Race Across the Sky

On Thursday I saw Race Across the Sky, the documentary about the Leadville Trail 100, at my local cinema. It is not the best documentary out there, but some of the scenes are awe-inspiring and the race is clearly an amazing experience for all involved. Lance Armstrong, the winner of the race this year, may have his faults but he is such an extraordinary athlete and probably a cool guy to hang with.

Ooze and Rubber; or the Ups and Downs of Tubeless Tires

Some people love Stan's tubeless system, some people hate it. If you look at internet review sites, it's either got 5 stars or 1 star. I haven't made up my mind yet. I think it is a killer system because of how it performs, but you must recognize that setting it up is an exercise in frustration. 

These are the things I have learned since using it. 

• Lower tire pressures are really nice for mountain biking, like everyone claims.
• The sealant works. When you get a puncture, it will seal up right away. 
• You can waste a whole day trying to set it up before you shallow your pride and go to a bike shop where they can do it in 10 minutes.
• Don't even bother trying to get your tires to seat with a floor pump. Use a compressor. Take your wheels to a gas station or bike shop if you have to.
• Tubes are way easier. Except that they get flats.

Last spring, I decided to jump belatedly on the tubeless tire bandwagon and find out what the big deal was. I bought the Stan's No Tubes kit and thought I would give it a shot. I followed the instructions exactly, and everything was great until I tried to inflate and seat the tires on the rims. It wouldn't work, at all. I had sweat running down my face while pumping with one hand and trying to coax the tire bead to seat with the other. Finally, I gave in and took the wheels to the shop. $10 and ten minutes later I was on my way to tubeless bliss.

The last few months they have ridden well and have held air - no complaints. Earlier this week I got a puncture on the sidewall and after splashing some sealant around it was sealed. I noticed that there didn't seem to be much sealant left after 4 months of summer, so this weekend I decided to add some. Thinking I could simply pop part of the tire bead off, pour in the sealant, pump it up and be on my way, I tried it myself.

It didn't seat, again. I even bought a garden sprayer to use as sort of a homemade compressor. That didn't work either - not enough pressure. So again, I took it to the shop. They let me use the compressor and a few minutes later I was done. Hopefully I'm good for a few months.

So when people talk about how great Stan's tubeless system is, they are right. They are just leaving out the part about setting it up.

Spirituality on Two Wheels

Mountain biking is a spiritual experience. I find peace in the quiet of the woods, humility in the effort that is required, and beauty in the motion between the rider, the bike, and the ground. After every ride, no matter how demanding or bruising it was, I feel refreshed. I have sweated out any negativity and cleared my mind of chaotic thoughts. There is no time for mental chatter when a moment's inattention in a rock garden means breaking a bone. Riding purifies me.

Today I had to attend an event for work. I brought my bike in order to ride afterwards at a nearby park. The event went longer than expected, and then traffic on the drive delayed me further. I was annoyed and tense all the way there; muttering to myself. Then I arrived, unpacked, and rode 15 miles. On the way home there was traffic too, but I didn't care. I was at peace.