lightweight front tire on LWB bents?

[bobkat]

I have a LWB bent that I love. However, while riding the Mickelson Rails to Trail in the Black hills. I have found that occasionally when I hit a patch of looser than usual gravel (they were resurfacing some of the trail) I would lose steering ability, presumably because the front tire doesn't carry much weight as the back and tends to skid when cornering on loose gravel. I have a blue thigh and road rash on my ankle because of this.
I am planning an upcoming ride through the whole trail (107 miles) and my question is whether it would be worth while to put a tire with more grip to it on the front wheel - would be only minutes to change it over- and would there be any added traction by doing this as the weight on the front tire would be unchanged? Or is it simply trial and error?
I thought of bungeeing a 100 pound anvil on to the front fork, but can't find a bungee strong enough to hold it! LOL

[bkaapcke]

Bobkat, I know the feeling. I've dropped my LWB twice in the past few weeks in situations where the front tire hit dirt. I hope someone has an answer for this problem. bk

[Doug5150]

Wider tires generally help, as long as they're not unreasonably wide for the rim you've got, but you didn't specify either. Tires are more stable on wider rims, when they're not more than a quater to a half-inch wider than the rim they're mounted on.

On most LWB's, if the front and rear tires are the same width then the front should only be inflated about 50% of the rear.

[edited]-okay, made a mistake: if about one-third of the weight is on the front wheel, then the front tire should be inflated to about half the rear.....
~

[Wilbur Bud]

It'll look funky, but move whatever you are carrying (besides yourself) to some front panniers on a front rack. That puts the weight all the way forward and down low. Alternatively, if it's a special trip and you don't normally hit the slippery slopes, consider cramping your style and move the seat forward whatever distance you can tolerate.

[bobkat]

I didn't know that the front tire on a LWB bent should be inflated less than the rear. I've been putting 100psi in both! Maybe try letting some out.