Southern California - Bike Forums Inland Empire ride.

It seems like I've gotten a lot of flats this year. Two of them (one of those was yesterday) were my fault from not getting pieces of thorn out of the tire. I'm glad that I asked Sirlanceimnot to double check my second flat. I had run my finger over that little piece several times without feeling it.

At least I learned something new, rolling the tire between my fingers to work the piece out. I changed out that tire today and worked on my leverless technique.

Like I said, "Not necessarily on this board.", in fact I don't think I've heard any smack-talk about the IE on here, which is refreshing. I think most people here are more open-minded than that. I just seem to hear a lot of it from various other places.

Probably they just didn't want to do all that driving. I'm not a big fan of driving myself. Which is why I tend to stay mostly local for my rides. Heck, I didn't even want to drive to *Riverside* ;). Though I suppose I could've rode. We ride over there from Redlands every Saturday for the raincross ride. So I guess I don't really have an excuse for missing the ride other than that, and my regularly scheduled weekend group ride this morning.

There are definitely some areas around OC and San Diego that I'd like to explore on the mountain bike though. So if a bikeforums MTB ride on some more challenging/technical trails happens, I'd probably try to make that one. That trail jsigone posted had me drooling...


I will admit that it can get pretty dismal around here, with the heat and smog, during the summer. Every summer I swear I'm going to leave and go back to CO, and every fall/winter I fall in love with the place again. Don't think I woulda done 4 hours of riding in shorts and short sleeves today if I was living in CO. Or 5+ hours yesterday on the mountain bike (SART and various other mtn. trails. Woulda taken pics for those of you who were wondering about the trail, but I left my camera home. Too bad 'cause it was gorgeous yesterday.) without even arm-warmers. Weekends like this one make me think that maybe it's not too bad around here ;). i have never been one of those people who is always touting their pride in living out here-i know the summers and smog suck, the crime rate sucks, no beach, etc., and it is a rather common thing to have smack talked upon you for being from the i.e.
i don't encounter it much because i am generally not a very outgoing person. this is the only message board i post on and i associate with mostly just my family and a small group of freinds.

i am foaming at the mouth to do another bf mtb ride too. is the one for the 18th still on?

It seems like I've gotten a lot of flats this year. Two of them (one of those was yesterday) were my fault from not getting pieces of thorn out of the tire. I'm glad that I asked Sirlanceimnot to double check my second flat. I had run my finger over that little piece several times without feeling it.

At least I learned something new, rolling the tire between my fingers to work the piece out. I changed out that tire today and worked on my leverless technique.

Leverless.....I am interested in hearing about that...seems hard to do???

Leverless.....I am interested in hearing about that...seems hard to do???
Sirlance changed out Caligurl's tube with just his fingers. When I replaced my front tire today, I tried it. I couldn't quite do it but I managed to use only one lever instead of two. Took me twice as long though. Hopefully my next practice session will take place in the garage again instead of the side of the road.

Leverless.....I am interested in hearing about that...seems hard to do???

How well this works often depends on the tire/rim combo.

I generally grasp the rim and spokes opposite the valve-stem, with one hand and a small section of tire in the other. Pull in opposite directions, while pulling the tire down and away from you, and sort of "roll" the tire off the rim. It sometimes helps if you set the wheel on the ground in front of you so you can push against it as your pulling down on the tire. Once you get a small section of tire pulled off the rim, the rest comes off pretty easily.

My description might be kinda confusing. It's probably easier to have someone demonstrate.

How well this works often depends on the tire/rim combo.

I generally grasp the rim and spokes opposite the valve-stem, with one hand and a small section of tire in the other. Pull in opposite directions, while pulling the tire down and away from you, and sort of "roll" the tire off the rim. It sometimes helps if you set the wheel on the ground in front of you so you can push against it as your pulling down on the tire. Once you get a small section of tire pulled off the rim, the rest comes off pretty easily.

My description might be kinda confusing. It's probably easier to have someone demonstrate.


Aren' you putting alot of pressure on the rim that could throw it out of true?
Is it really better or easier than using levers?

Levers? Levers? We don't need no stinkin' levers! (http://www.teamestrogen.com/articles/asa_levers.asp)

Levers? Levers? We don't need no stinkin' levers! (http://www.teamestrogen.com/articles/asa_levers.asp)


Thanks Tiff...that is very cool...I will have to practice that...

Or maybe Sir Lance can give a lesson at JT!!

Levers? Levers? We don't need no stinkin' levers! (http://www.teamestrogen.com/articles/asa_levers.asp)

cool link tiffanie. learning is good.

I'm bummed that I missed this ride too... especially since its so close to me! I couldn't drop my wild things off until 8:30 so I wouldn't have been able to get up there until at least 9:30.... :( but hopefully, I'll be able to go on the next one ;) I did get in a great loop in the wine country though :p

Hey Lsits, I really wanted to do this ride with you. I didn't say I was going to show cause I wasn't sure. Good thing I didn't! I don't get home form work on Fri nights till 2 am. I set the alarm clock but 3 hours sleep wasn't enough. I slept in a few more but still felt like heck on my ride, if that makes you feel any better!:D.........Need more Sunday rides!

Wish I coulda made it!

I don't use tire levers also but that can depend on your rim/tire combo as mentioned. Most Campy rims I owned used to have such tight tolerances I had to use levers there.

Son of a! I totally forgot about this ride and missed it. The fact that the ride was basically in my backyard makes it worse. Looks like it was a good ride none the less. The weather was perfect that day too. There's always next time right?

Hey guys (and girls),

This is the first time I've had to check the Forums since I got here. I'm in Ohio for a training class. We'v just been let out for the day and I'm using the internet in my instructor's cubicle. I'm glad everyone had a good time. It was indeed an awesome ride. I wasn't able to download the pictures in my wife's camera before I left, so they will have to wait till I get back.

Oleanshoebox, it was good riding with you. You did an awesome ride. You're much better than I am in climbing. I'll chalk it up to the age difference :). Caligirl and SirLance were a joy to ride with. Chris is the best when ir comes to changing flats. I was thinking I should have taken a shot of Grumpy Pig's calves. I don't think I've ever seen ones so huge. John, if you're lurking here I look forward to riding with you again.

The next IE ride? Not sure. Probably not until January at the earliest. I still have mucho Corona left.

Jim

Well, I got back to sunny SoCal last night and I've had the opportunity to upload the photos from my wife's camera to Photo Bucket. Had to watch Ohio State beat Michigan first. :D

Oleanshoebox, Grumpy Pig, and John from RBC at the start of the ride.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/lsits/BF%20%20Inland%20Empire%20ride/CIMG0128.jpg
My attempt to take a picture over my shoulder.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/lsits/BF%20%20Inland%20Empire%20ride/CIMG0132.jpg
Grumpy Pig can never pass up a yard sale.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/lsits/BF%20%20Inland%20Empire%20ride/CIMG0133.jpg
Passed an In-N-Out, but it was too early for lunch.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/lsits/BF%20%20Inland%20Empire%20ride/CIMG0135.jpg
SirLance fixing the first flat of the day.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/lsits/BF%20%20Inland%20Empire%20ride/CIMG0134.jpg

Grumpy Pig and Gabriel working on the second and third flats of the ride, at the AM/PM.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/lsits/BF%20%20Inland%20Empire%20ride/CIMG0138.jpg
I had the 4th flat. SirLance had my tire off before I could take the levers out of my pack.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/lsits/BF%20%20Inland%20Empire%20ride/CIMG0142.jpg
Grumpy Pig's second flat of the day. Aparently there was a bit of the thorn still in the tire that wasn't completely removed. SirLance rolled the tread between his fingers and the thorn popped out. Something to remember.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/lsits/BF%20%20Inland%20Empire%20ride/CIMG0144.jpg
Riding into the wind on Victoria Avenue.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/lsits/BF%20%20Inland%20Empire%20ride/CIMG0146.jpg
Grumpy Pig missed a turn so SirLance chased him down and brought him back. A look at the palm trees gives an idea how strong the wind was.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/lsits/BF%20%20Inland%20Empire%20ride/CIMG0147.jpg

Had to dodge a tumbleweed.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/lsits/BF%20%20Inland%20Empire%20ride/CIMG0148.jpg
John and SirLance waiting for me at the top of Overlook.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/lsits/BF%20%20Inland%20Empire%20ride/CIMG0149.jpg
Oleanshoebox, John, Grumpy Pig, SirlanceImNot, and Caligirl after the ride.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/lsits/BF%20%20Inland%20Empire%20ride/CIMG0150.jpg

Hey, great pictures. That was a really fun ride. Except for the flats.

hey jim. welcome back. man that ride beat my butt.