Two Wheel Blogs

Recently I posted up a how-to for adding a layer of protection to your favorite MTB tire.

I thought that perhaps I should give a bit of follow-up on performance of this abomination....

First ride, I noticed that the necessary air pressure in these "upgraded" tires was a few p.s.i. less than when run in a more conventional manner. I also felt like poo during this first ride and gave a great deal of consideration to the possibility that the additional weight in the tires REALLY effected my ability to go fast in a more negative manner than I had anticipated.

Second ride, I noticed that the tires performed really well and perhaps, the additional weight was not as big of a deal (on that first ride) as I originally thought. May be I was tired, or poorly fueled for that first ride. During this second ride, I felt I had all the snap I usually had and could accelerate very quickly with only marginally greater effort than with ordinary tires. If fact, I had enough zip to make an ass of myself. I decided to leave the trail and go careening through brush in order to pass G-wiz....twice. During these off trail excursions, my cut wrists, forearms, shins and calves can attest to the fact that I encountered several thorn bushes...but no flats.

Third ride, hard core bashing through the creek beds (trials type riding). I experienced that "thud" that anyone who has pinch flatted knows too well...about 40 times. As I bounced and bounded through the boulder piles, onto and off of rock ledges, I tested these tires to their limits. Every time my rim thudded against a rock (compressing the tire and tubes to nil) I thought it might be the last time before I had to put a new tube in. Never a problem, no flats, no problems.

Since these rides I have been on a few others and have basically forgotten the additional weight residing inside my tires....am I getting stronger already? Doubt it. Is wheel weight a much smaller deal breaker than many people seem to think (for my type of riding at least)? May be...