• Re: Riding through the years.

    From Jeff Liebermann@21:1/5 to frkrygow@sbcglobal.net on Sun Jan 5 20:43:32 2025
    On Sun, 5 Jan 2025 21:36:02 -0500, Frank Krygowski
    <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

    On 1/5/2025 11:01 AM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 1/4/2025 6:12 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
    I ride almost 4 times a week and until recently with a fair sized group. >>> Now there are about 6 of us that ride together on and off. But a lot
    of my
    riding now is solo. This largely because the group is aging and losing
    the
    ability to do the rides that I still do. Saturday rides are easy rides
    but
    on the way out to the coffee stop, they ride harder than I care to, and
    then on the return trips they are riding a lot slower having burned
    themselve out.

    Perhaps one of them is capable of doing my North Palomares route but
    if he
    did he would drop me like a stone since he is 20 years younger than me.
    And he would freeze to death at the top waiting for me. So the group id
    sging out from under me. Or too young snd too fast to ride at my speed.

    Four degrees at dawn today. I skipped; too damned cold.

    Warmer than that today, but still too cold for me. I took a walk in the >forest preserve instead.

    I saw someone had ridden a bike through there, based on tracks in the >packed-down snow on one gravel roadway. His tires weren't wider than 32mm.

    It got me thinking about the old puzzle of trying to determine the
    direction a bike was going from its tracks. It's not easy! I could tell
    the front tire track from the rear because the front track has a sharper >radius of curvature. But which direction? (Arthur Conan Doyle got this
    puzzle wrong in one Sherlock story.)

    I'm pretty sure I was able to work it out eventually, but from extra >information. The tracks were straight on one short steep hill, which
    seemed to be a clue that he descended it instead of climbing it. (In
    addition to wobbling a bit on a climb, I think his rear tire might have
    spun a bit climbing it.) I was also looking for an obstacle that he
    would have swerved a bit to clear, which would have given another clue,
    but didn't spot one.

    For masochists who enjoy such puzzles:

    "Sherlock Holmes and the Bicycle Tracks" <https://mathweb.ucsd.edu/~ebender/87/bicycle.pdf>

    "The Adventure of the Priory School". <https://sherlock-holm.es/stories/pdf/a4/2-sided/prio.pdf>


    --
    Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
    PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
    Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272
    Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

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  • From Catrike Rider@21:1/5 to Roger Merriman on Mon Jan 6 05:50:50 2025
    On 6 Jan 2025 10:27:40 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:

    Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 1/5/2025 11:01 AM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 1/4/2025 6:12 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
    I ride almost 4 times a week and until recently with a fair sized group. >>>> Now there are about 6 of us that ride together on and off. But a lot
    of my
    riding now is solo. This largely because the group is aging and losing >>>> the
    ability to do the rides that I still do. Saturday rides are easy rides >>>> but
    on the way out to the coffee stop, they ride harder than I care to, and >>>> then on the return trips they are riding a lot slower having burned
    themselve out.

    Perhaps one of them is capable of doing my North Palomares route but
    if he
    did he would drop me like a stone since he is 20 years younger than me. >>>> And he would freeze to death at the top waiting for me. So the group id >>>> sging out from under me. Or too young snd too fast to ride at my speed. >>>
    Four degrees at dawn today. I skipped; too damned cold.

    Warmer than that today, but still too cold for me. I took a walk in the
    forest preserve instead.

    I saw someone had ridden a bike through there, based on tracks in the
    packed-down snow on one gravel roadway. His tires weren't wider than 32mm. >>
    It got me thinking about the old puzzle of trying to determine the
    direction a bike was going from its tracks. It's not easy! I could tell
    the front tire track from the rear because the front track has a sharper
    radius of curvature. But which direction? (Arthur Conan Doyle got this
    puzzle wrong in one Sherlock story.)

    I'm pretty sure I was able to work it out eventually, but from extra
    information. The tracks were straight on one short steep hill, which
    seemed to be a clue that he descended it instead of climbing it. (In
    addition to wobbling a bit on a climb, I think his rear tire might have
    spun a bit climbing it.) I was also looking for an obstacle that he
    would have swerved a bit to clear, which would have given another clue,
    but didn't spot one.


    Some MTB and gravel treads are directional so if the snow is crisp enough
    to work out the tire pattern that is one potential clue.

    Roger Merriman

    As I understand it, the treads should be pointing opposite each other
    on the front vs the back. Even road tires have directional tread, but
    I once read a blurb from Schwhalbe where they admitted that the
    direction of the tread on their road tires was only for looks.

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  • From Roger Merriman@21:1/5 to Frank Krygowski on Mon Jan 6 10:27:40 2025
    Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 1/5/2025 11:01 AM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 1/4/2025 6:12 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
    I ride almost 4 times a week and until recently with a fair sized group. >>> Now there are about 6 of us that ride together on and off. But a lot
    of my
    riding now is solo. This largely because the group is aging and losing
    the
    ability to do the rides that I still do. Saturday rides are easy rides
    but
    on the way out to the coffee stop, they ride harder than I care to, and
    then on the return trips they are riding a lot slower having burned
    themselve out.

    Perhaps one of them is capable of doing my North Palomares route but
    if he
    did he would drop me like a stone since he is 20 years younger than me.
    And he would freeze to death at the top waiting for me. So the group id
    sging out from under me. Or too young snd too fast to ride at my speed.

    Four degrees at dawn today. I skipped; too damned cold.

    Warmer than that today, but still too cold for me. I took a walk in the forest preserve instead.

    I saw someone had ridden a bike through there, based on tracks in the packed-down snow on one gravel roadway. His tires weren't wider than 32mm.

    It got me thinking about the old puzzle of trying to determine the
    direction a bike was going from its tracks. It's not easy! I could tell
    the front tire track from the rear because the front track has a sharper radius of curvature. But which direction? (Arthur Conan Doyle got this
    puzzle wrong in one Sherlock story.)

    I'm pretty sure I was able to work it out eventually, but from extra information. The tracks were straight on one short steep hill, which
    seemed to be a clue that he descended it instead of climbing it. (In
    addition to wobbling a bit on a climb, I think his rear tire might have
    spun a bit climbing it.) I was also looking for an obstacle that he
    would have swerved a bit to clear, which would have given another clue,
    but didn't spot one.


    Some MTB and gravel treads are directional so if the snow is crisp enough
    to work out the tire pattern that is one potential clue.

    Roger Merriman

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  • From Roger Merriman@21:1/5 to Catrike Rider on Mon Jan 6 13:50:05 2025
    Catrike Rider <soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
    On 6 Jan 2025 10:27:40 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:

    Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 1/5/2025 11:01 AM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 1/4/2025 6:12 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
    I ride almost 4 times a week and until recently with a fair sized group. >>>>> Now there are about 6 of us that ride together on and off. But a lot >>>>> of my
    riding now is solo. This largely because the group is aging and losing >>>>> the
    ability to do the rides that I still do. Saturday rides are easy rides >>>>> but
    on the way out to the coffee stop, they ride harder than I care to, and >>>>> then on the return trips they are riding a lot slower having burned
    themselve out.

    Perhaps one of them is capable of doing my North Palomares route but >>>>> if he
    did he would drop me like a stone since he is 20 years younger than me. >>>>> And he would freeze to death at the top waiting for me. So the group id >>>>> sging out from under me. Or too young snd too fast to ride at my speed. >>>>
    Four degrees at dawn today. I skipped; too damned cold.

    Warmer than that today, but still too cold for me. I took a walk in the
    forest preserve instead.

    I saw someone had ridden a bike through there, based on tracks in the
    packed-down snow on one gravel roadway. His tires weren't wider than 32mm. >>>
    It got me thinking about the old puzzle of trying to determine the
    direction a bike was going from its tracks. It's not easy! I could tell
    the front tire track from the rear because the front track has a sharper >>> radius of curvature. But which direction? (Arthur Conan Doyle got this
    puzzle wrong in one Sherlock story.)

    I'm pretty sure I was able to work it out eventually, but from extra
    information. The tracks were straight on one short steep hill, which
    seemed to be a clue that he descended it instead of climbing it. (In
    addition to wobbling a bit on a climb, I think his rear tire might have
    spun a bit climbing it.) I was also looking for an obstacle that he
    would have swerved a bit to clear, which would have given another clue,
    but didn't spot one.


    Some MTB and gravel treads are directional so if the snow is crisp enough
    to work out the tire pattern that is one potential clue.

    Roger Merriman

    As I understand it, the treads should be pointing opposite each other
    on the front vs the back. Even road tires have directional tread, but
    I once read a blurb from Schwhalbe where they admitted that the
    direction of the tread on their road tires was only for looks.

    Some tyres yes did be directional depending on front or rear, though
    doesn’t seem many if any at moment, I think perhaps combo of being
    confusing and being designed for two different uses?

    The Front tyres on my MTB and Gravel bikes are directional and only one
    way, the rears are unidirectional.

    The tread on the Big Apples are apparently directional but are cosmetic!
    Does I guess show wear rate and how old tyre is, they don’t tend to wear
    out but get cut up and become puncture prone eventually.

    Roger Merriman

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  • From AMuzi@21:1/5 to Catrike Rider on Mon Jan 6 08:15:10 2025
    On 1/6/2025 4:50 AM, Catrike Rider wrote:
    On 6 Jan 2025 10:27:40 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:

    Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 1/5/2025 11:01 AM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 1/4/2025 6:12 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
    I ride almost 4 times a week and until recently with a fair sized group. >>>>> Now there are about 6 of us that ride together on and off. But a lot >>>>> of my
    riding now is solo. This largely because the group is aging and losing >>>>> the
    ability to do the rides that I still do. Saturday rides are easy rides >>>>> but
    on the way out to the coffee stop, they ride harder than I care to, and >>>>> then on the return trips they are riding a lot slower having burned
    themselve out.

    Perhaps one of them is capable of doing my North Palomares route but >>>>> if he
    did he would drop me like a stone since he is 20 years younger than me. >>>>> And he would freeze to death at the top waiting for me. So the group id >>>>> sging out from under me. Or too young snd too fast to ride at my speed. >>>>
    Four degrees at dawn today. I skipped; too damned cold.

    Warmer than that today, but still too cold for me. I took a walk in the
    forest preserve instead.

    I saw someone had ridden a bike through there, based on tracks in the
    packed-down snow on one gravel roadway. His tires weren't wider than 32mm. >>>
    It got me thinking about the old puzzle of trying to determine the
    direction a bike was going from its tracks. It's not easy! I could tell
    the front tire track from the rear because the front track has a sharper >>> radius of curvature. But which direction? (Arthur Conan Doyle got this
    puzzle wrong in one Sherlock story.)

    I'm pretty sure I was able to work it out eventually, but from extra
    information. The tracks were straight on one short steep hill, which
    seemed to be a clue that he descended it instead of climbing it. (In
    addition to wobbling a bit on a climb, I think his rear tire might have
    spun a bit climbing it.) I was also looking for an obstacle that he
    would have swerved a bit to clear, which would have given another clue,
    but didn't spot one.


    Some MTB and gravel treads are directional so if the snow is crisp enough
    to work out the tire pattern that is one potential clue.

    Roger Merriman

    As I understand it, the treads should be pointing opposite each other
    on the front vs the back. Even road tires have directional tread, but
    I once read a blurb from Schwhalbe where they admitted that the
    direction of the tread on their road tires was only for looks.

    +1

    Why are there direction arrows on fully smooth road tires?

    --
    Andrew Muzi
    am@yellowjersey.org
    Open every day since 1 April, 1971

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  • From Catrike Rider@21:1/5 to AMuzi on Mon Jan 6 10:32:27 2025
    On Mon, 6 Jan 2025 08:15:10 -0600, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

    On 1/6/2025 4:50 AM, Catrike Rider wrote:
    On 6 Jan 2025 10:27:40 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:

    Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 1/5/2025 11:01 AM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 1/4/2025 6:12 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
    I ride almost 4 times a week and until recently with a fair sized group. >>>>>> Now there are about 6 of us that ride together on and off. But a lot >>>>>> of my
    riding now is solo. This largely because the group is aging and losing >>>>>> the
    ability to do the rides that I still do. Saturday rides are easy rides >>>>>> but
    on the way out to the coffee stop, they ride harder than I care to, and >>>>>> then on the return trips they are riding a lot slower having burned >>>>>> themselve out.

    Perhaps one of them is capable of doing my North Palomares route but >>>>>> if he
    did he would drop me like a stone since he is 20 years younger than me. >>>>>> And he would freeze to death at the top waiting for me. So the group id >>>>>> sging out from under me. Or too young snd too fast to ride at my speed. >>>>>
    Four degrees at dawn today. I skipped; too damned cold.

    Warmer than that today, but still too cold for me. I took a walk in the >>>> forest preserve instead.

    I saw someone had ridden a bike through there, based on tracks in the
    packed-down snow on one gravel roadway. His tires weren't wider than 32mm. >>>>
    It got me thinking about the old puzzle of trying to determine the
    direction a bike was going from its tracks. It's not easy! I could tell >>>> the front tire track from the rear because the front track has a sharper >>>> radius of curvature. But which direction? (Arthur Conan Doyle got this >>>> puzzle wrong in one Sherlock story.)

    I'm pretty sure I was able to work it out eventually, but from extra
    information. The tracks were straight on one short steep hill, which
    seemed to be a clue that he descended it instead of climbing it. (In
    addition to wobbling a bit on a climb, I think his rear tire might have >>>> spun a bit climbing it.) I was also looking for an obstacle that he
    would have swerved a bit to clear, which would have given another clue, >>>> but didn't spot one.


    Some MTB and gravel treads are directional so if the snow is crisp enough >>> to work out the tire pattern that is one potential clue.

    Roger Merriman

    As I understand it, the treads should be pointing opposite each other
    on the front vs the back. Even road tires have directional tread, but
    I once read a blurb from Schwhalbe where they admitted that the
    direction of the tread on their road tires was only for looks.

    +1

    Why are there direction arrows on fully smooth road tires?

    I know they're there on my Schwalbe HS20s, but I pay no attention to
    them.

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  • From Catrike Rider@21:1/5 to soloman@old.bikers.org on Mon Jan 6 10:38:48 2025
    On Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:32:27 -0500, Catrike Rider
    <soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:

    On Mon, 6 Jan 2025 08:15:10 -0600, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

    On 1/6/2025 4:50 AM, Catrike Rider wrote:
    On 6 Jan 2025 10:27:40 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:

    Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 1/5/2025 11:01 AM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 1/4/2025 6:12 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
    I ride almost 4 times a week and until recently with a fair sized group.
    Now there are about 6 of us that ride together on and off. But a lot >>>>>>> of my
    riding now is solo. This largely because the group is aging and losing >>>>>>> the
    ability to do the rides that I still do. Saturday rides are easy rides >>>>>>> but
    on the way out to the coffee stop, they ride harder than I care to, and >>>>>>> then on the return trips they are riding a lot slower having burned >>>>>>> themselve out.

    Perhaps one of them is capable of doing my North Palomares route but >>>>>>> if he
    did he would drop me like a stone since he is 20 years younger than me. >>>>>>> And he would freeze to death at the top waiting for me. So the group id >>>>>>> sging out from under me. Or too young snd too fast to ride at my speed. >>>>>>
    Four degrees at dawn today. I skipped; too damned cold.

    Warmer than that today, but still too cold for me. I took a walk in the >>>>> forest preserve instead.

    I saw someone had ridden a bike through there, based on tracks in the >>>>> packed-down snow on one gravel roadway. His tires weren't wider than 32mm.

    It got me thinking about the old puzzle of trying to determine the
    direction a bike was going from its tracks. It's not easy! I could tell >>>>> the front tire track from the rear because the front track has a sharper >>>>> radius of curvature. But which direction? (Arthur Conan Doyle got this >>>>> puzzle wrong in one Sherlock story.)

    I'm pretty sure I was able to work it out eventually, but from extra >>>>> information. The tracks were straight on one short steep hill, which >>>>> seemed to be a clue that he descended it instead of climbing it. (In >>>>> addition to wobbling a bit on a climb, I think his rear tire might have >>>>> spun a bit climbing it.) I was also looking for an obstacle that he
    would have swerved a bit to clear, which would have given another clue, >>>>> but didn't spot one.


    Some MTB and gravel treads are directional so if the snow is crisp enough >>>> to work out the tire pattern that is one potential clue.

    Roger Merriman

    As I understand it, the treads should be pointing opposite each other
    on the front vs the back. Even road tires have directional tread, but
    I once read a blurb from Schwhalbe where they admitted that the
    direction of the tread on their road tires was only for looks.

    +1

    Why are there direction arrows on fully smooth road tires?

    I know they're there on my Schwalbe HS20s, but I pay no attention to
    them.

    Makw that Schwalbe HS420s

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  • From Radey Shouman@21:1/5 to Roger Merriman on Mon Jan 6 13:26:07 2025
    Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> writes:

    Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 1/5/2025 11:01 AM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 1/4/2025 6:12 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
    I ride almost 4 times a week and until recently with a fair sized group. >>>> Now there are about 6 of us that ride together on and off. But a lot
    of my
    riding now is solo. This largely because the group is aging and losing >>>> the
    ability to do the rides that I still do. Saturday rides are easy rides >>>> but
    on the way out to the coffee stop, they ride harder than I care to, and >>>> then on the return trips they are riding a lot slower having burned
    themselve out.

    Perhaps one of them is capable of doing my North Palomares route but
    if he
    did he would drop me like a stone since he is 20 years younger than me. >>>> And he would freeze to death at the top waiting for me. So the group id >>>> sging out from under me. Or too young snd too fast to ride at my speed. >>>
    Four degrees at dawn today. I skipped; too damned cold.

    Warmer than that today, but still too cold for me. I took a walk in the
    forest preserve instead.

    I saw someone had ridden a bike through there, based on tracks in the
    packed-down snow on one gravel roadway. His tires weren't wider than 32mm. >>
    It got me thinking about the old puzzle of trying to determine the
    direction a bike was going from its tracks. It's not easy! I could tell
    the front tire track from the rear because the front track has a sharper
    radius of curvature. But which direction? (Arthur Conan Doyle got this
    puzzle wrong in one Sherlock story.)

    I'm pretty sure I was able to work it out eventually, but from extra
    information. The tracks were straight on one short steep hill, which
    seemed to be a clue that he descended it instead of climbing it. (In
    addition to wobbling a bit on a climb, I think his rear tire might have
    spun a bit climbing it.) I was also looking for an obstacle that he
    would have swerved a bit to clear, which would have given another clue,
    but didn't spot one.


    Some MTB and gravel treads are directional so if the snow is crisp enough
    to work out the tire pattern that is one potential clue.

    On the other hand, a Sherlockian villain would likely put them on
    backwards, just to confuse the issue. I doubt that performance would be
    much reduced.
    --

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  • From Zen Cycle@21:1/5 to Roger Merriman on Mon Jan 6 14:45:46 2025
    On 1/6/2025 8:50 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
    Catrike Rider <soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
    On 6 Jan 2025 10:27:40 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:

    Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 1/5/2025 11:01 AM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 1/4/2025 6:12 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
    I ride almost 4 times a week and until recently with a fair sized group. >>>>>> Now there are about 6 of us that ride together on and off. But a lot >>>>>> of my
    riding now is solo. This largely because the group is aging and losing >>>>>> the
    ability to do the rides that I still do. Saturday rides are easy rides >>>>>> but
    on the way out to the coffee stop, they ride harder than I care to, and >>>>>> then on the return trips they are riding a lot slower having burned >>>>>> themselve out.

    Perhaps one of them is capable of doing my North Palomares route but >>>>>> if he
    did he would drop me like a stone since he is 20 years younger than me. >>>>>> And he would freeze to death at the top waiting for me. So the group id >>>>>> sging out from under me. Or too young snd too fast to ride at my speed. >>>>>
    Four degrees at dawn today. I skipped; too damned cold.

    Warmer than that today, but still too cold for me. I took a walk in the >>>> forest preserve instead.

    I saw someone had ridden a bike through there, based on tracks in the
    packed-down snow on one gravel roadway. His tires weren't wider than 32mm. >>>>
    It got me thinking about the old puzzle of trying to determine the
    direction a bike was going from its tracks. It's not easy! I could tell >>>> the front tire track from the rear because the front track has a sharper >>>> radius of curvature. But which direction? (Arthur Conan Doyle got this >>>> puzzle wrong in one Sherlock story.)

    I'm pretty sure I was able to work it out eventually, but from extra
    information. The tracks were straight on one short steep hill, which
    seemed to be a clue that he descended it instead of climbing it. (In
    addition to wobbling a bit on a climb, I think his rear tire might have >>>> spun a bit climbing it.) I was also looking for an obstacle that he
    would have swerved a bit to clear, which would have given another clue, >>>> but didn't spot one.


    Some MTB and gravel treads are directional so if the snow is crisp enough >>> to work out the tire pattern that is one potential clue.

    Roger Merriman

    As I understand it, the treads should be pointing opposite each other
    on the front vs the back. Even road tires have directional tread, but
    I once read a blurb from Schwhalbe where they admitted that the
    direction of the tread on their road tires was only for looks.

    Some tyres yes did be directional depending on front or rear, though doesn’t seem many if any at moment, I think perhaps combo of being confusing and being designed for two different uses?

    The Front tyres on my MTB and Gravel bikes are directional and only one
    way, the rears are unidirectional.

    The tread on the Big Apples are apparently directional but are cosmetic!
    Does I guess show wear rate and how old tyre is, they don’t tend to wear out but get cut up and become puncture prone eventually.

    Roger Merriman


    I read an article in Velo news a very long time ago when mountain biking
    was first becoming big on MTB tread design. The article basically said
    the only things that matter with MTB tire design are the size and
    spacing of the lugs. Direction of the tread doesn't really matter. One
    specific thing I remember from the article was an engineer they
    interviewed from Specialized who said tread pattern is overrated at
    best. The quote I remember was "we could make a tire that leaves your
    name in the tire print and it would be as good as any tire on the market".

    The only caveat there is that was when tires were rarely outside 1.95 to
    2.35". Bikes back then weren't being built to handle any more than that.
    These days, I've noticed more of a difference in width than anything,
    which is why I'm running 2.8R/3.0F on my FS.

    --
    Add xx to reply

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  • From Roger Merriman@21:1/5 to Zen Cycle on Mon Jan 6 22:54:05 2025
    Zen Cycle <funkmaster@hotmail.com> wrote:
    On 1/6/2025 8:50 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
    Catrike Rider <soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
    On 6 Jan 2025 10:27:40 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:

    Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 1/5/2025 11:01 AM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 1/4/2025 6:12 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
    I ride almost 4 times a week and until recently with a fair sized group.
    Now there are about 6 of us that ride together on and off. But a lot >>>>>>> of my
    riding now is solo. This largely because the group is aging and losing >>>>>>> the
    ability to do the rides that I still do. Saturday rides are easy rides >>>>>>> but
    on the way out to the coffee stop, they ride harder than I care to, and >>>>>>> then on the return trips they are riding a lot slower having burned >>>>>>> themselve out.

    Perhaps one of them is capable of doing my North Palomares route but >>>>>>> if he
    did he would drop me like a stone since he is 20 years younger than me. >>>>>>> And he would freeze to death at the top waiting for me. So the group id >>>>>>> sging out from under me. Or too young snd too fast to ride at my speed. >>>>>>
    Four degrees at dawn today. I skipped; too damned cold.

    Warmer than that today, but still too cold for me. I took a walk in the >>>>> forest preserve instead.

    I saw someone had ridden a bike through there, based on tracks in the >>>>> packed-down snow on one gravel roadway. His tires weren't wider than 32mm.

    It got me thinking about the old puzzle of trying to determine the
    direction a bike was going from its tracks. It's not easy! I could tell >>>>> the front tire track from the rear because the front track has a sharper >>>>> radius of curvature. But which direction? (Arthur Conan Doyle got this >>>>> puzzle wrong in one Sherlock story.)

    I'm pretty sure I was able to work it out eventually, but from extra >>>>> information. The tracks were straight on one short steep hill, which >>>>> seemed to be a clue that he descended it instead of climbing it. (In >>>>> addition to wobbling a bit on a climb, I think his rear tire might have >>>>> spun a bit climbing it.) I was also looking for an obstacle that he
    would have swerved a bit to clear, which would have given another clue, >>>>> but didn't spot one.


    Some MTB and gravel treads are directional so if the snow is crisp enough >>>> to work out the tire pattern that is one potential clue.

    Roger Merriman

    As I understand it, the treads should be pointing opposite each other
    on the front vs the back. Even road tires have directional tread, but
    I once read a blurb from Schwhalbe where they admitted that the
    direction of the tread on their road tires was only for looks.

    Some tyres yes did be directional depending on front or rear, though
    doesn’t seem many if any at moment, I think perhaps combo of being
    confusing and being designed for two different uses?

    The Front tyres on my MTB and Gravel bikes are directional and only one
    way, the rears are unidirectional.

    The tread on the Big Apples are apparently directional but are cosmetic!
    Does I guess show wear rate and how old tyre is, they don’t tend to wear >> out but get cut up and become puncture prone eventually.

    Roger Merriman


    I read an article in Velo news a very long time ago when mountain biking
    was first becoming big on MTB tread design. The article basically said
    the only things that matter with MTB tire design are the size and
    spacing of the lugs. Direction of the tread doesn't really matter. One specific thing I remember from the article was an engineer they
    interviewed from Specialized who said tread pattern is overrated at
    best. The quote I remember was "we could make a tire that leaves your
    name in the tire print and it would be as good as any tire on the market".

    I’d add also add the caveat that Specialized while they do have one of the iconic MTB models, there tyres particularly MTB have never got beyond Meh,
    not bad but not perceived as kinda okay and tend to review as such.

    Unlike in the Gravel space where the Pathfinder gets some love as the
    racers like semi slicks.

    I’d also note that in the DH space trimming knobs down and/or adding cuts, particularly as if one is sponsored maybe a gap in your sponsors line up.

    The only caveat there is that was when tires were rarely outside 1.95 to 2.35". Bikes back then weren't being built to handle any more than that. These days, I've noticed more of a difference in width than anything,
    which is why I'm running 2.8R/3.0F on my FS.

    I run 2.4/2.35 which is about right but tyres on the burly end of trail so Magic Mary up front which lives up to its name in that it manages to grip
    from slop to the hard pack only downside being not the lightest of fastest rolling, it’s shoulders are definitely shaped as to why and would it make a difference?

    Even just the front tyre makes a difference to the bike handling as has a slightly more square shape than the Hans which I had on front/rear before, which is noticeable on tarmac though isn’t a thing once off road, though do notice the increased grip and mud clearance, it’s about the same on harder surfaces.

    It’s not quite a full race spike but it’s very close but unlike those or other dedicated mud tyres they aren’t lethal on wet roots and what not.

    It’s broadly similar in construction to others in the Schwalbe lineup ie it’s the knobs that seem to make the difference, in its ability to grip in loose and wet conditions.

    Roger Merriman

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Roger Merriman@21:1/5 to Catrike Rider on Mon Jan 6 22:54:05 2025
    Catrike Rider <soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
    On Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:32:27 -0500, Catrike Rider
    <soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:

    On Mon, 6 Jan 2025 08:15:10 -0600, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

    On 1/6/2025 4:50 AM, Catrike Rider wrote:
    On 6 Jan 2025 10:27:40 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:

    Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 1/5/2025 11:01 AM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 1/4/2025 6:12 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
    I ride almost 4 times a week and until recently with a fair sized group.
    Now there are about 6 of us that ride together on and off. But a lot >>>>>>>> of my
    riding now is solo. This largely because the group is aging and losing >>>>>>>> the
    ability to do the rides that I still do. Saturday rides are easy rides >>>>>>>> but
    on the way out to the coffee stop, they ride harder than I care to, and
    then on the return trips they are riding a lot slower having burned >>>>>>>> themselve out.

    Perhaps one of them is capable of doing my North Palomares route but >>>>>>>> if he
    did he would drop me like a stone since he is 20 years younger than me.
    And he would freeze to death at the top waiting for me. So the group id
    sging out from under me. Or too young snd too fast to ride at my speed.

    Four degrees at dawn today. I skipped; too damned cold.

    Warmer than that today, but still too cold for me. I took a walk in the >>>>>> forest preserve instead.

    I saw someone had ridden a bike through there, based on tracks in the >>>>>> packed-down snow on one gravel roadway. His tires weren't wider than 32mm.

    It got me thinking about the old puzzle of trying to determine the >>>>>> direction a bike was going from its tracks. It's not easy! I could tell >>>>>> the front tire track from the rear because the front track has a sharper >>>>>> radius of curvature. But which direction? (Arthur Conan Doyle got this >>>>>> puzzle wrong in one Sherlock story.)

    I'm pretty sure I was able to work it out eventually, but from extra >>>>>> information. The tracks were straight on one short steep hill, which >>>>>> seemed to be a clue that he descended it instead of climbing it. (In >>>>>> addition to wobbling a bit on a climb, I think his rear tire might have >>>>>> spun a bit climbing it.) I was also looking for an obstacle that he >>>>>> would have swerved a bit to clear, which would have given another clue, >>>>>> but didn't spot one.


    Some MTB and gravel treads are directional so if the snow is crisp enough >>>>> to work out the tire pattern that is one potential clue.

    Roger Merriman

    As I understand it, the treads should be pointing opposite each other
    on the front vs the back. Even road tires have directional tread, but
    I once read a blurb from Schwhalbe where they admitted that the
    direction of the tread on their road tires was only for looks.

    +1

    Why are there direction arrows on fully smooth road tires?

    I know they're there on my Schwalbe HS20s, but I pay no attention to
    them.

    Makw that Schwalbe HS420s

    Like the big apples I run on the commute bike, the tread is essentially cosmetic for most part and while I do put them on the right way around and valve to logo etc, it doesn’t make any difference!

    Roger Merriman

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Roger Merriman@21:1/5 to Frank Krygowski on Mon Jan 6 22:56:36 2025
    Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 1/6/2025 9:15 AM, AMuzi wrote:

    Why are there direction arrows on fully smooth road tires?

    There are - or at least, were - directional arrows on some motorcycle
    tires. IIRC, on Dunlop K81s that I used on a previous motorcycle.

    Tread was symmetrical. I assume there's something relevant in the
    internal construction.


    That doesn’t seem terribly likely to be honest ie tyre construction seems
    to be uniform so not aware of any way of shaping that almost certainly is cosmetic?

    Roger Merriman

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Zen Cycle@21:1/5 to Roger Merriman on Mon Jan 6 18:03:13 2025
    On 1/6/2025 5:54 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:
    Zen Cycle <funkmaster@hotmail.com> wrote:
    On 1/6/2025 8:50 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
    Catrike Rider <soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
    On 6 Jan 2025 10:27:40 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:

    Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 1/5/2025 11:01 AM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 1/4/2025 6:12 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
    I ride almost 4 times a week and until recently with a fair sized group.
    Now there are about 6 of us that ride together on and off. But a lot >>>>>>>> of my
    riding now is solo. This largely because the group is aging and losing >>>>>>>> the
    ability to do the rides that I still do. Saturday rides are easy rides >>>>>>>> but
    on the way out to the coffee stop, they ride harder than I care to, and
    then on the return trips they are riding a lot slower having burned >>>>>>>> themselve out.

    Perhaps one of them is capable of doing my North Palomares route but >>>>>>>> if he
    did he would drop me like a stone since he is 20 years younger than me.
    And he would freeze to death at the top waiting for me. So the group id
    sging out from under me. Or too young snd too fast to ride at my speed.

    Four degrees at dawn today. I skipped; too damned cold.

    Warmer than that today, but still too cold for me. I took a walk in the >>>>>> forest preserve instead.

    I saw someone had ridden a bike through there, based on tracks in the >>>>>> packed-down snow on one gravel roadway. His tires weren't wider than 32mm.

    It got me thinking about the old puzzle of trying to determine the >>>>>> direction a bike was going from its tracks. It's not easy! I could tell >>>>>> the front tire track from the rear because the front track has a sharper >>>>>> radius of curvature. But which direction? (Arthur Conan Doyle got this >>>>>> puzzle wrong in one Sherlock story.)

    I'm pretty sure I was able to work it out eventually, but from extra >>>>>> information. The tracks were straight on one short steep hill, which >>>>>> seemed to be a clue that he descended it instead of climbing it. (In >>>>>> addition to wobbling a bit on a climb, I think his rear tire might have >>>>>> spun a bit climbing it.) I was also looking for an obstacle that he >>>>>> would have swerved a bit to clear, which would have given another clue, >>>>>> but didn't spot one.


    Some MTB and gravel treads are directional so if the snow is crisp enough >>>>> to work out the tire pattern that is one potential clue.

    Roger Merriman

    As I understand it, the treads should be pointing opposite each other
    on the front vs the back. Even road tires have directional tread, but
    I once read a blurb from Schwhalbe where they admitted that the
    direction of the tread on their road tires was only for looks.

    Some tyres yes did be directional depending on front or rear, though
    doesn’t seem many if any at moment, I think perhaps combo of being
    confusing and being designed for two different uses?

    The Front tyres on my MTB and Gravel bikes are directional and only one
    way, the rears are unidirectional.

    The tread on the Big Apples are apparently directional but are cosmetic! >>> Does I guess show wear rate and how old tyre is, they don’t tend to wear >>> out but get cut up and become puncture prone eventually.

    Roger Merriman


    I read an article in Velo news a very long time ago when mountain biking
    was first becoming big on MTB tread design. The article basically said
    the only things that matter with MTB tire design are the size and
    spacing of the lugs. Direction of the tread doesn't really matter. One
    specific thing I remember from the article was an engineer they
    interviewed from Specialized who said tread pattern is overrated at
    best. The quote I remember was "we could make a tire that leaves your
    name in the tire print and it would be as good as any tire on the market".

    I’d add also add the caveat that Specialized while they do have one of the iconic MTB models, there tyres particularly MTB have never got beyond Meh, not bad but not perceived as kinda okay and tend to review as such.

    This was in the early 90's, they were pretty close to the best available
    back then.


    Unlike in the Gravel space where the Pathfinder gets some love as the
    racers like semi slicks.

    I’d also note that in the DH space trimming knobs down and/or adding cuts, particularly as if one is sponsored maybe a gap in your sponsors line up.

    The only caveat there is that was when tires were rarely outside 1.95 to
    2.35". Bikes back then weren't being built to handle any more than that.
    These days, I've noticed more of a difference in width than anything,
    which is why I'm running 2.8R/3.0F on my FS.

    I run 2.4/2.35 which is about right but tyres on the burly end of trail so Magic Mary up front which lives up to its name in that it manages to grip from slop to the hard pack only downside being not the lightest of fastest rolling, it’s shoulders are definitely shaped as to why and would it make a difference?

    Even just the front tyre makes a difference to the bike handling as has a slightly more square shape than the Hans which I had on front/rear before, which is noticeable on tarmac though isn’t a thing once off road, though do notice the increased grip and mud clearance, it’s about the same on harder surfaces.

    It’s not quite a full race spike but it’s very close but unlike those or other dedicated mud tyres they aren’t lethal on wet roots and what not.

    It’s broadly similar in construction to others in the Schwalbe lineup ie it’s the knobs that seem to make the difference, in its ability to grip in loose and wet conditions.

    I'm running the WTB Rangers, haven't had any complaints.


    Roger Merriman




    --
    Add xx to reply

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From AMuzi@21:1/5 to Zen Cycle on Mon Jan 6 17:10:11 2025
    On 1/6/2025 5:03 PM, Zen Cycle wrote:
    On 1/6/2025 5:54 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:
    Zen Cycle <funkmaster@hotmail.com> wrote:
    On 1/6/2025 8:50 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
    Catrike Rider <soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
    On 6 Jan 2025 10:27:40 GMT, Roger Merriman
    <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:

    Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 1/5/2025 11:01 AM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 1/4/2025 6:12 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
    I ride almost 4 times a week and until recently
    with a fair sized group.
    Now there are about 6 of us that ride together on
    and off. But a lot
    of my
    riding now is solo. This largely because the group
    is aging and losing
    the
    ability to do the rides that I still do. Saturday
    rides are easy rides
    but
    on the way out to the coffee stop, they ride harder
    than I care to, and
    then on the return trips they are riding a lot
    slower having burned
    themselve out.

    Perhaps one of them is capable of doing my North
    Palomares route but
    if he
    did he would drop me like a stone since he is 20
    years younger than me.
    And he would freeze to death at the top waiting for
    me. So the group id
    sging out from under me. Or too young snd too fast
    to ride at my speed.

    Four degrees at dawn today. I skipped; too damned cold.

    Warmer than that today, but still too cold for me. I
    took a walk in the
    forest preserve instead.

    I saw someone had ridden a bike through there, based
    on tracks in the
    packed-down snow on one gravel roadway. His tires
    weren't wider than 32mm.

    It got me thinking about the old puzzle of trying to
    determine the
    direction a bike was going from its tracks. It's not
    easy! I could tell
    the front tire track from the rear because the front
    track has a sharper
    radius of curvature. But which direction? (Arthur
    Conan Doyle got this
    puzzle wrong in one Sherlock story.)

    I'm pretty sure I was able to work it out eventually,
    but from extra
    information. The tracks were straight on one short
    steep hill, which
    seemed to be a clue that he descended it instead of
    climbing it. (In
    addition to wobbling a bit on a climb, I think his
    rear tire might have
    spun a bit climbing it.) I was also looking for an
    obstacle that he
    would have swerved a bit to clear, which would have
    given another clue,
    but didn't spot one.


    Some MTB and gravel treads are directional so if the
    snow is crisp enough
    to work out the tire pattern that is one potential clue.

    Roger Merriman

    As I understand it, the treads should be pointing
    opposite each other
    on the front vs the back. Even road tires have
    directional tread, but
    I once read a blurb from Schwhalbe where they admitted
    that the
    direction of the tread on their road tires was only for
    looks.

    Some tyres yes did be directional depending on front or
    rear, though
    doesn’t seem many if any at moment, I think perhaps
    combo of being
    confusing and being designed for two different uses?

    The Front tyres on my MTB and Gravel bikes are
    directional and only one
    way, the rears are unidirectional.

    The tread on the Big Apples are apparently directional
    but are cosmetic!
    Does I guess show wear rate and how old tyre is, they
    don’t tend to wear
    out but get cut up and become puncture prone eventually.

    Roger Merriman


    I read an article in Velo news a very long time ago when
    mountain biking
    was first becoming big on MTB tread design. The article
    basically said
    the only things that matter with MTB tire design are the
    size and
    spacing of the lugs. Direction of the tread doesn't
    really matter. One
    specific thing I remember from the article was an
    engineer they
    interviewed from Specialized who said tread pattern is
    overrated at
    best. The quote I remember was "we could make a tire that
    leaves your
    name in the tire print and it would be as good as any
    tire on the market".

    I’d add also add the caveat that Specialized while they do
    have one of the
    iconic MTB models, there tyres particularly MTB have never
    got beyond Meh,
    not bad but not perceived as kinda okay and tend to review
    as such.

    This was in the early 90's, they were pretty close to the
    best available back then.


    Unlike in the Gravel space where the Pathfinder gets some
    love as the
    racers like semi slicks.

    I’d also note that in the DH space trimming knobs down
    and/or adding cuts,
    particularly as if one is sponsored maybe a gap in your
    sponsors line up.

    The only caveat there is that was when tires were rarely
    outside 1.95 to
    2.35". Bikes back then weren't being built to handle any
    more than that.
    These days, I've noticed more of a difference in width
    than anything,
    which is why I'm running 2.8R/3.0F on my FS.

    I run 2.4/2.35 which is about right but tyres on the burly
    end of trail so
    Magic Mary up front which lives up to its name in that it
    manages to grip
    from slop to the hard pack only downside being not the
    lightest of fastest
    rolling, it’s shoulders are definitely shaped as to why
    and would it make a
    difference?

    Even just the front tyre makes a difference to the bike
    handling as has a
    slightly more square shape than the Hans which I had on
    front/rear before,
    which is noticeable on tarmac though isn’t a thing once
    off road, though do
    notice the increased grip and mud clearance, it’s about
    the same on harder
    surfaces.

    It’s not quite a full race spike but it’s very close but
    unlike those or
    other dedicated mud tyres they aren’t lethal on wet roots
    and what not.

    It’s broadly similar in construction to others in the
    Schwalbe lineup ie
    it’s the knobs that seem to make the difference, in its
    ability to grip in
    loose and wet conditions.

    I'm running the WTB Rangers, haven't had any complaints.


    Roger Merriman





    Specialized tires were/are made by a LOT of vendors, so all
    that depends on model and year. They vary as much as
    anyone's tire line if not more.

    --
    Andrew Muzi
    am@yellowjersey.org
    Open every day since 1 April, 1971

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Catrike Rider@21:1/5 to Roger Merriman on Mon Jan 6 18:28:48 2025
    On 6 Jan 2025 22:54:05 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:

    Catrike Rider <soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
    On Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:32:27 -0500, Catrike Rider
    <soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:

    On Mon, 6 Jan 2025 08:15:10 -0600, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

    On 1/6/2025 4:50 AM, Catrike Rider wrote:
    On 6 Jan 2025 10:27:40 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote: >>>>>
    Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    On 1/5/2025 11:01 AM, AMuzi wrote:
    On 1/4/2025 6:12 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
    I ride almost 4 times a week and until recently with a fair sized group.
    Now there are about 6 of us that ride together on and off. But a lot >>>>>>>>> of my
    riding now is solo. This largely because the group is aging and losing
    the
    ability to do the rides that I still do. Saturday rides are easy rides
    but
    on the way out to the coffee stop, they ride harder than I care to, and
    then on the return trips they are riding a lot slower having burned >>>>>>>>> themselve out.

    Perhaps one of them is capable of doing my North Palomares route but >>>>>>>>> if he
    did he would drop me like a stone since he is 20 years younger than me.
    And he would freeze to death at the top waiting for me. So the group id
    sging out from under me. Or too young snd too fast to ride at my speed.

    Four degrees at dawn today. I skipped; too damned cold.

    Warmer than that today, but still too cold for me. I took a walk in the >>>>>>> forest preserve instead.

    I saw someone had ridden a bike through there, based on tracks in the >>>>>>> packed-down snow on one gravel roadway. His tires weren't wider than 32mm.

    It got me thinking about the old puzzle of trying to determine the >>>>>>> direction a bike was going from its tracks. It's not easy! I could tell >>>>>>> the front tire track from the rear because the front track has a sharper
    radius of curvature. But which direction? (Arthur Conan Doyle got this >>>>>>> puzzle wrong in one Sherlock story.)

    I'm pretty sure I was able to work it out eventually, but from extra >>>>>>> information. The tracks were straight on one short steep hill, which >>>>>>> seemed to be a clue that he descended it instead of climbing it. (In >>>>>>> addition to wobbling a bit on a climb, I think his rear tire might have >>>>>>> spun a bit climbing it.) I was also looking for an obstacle that he >>>>>>> would have swerved a bit to clear, which would have given another clue, >>>>>>> but didn't spot one.


    Some MTB and gravel treads are directional so if the snow is crisp enough
    to work out the tire pattern that is one potential clue.

    Roger Merriman

    As I understand it, the treads should be pointing opposite each other >>>>> on the front vs the back. Even road tires have directional tread, but >>>>> I once read a blurb from Schwhalbe where they admitted that the
    direction of the tread on their road tires was only for looks.

    +1

    Why are there direction arrows on fully smooth road tires?

    I know they're there on my Schwalbe HS20s, but I pay no attention to
    them.

    Makw that Schwalbe HS420s

    Like the big apples I run on the commute bike, the tread is essentially >cosmetic for most part and while I do put them on the right way around and >valve to logo etc, it doesnÆt make any difference!

    Roger Merriman


    I don't even look for the little arrow and pay no attention to the
    directional tread when I mount tires. I know that right now my left
    front is mounted the "wrong way, and I only know it by looking at the
    tread pattern. The right is "correct," and I don't see the rear when
    I'm riding.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)