off road or on road tyre

Skunk said:

I have a second hand trek 6500 mountain bike. I love the bike but hardly
use it off road. The back tyre needs replacing. Could/Should I change it
to a road tyre if I'm hardly going off road. The front tyre is okay
tread wise(off road tyre). I am a bit skint, are there any problems if
I run it with the original off road front tyre and an on road back
tyre?
Cheers for any advice.
I also bought a Dawes Giro road bike. I find it a struggle up some
hills - I live in a hilly area nr. Ilkley. I'm a not very fit forty
something. I guess the only thing I can really do is to get a new
chainset to make it easier, barring getting a whole lot fitter. I
wanted to buy a road bike for commuting but I'm not sure if the giro is
classed as a racer, a tourer, or an audax. I didn't really want a
racer but have never cycled a road bike before so don't know how the
giro would compare on the road with an audax/tourer type bike, and if I
should trade in to make life easier.

I have a dawes audax, and struggle on the hills ;-) I think the Giros
are classed as racers, the audax is a half and half - light tourer, or
racer if you take the mudguards etc off. Mine's got a triple on it, but
the cassette on the back doesn't go that low even with the triple, I
think a tourer like the dawes galaxy would go lower, but can't say for
sure. Even though it's not a racer, it looks like one, and goes like
one too - except up hills!

See if you've got the option to change the gearing on it - that's almost
certainly going to be cheaper than trading it in for another bike, and
you'll still have a really nice bike at the end of it too.

If you're commuting, if it's not got mudguards, look at putting some on,
to help keep the spray down in the wet ;-)

Dunno bout the tyres, can't help you there.

--

Velvet

There's a range of Giro's depending on budget, but basically they're racers.
Tourer's typically have tripple chain rings and often mountain bike gearing
and would probably be more suitable of you're not mega fit and live in a
hilly area. The problem is, audax's and tourers are expensive new (ie you
can't get one under £500.00, and more likey a grand plus) so maybe a trip to
the local bike shop to get the chainset changed (if possible) is in order.

BTW, a good tourer is VERY comfy for long distances and regular commuting.
Don't be put off just because they appear similair in layout to a full
racer....

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

Quoted message said:

I have a second hand trek 6500 mountain bike. I love the bike but hardly
use it off road. The back tyre needs replacing. Could/Should I change it
to a road tyre if I'm hardly going off road. The front tyre is okay
tread wise(off road tyre). I am a bit skint, are there any problems if
I run it with the original off road front tyre and an on road back
tyre?
Cheers for any advice.
I also bought a Dawes Giro road bike. I find it a struggle up some
hills - I live in a hilly area nr. Ilkley. I'm a not very fit forty
something. I guess the only thing I can really do is to get a new
chainset to make it easier, barring getting a whole lot fitter. I
wanted to buy a road bike for commuting but I'm not sure if the giro is
classed as a racer, a tourer, or an audax. I didn't really want a
racer but have never cycled a road bike before so don't know how the
giro would compare on the road with an audax/tourer type bike, and if I
should trade in to make life easier.

--
Skunk

Skunk said:

I have a second hand trek 6500 mountain bike. I love the bike but
hardly use it off road. The back tyre needs replacing. Could/Should I
change it to a road tyre if I'm hardly going off road. The front
tyre is okay tread wise(off road tyre). I am a bit skint, are there
any problems if I run it with the original off road front tyre and an
on road back tyre?
Cheers for any advice.
I also bought a Dawes Giro road bike. I find it a struggle up some
hills - I live in a hilly area nr. Ilkley. I'm a not very fit forty
something. I guess the only thing I can really do is to get a new
chainset to make it easier, barring getting a whole lot fitter. I
wanted to buy a road bike for commuting but I'm not sure if the giro
is classed as a racer, a tourer, or an audax. I didn't really want a
racer but have never cycled a road bike before so don't know how the
giro would compare on the road with an audax/tourer type bike, and if
I should trade in to make life easier.

Fit slick tyres if you are doing road rides or hardpacked level off road
rides. Your ride will be transformed. You will be more comfortable with 2
slick tyres but one will be a good start.

Skunk said:

I have a second hand trek 6500 mountain bike. I love the bike but hardly use it off road. The back tyre needs replacing. Could/Should I change it to a road tyre if I'm hardly going off road. The front tyre is okay tread wise(off road tyre). I am a bit skint, are there any problems if I run it with the original off road front tyre and an on road back tyre?
Cheers for any advice.
I also bought a Dawes Giro road bike. I find it a struggle up some hills - I live in a hilly area nr. Ilkley. I'm a not very fit forty something. I guess the only thing I can really do is to get a new chainset to make it easier, barring getting a whole lot fitter. I wanted to buy a road bike for commuting but I'm not sure if the giro is classed as a racer, a tourer, or an audax. I didn't really want a racer but have never cycled a road bike before so don't know how the giro would compare on the road with an audax/tourer type bike, and if I should trade in to make life easier.

I wouldn't have thought that different tyres on the mountain bike would have made a monumental difference, but if you are mainly riding on the road/tarmac, it would be best to get something more orientated towards that. The only thin I can think of is you changed the tyres as you are thinnking about doing, is that the ride may feel different at each end which may start to irritate you.

As for the hills, I have a road race type cycle and usually end up having to dismount and walk the bike up the steeper hills and just push myself for personal fitness/stupidity reasons to cycle at about 1mph up others hills (when it'd be faster to walk). It gives me something to work towards as the odd fully lycra claded rider tends to manage it (albeit with signs of VERY hard work) leaving me astonished at their dedication and fitness to be able to do it.

Skunk said:

I have a second hand trek 6500 mountain bike. I love the bike but
hardly use it off road. The back tyre needs replacing. Could/Should I
change it to a road tyre if I'm hardly going off road.

Schwalbe City Jet would be fine for you, I'm sure. It's also tough enough
for a bit of light off-roading.
- http://www.wiggle.co.uk/?ProductID=5300003751

Quoted message said:

The front
tyre is okay tread wise(off road tyre). I am a bit skint, are there
any problems if I run it with the original off road front tyre and an
on road back tyre?

The two tyres don't have to match but it would be good to have both
suitable for the road.

Quoted message said:

Cheers for any advice.
I also bought a Dawes Giro road bike.

Which model? 300, 500, etc? And year?

Quoted message said:

I find it a struggle up some
hills - I live in a hilly area nr. Ilkley. I'm a not very fit forty
something. I guess the only thing I can really do is to get a new
chainset to make it easier, barring getting a whole lot fitter. I
wanted to buy a road bike for commuting but I'm not sure if the giro
is classed as a racer, a tourer, or an audax. I didn't really want a
racer but have never cycled a road bike before so don't know how the
giro would compare on the road with an audax/tourer type bike, and if
I should trade in to make life easier.

You've already got the mountain bike you can use for the more practical
purposes so it'd be a shame to give up on the road bike too easily. Lower
gears will certainly make a big difference.

I assume the Giro is a model with a double chainset. It'll be worth
changing the rear sprockets first if the largest cog is smaller than 27
teeth, then perhaps you might like a "compact" double chainset that can
take smaller chainrings. A triple chainset would be an option but
probably not a cheap one.

If you do already have a triple then the inner ring could be changed for a
smaller one.

~PB

Thanks for all the advice. Especially the link to wiggle. I can't believe that price for 2 tyres and two tubes. I thought it would have been a lot dearer.
It's a dawes giro 500 I have. I'm gonna bite the bullet and go on this from west yorks to Cumbria on saturday on the a65/a590.
The hills that fill me with trepidation if you know the area are the Settle bypass and Lindale bypass, otherwise I think I should be okay, though it's 80 miles and the most I have done previously is 55.
Fingers crossed.

Skunk said:

Thanks for all the advice. Especially the link to wiggle. I can't
believe that price for 2 tyres and two tubes. I thought it would have
been a lot dearer.
It's a dawes giro 500 I have. I'm gonna bite the bullet and go on this
from west yorks to Cumbria on saturday on the a65/a590.
The hills that fill me with trepidation if you know the area are the
Settle bypass and Lindale bypass, otherwise I think I should be okay,
though it's 80 miles and the most I have done previously is 55.
Fingers crossed.

FWIW, there's no shame in walking up hills. I do it all the time! :-)
Whilst others may go past climbing, they may have: Lower gearing, bigger
legs, higher pain thresholds, and not least - have been riding lots more
than you for lots longer too, and weight (apparently) makes a big
difference up hills. All this muscular-legged stick-thin cycling guys
romping up hills are fine, but when if you're carrying a bit of spare
padding[1] then that's a lot more work the muscles have to do to carry
said padding up the hills along with the muscular you and the bike ;-)

[1] I'm still working on getting rid of my extra padding to see if this
is actually true. I *have* discovered that in the mean time it's useful
on downhills, I go faster. And along the flat, once I'm up to speed, it
doesn't seem to be that much of a hindrance either. Just up the hills....

--

Velvet

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

Quoted message said:

I have a second hand trek 6500 mountain bike. I love the bike but hardly
use it off road. The back tyre needs replacing. Could/Should I change it
to a road tyre if I'm hardly going off road. The front tyre is okay
tread wise(off road tyre). I am a bit skint, are there any problems if
I run it with the original off road front tyre and an on road back
tyre?

Try a Continental Top Touring 26x1.75 on the back. A fast rolling tyre
with a slight inverted tread which will copew with mild off road but
be noticably faster than knobblies.
Iain

Pete Biggs said:

..............A triple chainset would be an
option but probably not a cheap one.

Spa Cycles are selling Stronglight Impact triples for £38 with a suitable BB
for £10. Perhaps as cheap as one would like but much cheaper than some
triples.

(iarocu) said:

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

Quoted message said:

I have a second hand trek 6500 mountain bike. I love the bike but hardly
use it off road. The back tyre needs replacing. Could/Should I change it
to a road tyre if I'm hardly going off road. The front tyre is okay
tread wise(off road tyre). I am a bit skint, are there any problems if
I run it with the original off road front tyre and an on road back
tyre?

Try a Continental Top Touring 26x1.75 on the back. A fast rolling tyre
with a slight inverted tread which will copew with mild off road but
be noticably faster than knobblies.

IME it's noticably faster than most slicks, given its flexible
carcass. I know also that the knobblies I rode in on today are faster
than my slicks for the same reason (GEAX Beaumont knobblies vs. Maxxis
Xenith slicks)

Martin 'MSeries' Newstead said:

Spa Cycles are selling Stronglight Impact triples for £38 with a
suitable BB for £10. Perhaps as cheap as one would like but much
cheaper than some triples.

How about the shifters: would the STIs on the Dawes Giro 500 be triple
compatible? (I never remember with Shimanos).

Also there's the derailleurs to take into account.

~PB

Skunk said:

I have a second hand trek 6500 mountain bike. I love the bike but
hardly use it off road. The back tyre needs replacing. Could/Should I
change it to a road tyre if I'm hardly going off road. The front
tyre is okay tread wise(off road tyre). I am a bit skint, are there
any problems if I run it with the original off road front tyre and an
on road back tyre?
Cheers for any advice.

My Trek 4300 occasionally ventures onto a sometimes-muddy,
sometimes-gravelly towpath. It's got Vredestein S-Licks on it, which cope
fine.

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
===========================================================

Dave Larrington said:

My Trek 4300 occasionally ventures onto a sometimes-muddy,
sometimes-gravelly towpath. It's got Vredestein S-Licks on it, which cope
fine.

My recumbent tourer, and Roos' lower and sportier recumbent tourer, both
managed quite a few miles of mud and gravel fully laden last week with
Schwalbe Marathons on. The lane we stay on is as rough as what a lot of
people seem to think of as "off-road" and the Marathons do okay on that
too. And Roos' non-tour mode Stelvios seem to cope with it too.

And when I was a sprog I don't think knobbly bike tyres even existed,
but we used to shoot around the local woods on Any Old Iron quite happily.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Pete Biggs said:

Martin 'MSeries' Newstead said:

Spa Cycles are selling Stronglight Impact triples for £38 with a
suitable BB for £10. Perhaps as cheap as one would like but much
cheaper than some triples.

How about the shifters: would the STIs on the Dawes Giro 500 be triple
compatible? (I never remember with Shimanos).

Also there's the derailleurs to take into account.

~PB

Fair point, well made. Ultegra STi are certainly triple compatible, don't
know about anything else except DT levers which of course are. Could do what
Armstrong does and have the front mech operated by a DT lever - thats what I
would have done had my STi not been triple compatible. One can get away
without changing the rear mech., I have on two bikes, but of course the
front would also need to be changed. Going triple is probably the most
expensive option but I am just pointing out that it need not be as expensive
one thinks.

Martin 'MSeries' Newstead said:

........
Could do what Armstrong does and have the front mech operated by a DT
lever - thats what I would have done had my STi not been triple
compatible.......

That would be quite neat. I think the weight saving is one/the reason
Armstrong does it, but ironically his bike was about 200g underweight
today so he had to add some ballast!

~PB

Pete Biggs said:

Martin 'MSeries' Newstead said:

........
Could do what Armstrong does and have the front mech operated by a DT
lever - thats what I would have done had my STi not been triple
compatible.......

That would be quite neat. I think the weight saving is one/the reason
Armstrong does it, but ironically his bike was about 200g underweight
today so he had to add some ballast!

~PB

Even buying a pair of Dura Ace DT levers its a damn sight cheaper than new
STi. Any old friction left hand lever will do the job, a second hand 6 or
seven speed one off eBay will work with a triple and give loads more trim
than an indexed STi. Much easier to set up too, no real worry about matching
ring sizes to the curve on the mech, no real worry about ramped and pinned
rings either