Show me your grungy tan sidewalls!
05-03-18, 11:05 AM
#1
working on my sandal tan
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Show me your grungy tan sidewalls!
It was bound to happen eventually. Not even 100 miles on my brand-new Compass Naches Pass tires, and I headed out on a group ride with a high chance of rain last night. And it did! Now they look like this:
Sure, people try to scrub away the aluminum oxide with various soaps and brushes, but c'mon, you'll never get them back to looking 100% new. Why not just save ourselves some hand-wringing and embrace it instead?
So whatcha got? Join me in meditating on the nature of impermanence here.
Sure, people try to scrub away the aluminum oxide with various soaps and brushes, but c'mon, you'll never get them back to looking 100% new. Why not just save ourselves some hand-wringing and embrace it instead?
So whatcha got? Join me in meditating on the nature of impermanence here.
05-03-18, 11:08 AM
#2
Occam's Rotor
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That is the most compelling case for carbon wheels I have ever seen.
05-03-18, 01:00 PM
#3
Bikes are okay, I guess.
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Oh, so you only want dirty ones and not blistered, cancerous, necrotic, decomposing gumwalls. Sorry, can't help you.
05-03-18, 01:14 PM
#4
Shifting is fun!
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A spot of rain will do the job .....
05-03-18, 01:17 PM
#5
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This is gonna be a whole thread personifying just one reason I don't ride in the rain 
Some real messiness so far - keep 'em coming!
DD
Some real messiness so far - keep 'em coming!
DD
05-03-18, 03:38 PM
#6
working on my sandal tan
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05-03-18, 05:35 PM
#7
What??? Only 2 wheels?
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I don't usually take pics of the tires. But I ride just about all of my bikes to work every so often, which means they all get caught in the rain every so often, which means all tires end up looking like that. Clean tires are like clean bar tape - it means you just aren't using them enough!
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Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
05-04-18, 08:32 AM
#9
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Only a little grungy.
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1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
05-04-18, 11:08 AM
#10
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It was bound to happen eventually. Not even 100 miles on my brand-new Compass Naches Pass tires, and I headed out on a group ride with a high chance of rain last night. And it did! Now they look like this:
Sure, people try to scrub away the aluminum oxide with various soaps and brushes, but c'mon, you'll never get them back to looking 100% new. Why not just save ourselves some hand-wringing and embrace it instead?
So whatcha got? Join me in meditating on the nature of impermanence here.
Sure, people try to scrub away the aluminum oxide with various soaps and brushes, but c'mon, you'll never get them back to looking 100% new. Why not just save ourselves some hand-wringing and embrace it instead?
So whatcha got? Join me in meditating on the nature of impermanence here.
__________________
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
05-04-18, 11:18 AM
#11
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I have never "gotten" cleaning sidewalls and have never done it. (Other than being in the path of the routine light spray down my bikes get after muddy or dusty rides.) They are what they are.
When I see a bike with perfect sidewalls I think "there's somebody who either doesn't ride or puts his sidewall cleanliness before riding time, family time or whatever".
Ben
When I see a bike with perfect sidewalls I think "there's somebody who either doesn't ride or puts his sidewall cleanliness before riding time, family time or whatever".
Ben
05-04-18, 11:38 AM
#12
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I have never "gotten" cleaning sidewalls and have never done it. (Other than being in the path of the routine light spray down my bikes get after muddy or dusty rides.) They are what they are.
When I see a bike with perfect sidewalls I think "there's somebody who either doesn't ride or puts his sidewall cleanliness before riding time, family time or whatever".
Ben
When I see a bike with perfect sidewalls I think "there's somebody who either doesn't ride or puts his sidewall cleanliness before riding time, family time or whatever".
Ben
These would be cleaner if they'd clean up, but they come pretty much with this appearance.
I also ride enough, and rotate bikes. I ride one, clean it quickly before putting it back on the rack, and ride another. Before a group ride, I make sure it's clean.
Were I a commuter, I'm sure not. I clean my bar wrap, as well, so it could just be me.
05-04-18, 12:51 PM
#13
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05-04-18, 01:09 PM
#14
working on my sandal tan
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Thanks. I tried to find a nice section of my Subaru to lean my bike against, but you can see that it is succumbing to age as well.
05-04-18, 03:02 PM
#15
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I have never "gotten" cleaning sidewalls and have never done it. (Other than being in the path of the routine light spray down my bikes get after muddy or dusty rides.) They are what they are.
When I see a bike with perfect sidewalls I think "there's somebody who either doesn't ride or puts his sidewall cleanliness before riding time, family time or whatever".
Ben
When I see a bike with perfect sidewalls I think "there's somebody who either doesn't ride or puts his sidewall cleanliness before riding time, family time or whatever".
Ben
__________________
1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
05-04-18, 11:25 PM
#17
working on my sandal tan
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Some great stuff in this thread, thank you folks! Here's one more shot from me. The 5-year old Panaracer Pasela, which was the former front tire of the bike in post #1 :
Still plenty of tread after thousands and thousands of miles, but the outer layer of sidewall threads aren't sticking together after so many hours in the sun and grit. Even if it is still safe to use, I'd been itching to try something new and better anyway.
Still plenty of tread after thousands and thousands of miles, but the outer layer of sidewall threads aren't sticking together after so many hours in the sun and grit. Even if it is still safe to use, I'd been itching to try something new and better anyway.
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RUSA #7498
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
Last edited by ThermionicScott; 05-04-18 at 11:32 PM.
05-05-18, 09:42 AM
#18
Senior Member
I scrub my rims with Simple Green and a brush, the sidewalls get clean with zero additional time, no sacrifice to riding or family time.
I scrub my rims because they look and work better when clean, they're dirty because I ride.
Go figure.
I scrub my rims because they look and work better when clean, they're dirty because I ride.
Go figure.
I have never "gotten" cleaning sidewalls and have never done it. (Other than being in the path of the routine light spray down my bikes get after muddy or dusty rides.) They are what they are.
When I see a bike with perfect sidewalls I think "there's somebody who either doesn't ride or puts his sidewall cleanliness before riding time, family time or whatever".
Ben
When I see a bike with perfect sidewalls I think "there's somebody who either doesn't ride or puts his sidewall cleanliness before riding time, family time or whatever".
Ben
05-05-18, 10:51 AM
#19
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
05-05-18, 11:00 AM
#20
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
Nope. Every time I top off the air I give the tires a quick wipe with a wet towel. Under 30 seconds and they are pretty again.
But, then, I'm one of those guys that doesn't see paint scratches as giving the bike "character". I see scratches as damage due to carelessness.
But, then, I'm one of those guys that doesn't see paint scratches as giving the bike "character". I see scratches as damage due to carelessness.
05-05-18, 02:28 PM
#21
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After the rainy gravel section on @Lascauxcaveman’s Port Angeles Metric Century last year. Looks like they’re having delightful weather for it today. Wish I was there. And I’ve since added fenders for this bike when it’s in 650B configuration.
05-06-18, 07:18 PM
#22
Full Member
I typically don't react to buying new black tires with "can't wait to get those shiny fresh tires on my bike", as I would tan-wall tires. Yea they get dirty, but when they're clean, they're great.
And in the case of Compass tires - when they're dirty, they're still great.
And in the case of Compass tires - when they're dirty, they're still great.
05-06-18, 08:26 PM
#23
verktyg
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My First Sewup Spare
A little OT but when I first started riding sewups in the early 70's and old racer threw me this tire and said "Here kid, fix the flat and you'll have a spare" (Like the Mean Joe Greene Coke commercial were he throws a kid his jersey).
It's a circa 1972-3 Clement 50 that had been repaired a number of times before I got it.
I found the goathead puncture and learned how to fix sewups. I was 29, just started back to school so I was a starving student. I used it as a training tire and spare for several years.
The patches on the sidewall are pieces of an old Dacron shirt held on with latex. They covered nicks in the cotton casing. A few years ago I found it with a bunch of old wheels that had been stored away. It still holds air but I would never think of riding it.
Here's a pair of Wolber tires I've been riding for decades. The front is a 1976 Wolder 700x28c W28. The rear is a 1975 Wolber 700x32c Super Course. I have at least 5000 miles on each of them.
The thick gum rubber over the cotton casings has turned hard and cracked but the treads are still firmly attached. According to Wolber the casings were made of "fine pitch, long staple Egyptian cotton". The last few time that I rode them they were pretty hard until I put some miles on then they smoothed out.
It's time for some modern tires.
verktyg
It's a circa 1972-3 Clement 50 that had been repaired a number of times before I got it.
I found the goathead puncture and learned how to fix sewups. I was 29, just started back to school so I was a starving student. I used it as a training tire and spare for several years.
The patches on the sidewall are pieces of an old Dacron shirt held on with latex. They covered nicks in the cotton casing. A few years ago I found it with a bunch of old wheels that had been stored away. It still holds air but I would never think of riding it.
Here's a pair of Wolber tires I've been riding for decades. The front is a 1976 Wolder 700x28c W28. The rear is a 1975 Wolber 700x32c Super Course. I have at least 5000 miles on each of them.
The thick gum rubber over the cotton casings has turned hard and cracked but the treads are still firmly attached. According to Wolber the casings were made of "fine pitch, long staple Egyptian cotton". The last few time that I rode them they were pretty hard until I put some miles on then they smoothed out.
It's time for some modern tires.
verktyg
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Last edited by verktyg; 05-06-18 at 08:33 PM.
05-06-18, 10:38 PM
#24
Cyclist
Daily commuter means these things are permanently stained. Check out those tiger stripes on the rear. Fortunately I like them better than clean ones on this bike.
Last edited by coolkat; 05-06-18 at 10:42 PM.
