
Polar
hits
--
and
misses
--
the
mark.
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3. SCOTT'S
SPIN
Ready to Wear
You want to be a cool cyclist, right? 'Course
you do. That means navigating the treacherous,
roiling waters of cycling style, starting with
your . . .
Socks
This one used to be easy: Serious roadies wore
white, ankle-high socks. Then colored socks got
popular. (Thanks a lot, mountain bikers.)
Recently we've seen mid-calf socks designed to
"keep your Achilles warm" -- and possibly sell
more socks. The only surefire tip: Never go
sockless, unless you're a track sprinter. Why?
You could ask 'em, but they're big and mean so I
wouldn't recommend it.
Glasses
The key here is how your shades look when you're
not wearing them. For maximum coolness,
you must be able to turn your glasses
upside-down and slip the temples into your
helmet vents. Do not buy a pair of $13.99
cheapos from Walgreens because they will fall
out and get smushed by your rear wheel. Don't
ask how I know this.
Helmet
First, make sure you don't wear your lid
backward. Yes, I've seen it happen. Next, don't
have the front tilted skyward with your forehead
glinting in the sun. Finally, trim the excess
strap. Anything more than a couple of inches
screams "Nerd." But don't trim the strap too
short or you can never adjust your helmet again.
Don't ask how I know this.
Shorts
If they have holes, it's time to retire them to
trainer-only status. Yes, you have a nice butt.
No, we don't want to see it. Same goes for
shorts that have been washed so many times that
the side panels resemble see-through lingerie.
Unless you're sponsored by
Frederick's of
Hollywood.
Comment
(Scott Martin's eBook,
Spin
Again, contains 181 of his witty, sometimes wacky, and occasionally
heart-felt observations on road cycling. Enjoy 3 more by clicking
here.)
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4.
CLASSIFIEDS
Also see the
Classified Ads page on the RBR website and please support
these advertisers that help make this newsletter free for you.
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Helmet Liner
- Check. Base Layer
- Check. Tights -
Check.
WEAR WOOL. Stay warm, be
comfortable head to toe.
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made. Custom orders too.
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CueClip - Map/Cue Sheet Holder.
World's best! Club discounts.
Emergency LED Lights, Saddle
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Also on
Classified Ads, these
Roadie Ads:
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-
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5.
COACH FRED
Why Is This Guy Beating Me Up Hills?
Q:
I ride on weekends with a guy who
doesn't exercise much but still
beats me up a 3-mile climb every
time. It's frustrating because I've
been riding regularly for 5 years
and I know I'm in better shape. He's
5-foot-8 and 155 pounds while I'm
6-4 and 190, so I'm bigger and
stronger too. Do I need to lose
weight or something? -- Jim A.
Coach Fred Matheny Replies:
Your body size is probably the
culprit, Jim. You're not overweight,
just substantially heavier than your
friend. He's beating you because his
power-to-weight ratio is better by
virtue of his lighter body.
Here's how it works:
Big guys like you don't have a
frontal area drastically different
from smaller guys. And big riders
can usually generate more power due
to their larger muscle mass.
Therefore, they usually go much
faster on flat or rolling terrain
where wind resistance is the main
limiting factor.
That's why time trialing and
sprinting generally favor larger
riders. If you and your friend rode
only on flat roads, I'd guess that
you might work him over.
However, as soon as the road tilts
up, the advantage shifts to smaller
cyclists even if they produce less
power (fewer watts). Because you
fight gravity when pedaling uphill,
strong climbing requires a favorable
power-to-weight ratio. The more
watts you can produce for a given
body weight, the faster you'll go
up.
So, there are 2 ways to improve
climbing:
You must either lose weight,
increase your sustainable wattage --
or both.
This power-to-weight ratio is so
indicative of climbing prowess that
some coaches claim they can use it
to predict a rider's success at a
given competitive level. They
measure the average wattage a rider
can produce for the length of a long
climb (say, 20 minutes) and divide
that figure by the rider's weight in
kilograms.
Here's an example: If your friend
can average 280 watts for 20 minutes
and he weighs 70 kg (154 pounds) his
power-to-weight ratio is 4.0, a
figure that should make him
competitive -- but not dominating --
in category 4 or masters racing.
(For comparison, a good pro climber
of 70 kg would produce more than 400
watts and have a power-to-weight
ratio around 6.0.)
Now suppose you generate 330 watts,
considerably more than your friend.
But because you weigh 190 pounds (86
kg), your power-to-weight ratio is
only 3.8 despite your superior raw
strength.
And that's the basic reason you're
behind him on that hill.
Comment
______________________________________
Don't just sit
there. Sit on
your trainer bike!
If you can dedicate just 1 hour 2
times a week to our Power to
the Pedals program, you may
be as pleased as
New Jersey roadie Jud H., who wrote,
"Fred Matheny's 12-week power
training program is great. I've just
finished week four and I've already
noticed a difference. I'm on the
trainer, which works perfectly given
the weather." The program costs just
$3.99 in the
RBR eBookstore. Scroll down to
the eArticles section, place your
order for instant download, and put
more power to your pedals
on the road next spring.
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6. ROAD
RACING
ROUNDUP
Gleaned from news sources
worldwide.
Credited where
exclusive.
-
Young Belgian pro Frederiek
Nolf died in his sleep last
night at the Tour of
Qatar. He was 5 days short
of his 22nd birthday and is
believed to have suffered a
heart attack. Qatar was the
first race of the season for
Nolf, who turned pro last year.
He rode for Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator,
which announced it is sending
its riders home. Today's
penultimate stage reportedly was
being shortened and neutralized
to become a procession rather
than a race. "Cycling is in
mourning when you lose such a
young talent, a guy like him,"
said Eddy Merckx, a Team
Topsport sponsor. "Yesterday he
was laughing and happy."
-
As usual in the flat and
windy Tour of
Qatar, the sprinters are having
their way. Tom Boonen
(Quick Step) holds a 10-second
lead over Roger Hammond
(Cervelo) thanks to time
bonuses, with 2 of the 6 stages
remaining. Boonen won stage 3 in
a bunch gallop, and emerging
sprint rival Mark Cavendish
(Columbia) did the same in
yesterday's stage 4. Earlier,
Hammond made a late escape to win stage 2 and
hold the overall lead for a day.
The 9th annual tour opened with
a narrow team time trial win by
Garmin, nipping Quick Step by
one second. Boonen is seeking a
3rd Tour of Qatar crown, having
won in 2006 and 2008. He's taken
15 stages in the event.
-
Tom Boonen won't be going to jail
or even paying a fine for his
recreational use of cocaine. On
Tuesday a Belgian court ruled that
the 2-time Paris-Roubaix winner and
former world champion had been
punished enough by being banned from
racing last year by organizers of
the tours of
Switzerland and
France. All coke charges were dropped
in part because of "Boonen's role as
a model for amateur sport and for
the youth in particular," said a
court statement in which something
may have been lost in translation.
Cocaine use isn't a doping violation
unless it occurs within 72 hours of
competition, but Boonen, 28, still
faced criminal penalties of as much
as 5 years imprisonment and a
100,000 euro fine. Now all he has to
do is pay court costs and legal
fees.
-
A group of 65 Belgian athletes,
including cyclists, is challenging
the legality of the "whereabouts"
rule used by the World
Anti-Doping Agency. The athletes
claim it's a violation of privacy
laws. The rule requires them (and
hundreds of other athletes
worldwide) to specify where they'll
be during one hour each day and do
it 3 months in advance. Why? So they
can be found for unannounced drug
testing. The athletes can make
location changes online, by texting
or by e-mail, but 3 missed tests are
considered a doping violation
punishable by suspension.
The athletes want the whereabouts
rule declared a violation of Article
8 of the European Convention on
Human Rights. World No. 1 tennis pro
Rafael Nadal says he may join
the movement, terming whereabouts
"an intolerable hunt." The
International Cycling Union
disagrees, telling cyclingnews.com, "The system
works well in cycling and the UCI
congratulates the riders on their
cooperation. It shows that athletes
that care about a doping-free sport
accept the system, even if it places
a burden on them."
-
"The greatest field ever
assembled" for a bike race in the
U.S. will line up for the
4th annual Amgen Tour of
California. At least that's the
assessment of Andrew Messick,
president of ATOC organizer AEG
Sports. It's tough to argue with
him, although
Colorado
Springs
hosted the road world championship
in 1986. Within the 17 teams racing
in California on Feb. 14-22 will be
2-time defending champ Levi
Leipheimer (Astana), 2006 winner
Floyd Landis (OUCH), Tour de
France winner Carlos Sastre (Cervelo), Giro d'Italia winner
Ivan Basso (Liquigas), Olympic
gold medalist Fabian Cancellara
(Saxo Bank), former world champions
Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and
Oscar Friere (Rabobank),
top-ranked road sprinter Mark
Cavendish (Columbia) and
American stars Christian Vande
Velde (Garmin) and George
Hincapie (Columbia). Oh, and one
Lance Armstrong (Astana). The
star-studded field starts racing in
Sacramento
and ends 9 days and 750 miles (1,200
km) later in
Escondido.
http://www.tourofcalifornia.com
______________________________________
Overheard:
"I was surprised at how lean and fit
he looks and how good he looks on the
bike, especially with his hip. He's
super smooth as always and he looks
ready to do well. He's a good guy and
it's great to have him on the team."
-- Pat McCarty (OUCH) on current
and former (Phonak) teammate Floyd
Landis
______________________________________
-
"Over the past 10 years, weight
has become the buzzword in all
levels of cycling," writes recently
retired
U.S. pro Bobby Julich at cyclingnews.com. "Gone are the
days when we used to eat as much as
we could at the table because we
thought that the more we eat, the
more energy we have for the next
day's training or race. The overall
goal of every cyclist is to have the
best power-to-weight ratio as
possible. A good rider in the
peloton has a ratio of 6 watts/kg, a
great rider has 6.5 watts/kg and the
best can have over 7watts/kg at
threshold. But while being lean is
important, riders can go too far and
actually start to lose power." Read
the rest of Julich's revealing
insights into pro nutrition and
weight loss at
http://tinyurl.com/blkgp7
-
The economic downturn is cited
for the cancellation of several
high-profile
U.S. stage races, but there is no
indication yet that local grassroots
racing or racers are being affected.
Velonews.com reports that
racing license sales (mostly
amateur) are up 3.8% compared to
this time last season, and 6%
compared to 2007. "Those are pretty
standard numbers as it relates to
the consistent growth in membership
we've experienced over the last
several years," says USA Cycling's
Andy Lee. Meanwhile, high-end
U.S. racing has been struck by the
cancellation (at least for 2009) of
events such as the Tour de Georgia,
the Oregon Pro Cycling Classic and
the Tour de Leelanau. Full report at
http://tinyurl.com/cobpws
-
Rock will roll on Kestrel this
season. The bike company's
owner, Advanced Sports, announced on
Tuesday that it will equip Team Rock
Racing with 950-gram Kestrel RT900
carbon monocoque framesets fitted
with Dura-Ace components. Last
season U.S.-based Rock rode a
portion of the season on
Fuji, another Advanced Sports brand.
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7.
UNCLE AL
Width Matters Too
Where is it written that:
"All
roadies shall ride 700x23 tires"?
We're on frames of carbon, steel,
aluminum, titanium and mixes of these
materials, which tells me that we all
beg to differ. Then why is it that
23-mm-wide tires have become the
unchallenged norm? We should choose tire
width based on body weight and several
other factors, not just by going with
the industry flow.
It's rare to find a new road bike fitted
with anything but 23s. We ride this size
by default and some of us suffer the
consequences. If you buy into my advice
to lower tire inflation to 85-100 psi,
then you probably realize that you, at
165 lbs. (75 kg), and your 215-lb.
(98-kg) pal can't ride the same size
tires at the same pressures. Big Dude
will pinch-flat at 90 psi when the going
gets rough.
So while you're flying with a smile over
cracks and crevasses, Big Dude is fixing
another snake bite and sticking pins in
his Uncle Al doll. I think I'm feeling a
jab in the ribs right now.
The solution is simple: Increase
tire width if you're heavier so you can
enjoy the comfort and handling benefits
of lower pressure.
Some tire manufacturers understand the
need. They offer their premium models in
sizes from 700x20 to 28. Continental,
for example, makes the venerable Grand
Prix in 20, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 28 mm.
Michelin's Pro 2 Race comes in 20, 23
and 25 mm. But too many companies make
their top-shelf tires no wider than 23.
The belief is that wider tires increase
rolling resistance. It simply isn't
true. Testing shows that fatter rubber
rules when it comes to lowering drag.
One recent example was published by
Bicycle Quarterly magazine in
"The Performance of Tires" (Vol. 5, No.
1, Autumn 2006).
Let me suggest an approach to greater
riding enjoyment and less
side-of-the-road voodoo:
-
If you weigh 170 lbs. (78 kg) or
less, use 23-mm-wide tires. (I can't
recommend 20 mm, but if you're
really light and want to use them,
knock yourself out.)
-
170-180 lbs. (82 kg), use 24 (Conti
makes 'em) or 25 mm.
-
180-210 lbs. (96 kg), use 25 or go
to 28 mm if you ride on crappy
roads.
-
Over 210 lbs., use 28-mm tires. Your
big power will cancel the bit of
extra weight.
If you follow these size guidelines, you
can safely inflate only to 85-90 psi
front and 95-100 psi rear and enjoy a
quicker and more comfortable ride.
Note 1:
Not all modern frames have clearance at
the fork crown and/or behind the bottom
bracket shell for 28-mm tires. Take your
bike to the LBS and kindly ask them to
slip in wheels with those size tires. If
they fit, buy your tires there. It's
only right.
Note 2:
Yes, there are tires wider than 28 mm,
but then you're getting into weight
issues as well as clearance issues.
Still, widths of 30, 32, or 35 mm may be
great for commuting and general bombing
around on unpaved roads and goat tracks.
Note 3:
Stop sticking pins in your Uncle Al
replica voodoo doll. I didn't make this
stuff up. Well, not all of it. Smooth
riding!
Comment
(Click to
read
more from Alan Ardizone, owner of
award-winning
Cascade
Bicycles in Montrose, Colorado.)
______________________________________
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8.
TRY THIS ON
YOUR NEXT RIDE
Get Ready to Have a Flat
There's lots of winter left up here in
the northern half of the world, but do
you notice the sun is a bit brighter?
February is a month to begin getting on
the road more often even if weather
conditions are still not appealing.
This means riding in frosty temperatures
and on pavement crunchy with that gritty
stuff spread by the road crews. The last
thing you want is a puncture that causes
you to stop, get cold and freeze your
hands doing the grimy job of changing
the tube.
The solution? Don't flat! This quick
checklist before you leave the house can
make a puncture less likely -- and
quicker to fix if it does happen.
Check your tires. Very few
punctures happen the instant you ride
over something (pinch flats excepted).
Usually, a small and sharp shard sticks
in the tread, then works though to the
tube during many wheel revolutions.
Prevent flats by checking the tread in
bright sunlight or with a flashlight
before the next ride. If you spot
something, carefully pop it out (not
into your eye) with the corner of a
small screwdriver or something similar.
Dig into the rubber a little to make
sure you don't leave the sharp tip.
While doing this, look for thin areas in
the tread. Never continue to ride a
well-worn tire, especially in winter.
It'll be even more susceptible to
punctures because of all the junk on the
road.
Check your seat bag. It should
be well stocked with 2 tubes, 2 or 3
tire levers and a patch kit. Don't
forget a small piece of Tyvek, duct tape
or other strong, thin material that's
suitable for lining ("booting") the
inside of a cut in the tread or
sidewall.
Put each tube in a zip-shut plastic
freezer bag. They'll be easier to pack
than in a box, and less likely to have
holes worn by rubbing against tools.
Sprinkle talcum powder into the bags as
another way to reduce friction. It'll
make the tubes easier to install too.
Anything that speeds the process is a
good thing in winter.
By the way, do you have the right size
tubes? We've seen riders flat on their
700C tires and pull a 26-inch mountain
bike tube out of their seat bag. Or,
riders on wheels with deep V-shape rims
will have useless tubes with
standard-length valve stems. Check
before your next ride.
Comment
o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o
o^o o^o o^o o^o
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eBOOKSTORE
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o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o
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Enjoy your rides!
Look
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I admit it. I was a skeptic...but, I bought some Mich Pro2 25s in error. When I swapped my carbon wheels for my Ksyriums this winter, I stuck the 25s on there and inflated to 95psi. I've been bragging all winter to my riding buddies about how comfortable the rides have been as well as what I think is better handling. And, I have not noticed a loss of speed. 6'1"/190lbs.