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Sticky Tires

03.15.2012 by Ray Niekamp // Leave a Comment

I was out for a ride with Mrs. Noob the other day. We were doing a Mopac loop, which is fast becoming an unfavorite of mine after riding it lo these many years. It’s just getting too busy. Traffic whizzes by, faster than ever, and thicker than ever. The shoulder is consistently covered with grit and gravel. And yet, it’s a traditional biking route around here, so it’s something most of us do without even thinking about it.

Anyway, I was tootling along, out in front of Pat by a good margin, when I noticed something odd about my front tire. It appeared that something was flapping on the tread with every spin of the wheel. I was concerned, because it looked like a flap of tire tread. And with the poor condition of the road’s  shoulder, I wouldn’t be surprised if something had cut it. It occurred to me that rather than keep riding on a potentially dangerous tire along an  increasingly dangerous road, I’d better check it out.

I slowed to a stop, liften the front wheel off the ground, and spun it slowly. There it was — it wasn’t a flap of rubber at all, but a pebble stuck to the tread. (I use the word “tread” advisedly, because the tires I run have no tread — they’re slicks. But I mean the center of the tire where it contacts the ground.) Somehow, I had picked up a spot of road tar, and it in turned picked up a sharp-edged pebble. I flicked the pebble off the tire with my fingers, and saw that it left a depression in the rubber, but hadn’t cut into it or, more importantly, pushed all the way through it. I gave the wheel a gentle spin again, and found another pebble — smaller this time — embedded in the tire exactly opposite where I’d found the first one. Because of it’s smaller size, it hadn’t made nearly the mark on the rubber as the other one. But two in one go — yech!

By this time, Pat had caught up to me, and I told her what happened. Her tires do have a tread design, and from time to time I have used an awl to pry small stones from it. She shrugged and said, “Well, no harm done,” and pulled around me to keep riding.

When I got home, I grabbed a rag and rubbed the tar hard, trying to make it disappear. My efforts weren’t 100 percent successful, but at least I haven’t picked up anymore potential flat makers.

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Categories // tires Tags // tires

Riding Away A Saddle Sore

03.13.2012 by Ray Niekamp // 2 Comments

Last week, while I was not riding because of my head cold, I developed a bad saddle sore. How could that happen? Well, I assume I contracted it during that metric century I did on my birthday. After all, it was my longest ride of the year by far, and there was probably some rubbing going on down there. But I wasn’t bothered during the ride. Or after the ride. It was only as the following week wore on that I realized I had a problem. Even walking was painful.

I took a look, and sure enough, there it was — only bigger than saddle sores I’ve had in the past. Typically, they’re about the size of a pimple. But this one was el zitto supremo! I waited for it to diminish, and even got two extra days for that to happen when my Friday and Saturday rides got rained out.

On Sunday though, my wife wanted to ride. I was leery about going with the saddle sore, but I threw caution to the winds and joined her for a nice 16-miler. The ride was comfortable for me. I felt no rubbing, no soreness. Nothing like I’ve gone through in the past when I’ve ridden with saddle sores.

Back home, I found the sore had almost disappeared. Just that one ride took care of it.

I’m baffled as to why. I’m guessing that it must have popped during the ride, but I would think that that would make it even worse because rubbing would aggravate it. So I’m not entirely sure what went on, but I’m glad it did. Today’s 25-miler went off without a hitch.

I think I’ll still be careful about riding with saddle sores in the future, but at least I know now that riding with those little buggers won’t necessarily knock me off the bike for several days.

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Categories // Injury Tags // saddle sore

Of Head Covers and Jerseys

03.11.2012 by Ray Niekamp // 11 Comments

I’m over that illness, finally. I was over it Friday, but wasn’t able to get out and ride, because we were being deluged with much-needed rainfall. The rain was even heavier on Saturday. Maybe there’s a chance my grass will come back after all.

Sunday, we awoke to more rain, but by 10 a.m. it was gone. The day turned into the most perfect spring day I can remember. I got in some yard work, but by 2 p.m. my wife wanted to ride. We went out for a Mopac loop, and extended it by cruising through a new upscale neighborhood to look at houses we will never be able to afford. Our 15.7 miles was an ideal way for me to get back on the bike without overtaxing my respiratory system. Since this is Spring Break week, I’ve got a lot of riding ahead over the next seven days, so there’s no reason for me to try racking up miles right now, this instant.

But as we were in the last mile of our ride, passing the Starbucks where the club rides begin, a large group of cyclists pulled out of the parking lot and crossed right in front of me to the bike lane. It was the club B ride. They were leaving at 3 p.m. instead of 9 a.m. because the morning downpour kept everyone inside. I chatted with some of my friends briefly, then broke off to head home. I wanted to tag along with them, but as I said — no reason to push it.

I would have been a little out of place, anyway, because I wasn’t in club kit. I was wearing a new jersey my wife and son got me for my recent birthday. And there’s a story behind that.

Back when I used to play a lot of golf, I treated myself to a Penn State head cover for my driver on the day I successfully defended my Ph.D. dissertation at said university (I’m a proud Nittany Lion). When my son saw it, he was inspired, and for Christmas that year, he rounded out my collection by giving me head covers for Southern Illinois University, where I got my bachelor’s degree (I’m a proud Saluki), and the University of Minnesota, where I got my master’s (I’m a proud Golden Gopher). Out on the course, they were always good for conversation starters, because few golfers sport head covers from three different schools (“Uh…are you confused?”). I’ve been carrying them around for almost ten years now.

So when I opened the package my son sent for my birthday, what do I find? A Penn State bicycle jersey! I had thought about getting one myself, and now he — and Mrs. Noob — have saved me the trouble. There are hints that I might have the bicycle equivalent of golf club head covers! Let’s see — Father’s Day is only a few months off, and then there’s Christmas again… Only time will tell.

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Categories // Odds 'n ends Tags // clothing

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