Feeling Strong

Every so often the right combination of energy, enthusiasm, capacity, and will merge to form a good ride.

It's not necessarily the fastest ride, since you never feel torn up, or wrung out, or at the edge of endurance or pain threshold.

But you feel good -- the pedals turn easily, the pavement rolls by quickly. Breathing is rhythmic, the HRM ignored, the wind a steady accompanist.

I wish I know how to create those conditions at will.

I certainly can't predict them.

Some days I roll out thinking, "I'm beat -- I don't feel like pushing today..."

Other days I can't wait to ride. I'm sure it will be a fast, strong ride.

And then I feel like I'm pedaling in wet cement.

But the strong days -- as infrequent as they seem to be -- are what make all the other days worthwhile. You've put in the miles, made the climbs, pushed against the headwinds, felt the sting of ice.

Today you reap the reward -- flying under your own power.

Forget the HRM, the speed, the KOMs, and the PRs.

Feel strong, use it, enjoy it.

So you can recall it next time you're not so strong.

It will come again.

Someday.

Continental Grand Prix All Season Road Tire Review

My daily commute varies from 15.5 to 18.5 miles each way over varying road surface including several miles of shoulder filled with glass, debris, gravel, and dead critters.

Typical Shoulder Debris

I've been running Vittoria Rubino Pro 3 tires (23mm) but after several inconvenient flats (wire shards and glass) it was time to go tougher during the winter.

Continental Gatorskins are the standard tough tire, but I've never liked the ride, which I find disconnected and sluggish.

During nice weather I prefer Vittoria Open Corsa CX III or Continental Grand Prix 4000 IIs -- each is fast, grippy, light, and works well pumped up to 100-130 PSI. Neither is intended for the rigors of commuting.

A normal, non-commute ride is intentionally planned for smooth, less-traveled roads. These rides happen in daylight. A flat is an interruption, but that's about it.

Commuting implies a limited subset of routes to get from home to work in a reasonable time. The roads might be busy, the shoulders filled with debris, and the surfaces variable (from smooth pavement to cinder rail-trail).

Junction Rail Trail Entrace

 For several moths in the year all or a large part of the ride is conducted in the dark.

Our experience with the Conti GP All Season on our tandem has been good. I decided to try a 25mm rear, 23 mm front.

Since the majority of my riding is now in the dark I usually can't spot debris until it's too late. No matter - these tires just roll on through.

I have 500 miles on the pair and there is no visible wear yet. I run them at 90 PSI each. I'm not chasing KOMs this time of year but I haven't noticed any slowing due to tires.

These are excellent commuter-trainer tires. I can highly recommend.