I have a Peugeot Nice 12speed - 61cm frame that I use for commuting (7-10miles one way). I also do occaisional 30 mile jaunts on it, including one last night. My commute route is all paved roads, never anything off road. The jaunts are on beat up asphalt with many potholes/patches.
The tires on this bike are 700C x 23's. I thought I remember reading on here that unless you are racing/training for a race you really shouldn't be riding anything less than a 28. Would I be more comfortable on a 28 or larger? I'm used to the 23's now but am wondering if all the jostling on the potholed jaunt last night causing fatigue and strain in my elbows and forearms would be elminated with wider tires.
Absolutely! You might even be able to sneak 32's on there if those are standard reach vs. short reach brakes (cute bike btw! love the paint).
I switched from 25s @ 100psi to 28s @ 80psi (90 recommended on the sidewall) and the ride quality difference is enormous. Bike doesn't feel a bit slower, but train track crossings and gravely bits are much less treacherous feeling.
For commuting, fit the fattest smoothish tire your bike can handle.
Definitely. What kind of pressure are you running in the 23s? Either 25 or 28mm tires at lower pressure would be more comfortable and stable, and less likely to pinch flat. For even more comfort (but at a slight weight penalty) 32s are a possibility. Check the clearance at the fork, chainstays, and brake arches. That will be the limiting factor.
Any 700c rim should handle up to a 32mm wide tire just fine, I've never personally put anything wider on my ride than that, but I've seen a cyclocross bike with Mavic openpros and knobbies that must have been 35mm wide. No problemo. Brake clearance is your only thing to worry about--and chainstays too maybe. My long reach sidepulls can take 32s without worry.
Nashbar's got a ton in that size on sale now for under ten bucks a pop.
The Hutchinson Excel comes recommended from me--I've had good luck with them, I'm riding the cheaper Flash version now in the city and haven't had a flat since October.
"maxo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 19:24:57 -0500, Dukester wrote:
Any 700c rim should handle up to a 32mm wide tire just fine, I've never personally put anything wider on my ride than that, but I've seen a
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Quoted message said:
Nashbar's got a ton in that size on sale now for under ten bucks a pop.
Wow, as always, great help here. Thanks for the information; I'm limited in my LBS's (lack of) help excepting for trying to sell me all new everythings.
I've seen a cyclocross bike with Mavic openpros and knobbies that must have been 35mm wide. No problemo.
I run 38c's on Openpros all the time.
CC
Ah, good to know! My stolen city bike had that width tire on slightly wider rims and I wasn't absolutely sure it would work on superskinny rims. I guess it affects the cross section a wee tad--would you say your tires ride a bit "tall" compared to mounting them on a wider rim?
I must say that 28mm tires on my Mavic ma3's feels just about perfect for anything the city could throw at me. 🙂 And I get to use those sexy skinny fenders that don't look too Fred. LOL I even had a guy ask me the other day, "what are those silver covers on your wheels?" "Um, *fenders*" I replied and he blushed significantly. :P
The OP still needs to consider chainstay and brake arm clearance, but from the looks of the photo, the brakes look like standard reach. Sticking with 28s would allow the use of 35mm fenders--giving the bike a nice French sport touring feel--as it is a Peugeot. 😄
Here in the Carolinas, we have what I have come to call "40-grit" roads. These are "paved" by first laying down a layer of tar, then pouring a layer of gravel on top and mashing the later into the former. The result resembles a coarse grade of sandpaper (scaled up in size, of course), hence the name. I'm sure you can imagine what it's like to ride on it.
I wouldn't recommend anything LESS than 25 mm, and many of the RACERS here ride wider.
- -
"May you have the winds at your back, And a really low gear for the hills!"
Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
Chris Zacho "The Wheelman" wrote in message <[email hidden]>... Here in the Carolinas, we have what I have come to call "40-grit" roads. These are "paved" by first laying down a layer of tar, then pouring a layer of gravel on top and mashing the later into the former.
Isn't this just we call chip seal? Or is it different? The biggest problem with riding in the San Juan Islands is that the roads are all chip seal -- except the climb up to Mt. Constitution, which is sort of in a class by itself anyway.
Ah, good to know! My stolen city bike had that width tire on slightly wider rims and I wasn't absolutely sure it would work on superskinny rims. I guess it affects the cross section a wee tad--would you say your tires ride a bit "tall" compared to mounting them on a wider rim?
Not that I notice. They sure are a lot better than my 25's on wet leaves.
