Vermont - Here we come.

Planet Bike will have a strong presence this weekend at the Green Mountain Cyclocross races. At least in the masters 35+ field.

I'm nervous and excited about it right now typing. But first there is the little matter of driving up.

Nope, no race report from last weekend. Heck i'm wicked behind at this point.

The gluing discussion was good, there's always some one talking about glue this time of year.

Always someone who thinks that the way someone else is doing it is wrong. That there is only one way, or only one GOOD way.

Simple rules:
Clean clean clean clean. all surfaces. any oil on the basetape, on the rim, any dirt on either of those places will make a bad glue job.

edge of base tape to edge of base tape coverage... syringe, glove, tube, brush - no matter how you do it - do it even and cover the whole base tape (and of course once the glue is on there - DON'T F*CKING TOUCH IT

rim - get a good base on there. let the first layer(s) dry. And make super extra double sure the rim is completely clean (acetone followed by alcohol is the best). Then once you get your glue on there DON'T F*CKING TOUCH IT. No you DON'T need to feel it to see if it is hard or not.

little bit of wet glue on both dry surfaces - mount and inflate and center, deflate roll, re-inflate and let rest for 24-48 hours before racing...

simple...

easy...

right?

or not.

no of course it isn't easy. even though it is.

I'm gonna go race and not think about the tires... just going to go race hard... and have fun.

Because damn it. At the end of the day - tubulars make it nice but no matter what wheels you're riding - cyclocross is still just THE most fun you can have on two wheels.

heddwch
G