Why do some walk their bikes across gravel?

[KERRY MONTGOMERY]

Don't know if it's from riding through gravel, or glass, or what, but my
road tires get cuts in the tread, and wondered if anyone knew of anything
that worked to fill such cuts in, so as to (maybe) make the tires last
longer.
Thanks,
Kerry

 

[G.T.]

[email protected] wrote:
> On 9 Jun 2006 10:52:19 -0700, "Jay Beattie" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>Tuschinski wrote:
>>
>>>>I used to tense up and reach for the brakes. Now, on the rare
>>>>occasions that can't help it I don't even change anything -- just keep
>>>>going straight normally. And I've never fallen on ice on a bike. But
>>>>it still scare me a lot.
>>>>
>>>>JT
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>****************************
>>>>Remove "remove" to reply
>>>>Visit http://www.jt10000.com
>>>>****************************
>>>
>>>The less changes you make in balance/grip, the less chance of crashing.
>>>That works in (deep) sand too.
>>
>>Another OT comment -- out on the Columbia River Gorge, there is a
>>bridge crossing the Columbia called The Bridge of the Gods. It has an
>>old metal-grate deck that tends to steer your bike. You look down
>>through the deck about 130 feet to the water below (I hate heights).
>>There are winds that often blow you towards the railing and RVs in the
>>lane. That is another place where I have to make myself relax through
>>the shoulders and take a very straight line. Super pretty ride, though.
>>-- Jay Beattie.
>
>
> Dear Jay,
>
> Shudder . . .
>
> Please remove "you" everywhere in that damned post.
>
> You, Jay, merely hate heights.
>
> I, on the other hand, have to switch the channel after a minute or two
> if I stumble across a mountain-climbing documentary.
>

Try Carrizo before it was renovated and put back into service recently:

http://www.mountainbikebill.com/images/Trails/CarrizoGorge/CarrizoGorge-1JAN04-Eric-14.JPG

I'm about the same as Mr Fogel with my acrophobia but I rode it in 2003
when it was quite rickety.

Also site of the infamous Miles Todd Crash Video on one of the
sidetrails around one of the collapsed tunnels:

http://www.mountainbikebill.com/MilesCrash.htm

Greg

--
"All my time I spent in heaven
Revelries of dance and wine
Waking to the sound of laughter
Up I'd rise and kiss the sky" - The Mekons

 

[John Forrest Tomlinson]

On 9 Jun 2006 10:52:19 -0700, "Jay Beattie" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>Tuschinski wrote:
>> > I used to tense up and reach for the brakes. Now, on the rare
>> > occasions that can't help it I don't even change anything -- just keep
>> > going straight normally. And I've never fallen on ice on a bike. But
>> > it still scare me a lot.
>> >
>> > JT
>> >
>> >
>> > ****************************
>> > Remove "remove" to reply
>> > Visit http://www.jt10000.com
>> > ****************************
>>
>> The less changes you make in balance/grip, the less chance of crashing.
>> That works in (deep) sand too.
>
>Another OT comment -- out on the Columbia River Gorge, there is a
>bridge crossing the Columbia called The Bridge of the Gods. It has an
>old metal-grate deck that tends to steer your bike.

That's the other thing I hate -- steel decks, esp when wet. I was
near a bad crash on one in a race and almost fell on one when
commuting. Actually ice, steel decks and oil on the road freak me
out. Crashed on oil once, not the others though.

>You look down
>through the deck about 130 feet to the water below (I hate heights).
>There are winds that often blow you towards the railing and RVs in the
>lane.

I have dreams of scary places like that.

JT


****************************
Remove "remove" to reply
Visit http://www.jt10000.com
****************************

 

[[email protected]]

On Fri, 09 Jun 2006 17:12:28 -0700, "G.T." <[email protected]>
wrote:

>[email protected] wrote:
>> On 9 Jun 2006 10:52:19 -0700, "Jay Beattie" <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Tuschinski wrote:
>>>
>>>>>I used to tense up and reach for the brakes. Now, on the rare
>>>>>occasions that can't help it I don't even change anything -- just keep
>>>>>going straight normally. And I've never fallen on ice on a bike. But
>>>>>it still scare me a lot.
>>>>>
>>>>>JT
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>****************************
>>>>>Remove "remove" to reply
>>>>>Visit http://www.jt10000.com
>>>>>****************************
>>>>
>>>>The less changes you make in balance/grip, the less chance of crashing.
>>>>That works in (deep) sand too.
>>>
>>>Another OT comment -- out on the Columbia River Gorge, there is a
>>>bridge crossing the Columbia called The Bridge of the Gods. It has an
>>>old metal-grate deck that tends to steer your bike. You look down
>>>through the deck about 130 feet to the water below (I hate heights).
>>>There are winds that often blow you towards the railing and RVs in the
>>>lane. That is another place where I have to make myself relax through
>>>the shoulders and take a very straight line. Super pretty ride, though.
>>>-- Jay Beattie.
>>
>>
>> Dear Jay,
>>
>> Shudder . . .
>>
>> Please remove "you" everywhere in that damned post.
>>
>> You, Jay, merely hate heights.
>>
>> I, on the other hand, have to switch the channel after a minute or two
>> if I stumble across a mountain-climbing documentary.
>>
>
>Try Carrizo before it was renovated and put back into service recently:
>
>http://www.mountainbikebill.com/images/Trails/CarrizoGorge/CarrizoGorge-1JAN04-Eric-14.JPG
>
>I'm about the same as Mr Fogel with my acrophobia but I rode it in 2003
> when it was quite rickety.
>
>Also site of the infamous Miles Todd Crash Video on one of the
>sidetrails around one of the collapsed tunnels:
>
>http://www.mountainbikebill.com/MilesCrash.htm
>
>Greg

Dear Greg,

I peeked at Carrizo, made bold by familiarity. Like the Miles Todd
site, that doesn't bother me as much, probaby because it's familiar
dry country scenery from a more comforting angle.

I occasionally get arguments about my fear of heights because trail
riding in the Rockies often involves steep dropoffs, but my theory is
that I'm too busy with the throttle and brake to pay attention to the
scenery.

But I suspect that Jay has some horrible NorthWest picture peering
down into some hideous chasm full of towering pine trees up his
sleeve, so I'm not going to look at it.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

 

[Sandy]

KERRY MONTGOMERY a écrit :
> Don't know if it's from riding through gravel, or glass, or what, but my
> road tires get cuts in the tread, and wondered if anyone knew of anything
> that worked to fill such cuts in, so as to (maybe) make the tires last
> longer.
> Thanks,
> Kerry
>
>
>
A couple of weeks ago, I experimented with my winter tires that have
lots of cuts. I used neoprene glue, which may be called contact cement
- that's on the label. I inflated the tires fully, washed and brushed
the cuts out, let them dry, then used a toothpick to apply the glue.
After sitting for 10 minutes inflated (the cuts were fairly open) I
deflated the tires and pressed the cuts together and left them to cure.
Next day, it was impossible to see the cuts, almost all of them, and I
rode the tires some 50km and they seem to have sealed very well. I
can't say if it's a long term solution, but it looks good, so far.
--
Sandy

Verneuil-sur-Seine FR

 

[Robin Hubert]

John Forrest Tomlinson wrote:
> On 9 Jun 2006 10:52:19 -0700, "Jay Beattie" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> Tuschinski wrote:
>>>> I used to tense up and reach for the brakes. Now, on the rare
>>>> occasions that can't help it I don't even change anything -- just keep
>>>> going straight normally. And I've never fallen on ice on a bike. But
>>>> it still scare me a lot.
>>>>
>>>> JT
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ****************************
>>>> Remove "remove" to reply
>>>> Visit http://www.jt10000.com
>>>> ****************************
>>> The less changes you make in balance/grip, the less chance of crashing.
>>> That works in (deep) sand too.
>> Another OT comment -- out on the Columbia River Gorge, there is a
>> bridge crossing the Columbia called The Bridge of the Gods. It has an
>> old metal-grate deck that tends to steer your bike.
>
> That's the other thing I hate -- steel decks, esp when wet. I was
> near a bad crash on one in a race and almost fell on one when
> commuting. Actually ice, steel decks and oil on the road freak me
> out. Crashed on oil once, not the others though.
>
>> You look down
>> through the deck about 130 feet to the water below (I hate heights).
>> There are winds that often blow you towards the railing and RVs in the
>> lane.
>
> I have dreams of scary places like that.
>
> JT
>


My most recent crash (several broken ribs thanks) involved a small piece
of paper, just dirty and flat enough to camouflage itself, taking my
front wheel out from under hard braking.


Robin Hubert

 

[waxbytes]

I notice how "going slow" seems to match up with "front wheel washing out" in many of these replies and I think it may be the overcaution coupled with the lack of stability inherent in riding a bicycle slowly (as compared to a road speed) that causes many of the falls on gravel. I end up riding on gravel fairly frequently with my road bike and I don't generally reduce my speed unless I encounter washboard. I have had only one significant fall on gravel with a road bike and that was when my 23mm tire dug into a sand patch halfway to the hub and I went ass-over-tea-kettle. Not a loss of control as such. In case your wondering, no significant injuries, got lucky.

 

[chuck]

On 2006-06-10, Sandy <[email protected]> wrote:
> KERRY MONTGOMERY a écrit :
>> Don't know if it's from riding through gravel, or glass, or what, but my
>> road tires get cuts in the tread, and wondered if anyone knew of anything
>> that worked to fill such cuts in, so as to (maybe) make the tires last
>> longer.
>> Thanks,
>> Kerry
>>
>>
>>
> A couple of weeks ago, I experimented with my winter tires that have
> lots of cuts. I used neoprene glue, which may be called contact cement
> - that's on the label. I inflated the tires fully, washed and brushed
> the cuts out, let them dry, then used a toothpick to apply the glue.
> After sitting for 10 minutes inflated (the cuts were fairly open) I
> deflated the tires and pressed the cuts together and left them to cure.
> Next day, it was impossible to see the cuts, almost all of them, and I
> rode the tires some 50km and they seem to have sealed very well. I
> can't say if it's a long term solution, but it looks good, so far.
> --
>

Shoe Goo would probably work better.
> Verneuil-sur-Seine FR

 

[Sandy]

chuck a écrit :
> On 2006-06-10, Sandy <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> KERRY MONTGOMERY a écrit :
>>
>>> Don't know if it's from riding through gravel, or glass, or what, but my
>>> road tires get cuts in the tread, and wondered if anyone knew of anything
>>> that worked to fill such cuts in, so as to (maybe) make the tires last
>>> longer.
>>> Thanks,
>>> Kerry
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> A couple of weeks ago, I experimented with my winter tires that have
>> lots of cuts. I used neoprene glue, which may be called contact cement
>> - that's on the label. I inflated the tires fully, washed and brushed
>> the cuts out, let them dry, then used a toothpick to apply the glue.
>> After sitting for 10 minutes inflated (the cuts were fairly open) I
>> deflated the tires and pressed the cuts together and left them to cure.
>> Next day, it was impossible to see the cuts, almost all of them, and I
>> rode the tires some 50km and they seem to have sealed very well. I
>> can't say if it's a long term solution, but it looks good, so far.
>> --
>>
>>
>
> Shoe Goo would probably work better.
Why ? Why better ? Is there some hidden technical reason ? Give us
your knowledge, please.

 

[Peter Cole]

chuck wrote:
> On 2006-06-10, Sandy <[email protected]> wrote:

>> A couple of weeks ago, I experimented with my winter tires that have
>> lots of cuts. I used neoprene glue, which may be called contact cement
>> - that's on the label. I inflated the tires fully, washed and brushed
>> the cuts out, let them dry, then used a toothpick to apply the glue.
>> After sitting for 10 minutes inflated (the cuts were fairly open) I
>> deflated the tires and pressed the cuts together and left them to cure.
>> Next day, it was impossible to see the cuts, almost all of them, and I
>> rode the tires some 50km and they seem to have sealed very well. I
>> can't say if it's a long term solution, but it looks good, so far.
>> --
>>
>
> Shoe Goo would probably work better.

I tried that stuff, didn't work well for me.

 

[Peter Cole]

Robin Hubert wrote:

>
> My most recent crash (several broken ribs thanks) involved a small piece
> of paper, just dirty and flat enough to camouflage itself, taking my
> front wheel out from under hard braking.
>

My most recent freak circumstance was the lid from a CD "jewel case"
that caused my rear wheel to slide slip a foot or so in a turn. I didn't
go down, but if it had been the front it may have turned out differently.

 

[chuck]

On 2006-06-11, Sandy <[email protected]> wrote:
> chuck a écrit :
>> On 2006-06-10, Sandy <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> KERRY MONTGOMERY a écrit :
>>>
>>>> Don't know if it's from riding through gravel, or glass, or what, but my
>>>> road tires get cuts in the tread, and wondered if anyone knew of anything
>>>> that worked to fill such cuts in, so as to (maybe) make the tires last
>>>> longer.
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Kerry
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> A couple of weeks ago, I experimented with my winter tires that have
>>> lots of cuts. I used neoprene glue, which may be called contact cement
>>> - that's on the label. I inflated the tires fully, washed and brushed
>>> the cuts out, let them dry, then used a toothpick to apply the glue.
>>> After sitting for 10 minutes inflated (the cuts were fairly open) I
>>> deflated the tires and pressed the cuts together and left them to cure.
>>> Next day, it was impossible to see the cuts, almost all of them, and I
>>> rode the tires some 50km and they seem to have sealed very well. I
>>> can't say if it's a long term solution, but it looks good, so far.
>>> --
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Shoe Goo would probably work better.
> Why ? Why better ? Is there some hidden technical reason ? Give us
> your knowledge, please.

It's thicker and you can build it up. I never tried it on a tire though.
I used it one grip shifters worn down to the plastic. I also use it to
get a few hundred more miles on my running shoes. I wear out the edges
first, so I put it on 1/4 inch thick to build the edges up even with the
rest of the soles. I also believe it helps to hit the area first with
sandpaper, then clean it with acetone.

 

[Sandy]

chuck a écrit :
> On 2006-06-11, Sandy <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> chuck a écrit :
>>
>>> On 2006-06-10, Sandy <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> KERRY MONTGOMERY a écrit :
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Don't know if it's from riding through gravel, or glass, or what, but my
>>>>> road tires get cuts in the tread, and wondered if anyone knew of anything
>>>>> that worked to fill such cuts in, so as to (maybe) make the tires last
>>>>> longer.
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> Kerry
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> A couple of weeks ago, I experimented with my winter tires that have
>>>> lots of cuts. I used neoprene glue, which may be called contact cement
>>>> - that's on the label. I inflated the tires fully, washed and brushed
>>>> the cuts out, let them dry, then used a toothpick to apply the glue.
>>>> After sitting for 10 minutes inflated (the cuts were fairly open) I
>>>> deflated the tires and pressed the cuts together and left them to cure.
>>>> Next day, it was impossible to see the cuts, almost all of them, and I
>>>> rode the tires some 50km and they seem to have sealed very well. I
>>>> can't say if it's a long term solution, but it looks good, so far.
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Shoe Goo would probably work better.
>>>
>> Why ? Why better ? Is there some hidden technical reason ? Give us
>> your knowledge, please.
>>
>
> It's thicker and you can build it up. I never tried it on a tire though.
> I used it one grip shifters worn down to the plastic. I also use it to
> get a few hundred more miles on my running shoes. I wear out the edges
> first, so I put it on 1/4 inch thick to build the edges up even with the
> rest of the soles. I also believe it helps to hit the area first with
> sandpaper, then clean it with acetone.
>
Thanks for the answer. Still, I think the reasons you may like it could
be when chunks of tire are missing, not when there is a cut. A cut,
sealed seam to seam, needs no build up, I think. And I would not like
to have a gob of stuff thumping around each wheel revolution. Perhaps
you were speaking not of cuts, but of pieces missing ?

 

[Andrew Price]

On Sun, 11 Jun 2006 08:07:54 -0400, Peter Cole
<[email protected]> wrote:

>> Shoe Goo would probably work better.
>
>I tried that stuff, didn't work well for me.

What exactly is it?

 

[[email protected]]

On Sun, 11 Jun 2006 19:31:03 +0200, Andrew Price <[email protected]>
wrote:

>On Sun, 11 Jun 2006 08:07:54 -0400, Peter Cole
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>> Shoe Goo would probably work better.
>>
>>I tried that stuff, didn't work well for me.
>
>What exactly is it?

Dear Andrew,

"Shoe Goo is actually rubber in a tube, with solvents added to make
uncured Shoe Goo more applicable for hundreds of uses."

http://www.shoegoo.co.jp/101e.html

Runners are terribly fond of it, since replacing a specialty running
shoe is rather more expensive than replacing a bicycle tire, and a
much higher proportion of the total equipment cost.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

 

[G.T.]

[email protected] wrote:
> On Sun, 11 Jun 2006 19:31:03 +0200, Andrew Price <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>On Sun, 11 Jun 2006 08:07:54 -0400, Peter Cole
>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>>Shoe Goo would probably work better.
>>>
>>>I tried that stuff, didn't work well for me.
>>
>>What exactly is it?
>
>
> Dear Andrew,
>
> "Shoe Goo is actually rubber in a tube, with solvents added to make
> uncured Shoe Goo more applicable for hundreds of uses."
>
> http://www.shoegoo.co.jp/101e.html
>
> Runners are terribly fond of it, since replacing a specialty running
> shoe is rather more expensive than replacing a bicycle tire, and a
> much higher proportion of the total equipment cost.
>

I use it like duct tape. That is, everywhere (everywhere except where
duct tape works better, that is). Saddle repair has seen its biggest
application with shoes following a close second.

Greg

--
"All my time I spent in heaven
Revelries of dance and wine
Waking to the sound of laughter
Up I'd rise and kiss the sky" - The Mekons

 

[chuck]

On 2006-06-11, Sandy <[email protected]> wrote:
> chuck a écrit :
>> On 2006-06-11, Sandy <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> chuck a écrit :
>>>
>>>> On 2006-06-10, Sandy <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> KERRY MONTGOMERY a écrit :
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Don't know if it's from riding through gravel, or glass, or what, but my
>>>>>> road tires get cuts in the tread, and wondered if anyone knew of anything
>>>>>> that worked to fill such cuts in, so as to (maybe) make the tires last
>>>>>> longer.
>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>> Kerry
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> A couple of weeks ago, I experimented with my winter tires that have
>>>>> lots of cuts. I used neoprene glue, which may be called contact cement
>>>>> - that's on the label. I inflated the tires fully, washed and brushed
>>>>> the cuts out, let them dry, then used a toothpick to apply the glue.
>>>>> After sitting for 10 minutes inflated (the cuts were fairly open) I
>>>>> deflated the tires and pressed the cuts together and left them to cure.
>>>>> Next day, it was impossible to see the cuts, almost all of them, and I
>>>>> rode the tires some 50km and they seem to have sealed very well. I
>>>>> can't say if it's a long term solution, but it looks good, so far.
>>>>> --
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> Shoe Goo would probably work better.
>>>>
>>> Why ? Why better ? Is there some hidden technical reason ? Give us
>>> your knowledge, please.
>>>
>>
>> It's thicker and you can build it up. I never tried it on a tire though.
>> I used it one grip shifters worn down to the plastic. I also use it to
>> get a few hundred more miles on my running shoes. I wear out the edges
>> first, so I put it on 1/4 inch thick to build the edges up even with the
>> rest of the soles. I also believe it helps to hit the area first with
>> sandpaper, then clean it with acetone.
>>
> Thanks for the answer. Still, I think the reasons you may like it could
> be when chunks of tire are missing, not when there is a cut. A cut,
> sealed seam to seam, needs no build up, I think. And I would not like
> to have a gob of stuff thumping around each wheel revolution. Perhaps
> you were speaking not of cuts, but of pieces missing ?

I guess if it holds you're set, if not try the Goo.

 

[Jasper Janssen]

On Thu, 08 Jun 2006 14:56:53 -0400, Peter Cole <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Jasper Janssen wrote:
>> On 8 Jun 2006 06:07:34 -0700, "Mike Reed" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> I people walking a lot, but I've always just ridden over gravel
>>> (parking lots and such). What's the motivation to walk or even carry
>>> your road bike?
>>
>> If the gravel is 2+ inches deep, it's nigh-impossible to ride through, you
>> then need the larger contact surface area of your shoes.
>
>I ride RR track ballast all the time, but I've never tried it with
>skinny tires, MTB tires -- no problem, although it's a lot of work.

RR track ballast isn't what I'd call gravel, it's too large. I'm thinking
of river-rounded smallish 1-cm or so stones. The rounding versus the
sharp-edged-ness makes one heck of a difference, as well. With rounded
stones, deep gravel will shift under your tyres and you will sink an inch
or two into it. You proably *could* force your way through that in a low
enough gear, but I don't think it'd be good for your rims.

Jasper

 

[Jasper Janssen]

On 8 Jun 2006 20:34:50 -0700, "Jay Beattie" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>John Forrest Tomlinson wrote:
>> On 8 Jun 2006 18:40:58 -0700, "Mike Reed" <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Yeah, I've ridden a lot of ice and snow on my road bike. I guess that
>> >contributes to my confidence. I have pretty much refused to use a
>> >trainer my whole life, so you have to get out there...
>>
>> Ice scares me a lot. If I see ice on the road ahead I'll avoid riding
>> over it. I'm impressed if you can deal with ice -- I can't.
>
>It's one of those self-fulfilling prophecies, too. I see the ice; I
>tense up -- that first squirm comes, and I instinctively go for my
>front brake. I have to really beat myself into laying off the front
>brake. -- Jay Beattie.

Ice is best negotiated at 5 mph with your feet out in either direction to
function as impromptu training wheels -- you can't really accelerate or
decelerate on it anyway, so you don't need the pedals much.

Jasper

 

[Jasper Janssen]

On Fri, 09 Jun 2006 14:57:17 -0600, [email protected] wrote:

>Dear Jay,
>
>Whatever it is, I'm not going to look.
>
>These goddamn things already haunt my dreams:
>
>http://www.trentobike.org/Countries/Europe/Tour_Reports/Tour_of_the_Alps/Gallery/vertigo.jpg
>http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/alps_photos/s25.html
>http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/alps_photos/s42.html
>http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/alps_photos/s87.html

I've been here:

http://www.schierstourismus.ch/salgina/esalgina.htm

In a car, and the access road is 1 small lane, such that traffic coming
the other way involves one of you backing up, up or down fairly steep
inclines. I wasn't driving, I was begging the driver to GODDAMMIT GO
SOMEWHERE ELSE! But that's not mom's style...

Jasper