Any Road Bikers on here?

[adkfinn]

Jernik,

Gatorskins or Gator Hardshells, FTW.

Have them, love them, so nice to not have to worry about flats constantly. I am a big heavy bastard and ride pretty care free on the crappy roads here VT. I would rather sacrifice a tiny bit of weight than have to fret every bit of debris on the road surface and to stop to repair flats semi-regularly.

You can find decent deals on them if you keep an eye out. Why not give them a go? If you don't like them you can always switch.

 

[Jernik]

I did consider them. I think the current sidewall issue was a factory defect or damage in shipping/packaging (the Schwalbe's are a folding tire - I think the hole was in one of the folded crease areas when it was packaged), so I'm willing to give them another shot. The seller is replacing the tire free of charge. But, if flats remain an issue I can see myself jumping to the gatorskins.

 

[zefram47]

Checked my little ride log I keep, and I'm 3 miles shy of 600 since I got the bike in Mid October. And 4 flats. :crybaby:

Short of putting Mr Tuffy's in the tires and taking the added rotating mass, the Conti Gatorskins are good. I put on a set of foldable Gatorskins after getting a couple flats in a row. I have flatted on the Gatorskins, but it was from a mass of tiny thorns that apparently fit between the weave of the material in the tires. I don't even know when I'd hit them, but left the bike for about 30 min on a big group ride and came back to a flat. Found almost a hundred tiny thorns in it, resulting in a very slow leak. Otherwise, I'd recommend them...plenty of grip too.

 

[Jernik]

YAY! I DID IT!!

Completed my first ride in a month WITHOUT getting a flat! Got the replacement tire mounted up and headed for the hills.

Speaking of which, that was an eye opener. Been riding flatlands (less than 300 ft. total elevation gain in 50 miles) and feeling pretty good about my progress. Rode some rolling hills (1800 ft. total elevation gain in 40 miles), and wow - I got work to do! ...just as soon as my legs quit aching. :crutch:

Was a great ride though, especially the downhills!

 

[StRanger7032]

I've been away from road biking for a while now. I picked up a used 105 equipped Raleigh Revenio at the end of last season. I did a flat bar conversion, since the bulging C5/6 disc in my neck makes it impossible to use drop bars. Loss of aerodynamics is worth it for comfort at this point.

My goal for this season is to ride the whole road through Mesa Verde National Park. I see people doing it every weekend, but it seems impossible to me right now. Starting from the entrance involves a 2000' elevation gain in 10 miles, then a 1400' drop, which you have to go up again to get back out since there's only one way in and one way out. Hopefully I'll post a victory pic by next fall. I have a LOT of work to do!

 

[K9 HAULR]

Trek Guy here too:

2010 Project 1 6.9 Madone (Purple/white outline logo)
2012 Project 1 7.9 Madone (Crystal white/Red-Blue faded flames & purple logo)
2017 Project 1 Emonda SLR 8 (Radioactive Yellow/Purple-Teal faded flames)

Also a Calfee bamboo and Moots RSL in the stable with a few mtb's too :biggrin1:

 

[sid325]

Specialized Crux Elite, love the cross setup.