Comments on: Flat-tastic

By: Unknown

Unknown — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 09:22:02 +0000

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By: GravityGifted

GravityGifted — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 18:34:31 +0000

I had two revelations while riding down a big hill with 3 other cyclists. I realized that (1) I was gravity Gifted and (2) I must be absolutely crazy…This was in 1995 and i was riding a Cannondale R500 with a recently purchased computer (my first) to allow me to know how slow i was going. I lagged back on the uphill side (moreso than the natural pull of gravity demanded) and kicked hard as i came across the crest of the hill. I gave all until i spun out my biggest gear. Before your disbelief sets in, the R500 had an early road triple crank that was 26-36-46 so spinning it out was no great feat.I flew past the other 3 skinny guys as my bike started moving side to side. I clamped my knees to the top tube and checked out my odometer..54…57..about then i had an epiphany, I am Gravity Gifted..as i was still gaining speed i thought to myself "if i go down, i will probably die.." I then tucked as low as my stiff back and ponderous jelly-belly would allow…59..62..about then a second epiphany , I must be crazyas hell!..64mph…

Well Fatty, there are my epiphanies from a big downhill. Also you have inspired me to blog..at GravityGifted..one entry will post today with a more complete version of this story with a proper tribute to THE FAT CYCLIST..ttfn john

By: GravityGifted

GravityGifted — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 18:33:36 +0000

i thought this year i would avoid flatting problem i had during the winter and early spring last year by using slime tubes on my road bike…bad move, the slime kept sealing up my presta valves and it was a pain to just inflate my tires each day. After about 4 rides, the back pinch-flatted and before the slime worked, the air pressue was so low that i was riding on rim. to be fair, a contibuting factor in this is probably the 240 pound fat ass riding the bike (me). When i began changing the tire, i had to unscrew the top part of the valve and drain the slime just to get enough air out to get the tire off the rim. It was not a pleasant ending to otherwise nice 2.5 hour ride…any, no more slime for me…

By: rich

rich — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 15:05:22 +0000

Rocky – "i had not had a flat in over a year" Except for the one at FallMoab05.

By: Donald

Donald — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 02:59:27 +0000

I was riding over a small patch of dirt about 6 feet long and picked up close to 30 thorns. luckily i was in a city and only a mile or so from a bike shop. did i mention i had so called thorn proof tubes. I wound up get new tubes and tires due to broken thorns i couldnt pull out. now i carry 2 tubes plus patches and havent flatted since but i am scarred to leave em behind

By: UltraRob

UltraRob — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 23:58:59 +0000

In 2002 a flat tire cost me a sub 9 hour finish at the Leadville 100. I weighed in at 190 lbs that year so it was going to be a stretch to go sub 9. 20 miles into the race my rear shock quit holding air. My back was killing me from the weird position it put me in. I pumped it up before the Columbine climb and made it part way up before it was totally sagged down again. Coming down was scaring me with the rear bouncing all over. At the dam I pumped it up but didn’t even make it up the little pavement climb before the air was gone. Near the top of St. Kevins I thought if I really pushed I might still make it under 9. Then on not that bad of a section, I pinch flatted on the rear because the back end was all over. It took me 4 minutes to change to flat. I’m normally faster but that late in the race I was a bit tired. My finishing time: 9:02:22. Ok, was it the flat or the shock that caused me to miss sub 9.

By: BIg Mike In Oz

BIg Mike In Oz — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 20:44:11 +0000

Argentius – I was very fit and very angry and at that speed the hill was behind me in about 60 seconds.

By: Unknown

Unknown — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 19:32:27 +0000

Good luck, Caloi. The Serfas work really well for me, but I’m not sure they’ll hold up as well for skinny guys who are light on their feet, like you.

Ps. I’m not buying Contis ever again. Mine cracked like overcooked sausage.

By: Unknown

Unknown — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 19:26:00 +0000

Argentius, have you seen BIG Mike’s legs? I’ll bet that guy can squat 800 lbs.

I think that fond remembrances of past victories are allowed a little license for at least three reasons: 1) they are remembrances of events long past, so some of the exact details might be a little fuzzy. 2) Using a bunch of qualifiers ruins a good story. 3) Oprah (whom I consider the final authority on all subjects) recently taught us that the line between memoir and fiction is blurry, and that’s OK.

Botched

By: Unknown

Unknown — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 18:07:44 +0000

did you say "There was a brief “fizzt” as air escaped, a little liquid latex squirted onto my legs, and that was the end of it?" i think you did.

so you gave your pump to that guy at leadville. that explains why you didn’t have it for the crop circle trail with bob this week.