There’s a new singletrack at SME. It connects the upper section where you had to go off-property to make a loop down to the powerline above the apartments off 31^st st. You cant see it from the main trail, but its most definitely there. Its an approved trail, but it really isn’t cut in well yet, and will need a bridge or two built across the creek. Or maybe some rock armoring. In any case, it needs a little sanitizing since the rocks made George bleed white latex today.

 I have about 50-60 miles in now on George, and he is a good little monkey but is always very curious. He wears shoes made by Maxxis, and although they have been pretty good for me over the past few years, today we experienced the dreaded sidewall cut. Ive been running them tubeless, courtesy of Stans No-Tubes Arch rims, tape, and sealant. They have been pretty good- good traction, low weight, fast-rolling…all the things that make a wheel/tire combo feel good. One thing, though, not enough sidewall protection to fend of a sharp-edged rock along some rough-cut singletrack. Crap. Bowman rolled up, watched me drain the latex out of the tire (since it would just come out anyway as soon as I aired up the tube) and then was pretty much convinced tubeless wasn’t for him. Oh well.

When I first saw the cut, I didn’t really understand why it didn’t seal- then when I got home, I really saw the gash- about 1 inch long. No sealant could patch that kind of hole. Bummer. Guess I need a new tire now too. I figure Ill keep running the Maxxis tires- I really like the way they perform, but for winter I think George will get some more robust shoes. Changing flats  in freezing temps sucks.