Anyone know where I can get a good deal on a presta valve tire gauge?

Thanks.

For those of you who don't follow the blog, I recently finished a Marathon, and have been thinking of adding some biking to my training.

After fixing up my mountain bike a few weeks ago, I took it out for a ride yesterday. There is a hill here in San Clemente with a water tower up on top -- it's about a 900 ft climb in about 2.5 miles. I start my runs by going up that hill, so it seemed a good goal for my bike...

... But riding up a hill that big is much harder than running. I had to walk my bike at one point, because my legs were just too pooped. Hopefully it will get a little easier next time.

The other problem I had, oddly, was coming down. Just way too steep, it's hard to slow the bike down -- I was on the breaks the whole way. That can't be good for the breaks. And there are some stop signs, so I can't just coast the whole way at full speed (even if it werent' terrifying).

What are your options if your mountain bike uses presta valve tubes, but all you have is a regular bicycle pump (with a tip like the kind used on cars)?
Well, first of all you can by a presta-valve pump from a specialty bicycle shop. This will set you back about $30 - $50 bucks -- maybe more.

Another option is to buy an adapter online. These presta valve adatptors will convert a normal schrader valve pump into a presta valve style pump.

Lastly, you can just switch the tube out. Be careful though, because the presta valve has a smaller diameter, and the tip of the schrader valve won't fit through the hole in your wheel rim. In that case you need to drill it out, which can significantly weaken your rim.

Woot! My bike has new Shimano breaks and gear changers. They must have lubed up the bike to a little, because it was totally a pleasure to ride again. I took my son around the neighborhood and we went off-roading a bit too.

I'll try to post pictures soon.

The shop called and said that my break wires were rusted out. Same with the gear shift wires. Ugh. Gonna be like $120 to fix the bike. Can't be worth it.

The saga of the mountain bike repair continues. I dropped it off about 10 days ago because the gears weren't switching smoothly. I missed the phone message when the shop talked to my wife -- she says she okayed about 80 dollars in parts, which were then ordered.

I never heard back though. Finally, they called back to tell me the parts have arrived and the repairs should be complete by Thursday. Woot!

So I got invited by a neighbor to go mountain biking. I just completed my first marathon, and I have a bike -- I should totally to it!

But my gear changing thing busted (good excuse). I dropped the bike off at the shop. So, maybe next week I'll be walking my fancy bike up the hills :)

Wish me luck.

So, I ran my first marathon on May 31st. It was a huge struggle to reach that goal, but now that I am there I'm looking for my next goal.

I have some friends who ride mountain bikes -- and they've invited me to come out with them on Saturday on their next hill ride. Apparently, not everyone is a great rider, and a lot of the guys carry their bikes up the bigger hills. Should be fun.

Another option is to keep running. My wife has suggested a 5K mud run in Irvine. That might be fun with obstacles, walls, and lots of mud. At least I don't have to worry about getting a flat tire!

Got a flat tire today, and didn't have a spare innertube. Would have been a long walk, but I had my cell phone.

I use presta valves but Schrader valves are good, too.

For a fatter rim like a beach cruiser I would use a Schrader.