New Tires - Freedom Ryder

I know you're all extremely interested in what tires I'm running on my Vaya. Been wanting to switch to slightly narrower tires than the Clement MSO 40c tires for a few reasons, one being better fender fitment.  I've seen reports of SKS P55 fenders fitting the Vaya with the MSO's, but I've had a little trouble getting my front clip-on fender just right with the front rack on there, too.  Another reason for switching: the Clements are oriented more towards gravel riding than commuting.  Also, after 1200 miles or so, there's good wear on the rear tire I bought last November.  Not too bad, but I'd like something longer lasting for the city.

So I finally bought some new ones.  I went for cheap and heavy - the Freedom Ryder 700 x 38 at 665 grams, $26.  I like the 38c size for the Vaya - it's a good combo of width and grip for the pavement, urban single track, gravel streets I find on my way home, and other off-pavement rides, but will fit fenders easily.

Chief Tire Inspector Dash

The heft is noticeable - could be my imagination, but when I lift the bike I swear it feels 5 pounds heavier.  They have a tread pattern similar to the MSO but less knobby. I'm pleased with the smoothness of the ride at 60psi compared to the MSO's, but they're not as sure-footed.  I get a little worried on those slight downhill turns where there's debris and gravel in the street, but part of it is I just need to get used to the quicker handling.

I considered a few other tires in the 38c range before getting the Freedoms. We have Pasela Tourguards on Debbie's blue Redline cross bike and I like how smooth they ride.  But Universal Cycles was out of the 37/38c size TG/PT's and I don't like the tan sidewalls for looks (too grimy for one thing) and think the Vaya needs black sidewalls.

The Resist Nomad 45c tires were tempting at only $22 a pop but I think I'd have trouble getting even clip-on fenders over them for the rainy days.  They do make them in 35 but I'm stuck on something a little wider.

I considered the Schwalbe Little Big Ben 700 x38, $40 from RivBike.  Not sure about the tread pattern, might be too much.  Compass Bicycles has broken down and now offers a wider 700c tire - Barlow Pass 700 x 38, $59 380g but with tan sidewalls, and $78 for the extra light ones at 327g.  Some report the Compass tires are long lasting, others reports quick wear and flats - probably the difference in opinion is same for any tire.  I'd read the new ones might be running smaller than stated, so that was a negative.

So in the end I gambled on the Ryders since they were less expensive than many other tires.

I only have a few commutes on them but I like them. I don't notice the extra heft while rolling, and they're quicker and smoother than the Clements. The Clements have an edge when rolling over cracks in the street.  The Ryders  have what is billed as an "Urban Barrier" for flat protection, but I don't have much faith in any tire's protection against the debris in the streets.  Hoping they're better than the Clements in that regard.

The true test of the tires for me was how they handle the dirt trail at the end of Nettleton Street before NW Blvd, because the Vaya is not just for city street riding.  I was surprised that even at 60psi they had grip in the loose dirt/debris and were close to the Clements in handling.

An aside: 38mm is a good size for city riding, but I'm starting to think 2" mountain bike tires with minimal tread would be perfect. Every once in awhile I ride my Fargo to work, and it just rolls over any cracks and holes in the pavement without a care. Plus it handles the trail below Gov't Way with ease if I want to got that way home.

Another aside: tire pressure. I'd been running the Clements around 50psi to smooth out the street bumps and cracks.  I recently had it in the shop for service, and it came back with the tire pressure higher around 65-70. I noticed that while running over cracks there was a sharper jolt, but it was quicker, and the tires didn't sink into the crack.  Hard to explain what I mean, but I'm finding 60psi is a good compromise - not too high to still have some cushion, but not so low so that the tires squirm in the corners or sink into the cracks.

Passing other bikecyclists

I don't ride real fast to and from work, but I like to keep a good pace. I'm definitely not part of the slow bike movement. I bike fast enough to catch up to another biker every once in awhile on my commute, and I hesitate to pass them.  I feel kind of bad zipping by.  Maybe I've got a faster bike, maybe I'm in better shape and I don't want to show them up.  So instead I'll usually slow down for a bit, then turn off on a side street and take an alternate route.

It's the bikers in regular clothes that I don't like to pass - if they look like they're on a training ride, I'll zip on by without any qualms and give a small wave or 'morning'.

It's funny, but once in awhile I get passed by someone from out of nowhere, and I don't like it. I'm tempted to keep up with them and engage in some CAT 6 racing.  Or if I notice someone behind me, I'll kick it up another notch in an effort to not get passed.

The guy in the picture above - I slowed down and debated about passing, or turning off, or maybe even being sociable (me?) and make a little small talk.  Eventually, I turned off at the next intersection.  It seemed rude to pass going uphill.

Downtown Bike Pics

Hold tight it's another exciting edition of Downtown Bike Pics (best if internally voiced like that old song "One Step Beyond"!).  Downtown gets an interesting mix of bikes from the everyday-garden-variety to the unusual, and here are some from the last few months.

i never have the gopro on when i need it

Last week my wife's running group went to Antoine Peak and I tagged along with my Fargo.  Bike-wandering around, I noticed a stump alongside the trail a couple yards ahead.  I got closer and saw the stump had hair.  Thick, brown fur.  Then the stump started to move and I go yikes!  First thought was a bear, but the stump metamorphosed into a huge moose lying down alongside the trail.  I mean it was big!

I hit the brakes and it got up and trotted off around the corner.  I cautiously went forward and got a shaky one-armed phone pic:

He looked at me, and I finally decided maybe I should just  turn around. Which I did until I stopped to check out the pic and saw it was blurry. I then creeped back to the spot hoping to get a better pic, but the big guy was gone. Wished I'd taken the time to mount the gopro on the bike before leaving home.

There have been other times when it would've been nice to have the gopro:

Like the time out on Mission or Greenwood Rd and two huge marmaduke dogs running at an angle ahead of me, trying to cut me off - barely made it past them. Yep, no gopro on.

Or the time riding down Pettet Dr and a shaggy creature with a bobbed tail crossed the street. Thought it was a dog until it jumped up on the guard rail post in an un-doglike fashion, more like a cat. Still not sure what it was, but bobcat is my best guess. Maybe I'd know if I had the gopro on.

Or when riding home on Howard St, and and two guys in an old pickup at the cross street ahead of me blasted through a stop sign going 40-50mph. 

Sometimes I think I should always the gopro on for evidence, especially in the case of a traffic accident, but also for those crazy crashes where you wonder just what the heck happened.  I don't like having it on the handlebars or helmet all the time. There are cases like these that are encouraging me to find a good out of the way spot on the bike to keep a gopro mounted all the time.

Martin Rd Bikexpedition

Now that it's cooled down out here, I did some bikexploring with the Fargo on Saturday from the Columbia Plateau Martin Rd Trailhead. After studying my DeLorme Atlas, the plan was to head a few hundred yards north to Cree Rd and take it down to Dewey Rd, to Cordell Rd, then to Mullinix. Then I would follow Belsby down to Hole-in-the Ground to Rock Creek, Pine Creek and the John Wayne Pioneer Trail like I did last year (Martin Rd Trailhead to John Wayne [gps]). I wanted to make a loop, trying to add a few more miles than last year, but ended up with an out and back with slight variation on the way back.

the patent-pending wileydogmapcap. the trailhead and
Cree Rd are in the upper left-hand

Well that was the plan.  There's a funny thing about the atlas, gps and actual on the ground road signs - they don't always agree. And it's awful hard to read tiny gps map screens in the bright sunlight with old eyes. I missed the first intersection on the Lincoln-Whitman County line, neither road sign had Cree on it and I went east instead of west. Link to the actual gps of the ride. The map and gps call the road I took Stoner Rd, but I it was signed in a couple spots as Swift Rd. I'll have to go back and check at this intersection as not sure if I have it straight now.

This worked out pretty good as Stoner Rd becomes a rough dirt and rock road akin to the gated off Dunn Rd/Summer Road of the Midnight Century. A little too rough for most vehicles in spots, but perfect for 2.2" mountain bike tires.

Back to the start:

Cree Rd

There must have been a hole in the barbed wire fence as I came across a calf on the road that took a little run at me, and then a group of 10 or so cattle loose on the road. Thought I was going to have to turn around. They panicked and tried to jump back over the fence, and then ran up the road ahead of me.

felt like a bicycle cowboy 

they finally found an opening near where the Columbia Plateau Trail
crosses Cree

the intersection where I turned right instead of left. the gps names
the road to the left as Elliot which becomes Cree again. i forget what
the sign said now.

Stoner/Swift Rd. 

The road is just a stone's throw away from the Columbia Plateau Trail in spots, and I remember we stopped for a rest by this road on our trip last May. I was tempted to stay on Stoner to see where it goes, but turned left on Dewey instead. I saw afterward Stoner/Swift will take you into Lamont.

back on gravel on Dewey

what's that up ahead? a dirt summer road?

 Munson Rd. It wasn't in the plan, and I wasn't sure where it went, but I had to take it.

It finally popped out on Rock Creek Rd and after I got my bearings, determined I was way further east than I wanted to be. Rode northwest on the paved Rock Creek Rd before backtracking on Munson Rd back to Dewey. Rock Creek Rd wasn't the type of ride I was looking for. Also, may not have had my helmet and felt a bit vulnerable. Hardly any traffic, though.

Back on Dewey, passed Cree Road after awhile and so was back on plan, looking for Cordell.

think this is off Cordell 

probably Cordell again. really need to find some way to sync the
camera with the gps.

I had been out for over a couple hours and didn't feel like making this an all day trip, even though I wanted to ride down Belsby, so instead took Mullinix to Martin Rd (Williams Lake Rd) back to the trailhead. Martin is a narrow paved road without a shoulder - think a more roundabout way back down Spuller to Dewey to Cree looks promising.

Think will head back out in a couple weeks, getting an earlier start and follow the same way down Cree to Stoner to Dewey, skip Munson and head down Belsby.  I like exploring these gravel and dirt roads in this area - the only problem it's an almost hour long drive to the trail head.

Midnight Century or A Whole Lotta Hills

whoa it's been almost two weeks since the Midnight Century!  Happened a week ago last Saturday at 11:59pm or so and continued throughout the night and early morning. I thought I was going to be lucky if I made it in by noon. Almost brought a bivy sack or tent along in case I broke down. Thought somewhere along the line if I dnf'd, no one would really know. But I banished those thoughts and kept pedaling on, a long and dusty ride.

First, a video collage of the first 20 miles or so heading out of town is on youtube here. The unofficial gps file I poached from the MC website is here

My rides the month before were generally only commuting, and not going for any long rides. Too hot. No hill climbing up Houston Rd to build some muscle.  And if there's one thing about the MC, well besides it being mostly in the dark, is that there is tons of climbing. I thought it was possible I could do better than last year's 8h15m, but figured I'd be lucky to break 10 hours.

After the flat fast ride to the state line, the course starts climbing and climbing and climbing the hills above Liberty Lake.  I fell behind Eric E and the group we were riding up the hills with, but I figured I would catch them on the downhill. But my legs felt like mush, I fell too far behind and lost track of them - until some hours later when I think I came across part of the group after they took a wrong turn.

Here's a typical view, maybe out on Belmont Rd:

It wasn't all pitch black, as we rode by various farms, homesteads, small communities.

Some blathering about gear:

Bike/Tire Talk: I was riding me Salsa Fargo, and appreciating the tubeless setup.  Passed quite a few guys on skinny tires fixing flats along the way.  Or maybe it was just the same one or two guys fixing flats I kept passing.

The Race King 2.2" tires roll surprisingly well on pavement, but there were lots of miles on the paved roads where I thought the tires might be overkill.  But then there many sections I was glad I had them. Like the gated off summer road (a road in name only), the downhill dirt Bruna Rd, and all those washboard gravel roads in the last half. Took the sting out of the bumps. Had 30+psi in them and maybe could've gone lower.

Garmin talk:  This year I had the course loaded on a Garmin Edge Touring model, and I could just follow the purple line. The screen would tell me when to turn.  This was working great except for a few spots like around Liberty Lake when the screen went dark. I thought maybe I lost satellite reception but I couldn't read a message at the bottom, telling me we were off course, so I think I missed the same turn before LL we missed last year.  Darn fuzzy contacts. We soon were back on the course and riding with a larger group again. Took me awhile to get the Garmin back on the course, but once I did it was back to following the purple line.  Helped a few riders find the turns along the way,

Later on I got the Garmin off course again by tapping on the wrong spot on the screen, and it decided I wanted to go where I tapped. Then it would tell me to turn around, make a u-turn but I could see the purple line going the other way. Luckily one time when it told me to go the wrong way, there was another guy who knew the right way to go.  At least now I know more about working the Garmin.

Shoe talk: my trusty, sturdy heavy duty 5-10 Freeriders. After 80 some miles these were feeling heavy - next year if I do the ride (well of course I will if I'm in the Spokane area) will wear something lighter like the Chrome shoes. I was having trouble with the hills and once or twice even thought maybe I should've gone clipless - gasp.  Around 3am I got a second wind and started just mashing down on the pedals on the uphills - that seemed to help. No spinning in tiny circles for me.

More cell phone pictures time:

Sunrise some miles before Spangle

a welcome coffee/cookie stop

they really don't want people getting past the
end/beginning of the new pavement on the Fish Lake Trail

Wildlife: 3 porcupines (close encounters only), lots of deer. other critters heard but not seen.

Downhill talk: I'm always surprised my heavy steel bikes coast downhill about as fast as most light, skinny tired bikes.  Noticed this first at Spokefest some years ago riding my Marin Muirwoods with its smooth 42mm tires and it continues with the Vaya and Fargo.  It helps on gravel roads to have the fatter tires give me a little more confidence and not hit the brakes as much.  I like going fast downhill, but after awhile thought maybe it's not smart to I push it too fast, especially when by myself out in the middle of nowhere. Thinking I was a downhill racer in another life.

food: brought trail mix and some Bobo Oat bars that looked similar to my favorite no-bake cookies. Except they weren't: they were dry and not much flavor. Didn't feel like eating much, think next time will bring some cookies, apples and a sandwich. Don't like the sport bars and gel-packs.

picture chronicling: think will fix a regular camera to the handlebars or rack next time, or carry a good small camera. Attached the gopro to my front rack with a ski pole attachment, but I had to build up the rack tubing with duct tape because it was a little too narrow. Made for a wobbly mount. The gopro battery died quickly and I need to get a new battery.  Not that there's a lot to take pictures of in the dark, but it'd help with a proper ride chronicle.

For all the tough uphills in the first half of the ride, the last 20-30 miles are the toughest for me, even though they're the flattest.  Especially the last few miles on the Fish Lake Trail - just wanted to get to Spokane. Stopped a bit extra more in the last third to re-group, but I wasn't in any hurry. Finished up at Central Food and chatted a bit.  Almost fell asleep trying to talk myself into riding home but hoping for a lift. No ride was available, so I took an easy meander home.

The MC is a great ride and I'm glad I finished.  There's something about riding in the middle of the night on the back roads, sometimes alone, sometimes with a group of strangers and friends.

Bell Boy!

I picked up the Incredibell Omnibell:

- it has a stretchy band that fits 22mm-31.8mm handlebar widths and a moveable dinger. I was able to mount it out of the way on the stem and rotate the dinger to an easy to reach position. Incredibell also makes a couple headset mounted bells, but the shop didn't have any.

After a bike ride one Saturday morning I met my wife and her running group at a coffee spot. Before I could make a polite exit to ride home, the talk turned to bikers passing runners without announcing their presence on the Centennial and Fish Lake Trails. It's a bit of a sore point with them. A couple are bikers also so it wasn't all anti-bike. I mentioned how many walkers/runners take up the whole trail, and have earbuds on. Or move to the left when you say "left" or ring the bell. I'm not one to say something every time I pass runners, usually only when they need to move over so I have room to pass.

They see it differently.  A biker should say "on your left" or ring the bell every time they pass runners/walkers.  One of their friends was telling every biker that passed silently by, "you're supposed to say on your left".  To which she got flipped off by one biker. But do you really need to say something every time you're passing somebody? I guess that's the rule, but it gets old. They know they're on a multi-use path with bikers and should be expecting them to pass by.  That's how I see it when I'm walking on one of the trails. But Debbie said she's been startled by bikes passing by when she didn't realize any were near.

So I broke down and thought I'd give the bell another try. Haven't had much chance to use it yet - only been on the Centennial Trail a couple times this week, and I try to avoid it during busy times.  So far  I've forgotten to ring it when I've had the opportunity to use it as a warning or a "hello" to fellow bikers. Might have to go practice it by riding around Riverfront Park.