Road Cycling - 700x28c for the Poprad?

Hello,

I'm picking up a 2004 LeMond Poprad and wanted to get some street tires for it. The LBS has some 700x28c tires on clearance but I wanted to get some other opinions on if it's a good choice.

I'm looking for a tire for general road riding/commuting and my first MS 150, would this be a good size? Will that size work well on the Poprad rims? I'm not sure how wide the rims are or what size tires will fit on them.

Thanks.

28mm is an excellent choice for general riding and commuting. What size tires are on the bike now?

Hello,

I'm picking up a 2004 LeMond Poprad and wanted to get some street tires for it. The LBS has some 700x28c tires on clearance but I wanted to get some other opinions on if it's a good choice.

I'm looking for a tire for general road riding/commuting and my first MS 150, would this be a good size? Will that size work well on the Poprad rims? I'm not sure how wide the rims are or what size tires will fit on them.

Thanks.

i have the same tire size on my sirrus. it's very comfortable to ride. easy to pedal.. but hard to pedal fast.. either that or my legs just too weak.. haha but definitedly that's a nice size for road/commuting.. good for comfort too.

I have Open Pro wheels on my "Rad" and switch back and forth between Vredestein Campos (CX, 700x28) and Bontrager Race Lites. (road, 700x23)

Both are excellent for their intended use.

55/Rad

What size tires are on the bike now?

I'm about to pick it up but I think it comes with 700x32 or 35 cyclocross tires. I thought some street tires would provide less rolling resistance.

Hi,
I'm a big fan of the 28c size for street riding. My favorite is the Rivendell tires...the Roly Poly and the Ruffy Tuffy which are 27c.

I'm about to pick it up but I think it comes with 700x32 or 35 cyclocross tires. I thought some street tires would provide less rolling resistance.
Having been through this myself, I ask why you want the Poprad in the first place? I bought mine as a backup to my roadie - a foul weather commuter I wouldn't have to baby all the time. Thing is, I fell in love with the bike - the 853 steel that is - and proceeded to replace a lot of the cyclocross specific components with road gear. Like the wheels and tires, the drivetrain and the bars and stem. Pretty soon I had a wonderful Poprad "road" bike. But it wasn't truly a full roadie. It still had the heavy steel fork and the MTB style XTR brakes and the slightly heavier frame that comes with a CX bike. I eventually came to the decision that what I really wanted was a true steel roadie.

So I bought a new (used) frame - Lemond Maillot Jaune - and took all the road gear off the Rad and transferred it over. The main differences are the lighter frame, the carbon fork and the road brakes. I ended up saving around 3 pounds and it makes a world of difference. Also, I re-built the Rad to it's original form and am now contemplating it's future.

Point is, unless you are seriously going to be taking the bike off-road, why not just go with a roadie in the first place? There are comparably priced steel bikes to be found. It could save you a lot of time and money in the future.

55/Rad

Having been through this myself, I ask why you want the Poprad in the first place? I bought mine as a backup to my roadie - a foul weather commuter I wouldn't have to baby all the time. Thing is, I fell in love with the bike - the 853 steel that is - and proceeded to replace a lot of the cyclocross specific components with road gear. Like the wheels and tires, the drivetrain and the bars and stem. Pretty soon I had a wonderful Poprad "road" bike. But it wasn't truly a full roadie. It still had the heavy steel fork and the MTB style XTR brakes and the slightly heavier frame that comes with a CX bike. I eventually came to the decision that what I really wanted was a true steel roadie.

So I bought a new (used) frame - Lemond Maillot Jaune - and took all the road gear off the Rad and transferred it over. The main differences are the lighter frame, the carbon fork and the road brakes. I ended up saving around 3 pounds and it makes a world of difference. Also, I re-built the Rad to it's original form and am now contemplating it's future.

Point is, unless you are seriously going to be taking the bike off-road, why not just go with a roadie in the first place? There are comparably priced steel bikes to be found. It could save you a lot of time and money in the future.
55/Rad

Rad... that's the thing with me as well. when i bought the sirrus.. i was going to use it for commute and road riding. plus i was on a budget... and $500 was pretty good at the time. then i found out that a road bike would be even better, althought the price wise would be even higher.. but would serve me well. anyway.. now i just ride my rockhopper with slicks to work more often then my sirrus and my sirrus has become a bike i just baby. my wife just says.. what's the point of buying it if you don't commute with it. :cry:

my wife just says.. what's the point of buying it if you don't commute with it. :cry:
We all should have one bike that we both love to ride, love to look at and love to take care of. In my case, the love for the Rad went beyond commuting to taking it out on club rides. I babied it as I did my carbon racer. But I had the feeling that I could get what I love most about the bike - the frame - and make it even better, without it costing too much. The Maillot Jaune was built for what the Poprad cost new, so I didn't feel guilty making the switch. Which also makes it a great commuter. Plus, it's good enough to hang with the weekend hammerheads if I feel like riding steel that day. It's nice to have the choice.

55/Rad

Having been through this myself, I ask why you want the Poprad in the first place?
55/Rad

I'm actually starting to wonder if it was the best choice. When I started looking I wanted a general purpose bike that could do everything. The poprad has enough clearance for off-road tires, I was told it gives a comfortable ride, I wanted something I could commute on and I was toying with the idea of getting into cyclocross racing. Since then I picked up a used mountain bike for off road riding and I inherited an old road bike that would make a good commuter but I got the poprad anyway with rack and fenders. After I brought it home I discovered my legs bump the rack when I pedal so I took it off and took the fenders off too for good measure. Since the poprad seems like a nice bike though I think I will just use it for fun rides and not put it though the abuse that off-roading and commuting would involve.

I also ride a Poprad. I had 2001 frame, but this last Christmas the LBS noticed a crack in the frame down where the seat tube meets the bottom bracket. It was still under warranty so now I have a 2004 Poprad frame, but with all my old parts on it.

I ran it with 28c tires for about a year, and then switched to 25c tires. I noticed a speed increase with the smaller tire and after a few rides I was just as comfortable with the 25c tires. I don't think I'm ready to go down to a 23c or 21c tire just yet, so I'll probably stick with the 25c tires for now. I've ridden with several people who ride 23c tires and I have no problems keeping up with them.

I only ride on pavement with them. When I get a new road bike I'm planning on turning the Poprad into a semi-off road/commuting/general purpose bike. I think I will go back to using 32c cyclocross tires then since there will be times when I ride on hard packed dirt fire roads.

I did try a 38c tire at one time and for the most part it will fit the frame. But there's not much room left so if your wheel ever goes out of true, the tire will rub the frame pretty quick.