Tandem crash - pictures. . .

[acrafton]

Saw this on another list. . .interesting:

http://www.secondsummertours.com/Articles/SCOTT%20MARTIN%20PIECE-%20BICYCLING%20MAGAZINE%20TANDEM%20CRASH.pdf

[Doggus]

Any explanation as to how that tire came off like that?

[dogsridewith]

PDF explanation was that a clincher rolled off-- "hear tube blow". I've had team mates have clinchers rolling off in corners.

[TandemGeek]

PDF explanation was that a clincher rolled off-- "hear tube blow". I've had team mates have clinchers rolling off in corners.

I've sent off a note to Rob to ask which it was...

[TandemGeek]

Confirmed... It was a clincher that rolled-off the rim.

[ElRey]

good reason to buy wire bead tires. And checking your TP.

[TandemGeek]

Not that it means anything, but we've ridden close to 30,000 miles on foldable, kevlar beaded tires... but then again, they're very high pressure tires @ 135psi - 145psi. Knock on wood, no problems with roll-offs, even after tires have flatted at speed -- front & rear. Your results may vary as may your requirements.

[ElRey]

There are wheel Mfgs who warn folks not to use certain folding tires on their wheels as they may pop off: Vredesteins come to mind. I've used a lot of foldable tires as well (including Vredestein clinchers at 160 psi) but if you're worried about roll-off, wire is the way to go. If you're not, well, you're not.

[galen_52657]

I could do with the 'see Spot run' form of journalism....

[WheresWaldo]

I could do with the 'see Spot run' form of journalism....
Unless you actually like that kind of writing style, I'm sure you meant to say you could do without the "see Spot run" form of journalism. It is okay in some obscure way to very specific audiences but I tend to agree with you. This was an example of a silly (pitiful) attempt at humor.

[Doggus]

We have Gatorskins on our bike. Are they susceptible to this? (not sure what everyone means by 'clincher') I'm very paranoid about corners already with my wife aboard...now I see this. Used to be I was worried about moisture and those slick traffic paints on the road. I've already gone down on my single at 20+, I don't want to do it with the wife.

[TandemGeek]

....but if you're worried about roll-off, wire is the way to go.

Agreed...

[TandemGeek]

We have Gatorskins on our bike. Are they susceptible to this? (not sure what everyone means by 'clincher') I'm very paranoid about corners already with my wife aboard...now I see this.

Two types of tires are used on bicycles:

Sew-ups, aka Tubulars that use a tube encased in the tire and glued to a rim... which these days are what you'll rarely find on recreational, sport, and a lot of amateur racing bicycles.

Clinchers are what you have on your bicycles; a tire that has a bead that sits over a loose inner tube and attaches to the rim via a "hook bead", much the same as the tires and wheels on your car do.

Only the 700x23mm Gatorskin Ultra comes in a foldable version with kevlar bead; the rest come with a wire bead. Any tire that does not mate up tightly to the rim can be succeptible to coming off the rim; the more lose they are the more succeptible they are. If you must use tire levers or lots of hand pressure to mount and remove your tires, you should have nothing to worry about. If you can easily remove or install your uninflated tires by hand, you should be very concerned about tire pressure and flats.

[slagjumper]

Ouch. I've only had that happen when I got a front flat then tried to turn. And that was not on a tandem. Most of my bikes are 26x1.5 and bigger. I can usually get the tires on without a tool. Never rolled a tire off like that. I have a Burley Rock 'n Roll (26X2) and rountinely get that up over 40mph. I wonder if dry rot was a factor.

[dogsridewith]

The 3 blow-offs I refer to were one year in mid-nineties, top of line Kevlar bead, grey tread Continentals...our club had a Continental pro deal. Different riders, different installers. (One installer was me, which had me feeling real bad until I heard about the other two) Compared with same era Vittoria, the Conti's had a thinner kevlar bead. But they weren't loose...a ***** to get on. By the way, I'd never ever put a latex tube in anything but a sew-up. I think they act like starfish stomachs--oozing into cracks and prying things apart...also prone to splitting in the cracks (like between bead and rim on inside) Had bad experience with mountain bike and road latex tubes...different manufacturers, different colors, different thicknesses. Also they would get thin and bubble near the stem.

[zonatandem]

If memory serves me correctly, the classic photo of Rob Templin and Scott Martin's tandem crash was done w-a-y back when, before foldable clinchers.
Testing a certain brand of tires for the manufacturer years ago had 2 blowoffs in quick succession. Stoker Kay was NOT happy!

[ElRey]

Honestly, I don't think most of us here are going to get into a roll-off situation on the "normal" ride. And if you're racing like these folks are, you probably have a set of racing wheels. With racing tires. Then you better think this sort of stuff through.