GMS 

From Joe Parkin's book A Dog in a Hat: An American Bike Racer's Story of Mud, Drugs, Blood, Betrayal, and Beauty in Belgium

"I had just come off a ride up Mount Diablo with my training partner and tour guide, Carlos. We stopped by the Pedaler to see who might be hanging out there for Carlos to talk to. As we rolled up to the shop, I saw a Basso bicycle leaning against the row of old movie-theater seats by the front door. It was a faded blue and bore the scratches of hard use. There was a sticker on it that indicated something Swiss, making it look even more formidable. Then I saw the tires. At first glance they looked like any other set of well-worn road tires, with the little black streaks all around that indicated they’d probably seen a rain shower or two. But as I got closer I noticed that there was actually writing on the sidewalls as well. The writing was hard to read; it seemed to have been written with a black ballpoint pen. But after a minute or so, I figured it out: “I was born in a crossfire hurricane. I was raised by a toothless biddy hag. . . .” The Rolling Stones lyrics continued. Before I could get to the next song, Bob had come out of the shop and was telling me I should trade my bike for his. “There’s pain and suffering in this bike,” he said. “I need to have yours. It’s brand new. You should give it to me.” At this point, my tour guide, Carlos, interrupted. “They call him Lobotomy Bob,” he said. “His name is Bob Roll, and he’s been racing in Europe."

Fahrenheit531 

This is a thing I have not done. And after my post in the "Does Anyone Sing...?" thread, I appreciate your showing me that there are still some miles left in my descent into madness.

(Totally gonna check out that book.)

lostarchitect 

I always mean to write the ideal pressure on the sidewall, near the valve, because I have so many bikes with so many different tire sizes that I usually can't remember what I liked the tire pressure at.

But then I always forget to do that, too, so...

iab

A Bobke story is always a good story.

GMS 

I ride tubeless and write date/miles when adding sealant. I started last year after reading Joe's book. Blue Sharpie on blackwall and only I know its there,

Salamandrine 

Racers used to often write their names on their tires, to keep track of whose wheels were whose.

Nice Bob Roll story.

SurferRosa

DiabloScott

Also includes a Diablo reference!
Yeah, the spare wheel pit at the criterium courses always had names written on the tires. Back when most tires were gum walls.
If I have a bunch of tubulars in reserve of the same type, I'll give them an equipment ID so I can keep track of when I installed them, when I bought them, when I switched them from primary to spare status, etc.





I put the PSI value on my commute tires because I never remember and it's hard to find the label on those particular tires.

Pompiere

When I used to autocross, I heard about some people who would write a number near the tire valve as if it were a tire pressure. The idea was that a competitor might see it and think you had let slip the secret to your fast times. Reality was it was just a random number and if someone used it as their tire pressure, they would probably be slower. I could see this happening at a gravel race, with everyone experimenting with wider tires and lower pressures.

canklecat

Bobke is the John Madden of cycling. Throughout the TdF coverage Phil Liggett kept trying to needle Bob for his enthusiastic, sometimes blustering style, but for Bobke it's just water off a duck's back.

Now I'm tempted to grab some Sharpies and do some scroll work on my Conti GP Classic reddish/brown skinwalls. Just because.

PilotFishBob 

I always use a Sharpie to write the inflation pressure on the rear tire NDS side at the valve. I have enough bikes with enough variation that this is a necessity. But that's pretty much it.

nomadmax 

Here's a good one

u235

An arrow with direction and F or R on the left side of the tire. I try to mount the tire with the arrow at the stem. The markings are subtle but visible. Sure directional tires already have an arrow somewhere and most times it's obvious by the tread design but I've missed that or had a hard time finding that in the dark fixing a flat. My markings take seconds to find and reference.

Trsnrtr

When I was racing, many years ago, I would write the date of installation on the sidewall, mainly my tubulars. I had several sets of wheels and tires and did to keep track of when they were glued and also because I happen to be a little OCD.

RobbieTunes

I label mine Right and Left.
I don't want to get them mixed up.

Good to see you on the forum, Greg.

madpogue 

But it's alright, now......

GMS 

Thanks Rob. BP is closed but I am still having lots of fun with bikes.

rosefarts

Is Bob Roll the John Long of cycling or is John Long the Bob Roll of climbing?

I'd love to get those two together with an open bar tab.

RobbieTunes

Where's the "Goldfinger" Y-Foil?
Does Choo still have his Ironman?
What is Kip actually doing?

Things I think about from Indiana...

ThermionicScott 

I don't write on bike tires, but I will mark the position of my car tires so I know where to put them when I swap winter/summer tires.

Rocket-Sauce 

Loved "Dog in a Hat". And the Bobke story is one of the best.

SoccerBallXan

In the Single Speed/Fixed Gear world I often see riders write lyrics or quotes on the side of their rims and tyres. Nearly the same effect as having 100 stickers covering your bike or a card/tennis ball in the spokes.

ThermionicScott 

Oops, I lied. A digital scale is such a fun toy when you first bring it home.

madpogue 

^^^^ That's 406.1g with the weight of the ink.

ThermionicScott 

I should probably re-weigh it!