Road Bike Commuting - TYRES????

The Armadillo is far from the lightest tire, far from the plushest tire and to some looks butt ugly. BUT, they are virtually indestructible and last forever, plus they aren't too expensive either. I use them on my winter bike because they hold up on the mag trainer and are good when there is excess road junk to run over.

Thanks

How about the Continental Ultra Gator Duraskin ???

Will this be OK in the WET and still let me go fast at the weekend??

Cheers.

Don,

I see several of your posts re tyres. Well done on the Giant FCR, I ride a Felt of similar design.

Flat Bar Road Bikes behave differently to drop bar bikes mainly due to the different weight distribution. This means the pressure in the front tyre will need to be lower than in a drop bar bike of the same design to maintain directional control at low speeds.

I would recommend 23mm tyres, and run the front 10-15 psi below the rear. These pressures will depend on your weight.

I use Conti GP4000s on both bikes but for "unknown territory" I have a set of Conti Ultra Gator Skins (rib front, slick rear) with Kevlar on 32 spoke Ultegra hubs to fit the Wheeler.

Conti Ultra Gator Skins for me. To me the feel a heavier tyre, but hell on my commute with broken glass the norm they do the trick wonderfully. Not a single cut, scrap or anything after 400km. In fact give 'em a clean down and they would look new.

Traction isn't horrid but I can't comment as I haven't had them on for that long, nor experienced enough alternative tyres. I've been advised they should last between 4,000 and 10,000km.

If I stick to 700x28 and use the Conti Ultra Gator Skins, what sort of pressures should I use? Also - do i need new tubes or will the old ones keeep going for a while?

Sorry for being a newbie

OXFORD_DON said:

If I stick to 700x28 and use the Conti Ultra Gator Skins, what sort of pressures should I use? Also - do i need new tubes or will the old ones keeep going for a while?

New Conti tyres, use new tubes. Also ask the bike shop to check the rim tapes, it may have come with rubber band type, not real good for high pressure tyres.
Tyre Pressures, what is the all up weight, bike, rider and gear?? 🙂

Why stay with 28mm?? Are you going off road? The bike will respond so much better and be a lot faster with 23mm.

gclark8 said:

New Conti tyres, use new tubes. Also ask the bike shop to check the rim tapes, it may have come with rubber band type, not real good for high pressure tyres.
Tyre Pressures, what is the all up weight, bike, rider and gear?? 🙂

Just my beautiful 13 stone body and a 10kg bike

gclark8 said:

Why stay with 28mm?? Are you going off road? The bike will respond so much better and be a lot faster with 23mm.

i thought that I had no choice with my wheels. Info with the bike says 700x28. Didnt consider that i could change them.

Yes 23mm tyres should fit the rims OK, the width (outside) will be on a sticker on the rim, it should be around 18/19mm.

For an 80kg rider on flat bar road bike using Conti Ultra Gator Skin 23mm tyres, my recommended pressures are, front 85-95psi, rear 100-110psi, the 85/100 should give a softer compliant ride and good wet road performance. The 95/110 if its dry and you are pushing it a bit.

wow. how did you work that out?

I'm about 75kg and have Conti Ultra Gator Skin 23mm tyres on my training wheels. 🙂 Both the Felt and the Wheeler are built with Flat Bars.

Hi Don & Co

Most people if they say commuting tyre often mean fatter rather than skinny.

Keep in mind your original post re wet roads and if you come across loose gravel from time to time while riding can also be a traction failing experience.

When I was riding a hybrid with 38 mm tyre I felt sure footed in the loose stuff, as I went through the narrowing progression to 32, 28, 25, & also tried 23s I found the loose stuff requiring more concentration to negotiate safely.

If speed is what you're after but little comfort go skinny, if shore footed with a bit more comfort go fatter. Do not worry re treaded tires, slicks with minor side tread are good wet or dry but a 25 or 28 are a good compromise. Personally I have opted 25 because it suits the roads I ride on.

But yet another perspective, hope it helps.

Bye

Don,

Just curious, what model FCR did you buy?

Fatter vs Skinny tyres is all dependent on how you ride. Fatter tyres give less rolling resitance and Skinny tyres give better aerodynamics, so if you are fast then skinny, if you are slow then fat.

In your case the terrain that you are riding over will be the key factor in selecting tyres.

OK... an answer to all of the last posts

I am riding a FCR 2 (2004 version)

I ride in London when i commute- streets generally not bad, few potholes which I generally avoid, wet often though. I never go out in heavy storms!! If I fell - would be very dangerous.

At weekends I tend to ride much faster, good roads again though. I am no speedy gonzales and my engine leaves a lot to be desired.

(current thinking is some 28 gatorskins.)

Don, Don, Don,

Gator Skins yes, but not 28mm. They are for grandpa touring bikes, tandems, 120kg riders, panniers, slow riding. If you are not sure drop over Sat or Sun Afternoon and I'll put my Felt wheels in and you can see what some 23mm Contis handle like.. 🙂

I have friends with FB bikes who have removed the 28s and gone to 23s, much faster and more precice handling, wet and dry.

Confirm, this one? http://www.giantbicycles.net/uk/030.000.000/030.010.000.asp?year=2004&model=9999

Don

Found this in another topic:

Quoted post said:

From: http://www.cyclingforums.com/t283972.html

I know I get a lot better wear out of a larger tyre. I weigh 90kg so I need a minimum of 23c to avoid running to high pressures to avoid pinch flats. We have used 700 x 23c on the old tandem which handle great but don't last very long ( 1500kms if we are lucky). 28c seems to be a better compromise for comfort and longevity. I hate heavy tyres though as they can make the bike feel like you are riding through syrup. I had a friend buy some lighter 26x1.25 from me and he found his tandem was some much better to ride that they have put off buying the new one for a while.

cheers
Geoff

gclark8 said:

Don, Don, Don,

Gator Skins yes, but not 28mm. They are for grandpa touring bikes, tandems, 120kg riders, panniers, slow riding. If you are not sure drop over Sat or Sun Afternoon and I'll put my Felt wheels in and you can see what some 23mm Contis handle like.. 🙂

I have friends with FB bikes who have removed the 28s and gone to 23s, much faster and more precice handling, wet and dry.

Confirm, this one? http://www.giantbicycles.net/uk/030.000.000/030.010.000.asp?year=2004&model=9999

Yes mate that is the bike, looks like I am riding 25mm then!! I was convinced that I was 28mm - bike sales people eh! Maybe I will look at the rims when I get home...

Looks like it will be 25mm gatorskins for me - unless it would be easy and inexpensive for me to change to 23mm??

Thanks for your help. I feel like i know NOTHING.

Don,

You had me going there for a minute, 25s, ok. 23 and 25mm should be the same price. The Tube to go with the 23 or 25mm tyre is "Conti Race 700" S36 or S48 Valve.

Now, how is the gearing of the bike? Do you run out of grears when going fast? When the rear wheel is out, check the Freewheel/Freehub. From the Giant Specs, it looks like it may have a 7 speed spin-on Freewheel 14-28.

If this is so, Shimano now make a MF HG-50 11-28 7 Speed Spin-on Freewheel that will give you a top speed much higher than the original 14-28.

Changing the tyres and the gearing can make the biggest difference to bike performance. The tyre pessures I gave you earlier will be ok for 25mm. Check these pressures every 2-3 days using a floor pump with a gauge until you are familiar with their performance.

parawolf said:

Conti Ultra Gator Skins for me. To me the feel a heavier tyre, but hell on my commute with broken glass the norm they do the trick wonderfully. Not a single cut, scrap or anything after 400km. In fact give 'em a clean down and they would look new.

Traction isn't horrid but I can't comment as I haven't had them on for that long, nor experienced enough alternative tyres. I've been advised they should last between 4,000 and 10,000km.

Hey Thornbury! I used to live in Thornbury a number of years ago, in Harold Street...which runs off that road with the tram line in the strange spot- on the northern facing side of the road, the tram line runs on the right-hand side...
do you commute into the city? that main road was always very rough and bumpy, how do you manage it?