Two Wheel Blogs

So, I finally got back on the trails today for a ride. Everything seemed fine and well. I stopped several times to move dead-fall from the trail. I also stopped to let this guy pass....

This black snake was looking good. It must have shed its skin very recently because it was positively radiating color. I wish they made a paint like this snakes skin....It would be nice to have something painted this color so I could enjoy it any time I like...may be that is what makes it so nice (you encounter it so infrequently, it is hard to take for granted).

Anyway...there was something about that snake that must have been a sign of things to come.

I have been using Michelin XC AT 2.0 tires lately. They give lots of grip, they are light, and they roll pretty fast. You may recall me bragging about them. Well, I think I am going to turn my back on the whole "light-weight" and "fast" concept for a while.

While crossing one of the many armored stream crossings we have (steep, rough transition with exposed rock edges), I realized that I am not what you might call a "finesse rider". I tend to ride a bit hard (as opposed to "light" or "graceful"). I have to back up for a second....earlier in the ride, while railing a sharp downhill turn with a dip that I like to manual over, my rear tire burped and dropped some pressure (it takes some doing, but I can usually do this if I really go hard into this turn). This little blunder set the stage for the heinous double snake bite/puncture I endured at this armored stream crossing.

I entered the transition of the stream crossing in my typical style (manual the front wheel over the dip to conserve the momentum). The rear wheel dropped into the "v" at the bottom of the crossing and the tire slammed into a sharp rock obscured from sight by leaves.

The result was a double snake bite in both sidewalls and a rock puncture to the tread area. The Stan's sealant tried unsuccessfully to seal the 1/4 inch cut in the tread as air and white mist whooshed out the multiple gashes to the sidewalls. It looked like a Stan's fountain.

As part of my recent endeavor to try this whole "fast" and "light" thing, I was carrying the minimum in supplies. No bag, just a single cartridge inflater, a tube, and a multi-tool. No way this tire was going to seal, so I pulled out the tube and slipped it in. Moments later I learned that something in my jersey pocket must have cut the tube, so I began walking back to the car (roughly 3 miles away).

As I said, I am turning back to heavier riding now. It makes sense when you are tired and start forgetting to baby your gear, or you just want to fun-ride. With this in mind, I removed what was left of these Michelin tires and installed two Panaracer Rampage 2.35 tires. Check the picture...they look a bit beefier, but not quite as hell-bent as the good ole' Nevegals. I will keep you posted.

That is the Michelin on the left and the Rampage on the right. The Rampages feel much heavier (both in thickness, and in weight) when compared to the Michelins. The rubber feels much harder too.

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