The Bicycling Thread

[wildbears]

Nominal versus Actual tire sizes....

The nominal size is what is printed on the side wall whereas the actual size is what the tire measures when mounted and inflated on a given rim width.

There is frequently a difference in these and this varies by brand.

For example the Specialized Armadillo tires are significantly larger than the Bontrager R2's. The 28c versions of these on 19.5 mm rims at 50 psi measure 29 x 26 mm and 26 x 24 mm respectively for widths and heights..

An important facet of this is with bike frames limited to 28c tires due to clearance restraints. It may be that the Specialized versions will still fit while providing more air volume and ride comfort.

Also note that this may affect rolling resistance measurements for a given nominal tire size. For example, Specialized may claim better rolling resistance for its 28c tire than the Bontrager 28c, but it's comparing apples and oranges.

[wildbears]

When laid out flat, the Armadillo's are 73 mm wide and the R2's, 69 mm wide.

[wildbears]

When the Armadillos are mounted on my 13 mm IW Campy rims (vintage) they are comparable in size to the R2's on the 19.5 mm IW Bontrager rims. So the wider rims increase overall tire dimensions for a given tire size.

[wildbears]

Tour de France 2022 Links:

NBC Sports TdF 2022 Coverage List of teams and cyclists in the 2022 Tour de France

Tour de France 2022: Final Teams (Men)

List of teams and cyclists in the 2022 Tour de France

Race Perspective Now with Lance Armstrong

Chris Horner, The Butterfly Effect

[955i]

Wildbears, I don't have a link, but watch Chris Horne;s Butterfly Effet on Youtube every night. Great commentary.

[wildbears]

Thanks. Will add the link to the list above.

[wildbears]

So the TdF seems kind of lackluster this year. One reason, IMHO, is Quick Step pulled Mark Cavendish who would have been contending for the TdF stage win record.

[955i]

I am as fascinated as ever. Lots of interesting stuff going on. Team discord - strange strategies - and the young enthusiasm of Tadej Pogacar.

[wildbears]

Good points.

[wildbears]

Being disappointed that Cav didn't start is more than compensated for by what turned out to be an incredible tour.

[955i]

Wildbears, be sure and watch Stage 11. In 2015 three friends and I spent two and a half weeks in France in a little village near Briancon. We rode (slowly) up many of the iconic climbs of the Tour. About 10 commonly used climbs are within riding distance of Briancon, if you don't mind 60-80 mile rides with climbs interspersed! Wednesday's Stage 11 retraces some of those climbs. Most we did one per day. The peloton is conquering several at a time. Tomorrow be sure to watch the Lacets de Monternier. It was first in the Tour in 2015 and hasn't been visited since. It is a little narrow road to the top of a massif behind the town. The Frence Dept. or Transport would not fund the road, so it was built be the townspeople over a number of years. It is narrow with lots of little switchbacks. It is outstandingly scenic to watch from the air or to ride up it like we did. Tough for amateurs, but not so much to the pros. THEN, the peloton goes up the valley and turns to tackle the Col du Telegraph, a tough climb in its own right. But continues on up that pass to the famous Col du Galibier, where it next descends forever into the outskirts of Briancon. However, instead of entering Briancon, they make a left turn and ascend the Col du Granon. They end at the summit.

The Galibier was a single day's climb by itself for us. It is the most frequently climbed col in the Tour. I think it has been seen something like 28 times. At one time it was the hardest and highest, but in the last 30 years, more paved roads have been laid to the tops of ski areas and some of those are real killer steep! However, the Galibier is still no joke, and like tomorrow, is often used in the middle of a stage as the Tour transits from one part of France into the Haute Alpes. The Granon was the single hardest day for me on our visit. It didn't have that scary of a reputation, but I was extremely glad to see the wooden buildings at the summit at end of that long 60-mile day! It was tougher for me than even the Alpe du Huez. Interestingly, some local teen-to-20ish something girl passed me going up with no effort while she was talking on her cell phone. No surprise to be passed, but it was funny listening to her for a few moments chatting away in French with no care in the world.

[wildbears]

I was passed by a family of four riding from Estes Park to the Continental Divide. I was on a Gios Torino Professional, a race bike (rented in Estes Park), and was in good shape from racing. Nearing the top I looked back to see this family quickly approaching and then passing me. Talk about an ego deflater. But then they had granny gearing. Mine had a straight block and I had been standing of the pedals for much of the ride.

[wildbears]

Stage 11, TdF '22...

[955i]

Great view, huh?! IT was a fun climb.

[955i]

Today's Stage 11? BOOM!

[wildbears]

UAE should have held back in stage 10 and taken a rest.

[wildbears]

Bad day for Jumbo-Visma's in the TdF (stage 15, lost 2 riders).

[955i]

HUGE loss for Jumbo-Visma. I like Roglic and he has proven to be a loyal lieutenant to Vingegaard, even though Roglic started the race as the team's number one. The wrecks just take it out of you. He is a frequent crasher. Whether it is truly his fault or not, doesn't really matter a at this point. Losing him is a big blow.
Kriswick (Spelling?) is double tough and is as important as Roglic. Leaving it all on Sepp Kuss's shoulders is asking a lot.

There is a LOT OF RACING left in this last week. Looking forward to it. I think Jumbo's directors are not very good tacticians. UAE, with a weaker team will probably close the gap and Tadej will win with another killer time trial.

[Lee]

The Original Rail-Trail...

Curt sent me this link.
https://youtu.be/M8mhIdZoVow?t=10

[wildbears]

Thanks for the link!

[wildbears]

Stage 2 crash, 2022 TdF...seems long ago.

[955i]

Jacobson was a non-factor today.

[wildbears]

Looks like it was a regrettable decision. Hope Cav breaks the record next year. According to him, he's still improving.

[wildbears]

Femmes, stage 4!

[955i]

Please tell me the UAE Team car dodged the downed rider. Did they bump her, or was her fall caused by something else. In any event, there is some pretty sketchy team car driving.

[wildbears]

No car contact with the downed rider.

Maybe bumper mounted lasers aimed down at the pavement, on both sides, could indicate a no pull over zone?

Look for the red dots on the pavement.

[955i]

I'd say that was a close call. Some of the men the last few years have really been hurt by cars (and fences)/

[wildbears]

So why do recumbent cyclists wear masks all the time???

[955i]

A. So nobody they know will recognize them?
B. Because they get dirt and gravel thrown up at their faces from the front wheel?
C. Because simply riding a recumbent isn't dorky enough?

[wildbears]

Mystery solved!

[802Mike]

That's a different bike... front wheel drive ?