Sandy Koocanusa
Serious Thumper
Offline
Don't blame me. I didn't vote for him.
Posts: 1878
Bigfork, MT
Gender:
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I just swapped the rear wheel from the '88 to my '87 today. That puts a Kenda Challenger 140/90/15 on my bike. Taller, wider, better tread, it should be a good deal if I did everything right and it doesn't fall off and kill me.
In the aftermath, I have a couple of questions...
The first one has me a little baffled. When I stood the two wheels with tires mounted next to one another, the Kenda is considerably taller than the IRC. It's just over 25 inches tall and the IRC is about 24. These measurements were made using the eyeball and tape measure method, as opposed to anything remotely accurate like measuring distance covered in one revolution. Nonetheless, the difference in height is visible with the naked eye.
So, using a formula I learned in high school and probably don't remember correctly, C=(2*pi)r, and the 24 inch and 25 inch measurements, I determined that the Kenda is turning over around 807 times per mile. The IRC is turning over 840 times per mile. However, my Savage's speedometer and my Schwinn computer (which has always been accurate to around .003 mile) are still reading the same speed on the highway. It seems like that shouldn't be.
Now, on to the important question. Now that I've done this, I won't be afraid to do it in the yard again. I just lifted the bike up and had Kay shove a six-by-six under the frame. It sat there just fine without tying it to anything, so I followed the Clymer and got it done. But out on the highway somewhere?
I've heard some of you talk about carrying tire repair gear with you in your saddle bags. Even IF I had room to carry all the tools, the tubes, the patch kit, and heaven forbid, a spare tire, how in the world do you get the bike jacked up and stabilized well enough to accomplish what is a fair amount of yanking around? I just don't see it. I'd love to hear someone who has done it give some pointers.
At this point, if I get a flat outside of the range of Kay and my truck, I will pay a tow truck to come haul the bike to town. That's an expense I'd just as soon avoid, but I honestly don't see an alternative. I have to be missing something. Can anyone tell me what it is?
Thanks, Sandy
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