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[volleychick-di]

New in our SportChick store antique bike baby bodysuit. #etsysportchick #sportchicketsy #biking #biker #cycling #cyclist #bicycle #bikeshirt #cyclingshirt #bikingshirt #bikegift #giftforcyclists #bikingchristmas #cyclistchristmas #babybiking #bikingbaby #bikingonesie #bicyclebabybodysuit

[dreamgreatdreams]

what is a Dream Great Dreams Bicycle Wheel Clock? steampunk, industrial, and made entirely with recycled bicycle parts. it's just plain cool. Dream Great Dreams, saving the planet one clock at a time. #originaldesigns

[dreamgreatdreams]

Bike Gear Desk Clock. sleek. modern. industrial. steampunk. and made entirely with recycled bicycle parts rescued from local bike shop recycling bins. Dream Great Dreams, saving the planet one clock at a time. #recycledart #handcrafted #handmadeart #steampunk #steampunkart #steampunkclock #cyclistgifts #bicycleart #bicycleart #bicycleclock #bikegift #bikeart #bikeshop #fsa #fullspeedahead #shimano #trek #specialized #campy #campagnolo #womeninbusiness #etsy #etsyshop #etsygifts #etsyfinds #etsyusa #differencemakesus #cyclists #love #midcenturymodern

[newwheel]

Maintaining Traction in Wet Weather

San Francisco has basically two seasons.  Wet, and dry.  For the uninitiated, our wet season starts around Thanksgiving, and the dry season starts anywhere from Easter to May Day.

Of late, the dry season has been the memorable one, and if you live in the San Francisco area, you may find it particularly easy to forget a few key things that will help you keep ‘the rubber side down’ when the roads get wet again here in the coming months.

The most affordable solution to staying safe in wet weather

First and foremost, it’s important to remember that there’s a lot you can do (without spending any money) to increase your safety riding on wet pavement. The easiest, by far, is reducing your tire pressure to increase the size of your tire’s contact patch with the ground.

Ordinarily, dropping your tire pressure for your commute would sound like a recipe for a challenging ride. With an electric bike, you will be able to to compensate for the increased rolling resistance with your electric system, thereby preserving your desired commute difficulty level.  Yes, your range per battery charge may decrease slightly, but probably not enough to affect your daily riding habits this winter.  The real advantage is increasing your connection to the pavement.

How low can you go?

First, you need to know where to look for the recommended pressure range for your tires.  The pressure range is always embossed into the sidewall of the tire, and is generally in the units psi (you may also see tire pressure rated in “bar”).  Tire pressures in PSI will range from 50 psi and up, depending on the tire.

Consider running your tires at the lower-end of the pressure rating on the next wet day, and pay close attention to the ride.  Ask yourself - can you feel an improvement in traction and control?  Do you still feel some bumps in the road? If you don’t feel any road vibration, your tire pressure may be so low that you may risk pinch flats. If you are a lighter rider, you can likely ride at the lowest recommended pressure.  If you are a bigger rider, you may need to stay above the minimum to keep your tire safe from pinch flats.

Want to nerd out with the best minds in bicycle math?  We do.  That’s why we were excited to receive, in response to this article, a link to a Bicycle Quarterly article on this very topic.  Click on the image below to download .pdf that will detail how to calculate your ideal tire pressure given weight, size of tire, etc.

If you would like help figuring out your safe low pressure, simply visit the The New Wheel for a free, personalized review of your tire health and recommended tire pressure. 

Two new pumps that will tell you your tire pressure

Also, all of this assumes that you have a pump that allows you to fine tune your tire pressure. If you don’t have a pump that accurately reads tire pressure, you should consider investing in what just might be two of the best pump values around.  We have two new Lezyne floor pumps in the store this fall.  Both feature the new ABS2 chuck designed to quickly and securely grab the inner tube valve, making it even easier to get your tire up (or down) to the right pressure. The CNC Digital Floor Pump features precisely machined metal components, a digital readout, an extra-long hose and more.  We have one on the floor to try.  We’re excited to show you how it works, and to help you keep enjoying your bicycle even through the wet months to come.