[Boomer Cycles]

I rotate tires regularly and then salvage the better of the 2 for a spare when I switch out to a new pair of tires. I find that I can significantly extend the life of the tires by rotating them.

[Boomer Cycles]

@Boomer2U 119683 wrote:

I just retired a set of Forte Strada K (700 x 25) tires with Kevlar belts by Performance Bike after 3400+ miles on my Trek Madone. I original brought them last Christmas for $14 a piece to just get me through Freezing Saddles and to spare my more expensive tires, but then the darn Stradas refused to die! I did rotate them every 1000 miles so that they would wear more evenly, and kept the tire pressure constant at 90 psi, but I’ve now gotten 3 flats on both tires on my last 4 rides, so it’s time to retire them (no pun intended). They are heavy, and not very supple when changing flats. But I have lots of earned respect for these $14 tires.

I recently bought a pair of the next grade up, the Forte Pro+ Road Tires (700 x 25), for $15 each (@ 20% for the 4th of July Sale), which are lighter(360 grams), run at a higher PSI (110-130), and have a more supple casing (60 TPI) as my new daily commuter tires. I’ll report back on how they hold up.

I also ride Contis 4000s on my Ridley Domacles with great results, but that is my fair weather project bike (and I also rotate them as well to keep the wear even). I have maybe 1500 miles on them, with no flats or issues yet.

UPDATE: I just commuted home from DC (12 miles) in the drenching rain on my new Forte Pro+ (700 x 25) tires and I was pleasantly surprised how well they gripped the wet pavement while riding through rush hour traffic on Wilson Blvd and Fairfax Drive. They didn’t slip either while cornering on the puddly Custis Trail. Not too shabby for a $15 tire!

[Boomer Cycles]

I got totally soaked on the way home tonight. All was good crossing the Memorial Bridge from DC to Arlington Cemetery, but I then ran into the storm front while climbing the 14th Street ascent and enjoyed a drenching downpour all the way up Wilson Blvd until Fairfax Drive, where I bailed out at Northside Social to take shelter from the Storm. Once there, I discovered their upstairs wine bar and Happy Hour from 5-7pm (where any wine or beer from the house menu is $5). Several glasses later, I didn’t really care about the rain, which made it subside, and I completed my commute home with a much better attitude even though I had a wet behind. I will wine about the rain forever more:)

[Boomer Cycles]

@GB 119579 wrote:

Gator skins FTW. I’m not sure what you consider premature, but have 3k miles on my gator skins and I’m very happy with their overall performance.

I just retired a set of Forte Strada K (700 x 25) tires with Kevlar belts by Performance Bike after 3400+ miles on my Trek Madone. I original brought them last Christmas for $14 a piece to just get me through Freezing Saddles and to spare my more expensive tires, but then the darn Stradas refused to die! I did rotate them every 1000 miles so that they would wear more evenly, and kept the tire pressure constant at 90 psi, but I’ve now gotten 3 flats on both tires on my last 4 rides, so it’s time to retire them (no pun intended). They are heavy, and not very supple when changing flats. But I have lots of earned respect for these $14 tires.

I recently bought a pair of the next grade up, the Forte Pro+ Road Tires (700 x 25), for $15 each (@ 20% for the 4th of July Sale), which are lighter(360 grams), run at a higher PSI (110-130), and have a more supple casing (60 TPI) as my new daily commuter tires. I’ll report back on how they hold up.

I also ride Contis 4000s on my Ridley Domacles with great results, but that is my fair weather project bike (and I also rotate them as well to keep the wear even). I have maybe 1500 miles on them, with no flats or issues yet.

[Boomer Cycles]

About 200+ cyclists rode in last night’s “1st Tuesday” of the month TNR ride, with the post ride taco meal catered by Baja Fresh in the Mosaic Park next store to the Freshbikes Arlington shop. Free beer did also mysteriously appear for those in the know, but it is not sanctioned by FB, nor lawful to consume alcohol in a public park. There were police escorts on motorcycle by Arlington’s Finest that kindly stopped traffic for us cyclists at all major intersections, keeping us safe. The police were also giving out warnings to cyclists riding too fast coming down Powhatan into the Williamsburg intersection, as well as those who rolled through red lights at the bottom of the big descent down Williamsburg before the climb up to Glebe Road (yours truly, my bad). After being duly scolded, the officer told me that tickets will be issued to unlawful cyclists at the next 1st Tuesday of the month TNR (in August). Be forewarned, but more importantly, be safe out there.

[Boomer Cycles]

@Steve O 119589 wrote:

I think the stroller in the background can serve as a surrogate.

I agree 👍. Dasgeh is now “it”. Game on!

[Boomer Cycles]

@SteveO, @WingsandWheels and I took in the City of Falls Church fireworks and then SteveO and I did some beerneuring on July 4th, by bike. It was great to be able to circumvent both the road blockages and throngs of people, with much easier access and exit by bike.

[Boomer Cycles]

Is this still for sale? And do we have a price yet?

@dougritz65 117845 wrote:

Hardly used, 54 cm Trek touring bike, with extras: Bontrager back rack, Raceblade XL fenders, Bontrager Node 1.1 computer, repair kit, and lock (bolt or cable).
Doug
703-973-4314

[Boomer Cycles]

This morning’s gathering included Team DRocks (with little rocks aka kids), Consularrider, DaveP and special Maryland Inquisition guest, SarahB:

…and their bicycles, of course…

…and the reason why…

[Boomer Cycles]

I’m it….My bike (w/white helmet), among many others, parked in an unauthorized zone.

[Boomer Cycles]

My bike by an abandoned railroad line. I’m it!

[Boomer Cycles]

Pics from today’s Hill Killers Ride : @SteveO, Jim, HF and SarahB (with @ArlingtonRider for the post ride refreshments.

Pre-ride smiles:

Atop 26th/31st Street climb to Marymount U from Military Road:

Atop Rock Spring Road climb, from Vermont, and the final 13% grade at the country club, ouch!

Post ride smiles @ Clare & Don’s Beach Shack in Falls Church

[Boomer Cycles]

The Custis Trail from the WOD until the descent into Rosslyn was littered with tree branches and storm debries from last night. Be careful out there.

[Boomer Cycles]

One who dodges WOD wabbits

[Boomer Cycles]

I signed up for the ride on Facebook, but am recovering from an injury so don’t believe that I’ll be able to complete the whole ride. But I’m happy to join the cheering section after I bonk.

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