mzeffex 

In other news, I just ordered a Lampre edition S-works Prevail.

It's going to be ridiculous and somewhat embarrassing, and more importantly matches none of my kits, but man the price was right.

LAJ

If Specialized can't sue you, they will embarrass you.

Rowan

Then sue you for being embarrassed.

BillyD

Is it available in anything other than pink? That doesn't match my tape.

WhyFi

Duh - change the tape.

rjones28 

No thanks.

rjones28 

We lived in Massachusetts in the 70s. My mother bought me a sweatshirt the had the phrase "Don't Blame Me, I'm From Massachusetts" printed on it. I didn't know what it meant at the time - I was about 10.

rjones28 

Will you stay overnight?

Heathpack 

What? on the "stopped sweating" comment. You got so dehydrated that you stopped sweating? How does that happen in 40 miles? I'm only asking because although I mostly try to avoid the heat, it can't all be avoided & I wind up riding in some really hot temps- 95+ degrees regularly. It's not fun, but somewhat unavoidable in SoCal summer. I guess I'm maybe more adapted to the heat, and then on top of that I drink tons when it's hot, usually an electrolyte solution, and try to find ice too. Also wear a sleeveless jersey, ride easier, stop in the shade every now & then, if it's really hot when I need to ride, I think of it as "heat training" and throw every other training goal out the window, that ride becomes purely about surviving the heat.

Anyway, I didn't mean to write about what I do, but more I'm interested in what you did, how that happened? Because I'd like to avoid it happening to me.

Heathpack 

Two more bike schwag questions, I think I might have Mr H take the sparrow into LBS if they can take it today.

1. I want to change out the brake pads. Current ones are cork. I know Paul (LBS owner) has some pads in mind & in stock and I'm sure whatever he has will be good. @Herbie53 and other people with carbon wheels, what are your preferred brake pads.

2. If I have the bike in the shop, I might as well get them to put the 28mm tires on the rims (which we have already established will work). I have Continental Grand Prix 4 Season on the BMC and I think that's what LBS was proposing putting on the sparrow. But one time out on a ride, someone suggested to me that when the time came to replace the Conti tires, I should go with Gatorskins as a more puncture resistant option. In ~2500 miles, I have had three flats. The first one I have no idea why, but there was some sort of yellow dried out substance on the tube surface and I've always wondered if it was that. The next one was ainch flat I'm pretty sure, happened the next ride, my fault because I filled the tube with CO2 and didn't know I was supposed to replace it with air. Next ride the tire was ttotally flat, I reinflated with air and then went out for a ride and really got a flat. Third time was a piece of wire. So nothing that I would attribute to the tires. I'm fine with whatever is the best option, not sure the pros and cons of different tires. I will just be riding the sparrow around town as fast as I can, some hills, mostly good road/MUP surface.

2b. Bonus question for y'all- once I get the new tires on the bike, do I just inflate them to same pressure as the tires on the magic bike, if both bikes have 28mm tires on them?

halfspeed

I use Reynolds pads on my Reynolds rims. On my old carbon rims, I used Swiss Stop yellow pads. YMMV. A Bontrager dealer may have the best advice for Bontrager rims.

Gatorskins will reduce the likelihood of flats at the cost of ride quality. So it all depends upon your tolerance of flats vs ride quality. Regardless of what you get, it's important to be proficient at changing tires.

That's as good a place as any to start.

LAJ

Brake pads, at a decent price. Free shipping at $75.00, so you may want either two sets, or browse for a set or two of cleats, pedals, etc.

SwissStop FlashPro Shimano Brake Pads - Black Prince Carbon at WesternBikeworks

I like the 4 Season tires, myself.

Bonus question: I would run 25C, at just a wee bit more pressure that you are running now. 5-10 psi. But, if you are running 28, then I would run the same pressures.

Heathpack 

Should I be considering 25s instead of 28s?

BillyD

Hmmm, I don't know about that . . . do the pros use 28mm tires?

LAJ

Simple as that. Pave', yes.


Just a choice. I actually raced crits on 23's, and road races, 23/25. I'll likely go straight 25 after all my 23's are gone.

Heathpack 

The local Trek dealer is more of a neighborhood kid type of shop. They will know what Trek recommends but will probably not have much practical experience. Whereas Paul is a racer as are many of his friends. He will have more knowledge as to pros and cons of various options for brakes for carbon wheels based on selling things to and riding with race people. So far he does not strike me as the sort to just like what is fashionable or popular, he'll recommend what he really thinks/knows will work. But so will y'all, so also worth asking here.

Lol, the first BMC flat was actually my first flat ever. I did it wrong on many levels. Lesson learned. The second and third flats went much better and now I feel like a flat is no big deal, can get it changed out in 15 min or less. I'd rather have a better ride than avoid a flat. Most of my riding is actually on very good, clean surfaces. So I'm not sure the Gatorskins will be worth it to me.

coasting 

my stock ultegra pads nearly threw me over the bars first time i test rode my newly built Ti. super-bike.

BillyD

Great, so it's ok then. You're good to go, HP.

LAJ

Well, they recommend the cork pads for those rims. I'm not sure how far I would stray from that.

Heathpack 

A choice based on what factors? My goal is to improve the ride but truthfully I have no problem with the ride. Paul mentioned the tires would need to be changed out in the nearish future, I had the impression maybe 6 months. But I can pin him down on that and what is making him say that. The tires have essentially zero tread, but I'm not sure if that normal for those tires. I pretty much never ride in wet weather, maybe a broken sprinkler might cause wet pavement, but that's about it. However even on dry pavement, I'd like to have tires that mean I can stop the bike quickly if a car does something wonky, or on a dirt shoulder, and when I look on those treadless tires, I wonder how well they will stop in those circumstances. I feel like the BMC tires/brakes stop very well, part of my thinking in duplicating them.

Makel

Been thinking about getting that its in the redbox as well.

RollCNY

I would definitely do 25c's on the Sparrow. They are lighter, and are noticeably softer feeling than 23c's. Also, braking has very little to do with tire width. It only would if you were braking so hard that you are skidding. Pad to rim friction is the limiting force in braking on dry pavement.

Makel

Is it safe?

Makel

I'm late to the convo, but flax gives me gas.

RUOkie

I stopped sweating one day on the bike after 45min. Of course I was doing 5'x5' intervals and it was 115F at 5pm. And I had drunk 40oz of water. Once I started sweating again I didn't stop till 8pm. I drank about a gallon of water when I got home. I'll never do that again.