Diablo Scott writes:
> I f you were to review the sequence of events when suspecting you rode through glass, you might
> deduce that wiping serves only to make your fingers black (and your nose when you blow it the next
> time). Have you reviewed the following:
http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/8b.15.html
> Yes sir, twice now today and I remember seeing it when I read the entire FAQ months before I ever
> started posting here. A couple points:
> The only statement in the article with which I disagree is your assertion that the debris would be
> irrecoverably embedded into the tire before the wiping procedure could begin. I can attest that
> I've successfully wiped off stuff that was sticking (lightly) to my tires, I cannot document that
> the crud wouldn't have fallen off by itself before doing any damage, or that my wiping prevented a
> tread cut but I believe it has in some cases.
You don't know what that debris was and whether it was sharp enough to enter the tire, which it
would have by the time you could get to it, as I pointed out in the item you read. Noting the
revolutions per second of a wheel at average speed and the time it takes to get your hand to the
wipe makes that estimate highly likely,
> I usually use the one finger mucus ablution technique (a traditional skill which most riders still
> practice) followed by a semi-abrasive nose wipe radially outward along my index finger (most
> gloves have an appurtenance specifically for this function). The tire wiping contact area is of
> course the palm-side web between thumb and index finger so I've NEVER had any road crud
> transferred to my face as a result of tire wiping.
I recall all our tire wipers as having black nose flutes from the classic two-finger nose blow, that
one does from a bicycle... and elsewhere in 'polite' company.
>> If you ride anything but an ancient bicycle, the seat tube is too close to the tire to wipe it.
>> It's sure finger breaker if you happen to touch the tire there. Besides, today most riders find
>> pedaling with only one hand on the bars foolishly dangerous. That's how we got rid of downtube
>> shifters, they required pedaling dangerously.
> A couple more points:
> There's about 6 inches of tire between the seatstays and the seat tube: tire wipers would be wise
> to aim for the middle (in recognition of the danger you cited) and should pause pedaling for the
> duration of the procedure.
Would be wise, but tire wiping has practically vanished since the advent of "quick", "short coupled"
and "responsive frames". Of course all of these are dodges for bicycles that are needlessly short
and have stupidly close tire clearances that make riding on dirt roads impractical and make a spoke
failure a certain end of ride. Ain't progress great!
> Folks who have difficulty riding one handed will probably never attempt this skill [anachronism];
> folks who cut their cycling teeth in the days of downtube friction shifters and Binda Extras
> currently (as a consequence of brake lever shifting and clipless pedal technology) have
> supererogatory legerdemain while riding which may be put to use elsewhere if desired with an
> acceptable margin of safety.
True, but you won't convince most of those who read this newsgroup of that.
> Would you autograph my book? I think I have a first edition.
Sure, but they're all the same except the first was a silly grey cover that I abhor for it's
lifelessness. I'm sure a Diablo Wheelmen member who comes down this way would enable that.
> Check out my bike blog!
http://diabloscott.blogspot.com
Keep on riding. Check out rides at:
http://tinyurl.com/adls http://www.paloaltobicycles.com/alps_photos.html
Jobst Brandt
[email protected] Palo Alto CA
