The principle of the SCHWALBE CLIK VALVE, winner of the Eurobike Award 2024, is very simple: it works intuitively with a click. What does it need? The valve and the corresponding pump head or pump head adapter. With the Clik Valve, this can be clicked onto the bike valve with minimal force and removed again very easily after successful inflation.
It doesn’t matter which valve and pump you currently have - thanks to conversion kits for all existing bicycle valves and most pumps. To change the bicycle valve, simply replace the valve insert (Sclaverand, Presta, Dunlop, tubeless valve), for the car valve there is an adapter that is screwed over the valve (and can be easily unscrewed again to be able to use petrol station pumps).
The pump head adapter can be integrated into the pump head of current pumps (by clamping or screwing in), even with hand pumps. The Schwalbe Clik Valve can also be inflated with normal SV (Presta) pumps - thanks to this reverse compatibility, you are never at a loss in any situation. And SKS will already be offering its own CLIK VALVE pump at Eurobike.
Schwalbe will soon be producing the first tubes with the Clik Valve.
I’ve been running 38mm Panaracer GravelKing tires tubeless on my Soma Stanyan for years, but the front tire I just put on has enough wobble to rub in one spot on every rotation. (The wheel itself is true.)
Two shops told me that the tire wasn’t seated right, but I checked and remounted multiple times and it’s seating fine. Even used some rubbing alcohol to lubricate the tire where it seated, but it always mounts up perfectly fine. The tire is the problem.
The second shop gave the real answer after chatting with the folks there for a bit: I should go down a size. It’s a real bummer, but even the Soma website says it can do up to 35mm. :blobfoxsad:
The only other realistic alternative is a new frameset, or at least a new fork, but that will have to wait for a while. :blobfoxgooglycry:
The slow, silent ride will start at the Davis Bike Collective (1221 1/2 4th St ) this Wednesday 5/15 and will visit 4 different locations in Davis where people have been killed while riding their bikes
The route will be 7.5 miles and is expected to take ~1.5 hrs. We will have some flowers to distribute but feel free to bring your own offerings as well.
@meganL@cycling Can't believe I didn't know about this event. Doesn't look like #STL has one, but I'm reaching out to some local bike orgs to see if we can schedule one for next year. Hope y'all have a good ride!
@alexisdyslexic@cycling So my point is not to act as if Davis is the worst - it's not. But I want to show that you don't have to scratch deeply to hit the car-centrism and ableism. Therefore holding it up uncritically as "Platinum Bike-Friendly" does us a great disservice. #UCAccessNow#CarCenrism#Cycling
@meganL@cycling the best in North America is probably Montreal. But Not Just Bike just made a clap back video about how poorly Montreal stand up to European cities. I don't think we have a good infrastructure anywhere in North America.
But I think we're at an inflexion point and a lot is going to be built out soon.
When @glitter and I got to the bottom of a long hill while #cycling yesterday, I heard the tell-tale sign of a #tubeless leak in my front tire, a well-used #Panaracer#GravelKing. She even said it was smoking, but I knew it was just sealant blowing out.
Thankfully, it was at the end of our ride and I didn't have to deal with steering on a floppy tire. I did snap this picture, though. :blobfoxsweating:
I tried seating it again today and it just wouldn't hold air because of the same spot. That's when I noticed the bulge in the sidewall near the bead, so I decided to toss the tire and put on a fresh (identical) one I had in reserve. The new tire seated without issue, aside from how I had to do it twice because I put it on the wrong way the first time. :blobfoxgooglymlem:
This isn't a knock on Panaracer tire quality, of course. The tire's been through a lot and there was only so much tread left anyway.
@nik After years of struggling because I was afraid to raise my saddle after tearing a quad in 2013 (?), I started raising it some, then noticed that I was able to pedal in smooth and quick circles instead of by mashing down. That circular pedaling is what good technique is. :blobfox: I also had to move my saddle forward quite a bit because my legs would drag me forward with their circular pedaling otherwise.
As far as handlebar position goes, that resolved itself once my core was strong enough. :geblobcatshrug: If you don't try to hold onto the bars for dear life and just let your hands fall where they will, that'll tell you where to move the bars to.
kids, I'm doing Ride London again this year, raising money for the brilliant Bike Project, who do up bikes and give them, along with training and support, to refugees and asylum seekers. I'm WAY out of shape, having had my slowest start to the year cycling since before COVID. Here's the link to sponsor me, if you'd like to help support them and motivate me :) xxx
Si Richardson shares his honest thoughts on the safety risks of cycling. Why are so many people afraid of cycling when driving might actually be more dangerous? He examines whether this fear is irrational by comparing collisions and deaths from driving versus cycling, along with the difference in overall mortality between those who commute by car and bike. 🚗
Has anyone used these? I work as a trainee bike mechanic and I'm wondering if it's worth investing in these. I used to use the Skytec Ninja Lite gloves in my last job, but they'd only last a few weeks before getting holes. How long would these last if used for 2x8 hour shifts a week? Any other recommendations for gloves?
Thanks!
Finally finished putting on @glitter 's basket and supporting Nitto front rack on. I also moved the e-bike's headlight from the stem to a mount on one of the rack's struts.
Shimano’s all-new CUES drop bar components has officially launched! It’s been designed to bring greater affordability, durability, and compatibility to road and gravel bikes, and we like this. We’ll break down everything we know so far.
Shimano states that the new drop bar shifters seamlessly integrate with the existing CUES ecosystem, offering both 1x and 2x options across 9-, 10-, and 11-speed setups. Ergonomics remain familiar, mirroring Shimano’s proven mechanical 105 design.
Shimano also says the new front derailleurs and cranksets provide gearing options suited for both road and gravel riding. Plus, the addition of flat-mount hydraulic disc brakes ensures powerful stopping performance with 160mm rotors.
Built around Shimano’s LINKGLIDE technology, CUES prioritizes longevity, with cassettes that Shimano states last up to three times longer than traditional Hyperglide setups—helping you save money on replacement parts over time.
With pricing aimed below current GRX and 105-equipped bikes, Shimano CUES could mean better value and longer-lasting performance for entry-level road and gravel riders.
Finding that rapidly spinning my legs in a relatively low gear for a few seconds after getting on the bike from a stop is a great way to get the blood flowing quickly before upshifting and really getting going. :blobfoxthinkgoogly: