glue overload.

I was hoping to finish building Ben's cross bikes last night, but the brakes are still in the mail. Nevertheless, Ben proceeded to glue his tires. I assume he's doing that himself since this is one place where we disagree-- our ways of gluing are pretty different.

I think because two seasons ago he rolled a tire that was glued with only Tufo tape he has this complex yet slightly imperfect strategy he got from Cyclocross World. Glue on the rim, then the European (not Tufo) tape on the wet glue, then with the backing still on the tape mount the tire, then roll the tire off little by little, peeling off the tape backing and putting glue on the tire. In my mind this is overkill for one, but it also leaves too little glue on the tire's very porous cotton tape, not leaving time for it to really soak in before it grabs the tape and rim. And I should mention that it was a complete bi+(h to clean up the rims from this mess at the end of last season.

My way? Glue to cover the cotton tape of the tire, then let dry 24 hours. Then glue on the rim and mount while rim glue is wet. According to certain experts, this is all you need to do. But I prefer to immediately begin to peel back, working in wet glue on to the tire as I make my way around, ensuring glue coverage to the edge of the rim on both sides. Throw tape in there if insisted but if done right it shouldn't be necessary.

We do agree on glue though. While in Colorado Springs last January, Calvin from Park Tools threw up a chart comparing the adhesion strengths of tubular cement and Vittoria Mastik was hands-down nearly twice as strong as its competitors.

Either way, he did it. That's fine with me. I mean, maybe the actual reason why he did it is inhaling the glue could impact my fertility and he's just concerned about our ability to have kids. Right. In the end there's nothing wrong with overkill, and the most important thing is that when he's riding the glue job isn't on his mind at all. I'm just grumbly about the cleanup that awaits us come January.

Ran 4 this AM, nothing special. I can't stop thinking about how much fun Palos was, or how much I love my team. I mean, this is what riding is all about.