Road Cycling - My Tires Are Too Slow!!

OK, I know it's me not the tires. But I've been using Gator skin 25s for 2 years now and wonder if going to the same tire in 23s would make me a little faster? I notice my tires seem to be bigger than everyone else's in my club anyway...is that why I can't keep up? JUST KIDDING. The GS are slow too but I'm pretty dependent on their puncture resistance.

Really, would it make a diff? I do keep my tires pumped to at least 110. Now, just to anticipate those who will say it won't make a difference, it's me not the bike etc., what size do YOU use?

you look a little slender to be riding 25mm tires at those pressures. I agree that narrower tires might be just the thing for you.

Bad news! I don't think it's the tires. 25's will ride a little smoother, GP's have a little less resistance, but the difference would be measured in seconds difference in a 20-30 mile ride.

ooh like your answer, FOG. 1Oldie I am on 25mm now, want to go to 23. Guess I'll just DO it...

I have 25's too, but it's my legs that are too slow. :D

go radical carol 19mm. try a friends set of wheels in your frame you won't believe the dfference trust me;) :)

!9/20 mm will be noticeably harder to mount on rims and the tubes easier to
pinch. Doubt you will really see all that much difference. Wgt reduction of 60-100gm is slightly noticeable on acceleration but not at constant speed. They do look snazzy, kinda like putting 50 series tires on your car. Steve

It's a wicked web you conspire to weave, what's next, a faster chain or more aero cable housings?

Faster tires are a gateway accessory. Soon you'll find that tires don't do it for you anymore and start squandering your lunch money on European cut jerseys. You won't even recognize the warning signs that you are out of control, things like hiding lightweight brake pads out in the garage where the S.O. will never find them and insisting glueless patches are the greatest thing since the sub 50 gram 700 x 23 butyl tube.

Have mercy. ;)

I like the Ultra2000's with folding beads, as a compromise between an all-out race tire and a tire targeted at stopping flats. Also, consider picking up the "extra-light" tubes to take off a little more rotating weight.

As sch says, the difference in weight will be most noticable when accelerating... but on a bicycle, you're accelerating a little bit with every pedal stroke, unless you have a glass-smooth spin (I sure don't!). And when you actually DO want to drop the hammer... yeah :cool:

700 x 23 Ultra2000's (with folding bead) are 80 grams lighter per tire than the 700 x 25 GatorSkin (wire bead, the only option). That's 160 grams or 0.35 pounds of mass reduction at the edge of the wheel where it counts the most.

If you can save another 20 grams per tube by using the extra-light tubes, you're up to 200 grams reduced (almost 1/2 pound), all of it at the edge of the wheels.

To me, that looks like a plausible experiment. I've found that the German-made Continentals all have pretty tough rubber and resist punctures well.

In my racing days I trained on wheels built of 360gm rims and 320-340gm tires.
Then when I raced I used 280gm rims and 220gm (front) and 250gr rear tires.
It felt like flying, especially in a jump. But those rims were soft and tacoed
with any odd load (falls usually). Went through 3-5 rims/yr. That 6-8oz difference per wheel was something to behold. I don't feel I would really notice it now though. Steve

Originally posted by mechBgon




To me, that looks like a plausible experiment. I've found that the German-made Continentals all have pretty tough rubber and resist punctures well.


thanks for the endorsement mechbgone. Personally I feel its very wasteful to squander energy unecessesarily when it is so hard won. New lighter tyres are a very cheap way of maximising one's achievment for a given effort with lower rolling resistance. The question was would smaller profile tyres make me go faster and the answer is a definite yes.

I am surprised that anyone would disagree frankly. maybe they should get off their road race bike with 700x19mm tyres and try their same training run on a hybrid with 700x 32mm:) ;)

Originally posted by threadend
It's a wicked web you conspire to weave, what's next, a faster chain or more aero cable housings?

Faster tires are a gateway accessory. Soon you'll find that tires don't do it for you anymore and start squandering your lunch money on European cut jerseys. You won't even recognize the warning signs that you are out of control, things like hiding lightweight brake pads out in the garage where the S.O. will never find them and insisting glueless patches are the greatest thing since the sub 50 gram 700 x 23 butyl tube.

Have mercy. ;)

threadend really, ......do you think I would hide my extravagant bike purchases from the other half ?:D too bloomin right ! hee hee

" whats this ?for you've already got 2 new chainsets you hav'nt used yet still in the wrappers why do you need another one?!"

Well my special probably for the same reason you apparently need a new dress every time we go to a wedding, ball, reception etc ( me deftly dodges a well aimed heavy kitchen implement as I scoot out the kitchen ):rolleyes:

Originally posted by mechBgon

700 x 23 Ultra2000's (with folding bead) are 80 grams lighter per tire than the 700 x 25 GatorSkin (wire bead, the only option). That's 160 grams or 0.35 pounds of mass reduction at the edge of the wheel where it counts the most.
[/B]

Ooh ahh! I like it! I can't find the gator skins in 23s around here anyway.

cheers mate

:beer:

LOL you are hilariou5, dude. Have you e er considered a career as a professional comedian?


Originally posted by threadend
It's a wicked web you conspire to weave, what's next, a faster chain or more aero cable housings?

Faster tires are a gateway accessory. Soon you'll find that tires don't do it for you anymore and start squandering your lunch money on European cut jerseys. You won't even recognize the warning signs that you are out of control, things like hiding lightweight brake pads out in the garage where the S.O. will never find them and insisting glueless patches are the greatest thing since the sub 50 gram 700 x 23 butyl tube.

Have mercy. ;)

Wait... you mean there are aero cable housings?!?! :eek: Dude, WHERE?!









;)

Originally posted by deliriou5
LOL you are hilariou5, dude. Have you e er considered a career as a professional comedian?

Finally, someone demanding and appreciative of high quality humor, you're way cooler than all those other people that will warn you not to encourage me ;) Thanks.

Originally posted by mechBgon
Wait... you mean there are aero cable housings?!?! :eek: Dude, WHERE?!









;)

It's right next to the Ti tape wrap in isle 7!

-Wynn

"Price check register 4"!

If I put my aero sunglasses on I seem to go faster but thats ,cos I can't see the speedo ! I had gator skins & found they were quite useless as far as puncture resistance went & the one on the back went "snakey" with a couple of cut cords in the casing, Ive now got a pair of 23c Armadilo's on & they're not a bad ride , very posative when cornering, only one flat so far & that was a broken peice of hyper. needle !!!! , removed very carefully :eek: :eek:

Originally posted by caroljm36
Now, just to anticipate those who will say it won't make a difference, it's me not the bike etc., what size do YOU use?
Well I thought everyone knew size doesn't make a difference


Marty

well, like I said, I'd like to know what sizes you all are riding! My guess is it ain't 25mm!

well I'm on 19mm semi slicks even in the winter.ice At 17 stone I need all the help I can get
Skinny they maybe but fast ? phew:eek:

Originally posted by caroljm36
well, like I said, I'd like to know what sizes you all are riding! My guess is it ain't 25mm!
Size don't matter (I keep telling my wife that).
I'm riding 22mm Conti Sprinters, I also have a pair
of 25mm Paris-roubaix tires that are absolutely sublime....

Marty

I'm on 25s! I hate them! I'm not sure if it is the width or the tire. I actually didn't really realize how slow my tires were until I rode on my friends bike with the exact same wheelset and 20mm michelin pro-race tires on it. man did my bike feel slow after that. ja-ja-jaded!

Originally posted by caroljm36
well, like I said, I'd like to know what sizes you all are riding! My guess is it ain't 25mm! On my commuting bike? Heh heh... 2.35" in the rear, 2.1" in the front :D On my Cannondale touring bike, I run the folding Ultra2000 700 x 25's (except I lent them to my boss, so now it's got the 700 x 35 Pasela TourGuards on it again).