Talking about fast tires, make a video using all Pirellis 35 plus (38,40 etc) tires for us to see the difference on speed and puncture protection between them.
Hi Ollie and Alex. Can you recommend some tubeless sealant for someone with a latex allergy? I considered going back to inner tubes rather than wearing PPE every time I top up with sealant, and risking getting it spray on me in the event of a puncture, but the minimum tyre pressure for a Pirelli Cinturato Velo 28c running tubes is higher than is optimal for my weight and 19c wheel width riding in the (UK) winter. Also, if there's fully dried up sealant inside the tyre, do I have to scrape off every last bit before topping up with latex-free? (if available). Hoping the chemistry part of the question brings it to the attention of the Dr on the set! #askgcntech
Oli loves talking tyres! 😂 Geek! Good thing I like listening to him talk about tyres. Listening to him and Alex and then going on a bit of an exploration as to which tyres suit my needs best has lead to me making one of the best changes/upgrades to my ride. TYRES MAKE A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE! Believe the hype!
Beeswax is great for a home-brew mix. I use about 4:1 paraffin to beeswax with a little carnauba and some MoS2. Works great. If you want to be safe for race day, just buy Silca, but it's more fun to come up with your own. All the ingredients are cheap so it's easy to experiment.
TL;DR: salt Wasn't able to get rid of mould in my bottle (I tend to use my worse bottle for juices and other sweet drinks and forget to immediately wash it). Dish soap (Fairy) and scrubbing didn't work (couldn't reach all surfaces of the bottle; moreover, the bottle started to smell and taste like Fairy). I've tried saturated solution of table salt a couple of times with decent success - moldy/shroom-y scent in the bottle gone after a couple days of soaking. If the source of bio-contamination is in the nozzle: I'd turn the bottle upside down and leave it in the salty solution (external reservoir). Normally living organisms shouldn't be able to survive such concentrations of NaCl. Don't forget to rinse afterwards!
Beeswax adheres very well to metal. Paraffin wax is the opposite - it adheres relatively poorly to metal. Beeswax is more plastic, and paraffin wax is more brittle, if I may say so. There are advantages and disadvantages to these physical properties of both types of wax (beeswax and paraffin) for the purpose of maintaining a bicycle chain. If someone manages to combine the advantages of both types and reduce the disadvantages, this will be interesting to study in more detail. However, I do not expect something like this to happen anytime soon and the reason for this is trivial - the pursuit of the easiest profit. This interest is always at the heart of everything. Paraffin is a by-product of the oil industry and as such is in large quantities, easy to produce and extremely cheap (for the large companies that produce it, not for the end user). Beeswax is a completely natural product, it is produced relatively more difficult and in smaller quantities and is therefore significantly more expensive. The difference is that beeswax is more expensive, especially for large companies (compared to paraffin as a unit cost), while for the end user the price is often similar to that of pure paraffin wax (sometimes beeswax is even cheaper than paraffin for the end user - because they can buy it directly from a farmer, for example). In short - it is about profitability and quick return on investment for large (maybe medium-sized also) companies. As for the answer about beeswax in this video - this is a frivolous and disrespectful answer - without any justification, without any explanation. How can someone answer such a question without saying whether they have ever tried beeswax? This is frivolous.
I use beeswax and It works great. Have I done rigorous scientific testing with it? No, but I'm not trying to win anything by a fraction of a second. If it's the wax you get for free? Use it. And Ollie, a bee yard if obviously 0.9144 of a bee meter.
2:38 is a genuis comedical moment for cyclist and long time gcn viewers. Alex is just about to blow up and just shows us his stfu Ollie face the whole time. Amazing, thank you gcn for this amazing unplanned comedic moment. 😅
Good to see you folks learned a lot from Jan Heine. 👍 btw, When F1, MotoGP, SBK, etc utilize different compounds, they also modify chassis/downforce settings. So it's not apples to apples comparison.
#askgcntech You had me worried when you listed TPU as not being recommended for rim brakes (in mountainous terrain). Agree that latex and lightweight butyl (e.g. Conti Supersonics) aren't recommended in this application, and plenty of manufacturers and third parties agree on this. With TPU, it seemed from various sources that these are safe for rim brakes and the better option in terms of heat tolerance. Given that TPU has a higher melting point than butyl and so is more heat resistant. It appears the ultra-lightweight ones
1) I use denture cleaning tablets for soaking water bottle caps overnight. All bottles are washed after each use, ( top rack dishwasher), and caps disassembled and soaked once/week. 2) If the nut isn't fully secure on a presta valve, it is possible for the valve cap to slightly depress the valve stem and slowly bleed air. One more reason to not use presta valve caps.
Besides the denture tablets, you could use sodium percarbonate, the active ingredient in many non-chlorine ɓleaches. It breaks down to hydrogen peroxide and ultimately releases oxygen, which will knock out any mold. Use either with warm water to ensure it dissolves well; shaking also helps. If your bottle has o-rings, you'll also want to take those out and wash separately. I believe it's good to wash your bottles because there's probably some backwash from mouth to bottle. Easy enough when you're back home before refilling. Also, watch out when putting "sugar-free" drinks in your water; these often contain sugar. In the US, the FDA threshold for sugar-free designation is .5 grams of sugar per serving. Whatever gets left in the bottle is just enough to promote mold and bacterial growth.
You are right about hysteresis loses. However, you forgot to factor in the other major contributing factor to rolling resistance which is suspension loses
If i have round seat tube and install an aero carbon seatpost that has round tube lower sections, can it be used on metal frames? Damage concern?performance gain? #askgcntech
@lovemesomedetail off the top of my head I think it was a video interview with the guy running absolute black, but could have been another industry leader. Wasn't gcn, maybe Cam? Can't be more specific it was a few years ago.
Regarding the rim brakes and latex tubes: Yes, I've had this happen, but what tends to occur is that the heat builds up, warms the tubes, and "cooks" them making them less elastic or durable and then they can spontaneously develop a leak. Sometimes a tube will just lose pressure when the bike is not even being ridden. However, even if the air pressure drops, the tire will not be blown off the rim. I think the changing the front tube regularly before failure would be a way to mitigate this. For the back, don't worry about it since you won't lose control of the bike; it will just slow down. At worst, you may dent the rim.
Make sure you tighten the valve's stem after inflating. Some of them will very slowly leak if not tightened back down and also the valve core on TPU's aren't always tight. I use Ridenow tubes and sometimes the removable valve stem is loose.
For tires that lose pressure I usually use a leak finder spray, even the tiniest problem will show up better then with soapy water. When I had a mystery with seemingly random deflating tubeless tire the leak finder spray showed me a tiny shard of glass that got stuck in the tire and was invisible as the rubber "swallowed" it leaving a microscopic puncture that couldn't get sealed correctly by the sealant.
You can soak your water bottles in Puriclean , which a a powder that you add to water to clean caravan water pipes, but killing bacteria and removing the biofilm. It’s available online or camping shops . It’s smells like chlorine/ swimming pool water . Just soak them and then wash them out after . I do find that slime or biofilm can appear in a water bottle
Strange, I run latex tubes on my rim brake alloy DT Swiss wheels and have never had any issues with overheated tubes bursting. I live in a hilly warm environment and have some long technical descents on some rides. Important note, I also do not hold my brakes on long descents for long periods of time, just brake when necessary to safely control speed.
I have some Schwalbe Aerothan TPU tubes and when pumping them up a couple of days ago one deflated instantly and I found the valve core had come out of the stem and was stuck in the pump. When I screwed it back in again it was apparent that there doesn’t really seem to be a positive engagement in threads, possibly because the valve stem is plastic. I checked other similar tubes and they were all a bit loose and when I did them up none got to the point where they felt they were “all the way”. Did some googling and other people have found the valve cores loose and even popped out like mine so potentially it could be the cause of occasional deflations. Shame as they are great in all other ways, no puncture for ages and really low rolling resistance and weight.
I used latex in 40C degree weather, riding down mountains, with rim brakes, for YEARS. Never had an issue. Just my 2 pence. Victoria latex tubes, if you're interested to know which brand.
Also in addition to your answer about tou tubes ans valve hple. It is also possible to get grommets to convert the valve hole to fit a presta valve better. It just depends on if you want to fit them short term. Would be better used if using presta valve most if not all of the time.
I just ordered a bag of wheels manufacturing presta stem savers... they're machined aluminum and fit better. Currently using those presta valve nuts with the shoulder but wanted something better. I know they make the plastic ones but they seemed a bit more fiddly if you change back n forth. The metal one you just move the rim tape (my wheels use the plastic strips) and slide the adapter in or out.
Once water bottle nozzles go moldy, it is near impossible to clean it off in my experience, HOWEVER, I have had great experiences contacting the manufacturer for replacement parts. Specialized set me a whole new cap just to keep my bottle on the road.
Not for tpu, but if you put a lockring on the tube before you put the valve through the hole and a senond one on the outside of the rim you can stabslise the tube and reduce the chances of it getting damaged in use.
#askgcntech i’m not planning to go tubeless and sticking with clinchers and a tpu combo, Currently running a gp5000 set after switching from a pair of s works turbo cotton. I miss the turbo cottons’ ride feel but it’s super easy to puncture (and expensive). Is there an alternative tyre option outside of the gp5000 which has a nice ride feel like the s works but has better puncture protection? Thank you!
@@larrylem3582no it means they're slacking! If you don't use some method of filling the hole or at least keeping the valve still it'll vibrate until the edge of the hole cuts into the base of the valve and causes a (usually pretty big) leak
PBW (professional Brewer’s wash) is great for cleaning the crevices of a water bottle, the BPW, will dissolve anything biological, Brewer’s and pub owners use it for cleaning all things beer related
I have a tire question. Most of the tires I use are 700x32 to 700x38 and have a chevron tread pattern. They ALL have had a rotation arrow embossed (not painted) on the sidewall. Do all bike tires have a rotation direction even when the tread looks symetric?
latex tubes can burst for sure due to heating brake. there are two broad types of latex tube. the heavier will be almost always ok but not the thinner/lighter, which will burst when braking in the summer
Someone used to make little grommets to stick into the larger schrader hole in those rims so the presta valve wouldn't rattle around or the base area get cut as it presses into the larger hole. With TPU the guy might want to see if he can find some?
You shouldn't use bleach, hospitals don't use it and it's especially bad for mold and unhealthy for you as well it will likely degrade the plastic to leaching in and also causing you to consume more plastic.
#askgcntech Hi! It's been interesting hearing all the talk around crank lengths recently. When Si and Dan mentioned the fast and slow twitch muscle types, I got thinking, does muscle composition have any affect on preferred crank length? Would for instance a rider with predominately slow twitch muscles have any benefits of longer cranks? (less fatigue from lower RPM?) Hoping my question fits into the allotted time! Thanks!
The faster the tire the more it let's the air do the job of cushioning, air has almost no energy losses when it's compressed. So a supple tire is faster and you can run higher pressure for the same comfort compared to a stiff tire.
Ritchey WCS Racing Competition Slicks, 215g a tyre 25C, I Genuinely Recommend These Tyres To Anyone That Wants a Fast Light Durable Tyre. They are Used in American Crit Racing.
#ASKGCNTECH. I have started measuring my tire pressures after my rides and they are typically 2.5 to 4 lbs greater than before the ride. This was a crucial measurement back in my motorsports days for optimizing performance. Although correct tire pressure is a constant topic, the post-ride measurement is not mentioned by the tire and wheel manufactures nor is it a common topic in the cycling community. But should it be? Of course there are several variables affecting the increase in pressure such as air temperature, road/surface temperature, tire composition and construction, ride duration, speed and others. What are your thoughts and comments on Tire-Pressure-Increase during rides and its affect on "optimal" pressures recommended by the many tire pressure calculators?
My question has to do with optimal tire inflation for high-speed cornering. I use the Silca tire pressure calculator which I assume is solving for minimum rolling resistance. But, let's assume I am flying down a curving mountain road. Is the pressure that gives me the lowest rolling resistance also the pressure that gives me optimum cornering grip? I am using tubeless tires on hooked alloy rims if that matters. Thanks! #askgcntech
Confirm the leakage point of your TPU inner tube. If it occurs from time to time on the rim tape side, it would be better to use a soft and smooth tubeless tape (and use an extra layer). Or choose a wheel rim without spoke holes This comes from my sweat and tears experience (and money) with a dozen TPU inner tubes....
Hello GCN TECH! I have a question about the rolling resistance and puncture protection. Basically want to find a tire that has the lowest rolling resistance and maximum puncture protection. I know that one is directly opposite to the other, and you cant have both worlds.. but is there something that is in mid of both spectrums? I currently riding Continental Grand Prix 5000 with TPU tubes on daily basis, and have done couple Ironman's with it without any punctures (very lucky), however, I did get couple just riding short rides inside city (live in Denver). I am planning on doing Triple by pass in July with 118 miles ride and 10,800 elev. gain. My fear is , that those tires might get punctures, so I was wondering is there any better tire for this kind of ride which will not be super slow and yet, will protect me more from punctures? I was thinking about Continental GatorSkin and TPU tubes.. Are there any other better options? #askgcntech Thank you for all your great content! Meow! p.s if someone else here in comments has some tips or can recommend some tires, please do so... Thank you
I chose my road tires (Pirelli PZero Race TLR, 700x30) based on an article somewhere (one of the big Brit review/info websites) that said the Continental 5000 and Pirelli PZero were about a tie, with perhaps the Pirelli being just a bit more durable, but also still with a very low rolling resistance. This is all assuming tubeless of course, just because my 2021 road bike came tubeless. 2000 miles and no flats, though some of those were on the stock tires before I switched. I HAVE used the Continental Gatorskins (with butyl tubes)and those were many, many miles with no flats also, though I would think an older design like that with butyl tubes would probably have a lot more rolling resistance than modern tubeless.
On the TPU tubes, some of them don't use a locking nut on the valve stem and have a sticker to center the valve stem make sure you have it and use it. Don't ask me how I know about that. 😆
Doesn't Camelbak specifically say not to put a brush through the middle of the nozzle (as you did in the clip)? My ex ruined my favourite bottle by doing that. I use Milton baby bottle sterilising tablets after taking apart washing my Camelbaks to make sure that area's clean.
Latex tubes with rim brakes have never been a problem for me ... with Aluminium rims!! Have completed thousands of Kms in the Alps without a problem. However carbon rims and rim brakes definitely not! Have been behind riders in sportives (Etap & Marmotte) with exploding tubes on long descents!
Les pneus les plus rapides sont les Pzero TT ,peu sensible aux crevaisons (je n’ai eu aucun problème en 1500km) ils sont très confortables ,beaux avec leurs inscriptions rouges et vraiment plus rapide qu’un turbocotton ou un gp 5000 même en str ! On a la sensation inverse au début mais plus on roule avec plus on se rend compte qu’ils sont incroyablement rapides! Je n’irais plus sur un autre pneu! Je compare bien sur aux pneus que j’ai eu : -corsa pro -turbocotton -gp5000 -gp5000 str -René herse cayuse pass Il les surpasse tous!
Just a wee correction or clarification: In an "ideal" spring, all the energy one puts into the spring to compress it will be released again without loo when it being left to restore its original uncompressed shape. However this lossles restore is an impossibility in engineering since some of the energy used to deform the spring will have gone into thermal energy (heat) and will radiate away and ot be available whene the spring returns. Deforming and reforming a tyre while riding is far from an ideal spring scenario and this leads to the loss of energy and this is the effect wich is called Hysteresis loss. In an "ideal" spring the plot of cyclic energy versus compression is a straight line, up and down return along the same path. When you have hysteresis, the up and down paths differ and the is an eye region (areA) between them. The larger this area is, the larger the power loss in the system.
#askgcntech - I am moving house and my new shed does not have a mains power supply. Would it be possible to run my Kickr v5 off an external battery pack, something like the Anker Solix C300 AC? I cant be the only person with this issue but cant find much support. I do not want to splash out for a Taxc Neo which can run without a power supply. Thanks and keep up the good work!
#askgcntech Hi you guys, I have always kept my bike indoors but will need to store it in a shed. The shed is well built and seems quite water tight but I am worried about damp rusting parts and also heat drying out lubricant and sealant. Is there any bags or storage devices I can put the bike in within the shed that doesn't need me to dismantle/reassemble the bike (ie taking off the handle bars, lower the seat hight) each time I want to store it or use it. thanks!!
Common mold (Aspergillus fumigatus) has been proven to weaken our immune systems, but I’m not here to convince you otherwise, just the other people who may be reading this.
It doesn’t work that way. The immune system is designed to work against viruses, whereas water bottle gunk is almost certainly bacteria. One really nasty bacterium is Helobacter pylori. When this gets into the stomach, the tendrils of the bacterium bore through the mucus lining and get into the stomach wall. This bacterium is one of the principal causes of stomach irritation and ulceration. None of this does the body any good. C. difficile is another common bacteria. Healthy people can expel this through bouts of diarrhea. This doesn’t make them healthier or more robust… only dehydrated. Lots of nasty c diff complications, some of which can lead to death in even healthy people. Doctors leave it to the immune system to handle mild to moderate viral infections but they readily treat bacterial infections with antibiotics. So don’t go thinking that sipping bacterial stews will make you stronger in the long run. The body doesn’t learn from bacteria. They’re simply pathogens.
#askgcntech Hello guys. Following Ollie's recent video on how to prevent your carbon bike from cracking, I was wondering if a crack on a frame would always be visible? I have a 2007 Look 585, never crashed and it still looks pristine, but because of the age could there be invisible micro fractures under the paint that I would need to be worried about? Thank you.
Only if there is a latent manufacturing defect (e.g. delamination due to an air bubble, which is on the inside). Lennard Zinn has answered the question of whether carbon "wears out". He says no. For practical purposes, there's no reason to suspect that carbon frames become unsafe, if they have not been crashed and they do not have any manufacturing defect. It is possible to inspect the inside of a carbon frame with endoscope type cameras. However, the only thing I'd do on a regular basis is inspect the fork, especially at top where the bung and bearings are. If a rear seat stay or BB breaks, it is unlikely to cause the loss of control. The rear tire will probably rub and slow the bike down.
#askgcntech hi guys, now that cyclocross season has begun I had a question. Since we know now that wider tires make you faster and are more comfortable, why has cyclocross not jumped on the bandwagon? Why are they all still running narrow tires?
#askgcntech Dear tech gurus, can you tell us which glue can we use for patching TPU tubes? Is it safe to use the same type of glue on rubber and on TPU. Thanks in advance.
I have experienced TPU tubes that work fine for 24 hours or weeks but then overnight they are flat. I assume there is an issue but never ever find a puncture, and continue to use the tubes. To be fair I use mine in the case of a roadside flat that my sealant doesn't remedy. But I have experienced this with TPU tube also, and no girl friend to blame, no poltergeists AFAIK
I'm curious, is baby bottle sterilizing tablets and beer brewing sanitizer (like star-san) the same stuff? I'm gonna go find out. Some stuff will cost a whole lot less depending which part of the store you buy it from. #askgcntech
No it's not. Baby bottle tablets are Alkyl Dimethyl (Ethylbenzyl) Ammonium Chloride and Alkyl Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride, While star san is Phosphoric acid and Benzenesulfonic acid. Both say theydo the same thing though, sterilize food surfaces. I dunno, seems like they could be interchangeable.
Back in the late 1990s-early 2000s we saw more colored soft-rubber compounds on clinchers (yes the pros took a break from tubulars back then) than you'd see in a PRIDE parade. Vredestein and Continental had a plethora of them in their Fortezza and Grand Prix lineup.
#askgcntech Hello GCN,i currently own a Sram Rival axs,using it with a flat top rival chain.My question is how frequently should i change the chain?Sram said 0.8% but park tool and you guys recommend 0.5% on 11-12 speed.Chain is currently at 0.5% on my park tool cc4 chain checker.My worries is that the reason Sram said 0.8% is to also wear the cassette meaning more $$$ for them.
Zero Friction Cycling have asked SRAM this same question and are waiting on a reply...if you wait until .8% wear to replace your chain, you will have caused increased wear on your cassette; so much so that when you use a new chain they will not mesh properly...ZFC recommends replacing chain before .5% wear
#askgcntech Could you explain just who the allocated time allocators are, and what powers they have? They do seem to have jurisdiction in areas where the UCI does not. Is this a manifestation of the secret disc brake cycling illuminati? Is this why no one knows Alfonso's real name?
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Do you have any questions you want to ask these bike nerds? Use #askgcntech and fire away!
Talking about fast tires, make a video using all Pirellis 35 plus (38,40 etc) tires for us to see the difference on speed and puncture protection between them.
Hi Ollie and Alex. Can you recommend some tubeless sealant for someone with a latex allergy? I considered going back to inner tubes rather than wearing PPE every time I top up with sealant, and risking getting it spray on me in the event of a puncture, but the minimum tyre pressure for a Pirelli Cinturato Velo 28c running tubes is higher than is optimal for my weight and 19c wheel width riding in the (UK) winter. Also, if there's fully dried up sealant inside the tyre, do I have to scrape off every last bit before topping up with latex-free? (if available). Hoping the chemistry part of the question brings it to the attention of the Dr on the set! #askgcntech
Re. Quick links: to be uber nerdy, the 105 12sp gs isn't HG+ so it doesn't actually have that special chamfer on the edge 😊
Oli loves talking tyres! 😂 Geek! Good thing I like listening to him talk about tyres. Listening to him and Alex and then going on a bit of an exploration as to which tyres suit my needs best has lead to me making one of the best changes/upgrades to my ride. TYRES MAKE A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE! Believe the hype!
GCN show this week: Cycling is too fast!
GCN tech show: GOTTA GO FAST
Beeswax is great for a home-brew mix. I use about 4:1 paraffin to beeswax with a little carnauba and some MoS2. Works great.
If you want to be safe for race day, just buy Silca, but it's more fun to come up with your own. All the ingredients are cheap so it's easy to experiment.
You can use milton (baby bottle) or Steradent (denture cleaning tablets) to clean bottles. Tablets from either end of life 🙂
Bought steradent and having regretted using it to clean my bottles. Funny that, both ends of life 😅
TL;DR: salt
Wasn't able to get rid of mould in my bottle (I tend to use my worse bottle for juices and other sweet drinks and forget to immediately wash it). Dish soap (Fairy) and scrubbing didn't work (couldn't reach all surfaces of the bottle; moreover, the bottle started to smell and taste like Fairy).
I've tried saturated solution of table salt a couple of times with decent success - moldy/shroom-y scent in the bottle gone after a couple days of soaking.
If the source of bio-contamination is in the nozzle: I'd turn the bottle upside down and leave it in the salty solution (external reservoir).
Normally living organisms shouldn't be able to survive such concentrations of NaCl.
Don't forget to rinse afterwards!
Beeswax adheres very well to metal. Paraffin wax is the opposite - it adheres relatively poorly to metal. Beeswax is more plastic, and paraffin wax is more brittle, if I may say so. There are advantages and disadvantages to these physical properties of both types of wax (beeswax and paraffin) for the purpose of maintaining a bicycle chain. If someone manages to combine the advantages of both types and reduce the disadvantages, this will be interesting to study in more detail.
However, I do not expect something like this to happen anytime soon and the reason for this is trivial - the pursuit of the easiest profit. This interest is always at the heart of everything.
Paraffin is a by-product of the oil industry and as such is in large quantities, easy to produce and extremely cheap (for the large companies that produce it, not for the end user).
Beeswax is a completely natural product, it is produced relatively more difficult and in smaller quantities and is therefore significantly more expensive. The difference is that beeswax is more expensive, especially for large companies (compared to paraffin as a unit cost), while for the end user the price is often similar to that of pure paraffin wax (sometimes beeswax is even cheaper than paraffin for the end user - because they can buy it directly from a farmer, for example).
In short - it is about profitability and quick return on investment for large (maybe medium-sized also) companies.
As for the answer about beeswax in this video - this is a frivolous and disrespectful answer - without any justification, without any explanation.
How can someone answer such a question without saying whether they have ever tried beeswax? This is frivolous.
I've used a mix of paraffin wax and beeswax with modest success. With the addition of a little oil it is much better mix.
I use beeswax and It works great. Have I done rigorous scientific testing with it? No, but I'm not trying to win anything by a fraction of a second. If it's the wax you get for free? Use it.
And Ollie, a bee yard if obviously 0.9144 of a bee meter.
2:38 is a genuis comedical moment for cyclist and long time gcn viewers. Alex is just about to blow up and just shows us his stfu Ollie face the whole time.
Amazing, thank you gcn for this amazing unplanned comedic moment. 😅
I believe Camelbak also makes bottle cleaning tabs. Another option is using denture cleaning tablets such as Efferdent or summat.
"In the alloted time"... Then a tyre question comes on, using 50% or the time 😂
Thanks for the good answer Ollie 👍👍
Yes, truly impressed on his confidence and eloquence
Apiary [noun] a place where people keep bees, especially a collection of hives kept to provide honey (Cambridge Dictionary)
Good to see you folks learned a lot from Jan Heine. 👍
btw, When F1, MotoGP, SBK, etc utilize different compounds, they also modify chassis/downforce settings. So it's not apples to apples comparison.
One of the WRC's great drivers was once asked, what type of tyres are you using? He replied " black, round, Pirelli".......
#askgcntech You had me worried when you listed TPU as not being recommended for rim brakes (in mountainous terrain). Agree that latex and lightweight butyl (e.g. Conti Supersonics) aren't recommended in this application, and plenty of manufacturers and third parties agree on this. With TPU, it seemed from various sources that these are safe for rim brakes and the better option in terms of heat tolerance. Given that TPU has a higher melting point than butyl and so is more heat resistant. It appears the ultra-lightweight ones
1) I use denture cleaning tablets for soaking water bottle caps overnight. All bottles are washed after each use, ( top rack dishwasher), and caps disassembled and soaked once/week.
2) If the nut isn't fully secure on a presta valve, it is possible for the valve cap to slightly depress the valve stem and slowly bleed air. One more reason to not use presta valve caps.
or stupid presta valves at all...
Connex makes re use quick links except for flat top chains. Great for waxed chains
I've descended the Galibier, Huez and Ventoux on Veloflex Corsas with TPU inner tubes. Think I'll be going back to butyl before my luck runs out!
Besides the denture tablets, you could use sodium percarbonate, the active ingredient in many non-chlorine ɓleaches. It breaks down to hydrogen peroxide and ultimately releases oxygen, which will knock out any mold. Use either with warm water to ensure it dissolves well; shaking also helps. If your bottle has o-rings, you'll also want to take those out and wash separately.
I believe it's good to wash your bottles because there's probably some backwash from mouth to bottle. Easy enough when you're back home before refilling.
Also, watch out when putting "sugar-free" drinks in your water; these often contain sugar. In the US, the FDA threshold for sugar-free designation is .5 grams of sugar per serving. Whatever gets left in the bottle is just enough to promote mold and bacterial growth.
For me… the fastest tyre is the one that doesn’t puncture
You are right about hysteresis loses. However, you forgot to factor in the other major contributing factor to rolling resistance which is suspension loses
Nice job as usual. I think, however, many questions & answers apply to few people.
If i have round seat tube and install an aero carbon seatpost that has round tube lower sections, can it be used on metal frames? Damage concern?performance gain? #askgcntech
Use carbon paste.
Bees wax has actually been tested as better than any drip on wax.
Link some evidence please?
@lovemesomedetail off the top of my head I think it was a video interview with the guy running absolute black, but could have been another industry leader. Wasn't gcn, maybe Cam? Can't be more specific it was a few years ago.
Regarding the rim brakes and latex tubes: Yes, I've had this happen, but what tends to occur is that the heat builds up, warms the tubes, and "cooks" them making them less elastic or durable and then they can spontaneously develop a leak. Sometimes a tube will just lose pressure when the bike is not even being ridden. However, even if the air pressure drops, the tire will not be blown off the rim. I think the changing the front tube regularly before failure would be a way to mitigate this. For the back, don't worry about it since you won't lose control of the bike; it will just slow down. At worst, you may dent the rim.
Make sure you tighten the valve's stem after inflating. Some of them will very slowly leak if not tightened back down and also the valve core on TPU's aren't always tight. I use Ridenow tubes and sometimes the removable valve stem is loose.
Oli is a Name Dropper "I have been to X Factory, I have been to Y factory." 😂😂😂😂😂
For tires that lose pressure I usually use a leak finder spray, even the tiniest problem will show up better then with soapy water.
When I had a mystery with seemingly random deflating tubeless tire the leak finder spray showed me a tiny shard of glass that got stuck in the tire and was invisible as the rubber "swallowed" it leaving a microscopic puncture that couldn't get sealed correctly by the sealant.
You can soak your water bottles in Puriclean , which a a powder that you add to water to clean caravan water pipes, but killing bacteria and removing the biofilm. It’s available online or camping shops . It’s smells like chlorine/ swimming pool water . Just soak them and then wash them out after . I do find that slime or biofilm can appear in a water bottle
+37 on Ollie's recommendation for beeswax -- cannelle!
For the South Park fans:-
1. Deflate tyres
2. ????
3. PROFIT!!!!
Strange, I run latex tubes on my rim brake alloy DT Swiss wheels and have never had any issues with overheated tubes bursting. I live in a hilly warm environment and have some long technical descents on some rides. Important note, I also do not hold my brakes on long descents for long periods of time, just brake when necessary to safely control speed.
Beeswax is for gold chain.
Use denture cleanser tablets for the moldy biddon lids
I have some Schwalbe Aerothan TPU tubes and when pumping them up a couple of days ago one deflated instantly and I found the valve core had come out of the stem and was stuck in the pump. When I screwed it back in again it was apparent that there doesn’t really seem to be a positive engagement in threads, possibly because the valve stem is plastic. I checked other similar tubes and they were all a bit loose and when I did them up none got to the point where they felt they were “all the way”. Did some googling and other people have found the valve cores loose and even popped out like mine so potentially it could be the cause of occasional deflations. Shame as they are great in all other ways, no puncture for ages and really low rolling resistance and weight.
I used latex in 40C degree weather, riding down mountains, with rim brakes, for YEARS. Never had an issue. Just my 2 pence. Victoria latex tubes, if you're interested to know which brand.
Thanks Alex and Dr O , and crew . I bee-lieve it's called an Apiary , bee yard baloney
Also in addition to your answer about tou tubes ans valve hple. It is also possible to get grommets to convert the valve hole to fit a presta valve better. It just depends on if you want to fit them short term. Would be better used if using presta valve most if not all of the time.
I just ordered a bag of wheels manufacturing presta stem savers... they're machined aluminum and fit better. Currently using those presta valve nuts with the shoulder but wanted something better. I know they make the plastic ones but they seemed a bit more fiddly if you change back n forth. The metal one you just move the rim tape (my wheels use the plastic strips) and slide the adapter in or out.
Once water bottle nozzles go moldy, it is near impossible to clean it off in my experience, HOWEVER, I have had great experiences contacting the manufacturer for replacement parts. Specialized set me a whole new cap just to keep my bottle on the road.
Not for tpu, but if you put a lockring on the tube before you put the valve through the hole and a senond one on the outside of the rim you can stabslise the tube and reduce the chances of it getting damaged in use.
#askgcntech i’m not planning to go tubeless and sticking with clinchers and a tpu combo, Currently running a gp5000 set after switching from a pair of s works turbo cotton. I miss the turbo cottons’ ride feel but it’s super easy to puncture (and expensive). Is there an alternative tyre option outside of the gp5000 which has a nice ride feel like the s works but has better puncture protection? Thank you!
GP5000 AS
There are rubber adapters for schrader rim valve holes that make them smaller to suit presta valves.
I have aluminum ones. Does the fact that they didn't mention either mean we don't need to use them?
@@larrylem3582no it means they're slacking! If you don't use some method of filling the hole or at least keeping the valve still it'll vibrate until the edge of the hole cuts into the base of the valve and causes a (usually pretty big) leak
I need the GCN decals!
Great video as always,last question if his TPU tubes have been patched indefinitely could be faulty patch work maybe.
Bee wax is simply perfect to soften leather saddles like the (g)old Brooks B17
PBW (professional Brewer’s wash) is great for cleaning the crevices of a water bottle, the BPW, will dissolve anything biological, Brewer’s and pub owners use it for cleaning all things beer related
6:40 Ollie, did you give inadvertently away a surprise that Si and Dan were going to reveal in the next GCN Show?
I have a tire question. Most of the tires I use are 700x32 to 700x38 and have a chevron tread pattern. They ALL have had a rotation arrow embossed (not painted) on the sidewall. Do all bike tires have a rotation direction even when the tread looks symetric?
latex tubes can burst for sure due to heating brake. there are two broad types of latex tube. the heavier will be almost always ok but not the thinner/lighter, which will burst when braking in the summer
Polident or Efferdent denture cleaning tablets (just soak them, wash out, easy) works for water bottles, bladders and water pipes.. ;) !!!
Would you share which way you found the easiest to get the tabs into your bladder?
Someone used to make little grommets to stick into the larger schrader hole in those rims so the presta valve wouldn't rattle around or the base area get cut as it presses into the larger hole. With TPU the guy might want to see if he can find some?
Still available. Just a web search away.
Use spray bleach to clean water bottles. I use a bathroom mould and mildew remover available in hardware departments. Works a treat.
bleach on a plastic bottle????? just use steradent tablets or buy a new bottle instead of risking to poison yourself.
You shouldn't use bleach, hospitals don't use it and it's especially bad for mold and unhealthy for you as well it will likely degrade the plastic to leaching in and also causing you to consume more plastic.
#askgcntech Hi! It's been interesting hearing all the talk around crank lengths recently. When Si and Dan mentioned the fast and slow twitch muscle types, I got thinking, does muscle composition have any affect on preferred crank length? Would for instance a rider with predominately slow twitch muscles have any benefits of longer cranks? (less fatigue from lower RPM?) Hoping my question fits into the allotted time! Thanks!
The faster the tire the more it let's the air do the job of cushioning, air has almost no energy losses when it's compressed. So a supple tire is faster and you can run higher pressure for the same comfort compared to a stiff tire.
Ritchey WCS Racing Competition Slicks, 215g a tyre 25C, I Genuinely Recommend These Tyres To Anyone That Wants a Fast Light Durable Tyre. They are Used in American Crit Racing.
Yes you can use becząc up to 200km. Melt it in the pot on low tempeture and submerge for 15min… clean beforehand perfectly the chain and make is dry.
Dang Borrowers causing s#(t. Ollie knows what's up. Thanks for the video
#ASKGCNTECH. I have started measuring my tire pressures after my rides and they are typically 2.5 to 4 lbs greater than before the ride. This was a crucial measurement back in my motorsports days for optimizing performance. Although correct tire pressure is a constant topic, the post-ride measurement is not mentioned by the tire and wheel manufactures nor is it a common topic in the cycling community. But should it be? Of course there are several variables affecting the increase in pressure such as air temperature, road/surface temperature, tire composition and construction, ride duration, speed and others. What are your thoughts and comments on Tire-Pressure-Increase during rides and its affect on "optimal" pressures recommended by the many tire pressure calculators?
Latex tubes and rim brakes kept getting flats on steep downhills so I had to switch back to butyl.
I carry latex as my spares though.
Interesting- and a tad alarming. I was thinking of putting TPU tubes on my “climber bike”, which has rim brakes. Should I just stick with butyl?
My question has to do with optimal tire inflation for high-speed cornering. I use the Silca tire pressure calculator which I assume is solving for minimum rolling resistance. But, let's assume I am flying down a curving mountain road. Is the pressure that gives me the lowest rolling resistance also the pressure that gives me optimum cornering grip? I am using tubeless tires on hooked alloy rims if that matters. Thanks!
#askgcntech
Poltergeist. Great answer, Dr. Bridgewood! :)
Confirm the leakage point of your TPU inner tube. If it occurs from time to time on the rim tape side, it would be better to use a soft and smooth tubeless tape (and use an extra layer).
Or choose a wheel rim without spoke holes
This comes from my sweat and tears experience (and money) with a dozen TPU inner tubes....
Hello GCN TECH!
I have a question about the rolling resistance and puncture protection. Basically want to find a tire that has the lowest rolling resistance and maximum puncture protection. I know that one is directly opposite to the other, and you cant have both worlds.. but is there something that is in mid of both spectrums? I currently riding Continental Grand Prix 5000 with TPU tubes on daily basis, and have done couple Ironman's with it without any punctures (very lucky), however, I did get couple just riding short rides inside city (live in Denver). I am planning on doing Triple by pass in July with 118 miles ride and 10,800 elev. gain. My fear is , that those tires might get punctures, so I was wondering is there any better tire for this kind of ride which will not be super slow and yet, will protect me more from punctures? I was thinking about Continental GatorSkin and TPU tubes..
Are there any other better options? #askgcntech
Thank you for all your great content!
Meow!
p.s
if someone else here in comments has some tips or can recommend some tires, please do so...
Thank you
I chose my road tires (Pirelli PZero Race TLR, 700x30) based on an article somewhere (one of the big Brit review/info websites) that said the Continental 5000 and Pirelli PZero were about a tie, with perhaps the Pirelli being just a bit more durable, but also still with a very low rolling resistance. This is all assuming tubeless of course, just because my 2021 road bike came tubeless. 2000 miles and no flats, though some of those were on the stock tires before I switched. I HAVE used the Continental Gatorskins (with butyl tubes)and those were many, many miles with no flats also, though I would think an older design like that with butyl tubes would probably have a lot more rolling resistance than modern tubeless.
On the TPU tubes, some of them don't use a locking nut on the valve stem and have a sticker to center the valve stem make sure you have it and use it. Don't ask me how I know about that. 😆
Yes, Bee and Soy wax work, but not as good as petrol based waxes.
I've put gator skins on my biachi aria areo bike, it is absolutely blasphemous I can't wait to get some fast tyres come summer
Gatorskins have their place, like touring bikes. Sometimes having no flats work out faster. Aero TT bikes, awful choice!
Doesn't Camelbak specifically say not to put a brush through the middle of the nozzle (as you did in the clip)? My ex ruined my favourite bottle by doing that.
I use Milton baby bottle sterilising tablets after taking apart washing my Camelbaks to make sure that area's clean.
Latex tubes with rim brakes have never been a problem for me ... with Aluminium rims!! Have completed thousands of Kms in the Alps without a problem. However carbon rims and rim brakes definitely not! Have been behind riders in sportives (Etap & Marmotte) with exploding tubes on long descents!
Les pneus les plus rapides sont les Pzero TT ,peu sensible aux crevaisons (je n’ai eu aucun problème en 1500km) ils sont très confortables ,beaux avec leurs inscriptions rouges et vraiment plus rapide qu’un turbocotton ou un gp 5000 même en str ! On a la sensation inverse au début mais plus on roule avec plus on se rend compte qu’ils sont incroyablement rapides! Je n’irais plus sur un autre pneu!
Je compare bien sur aux pneus que j’ai eu :
-corsa pro
-turbocotton
-gp5000
-gp5000 str
-René herse cayuse pass
Il les surpasse tous!
#askgcntech what solutions are for a rider who has the right leg longer 10-20mm? Should I use a longer crank on right side?
Just a wee correction or clarification: In an "ideal" spring, all the energy one puts into the spring to compress it will be released again without loo when it being left to restore its original uncompressed shape. However this lossles restore is an impossibility in engineering since some of the energy used to deform the spring will have gone into thermal energy (heat) and will radiate away and ot be available whene the spring returns. Deforming and reforming a tyre while riding is far from an ideal spring scenario and this leads to the loss of energy and this is the effect wich is called Hysteresis loss. In an "ideal" spring the plot of cyclic energy versus compression is a straight line, up and down return along the same path. When you have hysteresis, the up and down paths differ and the is an eye region (areA) between them. The larger this area is, the larger the power loss in the system.
#askgcntech - I am moving house and my new shed does not have a mains power supply. Would it be possible to run my Kickr v5 off an external battery pack, something like the Anker Solix C300 AC? I cant be the only person with this issue but cant find much support. I do not want to splash out for a Taxc Neo which can run without a power supply. Thanks and keep up the good work!
#askgcntech Hi you guys, I have always kept my bike indoors but will need to store it in a shed. The shed is well built and seems quite water tight but I am worried about damp rusting parts and also heat drying out lubricant and sealant. Is there any bags or storage devices I can put the bike in within the shed that doesn't need me to dismantle/reassemble the bike (ie taking off the handle bars, lower the seat hight) each time I want to store it or use it. thanks!!
I like a build up of mould in my water bottles. I think it helps maintain my immune system.
😷
Common mold (Aspergillus fumigatus) has been proven to weaken our immune systems, but I’m not here to convince you otherwise, just the other people who may be reading this.
Agree, You Can't Beat The Smell Of Opening a Mouldy Bottle Before Use 😂
It doesn’t work that way. The immune system is designed to work against viruses, whereas water bottle gunk is almost certainly bacteria. One really nasty bacterium is Helobacter pylori. When this gets into the stomach, the tendrils of the bacterium bore through the mucus lining and get into the stomach wall. This bacterium is one of the principal causes of stomach irritation and ulceration. None of this does the body any good.
C. difficile is another common bacteria. Healthy people can expel this through bouts of diarrhea. This doesn’t make them healthier or more robust… only dehydrated. Lots of nasty c diff complications, some of which can lead to death in even healthy people.
Doctors leave it to the immune system to handle mild to moderate viral infections but they readily treat bacterial infections with antibiotics. So don’t go thinking that sipping bacterial stews will make you stronger in the long run. The body doesn’t learn from bacteria. They’re simply pathogens.
Brother eww
#askgcntech Hello guys. Following Ollie's recent video on how to prevent your carbon bike from cracking, I was wondering if a crack on a frame would always be visible? I have a 2007 Look 585, never crashed and it still looks pristine, but because of the age could there be invisible micro fractures under the paint that I would need to be worried about? Thank you.
Only if there is a latent manufacturing defect (e.g. delamination due to an air bubble, which is on the inside). Lennard Zinn has answered the question of whether carbon "wears out". He says no. For practical purposes, there's no reason to suspect that carbon frames become unsafe, if they have not been crashed and they do not have any manufacturing defect. It is possible to inspect the inside of a carbon frame with endoscope type cameras. However, the only thing I'd do on a regular basis is inspect the fork, especially at top where the bung and bearings are. If a rear seat stay or BB breaks, it is unlikely to cause the loss of control. The rear tire will probably rub and slow the bike down.
#askgcntech hi guys, now that cyclocross season has begun I had a question. Since we know now that wider tires make you faster and are more comfortable, why has cyclocross not jumped on the bandwagon? Why are they all still running narrow tires?
#askgcntech Dear tech gurus, can you tell us which glue can we use for patching TPU tubes? Is it safe to use the same type of glue on rubber and on TPU. Thanks in advance.
i use liquid detergent, mix with lemon juice and coarse salt for cleaning bottle never fail
You can disassemble nossle by lifting edge with bamboo chopstick..
I suppose Beeswax is more environmentally sustainable though. It is all natural as opposed to oil by-product paraffin.
what’s “gsotp”??
I have experienced TPU tubes that work fine for 24 hours or weeks but then overnight they are flat. I assume there is an issue but never ever find a puncture, and continue to use the tubes. To be fair I use mine in the case of a roadside flat that my sealant doesn't remedy. But I have experienced this with TPU tube also, and no girl friend to blame, no poltergeists AFAIK
I'm curious, is baby bottle sterilizing tablets and beer brewing sanitizer (like star-san) the same stuff? I'm gonna go find out. Some stuff will cost a whole lot less depending which part of the store you buy it from. #askgcntech
No it's not. Baby bottle tablets are Alkyl Dimethyl (Ethylbenzyl) Ammonium Chloride and
Alkyl Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride, While star san is Phosphoric acid and Benzenesulfonic acid. Both say theydo the same thing though, sterilize food surfaces. I dunno, seems like they could be interchangeable.
Where’s the slow-mo zoom in when the guys are geeking out?
From personal experience: beeswax on a chain is a bit sticky. Not ideal.
I can't believe you guys missed 'gsotp' :)
105 Di2 is no longer GSOTP. Mechanical… maybe!
My rim bearings deserted 🌵 ☀️
For that nasty bottle cap buildup, try a WaterPik with very hot water and baking soda.
Hysteresis… very good!
There's an uncanny valleyness to that backdrop. Hmmmm
This vid from Francis Cade has a shot of a very young A. Paton at 03:26.
ruclips.net/video/2W-7WBvjX74/видео.html
@Doniyorbek_Turgunov: Remember: NEVER EVER disturb the beekeeper, it may cause some trouble...
😃👍🐝
Back in the late 1990s-early 2000s we saw more colored soft-rubber compounds on clinchers (yes the pros took a break from tubulars back then) than you'd see in a PRIDE parade.
Vredestein and Continental had a plethora of them in their Fortezza and Grand Prix lineup.
#askgcntech Hello GCN,i currently own a Sram Rival axs,using it with a flat top rival chain.My question is how frequently should i change the chain?Sram said 0.8% but park tool and you guys recommend 0.5% on 11-12 speed.Chain is currently at 0.5% on my park tool cc4 chain checker.My worries is that the reason Sram said 0.8% is to also wear the cassette meaning more $$$ for them.
Zero Friction Cycling have asked SRAM this same question and are waiting on a reply...if you wait until .8% wear to replace your chain, you will have caused increased wear on your cassette; so much so that when you use a new chain they will not mesh properly...ZFC recommends replacing chain before .5% wear
BTW...GFC discusses this same issue on their most recent episode
Barrowers ... 🤣🤣🤣🤣
10:03 this isn’t the guy from last week who’s girlfriend wouldn’t let him keep his bike in the flat is it?!
Cherry picking questions that can get channel sponsors in shot when giving the answers...soooo transparent that it's all tactical behind the scenes.
should we be running our front tires reversed like on a motorcycle?
Absolutely not. Omg...
Likely 99% of cornering relies on the front tire... i.e. slip angle, coefficient of friction...
unlike a motorcycle?
#askgcntech Could you explain just who the allocated time allocators are, and what powers they have? They do seem to have jurisdiction in areas where the UCI does not. Is this a manifestation of the secret disc brake cycling illuminati? Is this why no one knows Alfonso's real name?