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  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    What kind of tire damage do you speak of? If you are running on the beach there is not likely going to be any sharp rocks, even so you are more likely to damage your tires if they are inflated than deflated. Just speaking from off-road experience and airing down is key in all non-pavement situations.

    Obviously you had some problems if you needed to use 4-low :)

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I recall Drew recommended carrying around one of those bike pumps.

    I can see why. At the Pine Barrens, I aired down to 18psi, which was ok for conditions. We had to drive about 2-3 miles to find compressed air. I wouldn't want to be at 10psi for that long!

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    from too much flexing. The sidewall fibers could break down. I've always been told to lower your tire pressure at your own risk. Lower it only as much as you need to, to accomplish the task.

    Bob
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    If you aired down that much you would want to have a compressor or CO2 tank with yah. I always carry a compressor when off-roading in case I need to air-up due to having to air-down for a situation.

    -mike
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    are pretty strong. No offense but the "lower tire pressures at own risk" is the law department saying "we aren't gonna be responsible if you mess up your tires or car due to lower than suggested pressure"

    Same goes for ANY non-road driving, it can void your warranty.

    -mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I have one too, that came with my hydraulic floor jack. Next time I hit the beach or whatever, I'll try to remember to take it with me.

    Sandy was good at 18psi, I bet she'd be great at maybe 12psi or so.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    When does MD stop using winter fuels? My mileage has spiked upward. I was getting 22-24 in the winter, but now, even with A/C, it's much better. The last few tanks:

    26.05088937
    25.96589505
    24.90994098
    27.65957447
    24.94201778
    26.4916937
    26.47570451

    This with the original spark plugs!

    -juice
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    I find that using my compressor attached to the power outlet takes forever to add air. I have been using a bicycle pump lately - much faster, quiet and a good way to exercise before work!

    Greg
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Do you run the car while pumping it via the cig lighter? I find it pumps 2x-4x faster if the car is running. Although my favorite is to used compressed CO2liquid to fill them. Fills them very quickly.

    -mike
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    yes - I guess the fact that the pump can go to 250PSI, means it trades speed for pressure by using a smaller displacement. The bicycle pump does it faster, but loses steam quickly (or maybe it's me getting tired). Just hand pumping the tires 5PSI or so gets the bottom of the hose fairly warm. It does work well for "toping off" the pressure or raising it a few PSI. BTW - I am a minimalist at heart - I tend to go with smaller, quieter, manual, etc. Would you cut 3 acres of land with a 22" push mower?

    Greg
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I wouldn't cut my 60'x100' less the house property with a 22" mower! I'm Tim Allen at heart, always in excess :)

    -mike
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Greg you are nuts or don't mow as often as I do. I have a 24" mower-- stripped down for low weight, no bagger, no self-propelled junk-- and my 1/3 acre isn't what I'd call fun. It's doable though, twice per week this time of year.

    -Colin
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Warning: may be detrimental to your cholesterol and/or calories, if you're counting them.

    http://www.haagendazs.com/preprm.do?id=9

    But, a 2003 MB SLK 320 might be worth it. :D


    -Dave

  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    For my car, there was a world of difference just between 18 and 13 psi's.
    One year, I had a beach pass for Island Beach State Park (deep, hot sand). The first 3 out of 4 times on, I got stuck. I was airing down to about 15-18 psi's. After I dropped it down to 12/13, the car went through the sand like buttah. Went on the beach another dozen or so times and never got stuck again. Although I had only about 3 inches ground clearance. :-)

    -Dennis
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Anybody see this last nite on the Speed Channel?

    The Isle of Man TT is arguably the most dangerous road race in the world. For a week in early June, on the tiny island called the Isle of Man, motorcycles hurl down the back roads and through the tiny towns of the Isle of Man. The course is a lap around the island, which is roughly 34 miles. It is incredibly dangerous. The big bikes hit speeds approaching 180 mph in open areas, and through the towns are often well over 100 mph. Hit a curb, a stone wall, or a building; and... well you get the picture.

    The on-board cameras almost make you sick as you watch. There is nothing—I repeat NOTHING more exciting to watch in terms of motor sports than this race. If you get a chance, watch it. You won't be disappointed. I know the Speed Channel will be repeating it, probably all summer.

    Last nite they showed the ultra-Lightweights (125cc), lightweights (400cc), and open production (1000cc) bikes. The open race was dominated by Suzukis, which were hitting over 150 mph. I can't wait to see the Grand Prix full-race bikes!

    Bob
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    it's on again tonight at 8pm eastern. I don't think the GP bikes do the Isle of Man any more, the TT 1000s are the fastest.

    but I concur-- absolutely unbelievable stuff.

    -Colin
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    to the Isle of Man. It dates back to the beginning of motorcycling. The Isle of Man TT, is to motorcycling, what Indy is to car racing. They both started back in the very early 1900s, and have been raced every year since the their beginnings.

    I remember (back when I was riding, 25 - 30 years ago) reading about the incredible two-wheeled duals between Mike "The Bike" Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini, back in the 1960s. Hailwood was a factory Honda rider, and Agostini was riding for MV Agusta. Back then, Honda was racing 5-cyclinder 125cc bikes, and 6-cylinder 250cc bikes, as well as 4-cylinder 500cc bikes. IIRC, MV Agusta was racing 3-cylinder 500cc bikes. MV Agusta also competed in the smaller classes too, with multi-cylinder bikes.

    There were also a number of famous car racers, who used to race bikes there before getting into car racing. John Surtees comes to mind.

    Bob
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    <<.."The Isle of Man TT, is to motorcycling, what Indy is to car racing..>>.

    Which makes me wonder why Audi would name a car after the TT. I'll have to catch a replay on Speed (the channel, that is).

    -Dennis
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    TT = Tourist Trophy. Name of many one-off races not part of an overall race series, historically.

    -Colin
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    http://www.iomtt.com/
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    I attended a most sad event last night - a memorial service for a co-worker that was killed in a bicycling accident. He was in training for another upcomming road race when he lost control on a fast downhill run, and died a few days later from his injuries. A fellow FIB'er and TEM (transmission electron microscopy) technician, he was a good guy who lost his life doing one of the things he loved best.

    Steve
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    I caught part of the TT last night. The speed those guys were going was amazing!

    Steve - That's so sad. :-( My condolonces.

    -Dennis
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    So sorry about your friend...

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Yeah I got to see it again last night too. I really enjoyed watch the sidecar race. I used watch sidecar racing in person years ago, when the Canadian sidecar racers would come south to race at Summit Point West Virginia. They had some wild vehicles.

    Back then sidecar racing was mostly dominated by BMW-powered vehicles. The boxer twins were excellent for this application. However, some of the Japanese 4-cylinder bike engine were beginning to make headway as powerplants of choice. Two extraordinary vehicles that I remember were: a sidecar powered by a 500cc (or 750cc?) Yamaha 4-cylinder 2-cylce engine, like those being used by Yamaha's factory grand prix bikes at that time; and a sidecar powered by a Mazda rotary engine, which also had a steering wheel! It's incredible to watch the passenger (monkey) shift from side-to-side during cornering.

    I used love watching that stuff at Summit Point. I could roam through the pits and BS with everybody; it was very casual. Great fun!

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I loved the SLK320 I sampled at the M-B Power Trip, in fact I was surprised at how much I liked it. More so than the Z3.

    Sorry to hear that, Steve. I tend to bike slowly with my toddler in a chair behind me, not to mention on pavement.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    http://just-auto.com/news_detail.asp?art=29771
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Jaguar really has to watch their quality control! LOL

    -juice
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    My thoughts are with you and your friend's family. I am a fellow bicyclist (I fortunately survived when a car struck me.). Two months ago in a nearby park, a distracted motorist crossed the double yellow line into oncoming traffic, hit and killed a bicyclist (a community activist, baseball coach, and father of two).

    I'm sorry to hear of your loss.

    ..Mike

    ..Mike

  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Out where I live, we have a lot of great country roads, many of which are hilly, and winding&#151;a real lure for bicyclists. I know I have to very careful driving, especially on nice days, as the cyclists seem to be out in force.

    Having said that, I also know there are some cyclists who seem to think they own the road, and who don't pay a lot of attention (or ignore) motor vehicles. This can be very frustrating to car drivers on narrow, hilly country roads.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    If you like to ride, most of Beach Drive is closed on weekends, so you can ride on a wide two-lane road with no cars. You can park just south of East-West highway and ride for miles.

    -juice
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    Sorry to hear about your friend. My neighbor was clipped by a car while bicycling last year. He was lucky, only scrapes and bruises.

    My condolences.

    KarenS
    Host
    Owners Clubs
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    Our condolences to you and your friend's family
    Serge
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    to sound anti-bicyclist with my last post. I love to ride too.

    Bob
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    No offense taken. As both a cyclist and driver, many of us can see both sides of the problem.

    In Bill's case, his bike went into oscillation on a paved downhill run for reasons unknown. Bike helmets don't help much at 50mph.

    Steve
  • yellowbikedon1yellowbikedon1 Member Posts: 94
    As a fellow bicycle enthusiast and advocate, I share your grief. I've ridden in the high 30's coming downhill and agree that a helmet, while helpful, doesn't protect the head completely at speed.

    Cyclists have the rights and responsibilities of motorists in all states when riding and they, as well as motorists, MUST learn to obey the law and SHARE THE ROAD.

    Don
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    :( Sorry for your loss.

    I don't understand how they expect bikes and cars to share the road? I mean no offense but bikes can't go nearly as fast as cars don't have signals etc. etc. If there is a bike lane or bike path that's fine, but I find 75% of the time bikers drive on the road as if they were a car, except with disregard for all "car" things like stop signs, traffic lights, signals etc. They are quite dangerous if you ask me... Then the fact that they don't pay taxes to ride on the road is a total other issue...

    -mike
  • rangerron7rangerron7 Member Posts: 317
    Bikes DO have a legal right to share the road with other vehicles (except limited access expressways) and I agree with you, as such, are required to follow the same rules of the road.
    If you look at the history of road construction in this country, bicycle advocacy groups were the force behind building paved roads in most areas of the country.
    The bike/auto conflict problem in this country is due in large part to the "superior" status that has been accorded to the automobile and their drivers. In most countries, bikes represent a legitimate form of transportation that preceeded the car as the primary means of transportation. Therefore there is a history of bicycles as an important means of transportation.
    Just my opinion (I'll get off my soapbox now)
    Ron

    Steve, I'm sorry for your loss as well.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I don't understand that logic. Bikes DO have a legal right to share the road with other vehicles (except limited access expressways) and I agree with you, as such, are required to follow the same rules of the road. So everyone in the US should be stuck going 15mph down the road cause of a few and bikes are a minority in this country? The law requires you not to create a dangerous situation on the road, bikes going slower than the traffic is a dangerous situation IMHO. C'mon lets get serious here. They present a danger to the car drivers out there due to the fact that they can't keep up with cars. Maybe they are only a problem in urban and suburban areas, but that is where most of the population is. Not a problem for me, they usually move when I hit my air-horns :)

    In most countries, bikes represent a legitimate form of transportation that preceeded the car as the primary means of transportation. Therefore there is a history of bicycles as an important means of transportation.
    The pony express used to be an important means of communications :) And in other countries people are also eating rations on a daily basis :)

    -mike
  • rangerron7rangerron7 Member Posts: 317
    The fact that most cities have NOT included bike use in urban planning is why these dangerous conditions occur. But, amazingly there ARE communities that deviate from this pattern such as Seattle and Madison, WI. and many large European cities. It CAN be done Mike.
    Now I agree that given the current infrastructure in most US cities (including mine) mass cycling is a hazard to both drivers and cyclists. You're right about the dangerous situations that can and do occur.
    In order to address the growing problems of urban sprawl, pollution and increasing commute times we need to look beyond just building wider roads and putting more cars on the road. The bicycle is one alternative mode of transportation that makes sense.
    Oh, by the way, last time I looked the people in Seattle and Madison were eating pretty well.
    Ron
  • jay_24jay_24 Member Posts: 536
    Mike,

    I really don't know the numbers, but I'd bet its pretty equal in numbers (cars vs bikes). My family has 5 two wheeled bikes and only 2 cars. There is a BIG number of bikes in that 5 to 15 age group that can't drive.

    (just razin' ya...)

    --jay
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I'm all for making bike specific lanes (even though I wouldn't use em) that would make it safer for everyone. Here in NYC the bikers are crazy! They blow through lights, run people over on the sidewalks etc. :(

    -mike
  • rangerron7rangerron7 Member Posts: 317
    Now this is why I think that cyclists should be licensed. Lets make them obey the same laws that other vehicle operators are required to obey.
    I know, I know... you're probably thinking that I'm advocating for "more govt intrusion".
    But, unless we require ALL cyclists (including kids who ride on the street) to obey the rules of the road, how do you establish the legitimacy of a bicycle operator in the eyes of motorists?
    I think this is the first of many steps.
    Ron
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    paisan is probably talking about those crazy bike messengers in the city, those guys seem to have a death wish. They're the same in DC.

    Most recreational riders aren't quite like that.

    I tend to ride on trails. They built a really nice one where a train used to run from Bethesda to Georgetown. There's another along Beach Drive, separate from the road (which is closed on weekends).

    Either way, it's a good idea to bike the way you should downhill ski - always in control. And yes that means staying out of the road when there are cars.

    -juice
  • wmiller4wmiller4 Member Posts: 97
    If you are operating a bicycle and you are caught by the authorities not obeying a traffic control device you will be ticketed. The ticket will go against your motor vehicle permit.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    What world do you live in? Cops generally have better things to do with their time than chase down bikers. Heck they barely stop cars who speed and blow lights! :)

    -mike
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    I have a friend who was ticketed for speeding in his WHEELCHAIR!!!!!!! (Yes, really)

    It was a "racing chair", 42 MPH downhill in a 25 zone. (Yes, the guy is crazy) The judge dismissed it.

    -james
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    must be related to Jim Foxworthy!

    http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020603/od_nm/naked_dc_1

    Speaking of Jim Foxworthy...

    http://www.cs.utah.edu/~scook/html/redneck.htm

    Bob
  • ffsteveffsteve Member Posts: 243
    Fibber, sorry to hear about your friend. I also bicycle frequently so understand the risks we all take on the road. I'll ride just a little more aware from now on.

    As for the friendly controversy raised here, I believe that bikes have an equal right to the road, but to deserve that right the bicyclist must obey all traffic laws - including stopping at stop signs. There is also a measure of common sense that must be introduced. A bicyclist riding at 10-15 should stay well out of the way of the faster traffic where safe - but where the road is narrow I would hope and expect the auto drivers to give a little consideration as well.

    Steve
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    where road is narrow, actually, it is the cyclist that should give consideration to the driver. That's is stop to the side and allow car traffic to pass then going his/her merry paddling way.
    Also, it should be mandated that cyclist travel in the direction facing traffic oppose to with traffic. That way, you see me I see you. More so that you see me the driver and not do 'death wish' maneuver(s) unless that is what he/she really wants.

    -Dave
  • jrabajraba Member Posts: 6
    Actually, it is more dangerous to travel against traffic on a bicycle. If I'm traveling at 20 mph on a bicycle and a car is coming my way at 30 mph, we meet at our combined speed of 50 mph. Same scenario with the bicycle traveling with traffic has the car approach at only 10 mph, and both parties have much more time to react. It is far safer for every "vehicle" to follow the exact same rules and patterns.
    - John

    - John
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