Monthly Archives: July 2013

What’s Up with Tires Nowadays???

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I’ve been having the worst time with clincher tires this season. With my shoulder all jacked up, changing tires and tubes isn’t all that easy. It seems like the clincher tires are getting worse and worse. Getting worse quality and wear while getting more expensive. It seems backwards.

I put a new Bontrager clincher on my front wheel about a month ago. I don’t know exactly how many miles I’ve ridden in that time, but it can’t be 1500. It wore through the tread. I could understand if it were a rear tire, but a front? It seems like all the clincher tires are getting worse. They don’t have straight treads, mount all weird, plus wear out in the blink of an eye.

And the cost of the things are starting to mirror tubulars. Most of the tubeless tires are approaching $100 now. I can see that is your going to race them, but for training, it is insane. The benefits of not changing a couple flats for an extra $50 doesn’t add up.

Anyway, just wanted to vent a little here. I’m in a rush, packing to head up to Madison for Elite Nationals, and noticed threads showing on my front tire and didn’t really feel like I had the time or energy to mess with it.

What's up with this tread?  It looks like they painted it on by hand.

What’s up with this tread? It looks like they painted it on by hand.

I put this tire on.  It seems to have tread on the inside and outside.   A choice of slick or tread.  Weird.

I put this tire on. It seems to have tread on the inside and outside. A choice of slick or tread. Weird.

Here's the slick choice.

Here’s the slick choice.

And Bill raced the criterium on Sunday on this tire when his race wheel went flat right before the race.

And Bill raced the criterium on Sunday on this tire when his race wheel went flat right before the race.

Madison Wisconsin – Hope it is better the 2nd time around

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I haven’t been to Madison since January at Cyclocross Nationals. That is where the year went haywire and I destroyed my shoulder. So far, it’s been alright. But, since I didn’t get up here until 11 pm last night, there isn’t much that could go wrong.

The drive was an easy 550 miles. I like the drive up from Cedar Rapids Iowa to Madison on highway 151. It is super scenic. It’s a 4 lane divided highway, through rolling hills and beautiful farmland. It crosses the Mississippi River in Dubuque Iowa. Last night, the river was full of 100’s of boats waiting for the firework display that they were obviously going to do over the river very soon.

Trudi drove the BMC team car here a couple days ago and worked the U23 road race yesterday. Her guy, TJ Eisenhart, got 8th in the road race. I guess it blew apart early and got back together and then blew apart again. He has to race the time trial at 9 this morning. I’m not sure why anyone would schedule the U23 Nationals in such a screwy way, putting the road race and time trial back to back, early in the morning. It isn’t a stage race. These 18 to 23 year old guys need their sleep and don’t necessarily function that well at early morning hours. I’d bet guys sat out the road race to do well in the time trial or vise-versa. I don’t think, if you travel all the way to the National Championships, you should have to choose between one or the other. It just doesn’t make any sense. They might as well do the criterium tomorrow afternoon.

I’m going to watch the Tour and then go over to the road course and ride a lap. I’ve raced the course before, but it was a few years ago. I don’t really see any reason to be tired before the race, so I’m only going to ride a little today. I’m having a hard time getting going early in races, so I might ride a little before the start tomorrow afternoon. With 200 riders in the race and the course being tricky, there is a good possibility that an early break will be the winning move. I’m going to have to be pretty lucky be able to read that move, assuming I’m having an okay day. Nowadays, I never know what kind of day I’m having until I’m already racing.

Trudi leaving the drive on Monday, heading to Madison.

Trudi leaving the drive on Monday, heading to Madison.

Quiz-What is this?

Quiz-What is this?

There are firework stands all over the city of Topeka.  Bromont is happy we bugged out before today because it has been like a war zone there the last couple nights while we were out walking late.

There are firework stands all over the city of Topeka. Bromont is happy we bugged out before today because it has been like a war zone there the last couple nights while we were out walking late.