tyre inflation

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

Quoted message said:

Lee said:

Mmmm so i understand, might be time for some new tyres!

If you're riding an MTB with its original knobblies on the road for anything other than getting to
the off-road, you're spending a lot of effort you don't need to. A set of road slicks will allow
you to go faster with less effort and they'll very probably improve cornering at speed as well.
And be quieter and more comfortable to ride on.

Nothing beats knobblies for soft/loose conditions, but outside of that they're pretty ghastly and
just suck the life out of a bike on a road.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells
Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Yes, i do have the knobblies on - are they better for winter (snow etc.) riding or doesnt it make
much difference?

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

Quoted message said:

If you're riding an MTB with its original knobblies on the road for anything other than getting to
the off-road, you're spending a lot of effort you don't need to.

On the positive side you can get far more fitness benefit from the same commute.

Lee said:

Yes, i do have the knobblies on - are they better for winter (snow etc.) riding or doesnt it make
much difference?

Snow, yes, they'd be better, but let's be honest here, how much snow are you expecting in the next
couple of months? Beyond snow, there isn't really anything going to be on roads where knobblies will
help. Since the knobs stand out and keep the contact area *lower*, you actually get less surface
area of rubber on the road and *less* control and safety.

And you'll still have the knobblies, and can pop them back on if it does snow or (more likely) you
want to go off-roading. Ultimately a second set of wheels is nicer. As well as different tyres, you
can put a closer spaced cassette on the road-rear for more appropriate gearing.

I think you'll be fairly amazed at what a good pair of slicks running at high pressure will do for
your bike on the road. Just don't forget you've changed them before you head off road, hit the deep
mud and become Johnny Nae-grip! ;-)

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Hi all,

thanks for the excellent advice from one and all! :-)

I,ve not cycled seiously now for about 15 years, I used to use the bike to commute across Leicester,
and was looking at the bike and thinking it would be great to get back on it.

Anyway a decent pump has been ordered, we shall see how it goes.

Paul

Peter Clinch said:

Lee said:

Mmmm so i understand, might be time for some new tyres!

If you're riding an MTB with its original knobblies on the road for anything other than getting to
the off-road, you're spending a lot of effort you don't need to. A set of road slicks will allow
you to go faster with less effort and they'll very probably improve cornering at speed as well.
And be quieter and more comfortable to ride on.

What do people think of the tyres with a strong central rib and knobbly shoulders (I'm thinking
about the Specialized Crossroads EX). Reason - we're planning to do the C2C in the spring and I'm
still debating which bike to take. I don't want to ride far on the road with serious knobblies, but
I don't want to be on slicks when we get to the bumpier bits. Taking a hill bike with hybrid tyres
seems a possible option.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

Wise man with foot in mouth use opportunity to clean toes.
;; the Worlock

Lee said:

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

Quoted message said:

If you're riding an MTB with its original knobblies on the road for anything other than getting
to the off-road, you're spending a lot of effort you don't need to. A set of road slicks will
allow you to go faster with less effort and they'll very probably improve cornering at speed as
well. And be quieter and more comfortable to ride on.

Nothing beats knobblies for soft/loose conditions, but outside of that they're pretty ghastly
and just suck the life out of a bike on a road.

Yes, i do have the knobblies on - are they better for winter (snow etc.) riding or doesnt it make
much difference?

If you're riding on tarmac, yes, they do make a difference, but not in any helpful way. Winter or
summer (unless there's deep snow, but that's very rare). Knobblies and tarmac just aren't friendly
to each other - you'd be better off with good road tyres. Knobblies don't grip tarmac well, increase
rolling resistance and wear out at a horrendous rate. Obviously, on mud and loose surfaces there's
nothing to beat them but on the road they are a liability.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

Wise man with foot in mouth use opportunity to clean toes.
;; the Worlock

Simon Brooke <[email hidden]> wrote:

: What do people think of the tyres with a strong central rib and knobbly shoulders (I'm thinking
: about the Specialized Crossroads EX). Reason - we're planning to do the C2C in the spring and I'm
: still debating which bike to take.

I prefer some semi-slicks myself - better both on and off road.

Something like these:

cambriabike.comtioga factory xc slick front rear tire.htmOpen ↗
cambriabike.comgeax mezcal front rear tire.htmOpen ↗

My experience with the big-ridge-in-centre tyres is that they are just designed for people who want
poodle to the shops on something that looks like a MTB and work well neither on or off road.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune clune.orgclune.orgOpen ↗ "Technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect"
- Paulina Borsook

Paul Stevenson said:

I have difficulty getting enough pressure into my touring bike tyres. I rather think that my
weight may be some of the problem, 20 stone. Even when I've pumped the tyres to what appears rock
hard once I mount the bike they bulge quite a bit.

Tyres are *supposed* to bulge when you sit on the bike. See:
sheldonbrown.comtyres.htmlOpen ↗

But if the "quite a bit" is really quite a lot then more pressure may indeed help (prevent pinch
flats and excessive wear, and reduce rolling resistance). A bit over the recommended max (marked on
tyre) in the rear tyre is likely to better support your weight.

Quoted message said:

I rather suspect that some sort of electric pump may be the answer and a pressure gauge.

Nah, get a decent track pump (aka floor pump) with a built-in gauge.

Quoted message said:

what pump would be recommended?

Silca Super Pista (from Parker International) or any good track pump your LBS recommends.

~PB