Tire Care

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This is the most over looked areas on our bikes, and a lot of the times it shows on a lot of our rides involving flat tires. As far as I'm concerned, you get what you pay for when buying them. I ride Continental Grand Prix 4000. Last year, I managed to put 2,300 miles on a rear tire, before changing it out. These have a Kevlar protection that seems to help prevent glass and other objects you might run over. Their price has gone up a little from last year, and now sell for about 55 bucks. There are also other brands on the market, and all the top of the line tires are in the 45-55 dollar range.

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Keep Those Tires Aired Up

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Always air up your tires before every ride. Tires can loose up to 7 lbs. of pressure in 24 hrs. On the side wall of your tires you can find suggested psi info. You can safely add 10 lbs. to this number without any worry but, will give you a little harsher ride. I ride Continentals 4000 tire and always inflate my rear to 120, and front to 110. Having the correct psi will give you less rolling resistance while eliminating pinch flats from hitting something sharp and hard especially if you are a heavier rider.

Avoiding Flats

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I have noticed that some riders do not take an extra 10 seconds to wipe off their tires after going through glass. This takes a little practice especially for the rear tire. It's a real "bummer" when your feeling great on the bike and having a flat as you all know too well. Also after washing your machine check the tires for embeded glass that can eventually work it's way to the tube. A sharp tool like an awl or large needle works great. I average 2-3 flats every year riding 5,000 miles.

Wider is Better

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A lot of the guys who I know that have racing for a long time are switching from riding 23c's to 25c's and here's why. Yes, 25's are a little heavier, but I want you to put away your lighter is better attitude here because 25's not only provide a larger foot print on the road, but provide a more racing tire (tubulars, sew ups) effect that you can feel on the road. And with the combination of some wheel sets like the Hed Ardennes you can also ride with a little lower air pressure than the typical 100-110lbs. without sacrificing rolling resistance.

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