The National Bike Challenge is on!

[creadinger]

@rcannon100 21576 wrote:

What would be the fun of a rain storm if you didnt get wet and get to go splashing through the puddles??

I can deal with being soaked. I’ve done it many times. I do not like having to clean and lube my bike afterward though. It’s not easy in a high rise with only a balcony and a bucket. A hose and a driveway would help a lot.

[Certifried]

I don’t remember which year it was, but Cycle Across Maryland was in Southern Maryland one year, and it poured. Every. Damn. Day. I was a teen-challenge mentor, and our tent city was just flooded. There was nothing you could do but take a lot of extra time in the restroom so you had, at least, a few minutes of not being rained on.

[PotomacCyclist]

Winter only comes around here every other year or so. Not that I’m complaining.

I did not particularly enjoy the blizzards of 2009-2010. The above-ground Metro stations were shut down early during one storm so there was no Metro service to Pentagon City, Crystal City and National Airport. No taxis either.

In more recent events, I seem to have run over a small pebble yesterday. There is now a small but noticeable divot in the tire. I just had the tires installed a few weeks ago. I’ll have it checked out at the LBS. I won’t be happy if I have to replace it already. It’s a Continental GP4000 too. That’s supposed to be a nice tire, and relatively sturdy without being too heavy.

[Mark Blacknell]

@PotomacCyclist 21589 wrote:

In more recent events, I seem to have run over a small pebble yesterday. There is now a small but noticeable divot in the tire. I just had the tires installed a few weeks ago. I’ll have it checked out at the LBS. I won’t be happy if I have to replace it already. It’s a Continental GP4000 too. That’s supposed to be a nice tire, and relatively sturdy without being too heavy.

Sure that’s not your wear indicator? I bet there’s an identical divot on your other tire.

(And that’s a great tire. Been riding them for years.)

[PotomacCyclist]

That’s possible, but I don’t see a divot on the other tire. Maybe they only put it on the rear wheel. I’ll ask the bike store guys for confirmation. The divot does look smooth, as though it were stamped intentionally.

[DaveK]

@PotomacCyclist 21589 wrote:

In more recent events, I seem to have run over a small pebble yesterday. There is now a small but noticeable divot in the tire. I just had the tires installed a few weeks ago. I’ll have it checked out at the LBS. I won’t be happy if I have to replace it already. It’s a Continental GP4000 too. That’s supposed to be a nice tire, and relatively sturdy without being too heavy.

GP4000s just have those in the tread pattern. Hang on, let me turn around… I bet it looks a little something…. like this.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1168[/ATTACH]

[PotomacCyclist]

Yeah, it looks like that. Odd that I didn’t notice it before. After most rides, I will pick up each end of the bike and slowly spin the wheel while holding my gloved hand on the tire, to brush off any pebbles and bits of glass. Before most rides, I spin the tires slowly to check for any cuts.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Although my points total is decent enough, I’ve been a worthless teammate this week. I’m just having one of those weeks where I have pretty much zero desire to get on my bike. Could be wedding planning now compounded by dog sitting for a friend whose dog is much more energetic and high strung than my own dog…it’s exhausting.

[americancyclo]

@DaveK 21595 wrote:

GP4000s just have those in the tread pattern. Hang on, let me turn around… I bet it looks a little something…. like this.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1168[/ATTACH]

When I first noticed those on my GP4000s I was worried I might have a vampire problem in my bike shed.

[rcannon100]

It’s 8.15 pm. The sun is going down. Spent the day exploring why the garden drain was not draining (turns out the garden drain pipes have probably not existed for 20 years… nothing but mud). Do I give up on NatBikCha? Do I give up my 20 points per day on a bike?? HELL NO! Drag the carcass onto the bike. Forget my helmet (oops) and forget my glasses (oops). And put in 2 long painful mournful terrible despicable atrocious miles! #IWillNotBeDropped #WellMaybeNextWeek

[Mark Blacknell]

Not without a helmet!? Oh noes!

[vvill]

@rcannon100 21720 wrote:

It’s 8.15 pm. The sun is going down. Spent the day exploring why the garden drain was not draining (turns out the garden drain pipes have probably not existed for 20 years… nothing but mud). Do I give up on NatBikCha? Do I give up my 20 points per day on a bike?? HELL NO! Drag the carcass onto the bike. Forget my helmet (oops) and forget my glasses (oops). And put in 2 long painful mournful terrible despicable atrocious miles! #IWillNotBeDropped #WellMaybeNextWeek

On those days I usually do just a smidge over 0.5mi so I get my 20 points. And yeah usually without anything bike specific, other than a bike and my Garmin.

[eminva]

@rcannon100 21720 wrote:

It’s 8.15 pm. The sun is going down. Spent the day exploring why the garden drain was not draining (turns out the garden drain pipes have probably not existed for 20 years… nothing but mud). Do I give up on NatBikCha? Do I give up my 20 points per day on a bike?? HELL NO! Drag the carcass onto the bike. Forget my helmet (oops) and forget my glasses (oops). And put in 2 long painful mournful terrible despicable atrocious miles! #IWillNotBeDropped #WellMaybeNextWeek

Ah, the joys of an older home (and yard).

But thanks for the laugh — I have a hectic week and will not be on the bike as much as I have been so far, so I WILL be getting dropped. Maybe we can hope all the front runners have a sudden need for a vacation, huh? Someplace without miles and miles of bike trails?

Liz

[PotomacCyclist]

I’m finding it hard to get out for even an easy 15-minute daily ride this week. But I’ll try. I can just coast most of the time, and do some very easy pedaling. I need to calm down after the busy weekend (5K and Crystal Ride). Then the plan is to do a moderately-long ride this weekend, and crank up the training volume for the next 3 weeks after that.

[Mikey]

Huzzah to the A-team!

You guys are really giving us killer B’s a run for it this month. Great to see so many local teams doing so great.

[Author]

Posts