woody
Well-Known Member
odd, may not be the tire, could be leaky rim tape or valve stem
IGVENTURE
- Thread starter pooriggy
- Start date
odd, may not be the tire, could be leaky rim tape or valve stem
Ok, that pretty much backs up my experience. I'm light and fairly smooth and I've had two random rock punctures in the tread since I installed them. Previously I was getting perhaps one flat per year, so I'm not that impressed. Non-EXO's next time for sure.
Building Bloc's
This year I've been training with more of a plan. I started off in February with my sights set on Battenkill as a peak race. My new goal is Bearscat as the grand finale, that's when I turn the pep talk into a pep ralley.
To prep for these goal I've been putting in workouts using intervals and doing races to beat me up. SSaP & the WC 100 where part of the bloc to get ready for BS 50. Last night I did hill repeats on my mtb bike on some local trails. These are much more tolerable on the mtb as opposed to going out on the road with my evo. Climbing up rocks at all out effort distracts me somewhat from the fact that I'm gasping for air, plus it should help my technique as I climb up otter Sunday during the Jungle race. Also I should mention that my derailleur worked without a flaw last night. I was on trails for 2 hrs and did not loose my chain once...Thankyou Jim Vreeland!
I got a new tire for my mtb. I'm not gonna tell you what I got until I test it out at Jungle tomorrow...Stay tuned.
Family Stuff
Its prom season for hs kids. The good thing is the schools really crack down on kids getting f'd up before or during the event. They have breathalyzer's at the prom to test kids they suspect, any kid acting incoherrent is kicked out and parents called. If parents are not available the cops show up. Now this doesn't mean the kids don't get f'd up after the prom. My wife went to a meeting last night to discuss prom activities with other mom's. This includes the pre-prom house, which everyone, including family showing up...to take pics. There is also the post prom activity. A mom has agreed to sign for a house rental contract in the pocono's so these kids can go party after the prom. This is the part where I say no F'ing way. My son has already had run ins with the law regarding weed, we still have a court date coming up. Evan knows this is not a good idea as well, a house with kids partying is a good target for cops to make a bust. Evan is 18 and wants to be a school teacher, arrest record and school teacher don't go together.
Now I did the same things Evan did when I was his age, but that doesn't mean I'm going to support or condone doing shit a teenager shouldn't be doing. These parents who say they are going to do it anyway are morons. By helping them along the way you are giving them the message that this is what your supposed to be doing. I don't have a daughter, but if I did I sure as hell wouldn't let her go to a house for the weekend unsurpervised with her boyfriend. I'm gonna sound old by saying this but kids today are so pampered. Parents actually make plans for there kids to do this kind of crap. If my son wants to drink, get high and screw his girlfriend he's ain't gonna get any help from me...my parents didn't help me.
This year I've been training with more of a plan. I started off in February with my sights set on Battenkill as a peak race. My new goal is Bearscat as the grand finale, that's when I turn the pep talk into a pep ralley.
To prep for these goal I've been putting in workouts using intervals and doing races to beat me up. SSaP & the WC 100 where part of the bloc to get ready for BS 50. Last night I did hill repeats on my mtb bike on some local trails. These are much more tolerable on the mtb as opposed to going out on the road with my evo. Climbing up rocks at all out effort distracts me somewhat from the fact that I'm gasping for air, plus it should help my technique as I climb up otter Sunday during the Jungle race. Also I should mention that my derailleur worked without a flaw last night. I was on trails for 2 hrs and did not loose my chain once...Thankyou Jim Vreeland!
I got a new tire for my mtb. I'm not gonna tell you what I got until I test it out at Jungle tomorrow...Stay tuned.
Family Stuff
Its prom season for hs kids. The good thing is the schools really crack down on kids getting f'd up before or during the event. They have breathalyzer's at the prom to test kids they suspect, any kid acting incoherrent is kicked out and parents called. If parents are not available the cops show up. Now this doesn't mean the kids don't get f'd up after the prom. My wife went to a meeting last night to discuss prom activities with other mom's. This includes the pre-prom house, which everyone, including family showing up...to take pics. There is also the post prom activity. A mom has agreed to sign for a house rental contract in the pocono's so these kids can go party after the prom. This is the part where I say no F'ing way. My son has already had run ins with the law regarding weed, we still have a court date coming up. Evan knows this is not a good idea as well, a house with kids partying is a good target for cops to make a bust. Evan is 18 and wants to be a school teacher, arrest record and school teacher don't go together.
Now I did the same things Evan did when I was his age, but that doesn't mean I'm going to support or condone doing shit a teenager shouldn't be doing. These parents who say they are going to do it anyway are morons. By helping them along the way you are giving them the message that this is what your supposed to be doing. I don't have a daughter, but if I did I sure as hell wouldn't let her go to a house for the weekend unsurpervised with her boyfriend. I'm gonna sound old by saying this but kids today are so pampered. Parents actually make plans for there kids to do this kind of crap. If my son wants to drink, get high and screw his girlfriend he's ain't gonna get any help from me...my parents didn't help me.
Jungle
I made a spur of the moment decision to drive up to Jungle yesterday after work. After mounting my new Conti Mountain King 2.2 tire at work yesterday I really wanted to try it out. The original plan was to ride my road bike after work but I was not really into that.
Driving 80 miles to and from work then doing about another 80 to Jungle and back is crazy. I don't want to add my total mileage up from yesterday, it would only confirm my stupidity. Despite leaving my house at 3:40 yesterday I still hit traffic on 24 getting on to 287. The on ramp to 80 off of 287 was a mess, not sure what happened there but there was a large wrecker on the scene.
I pull into the parking lot at Jungle at 5:10 and see everyone from the racing scene, Ben Williams, Esteban, Ken, Stacey, Wlee, John Bauman, Dave Van Wort, Ellen White, Sheryl. Some peeps were heading toward Animal Chute and some were finishing a ride. I headed out solo, using Animal Chute as my warm up. The first tough right hand turn gives me trouble some time but felt solid on this last night. Ken and I talked about this later, clearing Animal Chute without a dab is a good boost in confidence for the rest of Jungle.
I wanted to do 2 laps of the race course, the begining of the race course is always confusing to me. I'm never sure where it is exactly but those sections are nothing exciting. Once I'm warthog I'm good to go. I pushed the pace in warthog and stayed smooth going up otter, keeping it in the big ring up front. My goal is to keep it in the big ring for the race, I think you need to in order to do well.
At the top of otter I make my way past the tanks. From here to the start of Boon is tough. Its a lot of big rocks that always want to throw you off course. My first lap on this area sucked, until I took some psi out of my tires. This plus slowing down helped stay smooth here.
Eventually I made my way toward the end of the lap. There is a slight downhill to a small stream crossing. This crossing has some big nasty rocks in the way and with wet tires it only adds to the difficulty. There is only one good line through here. Stay to the left through the water, after water there is a diagnol line going to the right...stay on it. I heard Ben Williams talking about this before I went out, it was spot on.
My tire felt great. The Mountain King has an aggressive tread, like a nobby nic. I'm not sure what it weights, it felt kinda heavy but at $64 I can't complain. The rubber does not feel as soft and supple as an ignitor but it still had good grip on the rocks. It was easy to set-up...hopefully it will hold up.
I made a spur of the moment decision to drive up to Jungle yesterday after work. After mounting my new Conti Mountain King 2.2 tire at work yesterday I really wanted to try it out. The original plan was to ride my road bike after work but I was not really into that.
Driving 80 miles to and from work then doing about another 80 to Jungle and back is crazy. I don't want to add my total mileage up from yesterday, it would only confirm my stupidity. Despite leaving my house at 3:40 yesterday I still hit traffic on 24 getting on to 287. The on ramp to 80 off of 287 was a mess, not sure what happened there but there was a large wrecker on the scene.
I pull into the parking lot at Jungle at 5:10 and see everyone from the racing scene, Ben Williams, Esteban, Ken, Stacey, Wlee, John Bauman, Dave Van Wort, Ellen White, Sheryl. Some peeps were heading toward Animal Chute and some were finishing a ride. I headed out solo, using Animal Chute as my warm up. The first tough right hand turn gives me trouble some time but felt solid on this last night. Ken and I talked about this later, clearing Animal Chute without a dab is a good boost in confidence for the rest of Jungle.
I wanted to do 2 laps of the race course, the begining of the race course is always confusing to me. I'm never sure where it is exactly but those sections are nothing exciting. Once I'm warthog I'm good to go. I pushed the pace in warthog and stayed smooth going up otter, keeping it in the big ring up front. My goal is to keep it in the big ring for the race, I think you need to in order to do well.
At the top of otter I make my way past the tanks. From here to the start of Boon is tough. Its a lot of big rocks that always want to throw you off course. My first lap on this area sucked, until I took some psi out of my tires. This plus slowing down helped stay smooth here.
Eventually I made my way toward the end of the lap. There is a slight downhill to a small stream crossing. This crossing has some big nasty rocks in the way and with wet tires it only adds to the difficulty. There is only one good line through here. Stay to the left through the water, after water there is a diagnol line going to the right...stay on it. I heard Ben Williams talking about this before I went out, it was spot on.
My tire felt great. The Mountain King has an aggressive tread, like a nobby nic. I'm not sure what it weights, it felt kinda heavy but at $64 I can't complain. The rubber does not feel as soft and supple as an ignitor but it still had good grip on the rocks. It was easy to set-up...hopefully it will hold up.
ChrisRU
Well-Known Member
I ran Mountain Kings for awhile and liked them. They were pretty porous and took a little while to seal up (stan's pissing from pinholes in the sidewalls) but once they did they were fine. This was like 2+ years ago though so YMMV.
Are the 2.2's still like 1.9's? I switched from the 2.2 to the 2.4's for the added volume, the 2.2's were too skinny and I kept getting rim hits.
Are the 2.2's still like 1.9's? I switched from the 2.2 to the 2.4's for the added volume, the 2.2's were too skinny and I kept getting rim hits.
ChrisG
Unapologetic Lifer for Rock and Roll
Iggy and I are the same age. When I contemplate the idea of me having a son who's about to graduate from high school, my mind gets blown a little bit.
As a matter of fact, I just realized that when my father was the age I am now, I was about to finish my first year of college. Holy shit. 🙄
As a matter of fact, I just realized that when my father was the age I am now, I was about to finish my first year of college. Holy shit. 🙄
Want mind blow try being a grandpa, esp when you still don't know what you want to be when you grow up. My oldest will be 30 next year hows that for kicks.
My mind is blown by how much college costs. With my two kids going to college its like buying another house. I'll be expecting free stuff for the next 8 yrs from use guys...including bikes.
Utah, I have the new and improved mt kings...the ones dat don't flat.
Utah, I have the new and improved mt kings...the ones dat don't flat.
ChrisRU
Well-Known Member
College is expensive but smart decisions can be made to save. On campus housing prices are stupid. You spend more on 7.5-8 months of housing in most cases than it would cost to rent a comparable apartment for a year with a roommate. Take some classes at a community college, buy books used, etc.. Or go for the "full" college experience and graduate with $80k+ in debt 😀
Community college is a good idea to save money and earn credits. I went away to school but took summer classes at local community college when home. + the classes were easier.
Utah, I pay for college so I can kick his ass out of the house when he's done with school.😉
Utah, I pay for college so I can kick his ass out of the house when he's done with school.😉
ChrisG
Unapologetic Lifer for Rock and Roll
You got me there brother.
Of course, you and Patty are like the coolest grandparents around, too, so you've got that going for you.
The Kalmyk
Well-Known Member
We are the same age so I have a good understanding what it cost back then... My first year at PC was little over 20k as an out of stater and the following three at RU were around 13k... I would like to here from some recent grads from either of these universities.... The price of schools now aren't offset by good paying jobs when you come out... In most cases... Therefore I feel obligated to pay whether it be traditional schooling or a trade school...
ChrisRU
Well-Known Member
The cost of college education and the rate at which it is growing is crazy. Still, in NJ, states schools aren't off the charts like some private schools, I just looked it up and tuition + fees per year for Rutgers put you at $13k. I'd imagine MSU, Ramapo, etc. are similar.
I think too many kids buy into the "branding" of schools, which schools are pushing hard. Over the past decade or so Rutgers has really been maneuvering itself to be seen as a top state university. Other big schools are doing the same- marketing rankings, alumni networks, etc.. Kids from New Jersey see Rutgers as another school, when you talk to kids on campus from all over the country and the world, they were excited to get into the school and are thrilled to be there.
But back to your point, unless you are going to a top tier school (MIT, Wharton, Harvard, etc..) with a proven higher ROI, it doesn't seem that going to one school over another at least for your undergrad is a huge differentiator (though there are certainly some schools to stay away from). In the New York metro area, college degrees are ubiquitous. I'm a firm believer and witness to the fact that driven people will succeed. A driven kid going to community college/state school will end up better off then someone who goes away on their parents dime then comes back home after graduation and working dead end jobs. College does not prepare a person for the 'real world', it just gives a person some more tools in the toolbox. I have plenty of friends with degrees in hand waiting for jobs to find them 🙁
As an aside, county/community college is the best deal out there. If you're strong enough to get past the 13th grade stigma, get in, get the work done, and get out, you can save a ton. Because of the Lampitt law you transfer to state school no questions asked without losing time, and end up with the exact same degree as someone who spent 3x as much for their first two years.
/rant. That is my .02, Didn't we have a similar discussion that went pretty long in one of Norm's blog threads? Good luck with the process Iggy, I'm a bit removed but if you have any questions feel free to shout. On top of charging you a fortune, they don't make it easy. Figuring out how to school with whole admissions process, forms and other bs is a pain in the ass all on its own.
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