Cycling Series: “Arthritis-Proof” Bicycle Tires—Flat No More
Get 5,000 Miles On These Airless Tires And Never Have To Wrestle With A Flat.
The dealer installs tubeless Tannus tires onto my rims before the big charity ride.
Credit: Harriet Wallis
If your hands are arthritic, you know how hard it is get a tire back on its rim after fixing a flat. Arthritic hands just don’t have the strength they used to have. But it’s impossible to get a flat with solid tires, so that’s good news for arthritic hands.
I saw airless tires for the first time just a few weeks ago. It was the evening before a major all-women’s bicycle ride fund raiser for women’s cancer research. The annual event is sponsored by the Bonneville Cycling Club here in Utah and the women-only ride is called Little Red Riding Hood.
This year there were 3,900 riders who could choose to ride routes ranging from 27 to 100 miles through rolling rural countryside. Once again, my friend Laurie and I were good-will Course Ambassadors, which means we’d ride a route amongst the women reminding them how to ride safely.
Tires That Can’t Get Flats? My Hands Need Them.
Ride on. These colorful tires won’t get flats.
Credit: Harriet Wallis
On the evening before the ride, the start area becomes a shopping mall of vendors with bike-related products: bike clothing, bike jewelry, bike art—and for the first time, tubeless bike tires.
Right then, the night before the ride, we each bought a set of colorful Tannus tubeless tires and had them installed. During the long ride the next day they seemed to feel and ride like regular tires at 100 – 120 psi.
Details
The Tannus website says this design reduces drag to 1-2%, but we didn’t notice any drag on the Little Red route with rolling terrain and few hills. Apparently other brands of solid tires can produce considerable drag.
I’ll give you my follow up evaluation after I give the tires a good workout this summer on a variety of terrain.
The Tannus foam tires are lighter weight than a tube/tire combination. They also reduce weight because there’s no need to carry a pump or compressed air cartridge or tire tools.
They come in several road bike tire styles and in a dozen flashy colors. Aren’t my red ones pretty? Price: about $65 each plus installation
You can install them yourself, but I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s a very unconventional installation, and it uses a specialized tool to squeeze the tire onto the rim. If you already have arthritis in your hands, installation won’t be fun. But installation directions are available online.
To read more from Harriet click here for her stories on SkiUtah.
This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (July 7)
Mammoth revels on the Fourth of July.
Credit: Mammoth Mountain
As we have been hearing from media sources, the skiing goes on. Apparently, July 4th at Mammoth was a combo beach party and ski festival as witnessed by the photo above. Alas, although we closely scrutinized the details in the picture, we couldn’t see any senior skiers reveling in their bathing suits and bikinis. What’s the matter with you guys?
George belongs to a very special ski club.
Credit: Snowbird
On the other hand, George Jedenoff, who celebrated his 100th birthday skiing at Snowbird on July 5th with his pal Junior Bounous, wasn’t in a Speedo this week. Correspondent Harriet Wallis tells us the back story of this interesting, positive, and inspirational man who learned to ski 51 years ago and has been at it ever since. Certainly the king of Trailmasters!
We continue our Fitness Focus series this summer with a look at an highly effective stretch and strengthening pose that is one of the most iconic yoga positions. Down Dog, aka Downward Facing Dog, is relatively simple to do and yields huge benefits, especially in stretching those tight hamstrings which can play mischief with lower back and hip pain. There’s a video included in the story that shows how to correct common mistakes in Down Dog.
Harriet also has submitted an update to her nostalgic profile of Blandford Ski Area in the Springfield, MA area. Regrettably, like many small areas, Blandford is and has been in financial difficulties. We love these little areas,
Small areas like Blandford are where families grow up loving skiing.
Credit: Ski Blandford
especially for senior skiers. The mid-week traffic is minimal, the ticket prices are usually discounted, and there is often a community of folks to hang around with. The good news is that Blandford might actually merge with Ski Butternut. Let’s see what happens.
The ski industry lost Tommy Corcoran, the developer of Waterville Valley Resort and a former Olympian. He made a mark on the sport when it was on the steep upside of the growth curve, making central New Hampshire a cool destination for Bostonians, New Yorkers, as well as celebrities. He was 85.
Finally, we have a fantastic report from Rose Marie Cleese on what’s happening in the never-ending season in the California Sierra. As you can imagine, the biggest snow accumulation in years is still bringing the devotees back to the high country. She has identified what is happening where as well as some tips on skiing in that highaltitude sunshine during the summer.
Two-time Olympian Tom Corcoran was an all-around athlete who put Waterville Valley on the map.
Credit: Waterville Valley Resort.
Our top Trailmasters are being mailed their prize Debooters as we speak. Well done, everyone.
If you want a handsome SeniorsSkiing.com 3 x 3 inch sticker, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to SeniorsSkiing.com, Box 416, Hamilton, MA 01936. We will send you a few.
Onward to mid-summer. And remember, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.
Short Swings!
There’s something odd about sitting in the shade in high desert, sun beating in the mid 80s and my laptop pinging with ski-related emails.
George Jedenoff at Snowbird.
Ski Utah’s alert is about George Jedenoff, who, as reported in last week’s Short Swings!, plans to spend his 100th birthday next week taking a few runs at the top of Snowbird. A quick search of “centennarian skiers” produced Lou Batori, 106 who skis at Crystal Mountain in Michigan. He is reported to have skied every winter since 1920. Keizo Miura, the Japanese ski instructor skied at Snowbird on his 100th. He lived to 101. Others took to the slopes for their 100th celebrations as well. May we all enjoy our days doing what we love.
The resorts, naturally, have been emailing about their summer offerings. Regardless of where they’re located activities are bundled into music of every genre, mountain biking, zip lining, and other high thrill adventures, and food/wine/beer events.
And Patagonia, that wonderful purveyor of terrific products and sustainable ideas, has been encouraging its customers to speak out in defense of public lands. The company reminds us that the comment period for all monuments is open until July 9. A portion of the Patagonia site lists all threatened national monuments, including four in Arizona, seven in California, two each in Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, and one each in Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
SOUTHERN SKIING
For a quick snow report of Southern Hemisphere resorts — whether you’re planning to go or just living vicariously — visit On The Snow.
SKIER’S INK
Some people simply can’t resist a questionable idea. Hence the advent of skier tattoos. These examples are quite amazing, especially #s 10 and 22.
VERBIER, SWITZERLAND
I spent a week there in the late 70s. It was fantastic. One memorable day I joined a small group and a guide for a short fixed wing flight to the top of a glacier. We spent most of the day skiing down. Our last stop was in a small village where we had lunch before taking a train back to the resort. Fall Line Magazine in the UK recently published this graphic showing how Verbier has grown since 1935.
AND THEN THERE’S THIS
From the AARP. Your thoughts?
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