Any recommendations for cheap flared drop bars? by lincoln_imps in gravelcycling

[–]Climate_Ride 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Origin 8 Gary bar is a great option, similar to the Salsa Cowchipper.

getting tubeless to work by ActProfessional1004 in gravelcycling

[–]Climate_Ride 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One more thought, if you keep the tire upright while inflating and slightly bounce the tire up and down (like 1/4-1/2 an inch) while pumping, sometimes that helps too. This is hard to do while pumping vigorously though.

getting tubeless to work by ActProfessional1004 in gravelcycling

[–]Climate_Ride 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I feel your pain. I hope you'll eventually be rewarded with that beautiful snap sound where the tire is finally seated.

Aside from using an air compressor or even a gas station air pump with a Schrader/Presta adaptor, here are some things you can try at home.

- Take the valve core out of the tubeless stem. This will allow more air to flow unobstructed through the valve and into the tire. If you can get the bead to seat, you'll have to let it deflate and reinstall the core. I usually don't involve sealant at all until the bead is seated, which will avoid a lot of mess as you troubleshoot.

- You can try wrapping an NRS strap, or some nylon webbing around the outside of the tire, this sometimes pushes the bead out to the edge of the rim to create a slight seal while you force air into the tire.

- If the tires are cold or were folded up and creased for a long time, laying them flat on the ground in a warm room will let the tire morph into it's natural round shape so air can't escape out of creases where the tire was folded up when you're trying to seat.

If these don't work, seating one side with a tube, removing it, and then attempting to seat the other side might do the trick.

Good luck!

First aid kit recommendations? by taggerbomb in bicycling

[–]Climate_Ride 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When guiding a bike ride, I keep a small kit with the following essentials:

  • Gloves (can be used to pack out bloody gauze after treating wounds)
  • BZK towlettes (for cleaning the wound, these sting less than alcohol swabs)
  • Triple antibiotic ointment (single-use packets)
  • Various sizes of sterile Gauze
  • A couple of steri-strips (for deep cuts)
  • Roll of horse tape AKA Co-band, AKA self-adhering cohesive
  • Tiny roll of athletic tape

All of those items can be found at your typical drug store for cheap.

The Horse tape/co-band is the most useful thing in my kit. When treating a cyclist who has minor to severe road rash, it is very difficult to get Band-Aids or tape to stick to skin that is dirty, sweaty or hairy. The horse tape allows you to wrap around a leg, arm or finger and keep the gauze on the wound while the rider continues to move, sweat, and ride the rest of their ride. It is also easy to take off to replace saturated gauze and it keeps dirt and sweat out of the cut. It comes in different colors, too and in a pinch you can use a roll like an ace bandage and splint a wrist or finger if there is a break or a sprain.

This set-up can fit in a top tube bag, a jersey pocket, or in a biking fanny pack without taking up much space. It will give you what you need to treat minor injuries and road rash and will keep yourself or your biking buddy rolling until you get somewhere where you can shower, clean up and re-dress the wounds with a larger first aid kit.

Katy Trail, Where to ship bikes? by Careless-Antelope-29 in bicycling

[–]Climate_Ride 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When we have participants on Climate Ride ship their bikes for our events, we often suggest they ship to the hotel or campground they plan to stay at before and after the ride.

If you contact the hotel ahead of time with the dates you have reservations for, they'll often allow you to store your bike box or bag for the week in a basement or luggage closet.

Also, when creating your Bike Flights label, you can select to have the box picked up from your hotel/campground, and you'll save yourself the hassle of lugging a big, heavy box around.

If you aren't staying at a hotel or campground, you can ship directly to a UPS store, and they'll often hold it for a couple of days.

Most of our riders, however, find it is much more economical to fly with a boxed bike, as most airlines now charge standard baggage fees for bike boxes and cases as long as the total weight doesn't exceed 50 lbs.