Minimum tire width for mass start races?

In a mass start race it matters not one whit whether your tires are the same width as the rim. The
aerodynamics of your wheels are inconsequential in such events. Use a tire wide enough to prevent
pinch flats- a flat tire will make you a lot slower than an infinitesimal increase in drag.

"Eric Lambi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Hello,

Another question about wheels. To maximize the aerodynamics of my new LEW Palermo wheels, it
behooves me to have a tire that is the same width as my rim. Unfortunately, the makers of the LEW
wheel chose to design their wheels using a 17mm wide rim. Does anyone recommend using an 18/19mm
tire for mass start races? I was considering using 23mm rear/19mm front, but wanted some more
knowledgable advice on whether this was a bad idea. I would be grateful for any opinions.

BTW, I'm a smaller rider . . . 5'4", 130lbs.

Thanks!

Eric [email hidden]

Get yourself a pair of Conti Sprinter 250's (22 mm), Vredestein Fortezzas
(21mm) or Vittoria Corsa CX's (21mm) to use on those expensive, superlight wheels for mass start
road and criterium racing. Don't race on anything smaller unless you're doing an individual
TT and even then, a smaller diameter tire won't make a significant difference in a 40K TT
over the above tires. Anyway, you need the wider tire and more traction they provide on
corners in road races and crits.

Good luck

Vol

"Eric Lambi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello,

Another question about wheels. To maximize the aerodynamics of my new LEW Palermo wheels, it
behooves me to have a tire that is the same width as my rim. Unfortunately, the makers of the LEW
wheel chose to design their wheels using a 17mm wide rim. Does anyone recommend using an 18/19mm
tire for mass start races? I was considering using 23mm rear/19mm front, but wanted some more
knowledgable advice on whether this was a bad idea. I would be grateful for any opinions.

BTW, I'm a smaller rider . . . 5'4", 130lbs.

Thanks!

Eric [email hidden]

At 130#, run whatever the heck you want to. Just remember not to hit things too hard.

Tufo makes a good tire for the front of your Lews. Friend of mine's a tri-geek and runs them on both
ends. S33Pros comes to mind, but I don't remember exactly. Jet Specials also come to mind, but
you'll have to go look at Tufo's website to see the diameters.

Mike Rides the S3Pro (190g) on the track and the S22 (250g) on the "training wheels."

"Tim McNamara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In a mass start race it matters not one whit whether your tires are the same width as the rim. The
aerodynamics of your wheels are inconsequential in such events. Use a tire wide enough to prevent
pinch flats- a flat tire will make you a lot slower than an infinitesimal increase in drag.

What you say is true, BUT the OP is 130#... I weigh 180# and wouldn't DREAM of riding anything less
than 23c tires. I had a pair of 19c Open Corsa CXs for one ride. After the second pinch flat, I'd
had enough.

I have a friend that's 130#, he can ride anything 'cause there's nothing to him.

Different strokes for different folks...

Mike

eric-<< Another question about wheels. To maximize the aerodynamics of my new LEW Palermo wheels, it
behooves me to have a tire that is the same width as my rim. >><BR><BR>

Mass start means aerodynamics mean mostly nada unless you are off the front or off the back and then
it means little.

I would say use a tire that will perform and get you to the finish line..like a
22/23 tire-

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(23)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Tim McNamara <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In a mass start race it matters not one whit whether your tires are the same width as the rim. The
aerodynamics of your wheels are inconsequential in such events. Use a tire wide enough to prevent
pinch flats- a flat tire will make you a lot slower than an infinitesimal increase in drag.

Thanks for the post, but if I was planning on hanging out in the pack for the entire race I wouldn't
have bothered to buy these wheels. I'm trying to figure out how to go as fast as possible once I'm
out by myself.

Mike S.' mikeshaw2@coxDOTnet may have said:

"Tim McNamara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In a mass start race it matters not one whit whether your tires are the same width as the
rim. The aerodynamics of your wheels are inconsequential in such events. Use a tire wide
enough to prevent pinch flats- a flat tire will make you a lot slower than an infinitesimal
increase in drag.

What you say is true, BUT the OP is 130#... I weigh 180# and wouldn't DREAM of riding anything less
than 23c tires. I had a pair of 19c Open Corsa CXs for one ride. After the second pinch flat, I'd
had enough.

I have a friend that's 130#, he can ride anything 'cause there's nothing to him.

And at 200#, I can pinch a 700x21 getting out of the driveway. (Well, it was actually a friend's
driveway, and his bike, and his pothole...)

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Eric

Lambi) said:

Tim McNamara <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In a mass start race it matters not one whit whether your tires are the same width as the
rim. The aerodynamics of your wheels are inconsequential in such events. Use a tire wide
enough to prevent pinch flats- a flat tire will make you a lot slower than an infinitesimal
increase in drag.

Thanks for the post, but if I was planning on hanging out in the pack for the entire race I
wouldn't have bothered to buy these wheels. I'm trying to figure out how to go as fast as possible
once I'm out by myself.

Be that as it may, however, it's still not going to make a difference. Indeed there is some evidence
that the smaller tire will have more rolling resistance than a wider tire- to a degree that may
overcome any putative aerodynamic gains and end up making you slower. And a pinch flat is going to
make you slower still on your heroic breakaway.

I think you're micro-focusing on something that is inconsequential.

"Tim McNamara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I think you're micro-focusing on something that is inconsequential.

When do performance gains become consequential for you, Tim? 1%, 10%, 50%? The number you give will
help put your comments into a better perspective for those reading.

For me, things become interesting in the 1-2% range - but then, I am a total freak. I have some
company in that regard, though.

FWIW, there is data that shows narrow tires can have lower rolling resistance than wider tires.
There is also data out there (on my website) that shows the potential magnitude of the tire width
effect on aerodynamics - it isn't free to view, though.

--
==================
Kraig Willett www.biketechreview.com
==================

"Tim McNamara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Don't know when those gains become consequential- I no longer race so performance is really not a
personal issue any more.

That pretty much sums it up for me - and the other people reading.

Thanks, Tim!

--
==================
Kraig Willett www.biketechreview.com
==================

Eric Lambi said:

Hello,

Another question about wheels. To maximize the aerodynamics of my new LEW Palermo wheels, it
behooves me to have a tire that is the same width as my rim. Unfortunately, the makers of the LEW
wheel chose to design their wheels using a 17mm wide rim. Does anyone recommend using an 18/19mm
tire for mass start races?

HOLY COW! They make 18mm? you could slice cheese with them! What do they use for tubes -
party balloons?