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Couple more bits of cheap insurance-

Use QTubes. They are the house brand of tubes from bike distro QBP. They come with removable valve cores and have a thicker bit of rubber around the base of the valve.
The removable valve core is key. Using a small pair of pliers (with some tape on the surface) unscrew the valve core and set it aside. Then you can add your favorite tire sealant. I prefer Stan’s. Comes in a 2oz. bottle with a small enough tip to fit inside the valve. I typically use the whole bottle for a road tube up to about 44c. Once the sealant is in the tube reinstall the core and carry on normally. I recommend Stan’s solely on the basis of reliability. Aside from deep sidewall on fishhook action, I’ve never had a flat while using it. Your mileage may vary.

I also typically throw out the little valve stem donuts that come on threaded valves. Too many times I’ve seen people crank those down till they pull the valve right out of the tube. If your valve is rattling a litle bit in your crabon aero wheelz, just wrap a very short length of electrical tape around the valve. Instant dampener.

I do the whole QTubes/Stan’s rigamarole in my daily driver track bike for two reasons- In Florida everyone throws their empty beer bottles in the street. (I think it’s a state law). And most of the time I’m too busy thinking about doing sw8 fixay skidz to remember to bring a seatbag with my flat kit.

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Riding through Overtown in Miami. Think Little Haiti but not as nice. Riding slow after eating some killer fish tacos my rear tire proceeds to blow off the rim. Like all the way off. Sounded like a gunshot. I look up and ALL the dudes in the hood were staring at me. Then I carried my bike 4 blocks to a bodega, got a cuban coffee and proceeded to blow another tube up.

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Check out Trash Messenger Bags. they do a really nice soft case that even has backpack style straps. Folds up relatively small. Made in Minneapolis.

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Mine for cruising/barhopping

Borrowed for MS150

On my way to Dirty DuVal Bike Olympics last summer. 3 hour drive on I95

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Here’s some shots of my CX whip.

2011 Voodoo Limba “Team Issue” Scandium/Carbon
SRAM Rival w/ Apex front mech
Ritchey WCS Zeta clinchers
Ritchey Pro Biomax bar
Zipp Service Course SL cockpit
Fizik Vitesse Tri Saddle
Panaracer Pasels 32c tires- My favorite!
Chris King HS
Avid Shorty Ultimates

Picked up the frame in 2012 from a shop that raced Voodoos in CX and MTB. They used to get them raw from Voodoo. They had a couple of CX frames left over and since Voodoo no longer does 700c, the shop let the frames go for crazy cheap. The frame decals were unusable unfortunately, but the frames came with headbadges(not attached of course).
I finally finished the 2013 build yesterday after a couple of shakedown runs.

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Man, I was really hoping it was a real kid. I sooo would have stolen that photo.

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Fist address the tire. Using an old shop rag or tshirt, run it inside the tire. Hopefully it won’t snag on anything sharp. If no sharp stuff is in the tire check out the small puncture you referenced. Does it allow the tube to bubble out of it? when fully inflated, does the tire bulge? If no to both, keep riding it. A bit of added insurance is a sticky tire boot. Park Tool makes the nicest ones and can be had for almost free from any decent LBS.

One other thing to look for is the rim strip. Check to make sure it is aligned over the spoke holes in the rim and not off center or crooked at the valve hole. If your rim strip is kinda boogered, Hit up the LBS for some cloth rim tape. 2 rolls (both wheels) is usually around $8.

Next, using your rag/tshirt/wife’s apron, run it along the inside of the rim. Hopefully you won’t encounter any snags. It’s very rare but I have seen come crazy bad rims from the factory.

If all is well, pull the trigger on some new tubes and make sure you air up accordingly.

If the puncture on the tire is more of a cut and bulges a bit when inflated, dump it and get a new one. Or two. I know my bike OCD would go all Rain Man if I has mismatched tires.

Hope this helps

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Chris King if longevity is key. Fully serviceable with the proper tools. The only drawback is price. Then add on the special tools and it’s a bit of an investment. But, CK headsets and BBs will never need to be replaced with proper servicing.

Hawk Racing is also another higher dollar alternative.

But when it comes down to ease, a $40 105 BB once a year doesn’t seem too bad.

BTW, SRAM GXP is NOT compatible with Shimano hollowtech.

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FSA- manufacturer
Orbit C- model
45×45- denotes inner and outer degree bevels of bearing races

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Rode Cocoa Beach last week.

The sun was too nice not to snap a pic

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Also, am I the only one who thinks the too big Cinelli logos are a bit goofy? Like the accidentally printed them at 120% and went ahead and slapped them on anyways.

This is my roadie BTW. Not picking on someone else’s ride. And if you think I am picking on it, it’s because I’m super jelly. I’d sell a child for a first gen Mash.

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@dcv 49450 wrote:

Mmmmmm… dirty! Love seeing shots of bikes that get used. Gives me a bit of a kick in the butt to just go ride and screw the weather.

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I’m a DC expat currently in Florida.

How I think I look on a bike:

What I really look like:

My roadie:

My daily driver:

Can’t wait to finally get back up there for a visit.

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I go old school when I use paper maps or cue sheets. Get some extra cheap packing tape and tape over the whole thing except for the main creases. Then run a strip of tape along the crease. Still allows it to be folded and you can make notes in sharpie on it that will (with a little effort) wipe off.
I like the super cheap tape because it tends to be thinner than the good stuff and more pliable

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