Chipps gets existential in his tyre swapping.

WORDS CHIPPS

Perhaps those new tyres you had on backorder have finally come in, or you’re simply putting in that presummer maintenance where you swap worn brake pads and bottom bracket bearings for new ones. And now, your attention turns to your wheels…

When was the last time you had new tyres on? Surely it can’t have been that long? There are still those little rubbery hairs on the side knobs? Oh yeah, that’s hardly a surprise, given that you’ve never cranked your bike over at that kind of crazy angle to wear them off. The rest of the knobbles, now you’re looking closer, are looking a little ropey… Perhaps it really is time to get that rubber swapped?