Follow the Dog 1 - Lowe 0

[Lowe]

Went up to Cannock Chase this weekend to ride 'Follow the Dog'.

http://www.chasetrails.co.uk/xc.php

I'd had a new set of disc brakes, forks, pedals and a new bottom bracket and was eager to see how the bike was going to feel. Doll and I did a 10 mile warm up to get used to it all, then we headed onto the Dog. We start off, Doll in front with me following a little too close behind... The path forked, I went one way, Doll the other and then on rejoining the main path I get to a small jump - I prepare for the jump and..............






BANG!






Rear tyre blow out, which chucks me clean off. One buckled rim and smegged inner tube and me leaking claret from the left knee! All within 300 yards, gutted. Still, at least I got a few miles in before we started hehe!

[[GSV]Trig]

now i get your msn name...

Shoulda got back on and carried on going, wuss...

[doll]

One slight problem though....no spare inner tube with a Schrader valve!

[dave87]

You must have been going some to pop an inner tube.

I thought XC bikes were going tubeless anyhow?

[[GSV]Trig]

Pffft, didnt stop "The Missile", and she's a girl just like Lowe...

[Lowe]

That would end up with a ruined wheel and tyre. No thanks.

[doll]

You must have been going some to pop an inner tube.

I thought XC bikes were going tubeless anyhow?

Not many XC bikes come with tubeless as standard, top end Marin and Trek maybe AFAIK. It tends to be something people do afterwards.

Not really required either for normal trail riders. If you like a heavier trail then maybe...but then im running Mavic XC717 rims, with Continental tyres, running Continental presta inner tubes and I have not had a flat....and Lowe saw how I ride...well for the 1st 300yds any way and earlier in on the green route!

Getting a inner tube pop on heavier trails is very easy actually, especially with wider rims, running lower pressure (ie. not disc specific rims). They are prone to pinch flats, when weight re-distributes on bends etc. Which is what happened in this case!

[arbitor]

I ran some mavic d321 rims with some intense DH tubes and omg the wheel with the large hope hub weighed about a stone

Unlucky bud, sounds like you had fun though

[Konan555]

Pinch flat it is. Always inflate ones tyres in stages and make sure the tyres sitting on the rim right.

And stop being a girl... ride 45 PSI. I did round 1 this year at 65psi

[herulach]

Pinch flat it is. Always inflate ones tyres in stages and make sure the tyres sitting on the rim right.

And stop being a girl... ride 45 PSI. I did round 1 this year at 65psi

Pinch flats are for people with the wrong kit. I used to get them all the time before i changed to a 2.5 (nearer 3) tyre with a dh specific innertube, weighs a ton, but its like riding an armchair and grips like a grippy thing. Usually run between 20 psi (for rooty/rocky stuff) and 35 (for hardpack)

[Lowe]

Well, this weekend I equalled the score.

No pinch flats this time. I think it was bad luck more than anything last time, just the way I hit the corner/ramp. Still I made it around - wasn't a world breaking round by any mean stretch. V brakes are defo NOT for the win. I had a disc front which was the only thing stopping me. I might as well not of had a rear brake. :S

[Konan555]

Pinch flats are for people with the wrong kit. I used to get them all the time before i changed to a 2.5 (nearer 3) tyre with a dh specific innertube, weighs a ton, but its like riding an armchair and grips like a grippy thing. Usually run between 20 psi (for rooty/rocky stuff) and 35 (for hardpack)

I wouldn't go as far as saying WRONG kit. I mean, harley davidson tyres at 35psi don't exactly get you anywhere fast racing somewhere like thetford

I like putting road practice to good use of the firetrail. 1.8 or 2.0 tyres, running 45ish unless it's rocky with latex inner tubes. That particular bike's actually built up around a 48, 36, 26 chain set. I've got the double bouncer bike on the way for the 4+ hour enduros.

Not that I've ever actually suffered a pinch flat when riding. I've blown a tyre off the rim pumping it up before now

[noah]

everyone gets pinch flats once in a while. unless they use those intense 4 ply dh tyres, but then i'd rather have the ability to turn and jump my bike rather than have the weight of 2 bricks tied to it!

[herulach]

I wouldn't go as far as saying WRONG kit. I mean, harley davidson tyres at 35psi don't exactly get you anywhere fast racing somewhere like thetford

I like putting road practice to good use of the firetrail. 1.8 or 2.0 tyres, running 45ish unless it's rocky with latex inner tubes. That particular bike's actually built up around a 48, 36, 26 chain set. I've got the double bouncer bike on the way for the 4+ hour enduros.

Not that I've ever actually suffered a pinch flat when riding. I've blown a tyre off the rim pumping it up before now

A meant to put a winky man after that. Ive done enduros on big tyres before (2.25 racing ralph on the back, trusty 2.1 michelin Hot S tubeless on the front.) I think tyres are one of those things that are massively personal. I like something that will stick to absolutely anything, although if the grip goes, it goes in a big way. Most people i ride with tend to like something a little more progressive, which i find quite unsettling.

[Konan555]

Not only are they personal, there's no answer. I've got STACKS of tyres for all sorts.

At the end of the day, I quite often bung a set of £10 Michy Country ATs that I don't mind scrubbing.