Some months ago I posted how I came around a country corner, rolled over a slick patch of cow plop, and felt the rear end go into a slide...I was in not deep but deep enough sh*t. Anyway, I managed to stay upright and gave the credit to my lower pressure, bigger contact patch, chubby 32mm Paselas. I offered to do a commercial for Panaracer. I'm still waiting to hear back from them.
So I'm out there a few days ago and noticed in my mirror a white pick-up coming on behind. (Last year some teens in a white pick-up got me in the back with a couple of eggs so I paid attention.) It got closer and closer and didn't swing out. Off my right handlebar was one foot of paved shoulder and then loose, soft dirt and gravel sloping down to a stagnant pasture drainage ditch paralleling the road. [If Al Gore weren't just a white gloved gentleman planter and country patrician, he'd understand that cows poop, phart and piss enough to put to shame emissions from a Pittsburg steel foundry-- cows are the real threat to world safety.] Taking a header into the ditch would be re-visiting the Toxic Avenger. But watching that idiot pickup, I bailed anyway. Right onto the dirt around 18-20mph and fish-tailing until I could put a toe down. My 25's on another bike might have kept me upright just as well, but I was glad to have those chubby 32's. I hate white pickups, but almost love those Paselas-- or any other squishy tire when I'm on miles of bad road, especially when descending at speed.
I'm indulging myself here because reading DG's post earlier was a downer.
Big Paulie
11-13-07, 10:14 PM
33 1/3 Jack Browns work even better than 32 or 35 Paselas, CC!!!
CrossChain
11-13-07, 10:33 PM
Paulie.... I checked Jack Browns out at Riv and, when I saw their mega-roundness beside the RuffyTuffy, my heart began to beat. Question: are you using the green or blue? What rims do you run them on? I'm thinking of the Araya 540's standard issue with my Romulus-- they're a few mm's wider than an Open Pro...my fave wheel.
Thanks for the heads up....the JB's are a bit pricey, but my Paselas should be worn down enough by February to justify the purchase.
Big Paulie
11-13-07, 11:04 PM
Do not...I repeat, DO NOT...get me started on Jack Browns.
Blues. Velocity Synergy rims. Worth three times the price, IMO.
BluesDawg
11-14-07, 05:23 AM
Hmmm, interesting. When the Pasela TGs on Uncle Duke wear down (in about 5 years), I'll give them a look.
CrossChain
11-14-07, 11:55 AM
Big Paulie..........I assume you have long reach calipers or probably cantilevers on your Rambo? Or did you really get the Atlantis? Possibility of posting a pic or your bike-with-Jack-Brown's?
SSP
11-14-07, 01:28 PM
You can control those situations by being more assertive...especially since you're smart enough to be using a mirror.
Whenever I see an overtaking vehicle in my mirror that is not moving left as it approaches me, I drift the bike to the left about 2 feet to take more of the lane. I hold this position until they get close while keeping an eye on them with the mirror.
I've found that this will force nearly all overtaking cars to move a bit to the left. Even the *ssholes who are trying to give you a close shave will move over.
As they start to pass, you just swing back over into the space to your right...much better than hugging the line with nowhere to go but into the ditch.
CrossChain
11-14-07, 01:36 PM
SSP,,,,I agree fully. After thinking about it, I tried pulling left this a.m. when I saw a large propane truck coming up and showing no sign of recognizing me. I got a blast from his air horn and he did swing over and I then swung back to the right. It worked. If there had been oncoming traffic he would have slowed. I sometimes think young fools in pickups just like to see how close they can come-- just to give us a scare (a**holes!).
A drawback is that it probably increases driver animosity for cyclists. Still, that may be better than not being seen at all or recognized.
SSP
11-14-07, 01:45 PM
SSP,,,,I agree fully. After thinking about it, I tried pulling left this a.m. when I saw a large propane truck coming up and showing no sign of recognizing me. I got a blast from his air horn and he did swing over and I then swung back to the right. It worked. If there had been oncoming traffic he would have slowed. I sometimes think young fools in pickups just like to see how close they can come-- just to give us a scare (a**holes!).
A drawback is that it probably increases driver animosity for cyclists. Still, that may be better than not being seen at all or recognized.
One thing that may help with the animosity issue is to drift to the left a bit subtly...don't make an abrupt move to the left like you're trying to force them over (even though you are). Just kind of drift a bit left until you're in a position where they're forced to respond.
I think it also helps if you *don't* look back at them (this is easy when using a mirror), because that increases "ambiguity" for the driver - they don't know if you've seen them or not, because they usually can't tell that you have a mirror. Studies have shown that drivers are more careful in ambiguous situations...they're not as likely to assume that they have the right of way.
That said, if a driver seems to be trying to pass on a narrow road when there's oncoming traffic, I'll move to the center of the lane well before they get close, and indicate not to pass (with a backward facing left palm). After oncoming traffic clears, I move right and wave them around...I've found this is particularly useful with the elderly, who are often unsure how and when to pass a bike.
George
11-14-07, 01:47 PM
Panaracers $19,Jack Browns $40, 4 Panaracers, 2 Jack Browns, same price. I also do what SSP does. I've had some close ones, but I think they do that on purpose. Most are from south of the border, but they do understand our sign language.
Long deKlein
11-14-07, 05:34 PM
Oh...this thread is about TIRES? Never mind...
Vieja Cabra
11-14-07, 09:08 PM
I've found that this will force nearly all overtaking cars to move a bit to the left. Even the *ssholes who are trying to give you a close shave will move over.
Nearly all? This reminds me of a line from the movie Top Gun....
,,,."son, that was some of the best flying I've ever seen,..... right up to the point where you got killed"
SSP
11-14-07, 09:28 PM
Nearly all? This reminds me of a line from the movie Top Gun....
,,,."son, that was some of the best flying I've ever seen,..... right up to the point where you got killed"
With the mirror, if somebody's not moving over I can detect it easily and bail out to the right.
So far, that's never been necessary.
Regardless, I'd much rather take control with assertive lane positioning, than hug the right edge of the roadway...that just seems to encourage close passes.
Vieja Cabra
11-15-07, 06:39 AM
With the mirror, if somebody's not moving over I can detect it easily and bail out to the right.
So far, that's never been necessary. .
Uh....what? You mean like this?
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=270492
gear
11-15-07, 06:52 AM
Oh...this thread is about TIRES? Never mind...
Yeah; I thought the post title referred to something more appropriate to another forum.
Beverly
11-15-07, 06:59 AM
Yeah; I thought the post title referred to something more appropriate to another forum.
My first thought was an old saddle called "Chubby Cheeks" by Terry Bicycle. As a female the last thing I would want to purchase is anything with the name chubby in it:)
SSP
11-15-07, 08:25 AM
Uh....what? You mean like this?
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=270492
Read it...in my first post I said:
"99% of the time, I ride with a Take-a-Look mirror attached to my glasses, but yesterday I accidentally left it on the counter as I was leaving for the ride. I think if I'd been wearing it, I would have seen the wide trailer before the guy tried to make his pass and would have either held him back, or been able to dodge the trailer tires in time. Lesson learned - don't ride without the %$#@! mirror!"
The assertive, "push 'em over" technique is safe only as long as you have good situational awareness. Without the mirror, I lacked situational awareness and was unaware that the pickup was towing a trailer until it was too late.
Regardless, I know that most cars, most of the time, treat me with more respect when I ride more assertively and not hug the right edge of the roadway. This phenomenon has been reported by many other riders...to the extent that "hugging the right side" is generally recognized as unwise, and a hallmark of newbies.
Big Paulie
11-15-07, 08:30 AM
Big Paulie..........I assume you have long reach calipers or probably cantilevers on your Rambo? Or did you really get the Atlantis? Possibility of posting a pic or your bike-with-Jack-Brown's?
The Rambouillet has medium reach Shimano brakes. No Atlantis yet! I'll try to get a picture, but I don't have a digital camera (Should I buy one? And what color should I get? :D) so it's a bit of a hassle.
NotAsFat
11-15-07, 11:15 AM
Being "saved by a rear-end chubby" is better than falling and being saved by a chubby rear end. :) I speak from experience. :o
tpelle
11-15-07, 02:08 PM
You've heard of black ice? Lot's of people in my neighborhood ride horses on the road. Gotta watch out for that brown ice!
BluesDawg
11-15-07, 07:04 PM
I don't have a digital camera (Should I buy one? :D)
Yes. They are very compact, inexpensive (or at least they can be :)) and easy to use.
Motorad
03-15-08, 07:33 PM
Hmmm, let's see. I'm re-starting the OP's thread ... I'm overweight ... ergo this message has been:
Saved by a Rear End Chubby!
Actually, I stumbled on this thread, while searching "Jack Brown".
My Trek also has Velocity Synergy rims, very durable. So, at the risk of getting Big Paulie started, I have to ask BP about the JB tire selection he made: Why did you get the Blue Label and not the Green Label? What kind of street or path will you be using the tires for, and what style of riding will you be doing?
My Saluki has 650B belted 33mm tires, and I finished last year with around 600 miles with no flat. I don't know if it was luck or if the tire-belts made a difference. So, that's why I'm curious about the new JB rear ends ... both belted (blue) and beltless (green).
Have your ridden much on the Blue labels yet, BP?
Digital Gee
03-15-08, 08:10 PM
Hmmm, let's see. I'm re-starting the OP's thread ... I'm overweight ... ergo this message has been:
Saved by a Rear End Chubby!
Actually, I stumbled on this thread, while searching "Jack Brown".
My Trek also has Velocity Synergy rims, very durable. So, at the risk of getting Big Paulie started, I have to ask BP about the JB tire selection he made: Why did you get the Blue Label and not the Green Label? What kind of street or path will you be using the tires for, and what style of riding will you be doing?
My Saluki has 650B belted 33mm tires, and I finished last year with around 600 miles with no flat. I don't know if it was luck or if the tire-belts made a difference. So, that's why I'm curious about the new JB rear ends ... both belted (blue) and beltless (green).
Have your ridden much on the Blue labels yet, BP?
Yeah, and now I'm wondering what I posted that was such a downer for CrossChain? Then again, maybe I don't want to be reminded... :D
CrossChain
03-15-08, 11:57 PM
DG,
As I recall, CrossChain was responding to your complaint that too many cute chicks were annoyingly flagging you down to admire your white bike...reminding you that we all face little adversities.
Digital Gee
03-16-08, 12:19 AM
DG,
As I recall, CrossChain was responding to your complaint that too many cute chicks were annoyingly flagging you down to admire your white bike...reminding you that we all face little adversities.