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Rain, and Tyres

THE WRATH OF GOD
Chatting to people about riding in poor weather, I often grin and say "I've been out in worse."

And it's true, at least, it was until yesterday evening.

Blimey.

Manchester's weather was proper, wrath of god biblical as I rode home.

I took shelter in the car wash place on Oxford Road to avoid one heavy downpour, and broke the journey periodically when the rain got too heavy (it never stopped). At one such stop, under the canopy at John Lewis', at Cheadle Royal, the rain came down heavily enough to set off car alarms in the car park. The drains couldn't cope with the downpour, so the bottoms of most hills were, essentially, fords. I rode one (before the motorway bridge just outside Cheadle) but didn't like the idea of the water being over my bottom bracket, so walked the next with the bike held up - even at the furthest point away from the road centre on the footpath, my ankles were under water.

Riding up towards my usual route (right turn up Schools' Hill) the road was deep enough that a Range Rover coming through on the other side was in bumper high water. I ended up turning off with some other cyclists towards Kingsway along NCN 558, which had less standing water on it.

Capping it all off was a road closure in Wilmslow, which meant queueing traffic back to my turning - I got fed up of it (it's not really safe to filter there) and walked most of the way, easily outpacing the traffic. I arrived at Wilmslow station just as the train I was aiming for left, and as bright sunshine appeared. When I got off at Crewe, I managed to ride two dry minutes and then it rained again (not as heavy though).

And then I spent the evening desperately trying to get my stuff dry for today's ride, with only partial succes.

Whilst there was a point at which I was so wet that evidently I wasn't getting wetter (which was sort of liberating, in an odd way) the chill that set in when ever I stopped for traffic lights or to turn was bone deep.

TYRES
People often ask for opinions on tyres - I've put together my experiences so far below.

On the Tourer/Commuter (Surly LHT) - Continental City Contact 700x42c - like these a lot, so far, and they're less slippy than the Vredestein Perfect Max they replaced. No p* on them since I put them on last November (riding 28 miles per day in and out of Manchester), tread seems to wear well.

On the "quick" (ha!) bike, I've tried;

1) Kenda Kontender (700x 26c Wire on)
Awful. very grippy, but punctured so frequently that I was carrying two or three tubes with me on each ride.

2) Schwalbe Stelvio (700x25c Wire on)
These I really liked - they lasted about 1,500 miles, I think, before the back got a bad cut from some glass.

3) Continental Gatorskins (700x25c, Wire on)
Roll nicely at the recommended pressure, and pretty hardwearing. Downside for the set I had was the performance in the wet, which was awful - I had no confidence in them at all to keep me upright, and to this day, these are the only tyre I've managed to wheelspin.

4) Michelin Pro Race2 (700x25c, folding)
These are absolutely superb - road feel is fantastic, they roll beautifully, and they're hardwearing *enough*, given their other qualities. The 25c is nicely plush too.

5) Continental GP4000 (700x23c, folding)
My favourite tyre before I'd tried Pro Race. These are really nice, but riding pro race makes them feel, well, not quite "meh" but they're not in the same league (imo, ymmv, &c)

On the Brompton, Brompton Greens. Only had one puncture on the B, and that was due to a faulty inner tube. (and in the front wheel, thank god!)

STUFFE

ANTI-MONKEY BUTT POWDER
A new product tested at Urban Velo. Clicking through to the manufacturer's site, the ad videos are really very funny.

LONDON CYCLING
Some interesting stuff from Karl on Sea on his recent visit to the capital.

He compares London's hire scheme with others.

He looks at how driver behaviour can make even a fairly straightforward route an intimidating experience.

And lastly he observes the dominance of the Brompton in multi-modal commuting.

OTHER PEOPLE'S PROJECTS
I'm really enjoying Kim Harding's account of his bike build. The build is based on a 2009 Genesis Croix de Fer frame (one of the "do it all" cross bikes that are becoming more and more popular), which was an unusual bike at the time it was introduced because of its disc brakes.

It should build up into a really nice commuter/light tourer/off roader.

CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE DEPT.
I've been irritated by Copenhagenize's occasional jabs at the "sport" cyclist, so it was nice to see him speak favourably of Robert Penn's "It's All About the Bike" here.

SHOULD IT BE CALLED THE ROULEUR'S JERSEY?
A great article on why Petacchi's disqualification from the Tour would not mean Mark Cavendish taking green, here on the Pave blog.

VELOCLUB DON LOGAN DOES LE TOUR
...and has an international incident afterwards too.

REDUCE SPEEDS, AND THEY WILL COME

Copenhagen's Car-free streets & Slow-speed zones from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

The Utility Cycling blog had this nice Streetfilms film about Copenhagen's people friendly spaces. It's good because it shoots holes in many of the reasons people give for not taming the car a little in our cities. As has been said before, if we can make the spaces between our buildings into more than the parts where motor traffic goes as fast as it can, good things happen.

ARTHUR DE PINS AT THE BEACH
Drawn.ca features the work of French artist Arthur De Pins, here. Appropriately for the time of year, if not the weather *I'm* experiencing, it's beach themed.

THEY DRAW AND COOK
Artists and illustrators write and illustrate their favourite recipes. Featured on the Lines and Colors blog.

SALSA UPDATES
Salsa have an update on the clever Wanderlust, and downright nifty minimalist racks they showed earlier in the year.

They're also making a Snowbike, the Mukluk, which looks very cool - check out the design features they've put on the frame.

My Mid-Life Crisis

I'd Much Rather have been in a Car. DAMN MY MID LIFE CRISIS.

The Daily Mail has taken a break from dividing the world into things that cause cancer/things that don't, and mocking the dress sense of female "celebrities" to weigh in on the topic of an increase in sales of bicycles. I'm not sure what the Telegraph stopped doing to do so, but they have a piece too - apparently the Telegraph article was also covered on BBC news. Both articles point to it as evidence of a (male) mid-life crisis.

The Mail's position is largely silly season mockery and supercilliousness, it seems to me, pointing to "research" showing that bikes allow one to "send out the message that its rider has the appealing qualities of being fit, rugged and loving the planet, according to the experts." The researchers dub "the upsurge in bike sales, the ‘noughties version of the mid-life crisis’" - of course, because no one would ride a bike if there wasn't something odd about them, would they? As one commenter succinctly points out "in Holland, everyone has a mid-life crisis."

The bike is said to lack the allure of the things normal men are interested in, like Ferraris and Porsches (of course!) And Billy Zane (41) "admitted" going bar hopping on his bike, apparently (riding a bike, his guilty secret!). The writer is either dead inside, or hasn't seen a lugged Mercian, or a Pegorretti, either of which I'd, personally, climb over several Ferrari to get to.

It's also interesting that the article mentions "top of the range race bikes", but is illustrated by pictures of two men riding eminently sensible (if we forgive the lack of mudguards) hybrids, whilst wearing jeans. This does, at least, forestall the "they look funny in lycra" jibe that tends to accompany such an article.

The real story here isn't so much why the growth is in the 35-44 Male demographic, perhaps, as to why such a cheap (ignore the nonsense about the bikes costing £7,000 in the Telegraph) and convenient way of getting about is so limited in its appeal here in the UK. Why don't we see more cycle use among women and young people? A further tragedy is that while many bikes are sold, relatively few are ridden regularly beyond an initial flush of enthusiasm, and fewer still on the sort of short, regular journey that makes a difference to local communities and traffic congestion.

I suspect the answer lies largely in the shameful attitude of the UK to the safety of cyclists and pedestrians, and sadly, that isn't a story you'll see the Mail, or the Telegraph telling any time soon.

Velogames Number Crunching: Stage 18

Explanation here.

Value Team, Stage 18;

All Rounders:
Score: 1177 Cost: 22 Rider: Andy SCHLECK
Score: 1048 Cost: 28 Rider: Alberto CONTADOR

Category Total Score, cost 2225 50
Category % of Score, cost 36.57% 51.02%

Climbers:
Score: 728 Cost: 14 Rider: Samuel SÁNCHEZ
Score: 505 Cost: 10 Rider: Joaquim RODRIGUEZ

Category Total Score, cost 1233 24
Category % of Score, cost 20.26% 24.49%

Domestiques:
Score: 530 Cost: 4 Rider: José Joaquin ROJAS
Score: 394 Cost: 2 Rider: Geraint THOMAS
Score: 266 Cost: 2 Rider: Sebastien TURGOT

Category Total Score, cost 1190 8
Category % of Score, cost 19.56% 8.16%

Wildcard:
Score: 492 Cost: 4 Rider: Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK

Category Total Score, cost 492 4
Category % of Score, cost 8.09% 4.08%

Sprinter:
Score: 945 Cost: 12 Rider: Alessandro PETACCHI

Category Total Score, cost 945 12
Category % of Score, cost 15.53% 12.24%

Grand Total Score, Cost: 6085 98

No change beyond score in the value team.

High Score Team;

All Rounders:
Score: 1177 Cost: 22 Rider: Andy SCHLECK
Score: 571 Cost: 16 Rider: Denis MENCHOV

Category Total Score, cost 1748 38
Category % of Score, cost 28.60% 38.00%

Climbers:
Score: 728 Cost: 14 Rider: Samuel SÁNCHEZ
Score: 298 Cost: 6 Rider: Pierrick FEDRIGO

Category Total Score, Cost 1026 20
Category % of Score, Cost 16.79% 20.00%

Domestiques:
Score: 612 Cost: 6 Rider: Sylvain CHAVANEL
Score: 530 Cost: 4 Rider: José Joaquin ROJAS
Score: 394 Cost: 2 Rider: Geraint THOMAS

Category Total Score, Cost 1536 12
Category % of Score, Cost 25.14% 12.00%

Sprinter:
Score: 945 Cost: 12 Rider: Alessandro PETACCHI

Category Total Score, Cost 945 12
Category % of Score, Cost 15.46% 12.00%

Wildcard:
Score: 856 Cost: 18 Rider: Thor HUSHOVD

Category Total Score, Cost 856 18
Category % of Score, Cost 14.01% 18.00%

Grand totals, Score, Cost 6111 100

Other than score, the only change in the high score team is to see Petacchi and Hushovd change places again. It's interesting to see the scores for the High Score team and value team converge, although I'm still fairly certain my methodology has selected the highest scoring team possible for 100 credits.

Velogames Number Crunching: Stage 17

Explanation Here.

Stage 17 Value Team;
All Rounders:
Score: 1141 Cost: 22 Rider: Andy SCHLECK
Score: 1004 Cost: 28 Rider: Alberto CONTADOR

Category Total Score, Cost 2145 50
Category % of Score, Cost 38.40% 53.19%

Climbers:
Score: 702 Cost: 14 Rider: Samuel SÁNCHEZ
Score: 298 Cost: 6 Rider: Pierrick FEDRIGO

Category Total Score, cost 1000 20
Category % of Score, cost 17.90% 21.28%

Domestiques:
Score: 484 Cost: 4 Rider: José Joaquin ROJAS
Score: 394 Cost: 2 Rider: Geraint THOMAS
Score: 256 Cost: 2 Rider: Sebastien TURGOT

Category Total Score, cost 1134 8
Category % of Score, cost 20.30% 8.51%

Wildcard:
Score: 474 Cost: 4 Rider: Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK

Category Total Score, cost 474 4
Category % of Score, cost 8.49% 4.26%

Sprinter:
Score: 833 Cost: 12 Rider: Alessandro PETACCHI

Category Total Score, cost 833 12
Category % of Score, cost 14.91% 12.77%

Grand Totals, Score, Cost 5586 94

Some changes here, perhaps the most significant being the appearance of Alberto Contador, who's taken a while to score highly enough to represent good value for his high credit cost. Jurgen Van Den Broeck also displaces Maxime Bouet as the team wildcard, his riding belying his classification as a "Domestique" in the mountains. The value team is still well within the credit budget, 6 credits under the maximum team cost of 100.

Stage 17 High Score Team:

All Rounders:
Score: 1141 Cost: 22 Rider: Andy SCHLECK
Score: 550 Cost: 16 Rider: Denis MENCHOV

Category Total Score, cost 1691 38
Category % of Score, cost 28.85% 38.00%

Climbers:
Score: 702 Cost: 14 Rider: Samuel SÁNCHEZ
Score: 298 Cost: 6 Rider: Pierrick FEDRIGO

Category Total Score, cost 1000 20
Category % of Score, cost 17.06% 20.00%

Domestiques:
Score: 612 Cost: 6 Rider: Sylvain CHAVANEL
Score: 484 Cost: 4 Rider: José Joaquin ROJAS
Score: 394 Cost: 2 Rider: Geraint THOMAS

Category Total Score, cost 1490 12
Category % of Score, cost 25.42% 12.00%

Sprinter:
Score: 848 Cost: 18 Rider: Thor HUSHOVD

Category Total Score, cost 848 18
Category % of Score, cost 14.47% 18.00%

Wildcard:
Score: 833 Cost: 12 Rider: Alessandro PETACCHI

Category Total Score, cost 833 12
Category % of Score, cost 14.21% 12.00%

Grand Totals, Score, Cost: 5862 100

In the high score team, Denis Menchov replaces Alexandre Vinokourov, his credit value and score making him a good swap to get the credit cost down to 100.

At this point in the game, the winning team had a score of 4970, giving our value team a lead of 616 points, and the high score team a lead of 692.

Velogames Number Crunching: Stage 16

Explanation here;

Value Team;
All Rounders:
Score: 925 Cost: 22 Rider: Andy SCHLECK
Score: 473 Cost: 16 Rider: Alexandre VINOKOUROV

Category Total Score, cost 1398 38
Category % of Score, cost 31.28% 47.50%

Climbers:
Score: 596 Cost: 14 Rider: Samuel SÁNCHEZ
Score: 298 Cost: 6 Rider: Pierrick FEDRIGO

Category Total Score, cost 894 20
Category % of Score, cost 20.00% 25.00%

Domestiques:
Score: 478 Cost: 4 Rider: José Joaquin ROJAS
Score: 394 Cost: 2 Rider: Geraint THOMAS
Score: 256 Cost: 2 Rider: Sebastien TURGOT

Category Total Score, cost 1128 8
Category % of Score, cost 25.23% 10.00%

Wildcard:
Score: 225 Cost: 2 Rider: Maxime BOUET

Category Total Score, cost 225 2
Category % of Score, cost 5.03% 2.50%

Sprinter:
Score: 825 Cost: 12 Rider: Alessandro PETACCHI

Category Total Score, cost 825 12
Category % of Score, cost 18.46% 15.00%

Grand Totals, Score, Cost 4470 80

High Score Team;
All Rounders:
Score: 925 Cost: 22 Rider: Andy SCHLECK
Score: 473 Cost: 16 Rider: Alexandre VINOKOUROV

Category Total Score, cost 1398 38
Category % of Score, cost 25.71% 38.00%

Climbers:
Score: 596 Cost: 14 Rider: Samuel SÁNCHEZ
Score: 298 Cost: 6 Rider: Pierrick FEDRIGO

Category Total Score, cost 894 20
Category % of Score, cost 16.44% 20.00%

Domestiques:
Score: 612 Cost: 6 Rider: Sylvain CHAVANEL
Score: 478 Cost: 4 Rider: José Joaquin ROJAS
Score: 394 Cost: 2 Rider: Geraint THOMAS

Category Total Score, cost 1484 12
Category % of Score, cost 27.29% 12.00%

Sprinter:
Score: 836 Cost: 18 Rider: Thor HUSHOVD

Category Total Score, cost 836 18
Category % of Score, cost 15.38% 18.00%

Wildcard:
Score: 825 Cost: 12 Rider: Alessandro PETACCHI

Category Total Score, cost 825 12
Category % of Score, cost 15.17% 12.00%

Grand Totals, Score, Cost 5437 100

At last, a change, largely thanks to Pierrick Fedrigo's exploits, and his classification as a climber. In the high score team, Petacchi and Hushovd change places once again.