Winter Cycling - Do slicks kick up less crap?

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View Full Version : Do slicks kick up less crap?


phantomcow2
01-29-05, 09:19 PM
I tried riding my bike in hte first somewhat decent day we have had for a while, its a mtb so it was knobbies for tires. I just went on the road, which here is all this brown slush. I noticed it really kicks up a lot of that snow onto my frame and me. I assume the knobs on the tires help this process, I would assume running slicks would do this less, am i correct?


VermontRides
01-29-05, 09:29 PM
yes, slicks will sling less onto you and your bike, but they still sling some, full fenders with good sized mud flaps will keep you cleaner than the slicks will, then only the passing cars will sling sloppy slush onto you :D

phantomcow2
01-29-05, 09:44 PM
Well im going to get a set of RItchey Tom slicks then.


-=solewheelin
01-30-05, 06:35 AM
Ahh man, go with the Specialized Nimbus Armadillos.

Round, fast, arguably bombproof and drillproof. (he he)
Ran one in the front before, and on my tour from Seattle to Santa Cruz +.
not one flat there.
3 flats in the rear tire.

Read the reviews on Tom Slicks. Theyre known to wear fast.

Anyway, to answer your main question,
Do slicks kick up less crap?
Yes. Theyre known to be slick about being minimal, in the sense that theyre condensed, they have a tighter profile, as opposed to a treaded tire, which can grab water with its vertical teeth or Knobs as we say.
Oh and inverted treads are a waste on a bicycle, but they work wonders for a car. according to Jobst.

cdale56
01-30-05, 07:54 AM
For a few years I used Conti Town and Country tires (inverted tread) they were great- few flats, good performance and less noisy.

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Tire/product_23376.shtml


They were great on the road and good for my off road use.



Seemed to be great, but then I had 2 sidewall punctures (front and back) on same ride- &^$$%%-with them though...........



Went to a Serfas brand inverted tread and they were not as good.

phantomcow2
01-30-05, 08:02 AM
Well i already bid on Tom slicks, i did not see too many people complain about fast wear @ mtbr.com so i will see how they go.

-=solewheelin
01-30-05, 10:25 AM
Yeah im sure the Ritcheys will be fine, but they just seemed a bit weak when i looked at them.
Youll see what i mean when you get them.
Those contis are the tires that many swear by. And ive seen them as stock on many bikes. but i dont think they make the Conti top touring in a 26".
Ill probably put them on my next bike :)
But if you simply dont want to worry about your tires, the Nimbus are the toughest set.

If you get into semi-slicks, Geax Reverts are sweet.
best of both worlds.

-=solewheelin
01-30-05, 10:49 AM
oh so you could even keep the knobbies, your answer is installing full coverage fenders as Vermontrides srared... that sludgsh you speak of sounds like it be awful to get sprayed with.

here, read
www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/slicks.html

2manybikes
01-30-05, 05:16 PM
It's going to be a little harder to ride in that slush with the slicks. The fenders might be a little better.