Katherine in FL, flats, racks, pumps, seatpost question

[Nanci]

(And anyone else interested!) I was just going to write you yesterday to ask how my bike's twin was, (Trek 2100 WSD 2005) and to tell you I had 1250 miles on her. I was wondering how many miles my tires would last. I thought of you and all your flats. Even though I had run over a bottle neck last week, I hadn't experienced even one. But last night, right after finding out BF was coming home late and I could ride till dark, I ran over another bottle neck and flatted.

May I say that my Topeak Road Morph, which I bought based on recommendations from MTBR and here, that I had never previously used, was simple to use, inflated my tire to 80 PSI effortlessly, and to 90 with not much more effort (then I decided to head home.)

I had planned on riding my bike to the post office to pick up my new rack, a super eBay bargain. My patched tire was flat. Fine, put in a new tube. It blew. Fine, put in my other new tube. It blew. (I don't think I like super light race tubes...) Yes, I had diligently checked for glass remnants. I think the tire wasn't seating right, near the stem, but it wasn't apparent until too late. So I added an additional patch to the old tube and that held. But I was covered in grease and it was too late to ride.

So I drove to the PO, in my bike clothes, covered in grease, and picked up my Topeak beam rack, MSRP $45, bought on eBay for $9.00, brand new!!! I forgot, though, that my seatpost was carbon, and you're not supposed to clamp anything onto carbon, are you? But the seatpost itself is clamped into the seat tube...Anyway, I lined it with innertube to protect the seatpost and didn't clamp it too tightly. I'm only going to carry clothes on it, anyway. It is so cool! Now I just need to find a matching bargain for the trunk bag.

Since it's getting almost dark when I'm out riding, I bought a set of LED lights from Performance, for like $8, to put on my bike. They are so tiny! And then, finally, a windproof vest, pink, Spare-o, looks pretty cute. Reflective.

I can't believe how much I like riding my bike, even on the same old roads every day. I really missed going out today, though I did get to spend a lot of time with her, changing flats!

Nanci

[Yasmin]

(And anyone else interested!) I was just going to write you yesterday to ask how my bike's twin was, (Trek 2100 WSD 2005) and to tell you I had 1250 miles on her. I was wondering how many miles my tires would last. I thought of you and all your flats. Even though I had run over a bottle neck last week, I hadn't experienced even one. But last night, right after finding out BF was coming home late and I could ride till dark, I ran over another bottle neck and flatted.

May I say that my Topeak Road Morph, which I bought based on recommendations from MTBR and here, that I had never previously used, was simple to use, inflated my tire to 80 PSI effortlessly, and to 90 with not much more effort (then I decided to head home.)

I had planned on riding my bike to the post office to pick up my new rack, a super eBay bargain. My patched tire was flat. Fine, put in a new tube. It blew. Fine, put in my other new tube. It blew. (I don't think I like super light race tubes...) Yes, I had diligently checked for glass remnants. I think the tire wasn't seating right, near the stem, but it wasn't apparent until too late. So I added an additional patch to the old tube and that held. But I was covered in grease and it was too late to ride.

So I drove to the PO, in my bike clothes, covered in grease, and picked up my Topeak beam rack, MSRP $45, bought on eBay for $9.00, brand new!!! I forgot, though, that my seatpost was carbon, and you're not supposed to clamp anything onto carbon, are you? But the seatpost itself is clamped into the seat tube...Anyway, I lined it with innertube to protect the seatpost and didn't clamp it too tightly. I'm only going to carry clothes on it, anyway. It is so cool! Now I just need to find a matching bargain for the trunk bag.

Since it's getting almost dark when I'm out riding, I bought a set of LED lights from Performance, for like $8, to put on my bike. They are so tiny! And then, finally, a windproof vest, pink, Spare-o, looks pretty cute. Reflective.

I can't believe how much I like riding my bike, even on the same old roads every day. I really missed going out today, though I did get to spend a lot of time with her, changing flats!

Nanci

Hi Nanci, Yasmin here. I,ve just invested in a carbon seat post & the guy said not to clamp too tightly (or carbon can shatter). He also turned the bolt part 180 degrees so it sat at the front. Another thing is NEVER to use grease with carbon as this deteriorates it apparently.
I've had the worst year for flatties this year. It seems some people are employed full-time to crush & leave glass in bike lanes. Shudder!.I agree the super-light race tubes aren't great under normal bitumen riding conditions. They're also more expensive, which I don't understand...less rubber & more $'s. I've lost a couple tubes by pinching as well. I guess it's all about strenght in the hands, technique & practise.
I hear ya when it comes to not being out there & riding. This week I've had a head cold, so haven't ridden since Sunday (hence all my posts on this site!). I'm going NUTS!!!. Congrats on your success with ebay. Good on ya!

[SadieKate]

Uh, check the warranty on your seatpost. You may be voiding it by clamping anything to it. I was on a site yesterday for seatbags which used a clamp on the post and it specifically said to not do it.

[SadieKate]

Just found this in the product manual: "RX BeamRack is not suitable or intended to be used with carbon fiber seatposts." I'm guessing that I got the right product.

[cusepack]

Nanci (my Trek 2100 sister!) -

Interesting that you should bring up flats . . . had not had a flat in about a month and low and behold yesterday, I returned from my ride, and no sooner had I put my bike away when I hear this big pssssssss . . . . at first I thought it was the water heater blowing, but no, my rear wheel had done what it's so famous for doing, flatting!!! I checked out the tube and I had a tiny hole right near the valve. This is my theory . . . I think when I add a bit of air to my tires, I'm not careful enough with the stem (keeping it straight); hence, the small holes. Every time I've had a flat it's been around the stem, so I think I really need to pay more attention - I'm just so excited to go out riding I want to take care of my tires quick and get out the door - no more of that for me!!!! I've checked my tires inside and out and there are no other punctures or tears, so I really think it has a lot to do with my inflating the tires and my obviously shabby technique - although, I've gotten real good at changing tubes!! And speaking of which, I think getting a bit heavier tube will be helpful, as others have suggested - they've got some great deals right now at Performance on tubes, plus you can try biketiresdirect.com. I've tried patching tubes, sometimes it works, other times I've gotten frustrated and just tossed the tube and put a new one on.

With regards to the tires . . . did you stay with the Bontragers? My LBS said I should easily get a lot of miles on the tires - at least 2000-2500 as they're very durable. Girl, you've got some serious miles on your Trek. I'm nearing 800, but went 8 days without cycling due to Hurricane Wilma - talk about withdrawal. I was miserable - aside from not having electricity for 14 days, I missed riding.

Nanci, not sure if you use them, but surgical gloves are great for changing tubes - your hands don't get all dirty/greasy - nothing like grease under my fingernails - blech!!! I usually keep at least one glove in my pack and just replace it when needed.

I agree with you about riding . . . it's amazing how much I enjoy it, even if I do the same ride two consecutive days - it's this incredilbe feeling of empowerment (for me), and, it's also very freeing. It's funny, I can't imagine my life without it now. Oh, and I can't imagine my life without Ebay!!! I've gotten some great deals - geez, I thought I got some good deals, but that rack is a super deal.

Oh, I wanted to ask you Nanci . . . did you change out your pedals? I'm thinking about changing them out because I'd like a bigger platform for my foot and am wondering if you had any suggestions. I've looked at the Shimano Ultegra's as well as the Looks, but haven't made a final choice yet. And, I'm going to get myself a new pair of shoes too!!! Oh, this cycling is just sooooo addictive. After I placed an order with Performance today, I received a catalog in the mail from them and saw some really neat items I'd like to get - what I need is to win Lotto, right?!?!?!

Try getting some heavier tubes and see if that helps, and be careful with the stem when inflating your tube. As far as your tires, from what I was told by the LBS, and from everything I've read, our tires should last quite some time . . . just try to dodge those bottlenecks, girl!!!

Take care.

Kathryn

[Nanci]

Sadie Kate,

I guess I'll have to put my nice Thompsen seatpost on there, then!

Nanci

[SadieKate]

That works. Thomson's are always purty.

[Nanci]

Hey Katherine,

I think the Bontrager tires still have some miles left in them, except now the rear tire has a small hole in it, which could allow sand/gravel to get in. I'm going to go with it, though. The only reason I had the SL tubes was because the place I ordered them from (in with some other stuff) had a very limited selection. There are a lot more choices for 700's than 650's.

Surgical gloves are a good idea, but I also need surgical tights, then, because for some reason I get grease all up and down my legs, too. I should have gotten a black bike, not a white one :-)

Taking her out for 70-80 tomorrow!

Nanci

[cusepack]

Nanci -

70-80 tomorrow, you go girl!!!

You said your bike has 650's? What size frame do you have? I've got 700's, and I agree with you, the selection for 700's is much greater. It's actually pretty sad, but hopefully, that will change with the influx of women riding road bikes and not all riding 54" and above.

Have a super ride tomorrow.

Kathryn

[Nanci]

Kathryn,

I did change out the pedals to some old MTB Shimano 767's, because all my shoes will go on them. (Well, they would have gone with the pedals that came with the bike, but I never ended up getting the plastic thingy-s off them, and then I thought it would be good to have those pedals on my MTB/road slick bike, which is what BF uses when his bike is in the shop, or what I take to triathlons _he's_ in just to hack around on. I still love that bike. Anyway, I can ride with street shoes with those plastic deals on the pedals.) Then I got the clearance Sidi road shoes from Sierra Trading Post. The problem is, I don't really like road shoes- too slippery, too hard to walk in, have to hit the pedal perfectly or my foot slides off and I get racked, can't pedal with the second foot without placing it exactly- so crossing roads is an ordeal. Don't get me wrong- the Sidi's are perfect, and I have no hesitation buying a pair of MTB Sidi's when I win the lottery.

My bike is a 47. I had a _gorgeous_ ride yesterday. I was expecting it to be in the 50's when I started, and 80's when I finished, but it was too warm when I got there at 9:30 to wear any warm clothes, so I just had a baggy of food to put on the new rack...I rode for five hours actual riding time, and only ate 300 calories (though 300 before and after in real food). I saw a ton of the gopher tortoises I love so much- even some younger ones. Oh- and some huge weird colored squirrel I have to look up. I could have rode a couple more hours, but I had to go home eventually.

Nanci

[dianne_1234]

"I checked out the tube and I had a tiny hole right near the valve."

This used to happen a lot on my Trek. My dealer called Trek and found that the wrong rim tape had been installed on a lot of bikes. It didn't cover the valve hole in the rim, so the edge was cutting the tubes! Installed Velox tape, making sure to cover the hole, and since then I've had only normal punctures, no more cut tubes.

[cusepack]

Nanci -

Sounds as though you had a beautiful ride - and like you, I could just keep riding (well, within reason, of course), but we always have to return to reality!!

Tomorrow, I'm doing a heavy duty bike cleaning - I've got some dust build-up from just the past few rides that I need to get rid of, and I'm going to polish my bike - nothing like a shiny 2100 Tomorrow morning I'll run, but then get in a short ride in the afternoon. I enjoy running and don't want to give that up, so on running days, a shorter ride is in order as my legs just can't take all the wear - I'm not a spring chicken anymore!!

I'll probably do some shoe/pedal shopping this week . . . my problem is I have a wide foot and many shoes are made a bit narrow - I may switch to men's if I can't find a good fit in the women's. And the pedals, well, I'm not sure what I'm getting, I just know I want a bigger platform. Oh, the woes of cycling purchases!!

Kathryn

[cusepack]

Dianne 1234 -

Thanks so much for that info . . . next time I flat (and Lord knows it's bound to happen!!), I will certainly take a look/feel. It's so very aggravating, and at one point, I was afraid to go riding for fear I would flat again. I did receive an order I placed for new tubes, so we'll see how those fair. Keep your fingers crossed

Kathryn

[Nanci]

I'll check out the rim tape next flat, too. I did a cursory inspection of it, but didn't see anything. You know what, that same wheel (rear) flatted the first time I inflated it when I first got the bike out of the box. Sounds suspicious.

I rode another 60 miles yesterday with BF- (felt like quitting at about 20, but didn't!) his recovery ride after IM Florida is still a pretty quick pace for me. I loved it, I was pretty tired starting the last five miles, and had been pulling for about three, and he passed me and said "see you at home" but I didn't let him drop me!! (But maybe he didn't really try- though he was riding about 22!)

Oh, and the rear tube is the one with two patches on it- go tube!!!

Nanci

[cusepack]

Hey Nanci -

What's up with the rear wheels on our 2100's?!?!? I'm keeping my fingers crossed though that I'm out of the flat funk and will have many miles of flat free riding.

60 miles . . . wow . . . . do you normally rotate days riding, or ride everyday? I haven't been on the bike in two days and I'm itchin' to get on the road. I've been planning and working on my Christmas display . . . every year I draw (& paint) a Christmas scene mural, but this year I'm behind due to hurricane Wilma. The mural is 7'x9' so it takes me a while to draw it - I suppose being a perfectionist isn't helpful though!!! Tomorrow I'm going to get out for a long ride in the morning - I've got to just step away from the drawing and enjoy some sunshine. It's still rather warm here in Miami although the humidity has dropped - great for my hair, btw!!!

Have you tried the Pedro's Bike Lust? Ooh, what a shine - your sister bike recommends you give it a try

Kathryn