RR New Tires

Quoted message said:

My friends new BF was having a hard time. He has a brand new >Specialized Hardrock FS, shows up in
sweats and I had to really hassle him to put on a helmet. He >was really struggling, but I tried to
be nice and waited with my friend at every junction. Pretty >funny tho, we are waiting at the top of
a switch back and a female hiker comes up the trail: "girls >waiting for a guy? That's a switch!!".
My friend has specifically said not to make ride concession for >the newbie BF... but had she
explained just how newbie I would have picked a different trail. >He does have an extensive BMX
racing background, so I did try to convince him that that will give >him a real advantage in
mountain biking.

Quoted message said:

Penny

It's cool of you to wait for him and not get snobby. There are lots of folks on the trails more worried about heart rate or image and not the main reason I hope we all got into this: fun. I am a terrible climber (terrible shape really, but working on it and losing more weight) and I can't tell you how much it is appreciated when folks don't just leave you in the dust on really long climbs. I wish a BMX background helped on the climbs! It does help with the DH or fast sections though. Have fun with all that new found traction.

K.

"Penny S" <[email hidden]> spake thusly on or about Sun, 19 Oct 2003 14:52:20 UTC

-> Pretty funny tho, we are waiting at the top of a -> switch back and a female hiker comes up the
trail: "girls waiting for a guy? -> That's a switch!!". My friend has specifically said not to make
ride -> concession for the newbie BF... but had she explained just how newbie I -> would have picked
a different trail. He does have an extensive BMX racing -> background, so I did try to convince him
that that will give him a real -> advantage in mountain biking. -> ->

Thanks for the RR Penny. I will be looking for a new rear tyre after the studded tyre season passes.

hrmm how did i put that "the only air I get is what I suck at the top of the climbs"

--
I hurt before the ride so fibro gives me a head start on the rest of the pack. silver lining?
[email hidden]

Penny S said:

and to get the rear cassette switched over. I would have attempted that on my own, but we lack the
particular special tool to do that.

Just to save you an extra trip to the LBS, you need two special tools to remove a cassette.

Quoted message said:

In the first 50 feet ( a steep drop down a sandy slope to the traverse trail) I can already feel
the difference. All summer long, I've been feeling like I've had traction issues both climbing and
descending, and I've also felt like no matter how careful I am, I have has a tendency to skid or
wash out. I can tell you now it was a tire problem. I just didn't realize how much of a problem it
was!! This trail is packed and sandy for the most part. On the climbs I just feel "stickier" and
do standing up hill starts with ease, no spinning out. Even hitting the deep sand pits that you
kind of have to surf through I feel much more stable, much less of a tendency to wash out.

Nice. It's amazing how much of a difference a new set of tyres'll make.

That cassette lock nut tool only runs about $7.00. It pays for itself in one use. Park Tools.

Fire up MTB 03

A No. 5 and a chainwhip wrench

Fire up MTB 03

[email hidden] spray painted on a boxcar:

Quoted message said:

That cassette lock nut tool only runs about $7.00. It pays for itself in one use.
Park Tools.

Fire up MTB 03

heh, the bike shop did it for free. I love those guys. I bought a tube that I needed just to keep
the balance.

Penny

ireman_1 spray painted on a boxcar:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

My friends new BF was having a hard time. He has a brand new

Quoted message said:

Specialized Hardrock FS, shows up in sweats and I had to really

hassle him to put on a helmet. He >was really struggling, but I tried to be nice and waited with
my friend at every junction. Pretty >funny tho, we are waiting at the top of a switch back and a
female hiker comes up the trail: "girls >waiting for a guy? That's a switch!!". My friend has
specifically said not to make ride concession for >the newbie BF... but had she explained just
how newbie I would have picked a different trail. >He does have an extensive BMX racing
background, so I did try to convince him that that will give >him a real advantage in mountain
biking.

Quoted message said:

Penny

It's cool of you to wait for him and not get snobby. There are lots of folks on the trails more
worried about heart rate or image and not the main reason I hope we all got into this: fun. I am a
terrible climber (terrible shape really, but working on it and losing more weight) and I can't
tell you how much it is appreciated when folks don't just leave you in the dust on really long
climbs. I wish a BMX background helped on the climbs! It does help with the DH or fast sections
though. Have fun with all that new found traction.

K.

In truth I was really annoyed, just because I wasn't told ahead and had to adjust my expectations
for the ride. But he never heard me mutter "Amazon women run newbie into the ground"... I made sure
to show my good side. The GF seemed less concerned about it that I was.

Penny

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

--------------------------<

Posted via cyclingforums.com cyclingforums.comcyclingforums.comOpen ↗

"Penny S" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Yesterday morning I got up early and decided it was time to do some work

on

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the bike, within my Clueless Wrenchette capabilities. Seeing as two sessions under the hose had
still not gotten the worst of the mud off, I

had

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to go at it with tooth brushes, chain brushes rags and more to get the

left

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overs from last weekend's mudfest.

I have new tires to put on and a new rear wheel too ( thanks to the

various

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amb parts fairies...<g>😉 I actually have 3 new tires, the kids got me one with Dad's help, not
reading my birthday list that the tires item had

gotten

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scratched off. I put one of the IRC Serac XC;'s on the front, and then on the new rear wheel I put
the Michelin Hot S that I got for my birthday. I had to take a little side trip to the LBS for a
new tube, and to get the rear cassette switched over. I would have attempted that on my own, but
we lack the particular special tool to do that.

One of the girls calls, can we meet in an hour and a half... sure thing, put the bike back
together, make sure the new skewer has some lube on it, and my spanking clean chain and cleats are
lubed, and off we go to High Drive.

In the first 50 feet ( a steep drop down a sandy slope to the traverse trail) I can already feel
the difference. All summer long, I've been

feeling

Quoted message said:

like I've had traction issues both climbing and descending, and I've also felt like no matter how
careful I am, I have has a tendency to skid or

wash

Quoted message said:

out. I can tell you now it was a tire problem. I just didn't realize how much of a problem it
was!! This trail is packed and sandy for the most part. On the climbs I just feel "stickier" and
do standing up hill starts with ease, no spinning out. Even hitting the deep sand pits that you
kind of have to surf through I feel much more stable, much less of a tendency

to

Quoted message said:

wash out.

Glad to hear you like the Serac. I've been riding them all summer and like them more and more each
time I take them out.

Gary in VA

"Penny S" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have new tires to put on and a new rear wheel too ( thanks to the

various

Quoted message said:

amb parts fairies...<g>😉 I actually have 3 new tires, the kids got me one with Dad's help, not
reading my birthday list that the tires item had

gotten

Quoted message said:

scratched off. I put one of the IRC Serac XC;'s on the front, and then on the new rear wheel I put
the Michelin Hot S that I got for my birthday. I had to take a little side trip to the LBS for a
new tube, and to get the rear cassette switched over. I would have attempted that on my own, but
we lack the particular special tool to do that.

In the first 50 feet ( a steep drop down a sandy slope to the traverse trail) I can already feel
the difference. All summer long, I've been

feeling

Quoted message said:

like I've had traction issues both climbing and descending, and I've also felt like no matter how
careful I am, I have has a tendency to skid or

wash

Quoted message said:

out. I can tell you now it was a tire problem. I just didn't realize how much of a problem it
was!! This trail is packed and sandy for the most part. On the climbs I just feel "stickier" and
do standing up hill starts with ease, no spinning out. Even hitting the deep sand pits that you
kind of have to surf through I feel much more stable, much less of a tendency

to

Quoted message said:

wash out.

I did put the tread on the rear tire backwards. LBS guy said to leave it

for

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now as in our moist fall conditions I'll have better traction.... I

dunno...

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it seems to be spitting gravel up onto my legs.

Quoted message said:

Penny

I've been running a set of Hot-S tires (the red ones) on my full suspension rig for about 4 months
now. It's funny you mention how they were spitting gravel up onto your legs though. I have my tires
running in the specified direction, so they endup spitting gravel at anyone who's riding behind me.
I've dinged a couple of riding buddies pretty good with some gravel.

These tires do seem to offer alot of traction though - I just find them a bit slow on the smooth
singletrack stuff.

-matt

matt spray painted on a boxcar:

Quoted message said:

I've been running a set of Hot-S tires (the red ones) on my full suspension rig for about 4 months
now. It's funny you mention how they were spitting gravel up onto your legs though. I have my
tires running in the specified direction, so they endup spitting gravel at anyone who's riding
behind me. I've dinged a couple of riding buddies pretty good with some gravel.

These tires do seem to offer alot of traction though - I just find them a bit slow on the smooth
singletrack stuff.

one good thing about traction-less tires ( the set I just took off, worn out IRC backcountry and a
Mosquito Lite) is that I've gotten real good at slide and save skills. ;-) So far I like all the
traction, especially on the sand and loose gravel surface trails I ride.

Penny

"Penny S" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I put one of the IRC Serac XC;'s on the front, and then on the new rear wheel I put the Michelin
Hot S that I got for my birthday.

In the first 50 feet ( a steep drop down a sandy slope to the traverse trail) I can already feel
the difference. All summer long, I've been

feeling

Quoted message said:

like I've had traction issues both climbing and descending, and I've also felt like no matter how
careful I am, I have has a tendency to skid or

wash

Quoted message said:

out. I can tell you now it was a tire problem. I just didn't realize how much of a problem it
was!! This trail is packed and sandy for the most part. On the climbs I just feel "stickier" and
do standing up hill starts with ease, no spinning out. Even hitting the deep sand pits that you
kind of have to surf through I feel much more stable, much less of a tendency

to

Quoted message said:

wash out.

Glad you're happy with the Seracs. I'd of course like to mention they work best in pairs, but I'm
biased against Michelins. For no particular reason.

Enjoy, and happy birthday.

Chris

"Paladin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]... <snip>

Quoted message said:

Fantastic. Nice to know it's just the tires. I tried running those semi-slicks, where they're
sorta bald in the middle with a little ridge on the side, said to be faster, lighter, etc. Nearly
killed me a few times. Back to IRCs, Panaracers & WTB's on my rigs. Amazing the difference a good
(& appropriate to the conditions) tire will make. And ever since la freak put a 2.4 moto on the
front of my red bike, I've cornered harder and faster, too.

My S-Works hardtail came with those silly tires. When the bike was still brand new I took it out to
the desert to ride with some crazy dude and I had a similar experience. There was this steep loose
descent (near France, I think) and I ended up with both wheels locked holding on for dear life. I
managed to get away with some awkward looking dab/exit move but it could have been much worse. Got
some real tires shortly after and the difference was amazing! Those semi's are still on my townie.
That's what they are perfect for.

Matt