Tried to post this a week ago but didn't reckon with the vagaries of the Tiscali news server....
....Not first audax ever, but the first in 5 years or so, which more or less amounts to the same thing.
It was the Three Fields, run out of Alfreton and taking in a loop of rural Nottinghamshire for a total distance of 108km. The route is on www.bikely.com search for "Three Fields".
I must admit to feeling a bit nervous lining up for the ride as I'd done a grand (or not so grand) total of 100 miles or so since the turn of the year and I knew that this would be a real challenge. In the event it went pretty well to form which meant that the last 15-20 miles or so was a struggle as the "undulations" just kept coming to sap the legs and the morale, but there was a small group of riders from the Alfreton CTC who kept on not dropping me until we were within a few miles of the finish - thanks guys. Also thanks to them for lending a hand when the puncture fairy paid a visit at the second control in Southwell - can anyone recommend a tyre which is easy to get on and off an MA2 rim?
The weather was rather disappointing as the expected sunshine didn't materialise and there was an increasing cold northerly wind which rarely seemed to be blowing in a particularly helpful direction, but actually probably did help a lot on the second leg.
Next task is to put in some more miles to get ready for a 150k in 4 weeks time.
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Tried to post this a week ago but didn't reckon with the vagaries of the Tiscali news server.... In the event it went pretty well to form which meant that the last 15-20 miles or so was a struggle as the "undulations" just kept coming to sap the legs and the morale, but there was a small group of riders from the Alfreton CTC who kept on not dropping me until we were within a few miles of the finish - thanks guys. Also thanks to them for lending a hand when the puncture fairy paid a visit at the second control in Southwell - can anyone recommend a tyre which is easy to get on and off an MA2 rim?
Quoted message said:
Next task is to put in some more miles to get ready for a 150k in 4 weeks time.
Last year I did the 170km from Alfreton and was bemused to find myself on a 'scenic' aka lumpy ride that the local riders described as flat. I struggled on it despite it being the seventh Audax ride of the year. TonyB dragged me around the ride and I'll be eternally grateful to him. I nearly lost the will to live on it. I'm not sure about the fit on MA2 rims but I find Panaracer Paselas easy to remove and fit on Mavic 319 rims. On a good day I can dispense with tyre levers for removal and can always refit without mechanical assistance.
can anyone recommend a tyre which is easy to get on and off an MA2 rim?
I found that 'correct' technique with the tyre levers made tyre removal much, much easier. <www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=100> for instructions. Apologies if you're already doing this.
"Mark Thompson" <pleasegivegenerously@warmmail*_turn_up_the_heat_to_reply*.com> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
can anyone recommend a tyre which is easy to get on and off an MA2 rim?
I found that 'correct' technique with the tyre levers made tyre removal much, much easier. <www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=100> for instructions. Apologies if you're already doing this.
I still struggle with one of my tyres even though that's how I use the levers - maybe I need some better levers though (current ones are part of a £2.99 tool kit from B&Q several years ago!)
The picture under "Inspecting the Tire" on that page intruiges me though: how on earth do you get a nail through both sides of the tyre at that angle! I guess it's been staged. -- peter
can anyone recommend a tyre which is easy to get on and off an MA2 rim?
I found that 'correct' technique with the tyre levers made tyre removal much, much easier. <www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=100> for instructions. Apologies if you're already doing this.
That's just about how I've always done it, is there any other way (apart from a Speedlever)?
I had a few front wheel punctures early last year and the tyre was much easier to remove than the rear one was on this occasion. I suppose that rim and tyre tolerances can combine to make a particular tyre on a particular wheel tighter than average. Also I'm guessing that a tyre whose beads sit naturally closer together will be easier to remove as the bead on the opposite side of the wheel will tend to drop into the well of the rim, a less bulky (and totally uninflated) inner tube will help too.
What's really needed is more practice, but I'd much rather not go down that route.
