Cycling Thread 2

[RichieRich]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

I’d change them now and I’d also look at what kind of shape the chain and cassette is in.

Recently replaced chain and large chainring. Miraculously the cassette and small ring was still GTG. Zero skipping issues and marginal wear.

[Table 5]

Anyone have any commuting tires to recommend? Looking for 700c tires for my gravel bike, mostly for commuting on pathways/streets. Hoping to find something that has a bit of tread, but is still relatively fast. I’m coming off some Mavic Allroad 30s that came with the wheels.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Anyone have any commuting tires to recommend? Looking for 700c tires for my gravel bike, mostly for commuting on pathways/streets. Hoping to find something that has a bit of tread, but is still relatively fast. I’m coming off some Mavic Allroad 30s that came with the wheels.

I used to get a fair number of rear flats, but haven't had one since switching to gatorskins. Plenty fast enough...no particular tread, but they didn't seem at all slippery as I expected from online reviews. I think they'd suck in the winter, but otherwise I just like knowing that they're nearly bulletproof.

[Table 5]

Good to hear, as I was thinking about the Gatorskins but was a bit hesitant because of grip. Definitely won’t be using them in ####ty weather much, but just want them to handle a bit of rain if need be.

Anyone have Schwalbe Marathons? They seem like the commuting go to, but also perhaps a bit slow.

[Northendzone]

So a few weeks ago I was grumbling that my LBS charged me $45 to
Fox a broken spoke in my rear wheel of my gravel bike.

Last week I broke yet another spoke; however I now have a Center lock removal tool and a chain whip, so I fixed this myself; however, it took me about an hour by the time I removed the cassette, rotor and the tire and then fed the spoke thru and then reassembled everything

This winter I am buying new rims for both my gravel and mtn bike as I am tired of broken spokes…..

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Good to hear, as I was thinking about the Gatorskins but was a bit hesitant because of grip. Definitely won’t be using them in ####ty weather much, but just want them to handle a bit of rain if need be.

Anyone have Schwalbe Marathons? They seem like the commuting go to, but also perhaps a bit slow.

I rarely ride in the rain so can't really comment, but I'd consider how often you actually get stuck in the rain here in Calgary AND that tires would be the limiting factor for your speed/safety:

- if it's raining hard, you're probably generally a bit slower
- if you're not dressed perfectly for rain, you're probably a bit slower based on spray

I think I'd rarely find myself thinking "I'd rip a lot faster in this rain if not for my tires". Though I'm sure it's a different story if you live in Vancouver!

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Anyone have any commuting tires to recommend? Looking for 700c tires for my gravel bike, mostly for commuting on pathways/streets. Hoping to find something that has a bit of tread, but is still relatively fast. I’m coming off some Mavic Allroad 30s that came with the wheels.

I put these on my commuter bike last year:
https://www.bowcycle.com/product/con...c-322385-1.htm

Good tread- not too heavy, and puncture resistant. I've had a couple of "oh crap" moments where I thought I was going to get a pinch flat- but nothing. Including my buddy riding beside me getting two pinch flats.

[Northendzone]

^ I have those tires on my gravel bike as well. No flats at all this year with them.

[RichieRich]

With fall coming the paths sometimes get slicker from frost (especially metal and wood on some bridge decks or joins). I’d be thinking about something grippier than a semi slick. These days I just run my knobbier gravel tires (or wider cross tires) but have my studded wheelset ready to swap on. For commuting it’s not really a matter of speed but moreso staying upright and avoiding flats.

[Wormius]

Saw some guys biking down the Smith-Dorrien. How can that be an enjoyable ride with cars kicking up dust clouds constantly?

[Fuzz]

Reminder to dig your lights out this morning, it is time.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Saw some guys biking down the Smith-Dorrien. How can that be an enjoyable ride with cars kicking up dust clouds constantly?

I thought the same thing the other weekend when we went and did the Jumping Pound Loop. There were people and families riding up highway 68 from around Pine Grove campground back to the parking lot by the cattle gate. Not only is the dust unbearable but the risk of potentially taking a rock off the body or face must be scary.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Saw some guys biking down the Smith-Dorrien. How can that be an enjoyable ride with cars kicking up dust clouds constantly?

Where was it? I've ridden up the road from Canmore many times, but that was to get to trails. If it was up by Spray Lakes they may have done a section of the High Rockies trail, and decided to ride back to their car on the road, since it is easier. The dust definitely sucks, I don't ever remember being hit by a rock. That usually happens on the paved roads!

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Where was it? I've ridden up the road from Canmore many times, but that was to get to trails. If it was up by Spray Lakes they may have done a section of the High Rockies trail, and decided to ride back to their car on the road, since it is easier. The dust definitely sucks, I don't ever remember being hit by a rock. That usually happens on the paved roads!

Yeah it was just north of Chester Lake trailhead, so around that area. I did slow down a couple of times, when I saw people along the side of the road, but the dust and rocks and the washboard road probably create a very unpleasant cycling experience.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Yeah it was just north of Chester Lake trailhead, so around that area. I did slow down a couple of times, when I saw people along the side of the road, but the dust and rocks and the washboard road probably create a very unpleasant cycling experience.

They must have been coming form somewhere and not had much choice. I'd never ever do it on a weekend.

[Icantwhisper]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Reminder to dig your lights out this morning, it is time.

Whoo hoo, can't wait to be blinded by the people who need a light as bright as the sun and fail to understand what it does to people coming the other way

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Good to hear, as I was thinking about the Gatorskins but was a bit hesitant because of grip. Definitely won’t be using them in ####ty weather much, but just want them to handle a bit of rain if need be.

Anyone have Schwalbe Marathons? They seem like the commuting go to, but also perhaps a bit slow.

Marathons are bulletproof. When I still had a bike commute, I got 10,000+ km from them and had 1 flat.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Icantwhisper

Whoo hoo, can't wait to be blinded by the people who need a light as bright as the sun and fail to understand what it does to people coming the other way

Don't forget about the people that strobe their front lights, worse than Hitler.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Icantwhisper

Whoo hoo, can't wait to be blinded by the people who need a light as bright as the sun and fail to understand what it does to people coming the other way

What lumens would you recommend for commuting?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

What lumens would you recommend for commuting?

I use 2 of these type:

https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5061-9...t?colour=Black

One on my handlebar, one on my helmet so I can point it at inattentive drivers/pedestrians. They are 200 lumens each. I don't like really bright lights becuase your eyes adjust and stuff out of the beam range becuase pure black. Also, your tail light does not need to be visible to airliners, strobing like the 80's. They can be blinding too, particularly in bike lanes waiting for lights.