A Flat Tire in the Same Place? What are the Odds?

While unloading my bike after the last ride I noticed my rear tire had gone down on the way home. There was a chunk of orange mulch still lodged in the tire. At least it was easy to find.

After pulling the tube out I realized the new puncture was in the same place as the last one! One centimeter from the hole I received two months ago.

This got me thinking about the odds. Rather than waste brain cells doing the math of the surface area of tire and getting an actual number, I ponded on ways that these odds could have happened.

I know what you are thinking "you did not get the splinter out from the last flat!" I thought of that. But here is the evidence, you decide:

1.  If I had left the mulch in from the last flat chances are that I would have had another flat soon... I've been riding for over two months since my last flat. I suppose it is possible.

2. the mulch was the strange oranged color of the mulch on the side of the greenway I rode last. I received the first flat on a trail with no mulch.

3. I have a ritual for changing flats. I remove the original obstruction from the outside of the tire (if it is still there), then visually inspect both the outside and inside of the tire for others. Then I run my fingers around the inside of the tire hoping to feel anything my eyes didn't catch. 

I can think of only two ways this happened: 

Dumb luck (you are right... I did not get the mulch out.) And it was in the tread in a way that it was pushed in (only when coming in contact with a rock) but rebounded back out when not being pushed it in. I wouldn't have seen or felt it inside. AND dumb luck that I had not hit anything that pushed it in for over two months.

OR dumb luck... another simple flat.

Either way, dumb luck played a big part in getting these two flats so close together. Gosh, I can think of better outcomes for being this "lucky!" 

Flat Enlightenment

This past Monday I took an hour for a ride at Concord Park. About 15 minutes in I had my first flat of the season. In fact my first flat in probably a year. Murphy's Law... my pump was back at the car.

As I was walking back to the car it dawned on me, being on the trail with a flat was much better than laying on the couch.

It is official, I am bike crazy!

Chain "Stretch" - Part 3 (diagrams)

After talking to a few friends trying to explain "chain stretch" I have decided a picture is worth a thousand words... so I built a few illustrations showing chain wear.

The pin, showing in black, wears away by rubbing the (orange) housing. This creates a looseness that increases its length.

When the chain is longer it rides up on the teeth of the gear reducing the contact, allowing it to "skip" under hard pedaling.  It will also wear the tooth away when it rides the incorrect location of the tooth, effectively eating it away.

So keep your chain clean and lubricated. And replace it when it gets "stretched."

Part 1: Measuring Chain Stretch
Part 2: Free Wheel Removal
Part 3 (this post): Chain Stretch Diagrams

2012 Kona Kahuna 29er Review

I have always loved Kona bicycles. Their brochure was one of the first that I picked up when my I started my love of bikes as an adult…it has been read so many times (by both myself and my son) that it is literally falling apart. So, when I had the opportunity to purchase a new bike, Kona was at the top of my list of bikes to research.

Other than being "my first," Kona is a smaller company compared to the brands often see on the local trails. I always try to help out the little guy if possible. But I was not going to discount the other brands just yet. There are other dream brands on my list too.

Here in Knoxville we are blessed with many bike shops with most major brands. So Saturday morning the son and I headed out. We checked out the Specialized Hardrock. Very nice looking paint scheme but the fork was not great. The Treks' paint was downright tacky. So much so that I didn't even pull one down as sit on it. Next was the Giant Revel 0. The paint scheme was nice (though it was that hard-to-clean flat black.) The small frame size fit me very well. But the brakes were mechanical and the fork only fair. Raleighs seemed much more expensive for the same components.

The last shop we could hit for the day was Tennessee Valley Bikes, home for Kona Bicycles in Knoxville. I did not get my hopes up as the Konas I liked were outside my price range. Their 2013 beginner line had similar components compared as the brands I had already found. But the paint scheme looked well, cheap. So I guess it was time to head back to order the Giant.

Then I saw a black-ish blue bike on the end of the rack. It was a 2012 Kahuna. Beautiful, subtle, good fork, hydraulic disk brakes, and it was in my size! After a small financial discussion with the shop worker I became the owner of a Kona!

And it rides as good as it looks!

The step up to 29 was one that I never thought I would do. How does it feel compared to my 26 wheeled Fuji? Apples to oranges. The 26" wheels are on a larger 17" frame, the 29s are connected to a 16" frame. The Fuji is somewhat lighter than the Kona. The fork of the Kahuna is light years ahead of the Suntour fork on the Nevada. Overall, the Fuji is quick "side to side", the Kona fast... forward. The only way I can describe its feel is - pulling. It was hard to tell if I was going a lot faster, or the added weight of the wheels built up inertia making it reluctant to make turns, or both.

The pros of the Kona: that awesome (to me) fork. The Rock Shox XC/32/TK has none of the slop found in the Suntour. The Sram X5 gear set: having 30 options it seemed I was always in the right gear, awesome! The shifters are going to take a little getting used to for me… the triggers on the Fuji used the forefingers for downshifting, the Kona uses the thumbs. Retraining my brain should take care of this one.

The "yet-to-be-determined" aspects: the handlebars are much wider than I am used to. It meant my hands are constantly bumping the gear levers. Going to do some testing by moving the brakes and shifters a half inch inward before getting out the hack saw. The Avid Elixr 1 brakes: I was really worried about this as they seem to lock up way to easily. But after remembering discussions on bike forums mentioning "one finger braking" I tried it. Really helped modulate better.

The graphics. I believe the art is shared with the King Kahuna that has a lighter colored carbon frame. But the base paint color is so dark that the logo and words were almost invisible. Some like it, others hate it. I lean toward the "like it" side but it could be a little less subtle.

The cons: #1: the price. Of course the Kona was much more expensive than the Fuji. But that was to be expected. #2: the pedals - unbelievably terrible! My feet slipped many times during the first ride. The $15 replacement pedals I threw on held my feet so much better. Just a guess but I think most people change the stock pedals out with clipless pedals as soon as they get the bike home, so Kona put on the cheapest things that can be considered petals.

So, if spending $100 more than I wanted and $15 for new pedals is the only negative things about the Kona, I can live if that!

6 month update -
After riding the Kahuna a few months now I can say this bike has really grown on me. It is much faster than the Fuji. Much like a race car that is difficult to drive in city traffic, when you get going fast, the Kona really comes alive. When riding the Fuji I was probably had it at 9/10s of its skill level. The Kona I feel like it is more like 7/10 meaning I can improve a lot on this bike.

And after the first tune up the brakes pads were moved out a little giving a lot more ability to modulate. Much better! However, the rear brake did get "spongy" requiring a bleed to get it back to normal. And sometimes they would over-pressurize when hot if left on the rack in the hot sun (the fluid would expand with the heat and rear wheel would not turn.) I had this happen a couple times but TVB assured me that it it is due to the fluid absorbing moisture and "overfilling" the system. A simple fluid flush/replace on a consistent basis will keep this from happening.

Early Spring Ride

We have watching and waiting for a while now. The weather app on my phone goes into overdrive about this time of year looking for warm and dry on a weekend. This Saturday was a little of both, meaning time to load up the bikes for the first Spring ride.

This time we picked an old familiar favorite: The Third Creek Greenway, a great one to take for kids and new-to-biking friends. And we had both. The chilly, damp morning was full of landmarks like the tunnel, a couple bridges, and even early spring flowers made the trip a good one for groups that stop and rest often, which we did.

As usual, the boys left us.

Our Beatle's Abbey Road album cover photo

Trilliums about to bloom

I have always heard this being called dogtooth violet, but Google says it is a Trout Lily

Mid-ride lunch at Subway

Two hours and six miles later, we finished where we started. Before heading home we noticed a new bike shop in the shopping complex. Bearden Bike & Trail opened that very morning and we had to see. A very nice store and staff with a real finger on the needs of the people using the greenway. They have racks out front, offer water for riders, and will even have remote repair services soon. If your bike breaks out on the greenway, they will come fix it for you! Cool! Though we were in a bit of hurry that morning, we will spend much more time checking out all the shiny bikes at the end of our next greenway trip.

Who Knew Bikes Were for Pavement Too? (Trek 1000SL)

Last year around Thanksgiving my son announced he "needed" a racing bike. After years of mountain biking, I knew better. Hours of nothing but cranking the pedals has never appealed to me, and I believe he is the same. He loves the thrill of jumping, skidding, and playing. Rather than tell him he is wrong, I suggest that he try a road bike before we commit the money involved. If one came up for sale at the right price (cheap of course), I might get it knowing I could resell it as soon as he realizes it was not for him.

Recently a small adult racing bike showed up on Craigslist at a surprisingly low price. The ad's photo showed a small framed UT orange Trek 1000SL that "desperately needed a tune up and has flat tires." Being Craigslist fanatic, I knew there is two main reasons for a price like this: an owner that has no idea what to sell the bike for and guessed at a price, or a bike so trashed that the owner is looking for an alternative to throwing it away. Guessing the latter, I woundn't be out much if I was lucky enough to be the one to get it.

I contacted the owner explaining that I thought the bike might actually fit my son and that we would like to take a look at it. 

Hours passed with no answer. Oh well, it must have sold. It wouldn't be the first time I missed a cheap Craigslist bike.

Later that day thought I would email the person again. (My hope was that the first person in line saw the bike and changed his mind.) Soon after I received an email back. The owner explained that she was surprised the I actually wanted the bike to ride, not just resale it for a profit... and she wanted us to have it.

The next day we met at a local McDonald's for the exchange. Julie explained to me that she had used the bike for exercise a few years back. But she was now simplifying her life and was getting rid of everything that did not have great importance in her life, the bike included. She said she knew that the bike was worth more than she was selling it for but she wanted it go to someone that would receive enjoyment and exercise from it.

After getting it home we realized I was wrong about the bike, neither ignorant owner or trashed. About 21 pounds, the bike had almost no deep scratches, something that we never find on the used mountain bikes we buy. It has a carbon fork and seat post. Sure it needed a tune up but all it really needed was air for the tires and a good cleaning.

Before his first test ride I made him ride his mountain bike first for reference. I wanted him to understand that the two bikes have VERY different jobs. No hopping curbs on this thing. If he wants to do that, grab the other bike. But if he wants to ride fast this bike should be the choice. And this thing is scary fast. After he got the hang of the "brifters" I had real trouble keeping up with him on our short ride. I regularly had to use the highest gears of my bike, him smiling and making race car sounds as he easily left me behind.

Only time will tell if he will stick to this kind of riding. But if he continues having as much fun as he did on his first ride, he will be passing many more riders than just his dad soon.

Project Underdog - Junk Bike Refurb

Whether good or bad, I have always been the kind of person that roots for underdog. When watching any sporting event and a team starts doing badly, something in the back of my brain takes over and pushes me to cheer them on, sometimes even when they are competing against "my" team. Don't know why, it just happens.

I find that I do the same for bicycles. When I see an unloved bike I just can't stand to leave it by the road sending it to its grave. This bike, that I picked up on Craigslist is a prime example. A 20" Magna. Yes, I know...

Yes, crummy brand. There is a lot of (surface) rust, yes the cables all need replacing, yes the fork is seized up. But it is solid, the wheels are straight, and I figure by throwing on a few old cables, a 1/2 hour with steel wool, some black spray paint on the handlebars/cranks, and I will have a bike that we can use to teach the neighborhood kids how to use gears. And I won't be too upset if it is treated the way kids typically treat bikes...badly.

Stay tuned to see the "after" photos to this "before."