Nick, I’ve heard of people treating their tires with vinegar before rain races for traction. Do you ever treat tires for different weather conditions?
A.Sean, I’ve never treated tires other than regular washing and inspection. I have spoken with track mechanics for both Great Britain and Australia who have used white vinegar to clean tires just before events on the velodrome. Using a (smelly) rag soaked in vinegar, they wiped the tires clean, checked for cuts and sent their riders on their way. The vinegar quickly removed any dust and dirt from the track and apron. They claimed it also temporarily increased traction, something especially handy for match sprints. I double-checked with Lennard Zinn on this question and he had never heard of using vinegar on tires. So no experience with vinegar on my part. But that doesn’t mean we don’t use different tires, pressures and lubes for various weather conditions. Q.Nick, As we transition into warmer weather here in the U.S., there are plenty of mornings when I start out with knee warmers, only to shed them after an hour or so. All the knee warmers I have are too snug to fit over my cleat, so
