August 15, 2011
Cycling Safety Tip from Dan Brown, Bicycle Bananas
Having a flat tire while descending is extremely dangerous and even more perilous if the road is not straight. Stop and check your tires and brakes at the top of ALL significant climbs like Geiger Grade or Mt. Rose.
When you get a flat tire you lose the grip that the tire has on the road, especially if you are making a turn. With a slow leak or tire that has low pressure you should feel it squirm back and forth a bit. If you think you have a low or flat tire try NOT to make any turns, go as straight as you can and slowly apply the brakes.
Descending a major grade takes some time, usually means making lots of turns and your speed can easily be over 30 or 40mph. Getting a flat at 40mph in a turn almost always means a fall, even for an expert rider!
Check pressure, tread & sidewall condition and wear…….and be careful, holding your speed in the moderate range.
