[DVBC] Did anyone ride?

[david c bennett]

Javier,

Apparently, Ira isn't playing with a full deck.  I'm a connesseur of fine firewood and locust is my favorite also.  It may be the densest, heaviest, and prettyist,  (and easy to split).  I always scrounge firewood in my truck.  Ira, apparently scrounges firewood on his bike.  This would improve his traction due to the added weight as well as stabilize his rear wheel, assuming he is carrying the wood on a rear rack.  Many of us redneck types have always carried a pile of firewood in the rear bed of our trucks for added traction on ice and snow. The only problem is when he needs to turn........

D'stre`
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Pazos, Javier 
  To: dvbc-list at dvbc.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 7:18 AM
  Subject: RE: [DVBC] Did anyone ride?


  Ira,
  In short, no.
  What you are forgetting is that the contact area between the tires and the road consists of 100% of the contact area between you and the road.  You shouldn't have many troubles as long as you don't have to turn or adjust, but every time you lean the bike, your center of gravity is no longer over the contact points.  This creates a lateral force perpendicular to your forward movement that must be countered by friction.  The smaller your contact area, the less surface with which to create that friction.  (Ice skates, on the other hand, create a very large area for lateral movement, but a very small one for forward movement.)
  Therfore skinny tires are actually worse in slippery conditions.  Although I suspect that other factors such as tire material and inflation pressure are actually more important.
  -Javier
    -----Original Message-----
    From: dvbc-list-bounces at list.dvbc.org [mailto:dvbc-list-bounces at list.dvbc.org]On Behalf Of Ira Josephs
    Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 1:18 AM
    To: dvbc-list at dvbc.org; Bob LaDrew
    Subject: Re: [DVBC] Did anyone ride?


    Bob
    So glad you asked. I've been thinking about this post a lot.
    I wouldn't have ridden (Sun.) except that Don called and dragged me out. I was sure glad he did, we had a great ride. I did 36, he 42. We ran into ice in Ridley Creek State Pk. (where we saw 2 other unnamed riders), so turned around and stayed on the regular roads.
    I used all the knowledge gained from the posts from the DVBC science team and decided to COOL my water bottle before going out. Not only did my water not freeze, but my fingers and toes were warmer than the ride with Adam 2 weeks prior where I'm pretty sure the temp was a little warmer. Also I think that trick somehow enabled me to ride a little faster too. Great advice everyone!
    So now I have another question for the science boys (were there any girls?). Folks that know me from work always inquire about my riding in the cold and especially snow and ice. They always assume it must be really treacherous riding a skinny tire road bike (I think 25c's) in the slippery stuff. I always say it is no problem and tell them my theory. Maybe you techies can give some science to back this up. I say if you are riding in normal dry conditions the larger the contact patch between tire and ground, the more traction you will have. But, when you are riding on really slippery stuff like snow and ice, a large contact patch is just more opportunity for slippage, therefore you want skinny tires for a small contact area. It works for me!
    Ira (who dropped out of his Master of Science program many years ago)
    PS I just put this huge piece of locust (my favorite firewood) into my stove that was collected from the side of the road in about the middle of Sweetwater Rd.
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Bob LaDrew 
      To: dvbc-list at dvbc.org 
      Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 11:11 AM
      Subject: [DVBC] Did anyone ride?


          Did anyone in the whole club ride outdoors over the weekend? If so, I would like to hear about it. Sorry but indoor rides don't count.
          --Bob LaDrew



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