Riding cobblestones - best tyre for different riders?
04-06-10, 02:27 AM
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Riding cobblestones - best tyre for different riders?
I was curious whether anyone had a few suggestions on choosing a good tyre for general road riding that would also suit cobblestones.
I was riding with a guy who had a Rohloff hub and quite a large 'bag' on his tyres - he said he rode around 60 psi and found them good for riding cobblestones in Europe - I live in flattish, Canberra Australia presently.
BLAH< BLAH< BLAH - may get my bike retrofitted with S&S coupling ... ride overseas if my wife joins in.
I'm guessing a main issue is pinch flats. Also that wider is an advantage - 25-28 isn't sounding sensible for my wife or for me as a novice cobblestone rider.
To help out I'm about 87 kgs, own a hybrid bike - mostly track in geometry with brakes and considering having the rear triangle rebuilt to take a Rohloff wheel which I hope to have in my hands in thenext couple of weeks.
I'm not overly concerned about wear. I'd like something great for 700c wheels for my wife and I. She's very green as a rider. I rode track and ride fixed and single speed (custom frame and yes I have brakes).
Please refrain from bagging this post - go and have a **** instead.
Steve
I was riding with a guy who had a Rohloff hub and quite a large 'bag' on his tyres - he said he rode around 60 psi and found them good for riding cobblestones in Europe - I live in flattish, Canberra Australia presently.
BLAH< BLAH< BLAH - may get my bike retrofitted with S&S coupling ... ride overseas if my wife joins in.
I'm guessing a main issue is pinch flats. Also that wider is an advantage - 25-28 isn't sounding sensible for my wife or for me as a novice cobblestone rider.
To help out I'm about 87 kgs, own a hybrid bike - mostly track in geometry with brakes and considering having the rear triangle rebuilt to take a Rohloff wheel which I hope to have in my hands in thenext couple of weeks.
I'm not overly concerned about wear. I'd like something great for 700c wheels for my wife and I. She's very green as a rider. I rode track and ride fixed and single speed (custom frame and yes I have brakes).
Please refrain from bagging this post - go and have a **** instead.
Steve
Last edited by campagnolo kid; 04-06-10 at 02:31 AM.
04-06-10, 07:27 AM
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I suspect the guy you were speaking with has the right idea. Cobble stones seem to me to be a very rough surface that would beat you senseless pretty quickly without adequate shock absorption. For most of us, that means fat tires. Fat doesn’t necessicarily mean slow. I have some Conti 700c Avenue Semi slick 40s on my touring bike at the moment. They aren’t too bad. Schwalbe also makes some nice, fat tires. Consider putting on the fattest tires your frame will take.
04-06-10, 12:09 PM
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How does tyre pressure fit in with fat tyres and rolling resistance? I ride 28 Roly Polys which I can't recommend enough at 100 psi. He was riding about 40s or more, maybe 50s on 60 psi.
Doesn't the lower psi equarte to more rolling resistance.
My wife used to ride Metro Duros which were great. I've put Cont SportContact on them now, but am sure this is likely to be a disaster.
Doesn't the lower psi equarte to more rolling resistance.
My wife used to ride Metro Duros which were great. I've put Cont SportContact on them now, but am sure this is likely to be a disaster.
04-06-10, 12:41 PM
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How does tyre pressure fit in with fat tyres and rolling resistance? I ride 28 Roly Polys which I can't recommend enough at 100 psi. He was riding about 40s or more, maybe 50s on 60 psi.
Doesn't the lower psi equarte to more rolling resistance.
My wife used to ride Metro Duros which were great. I've put Cont SportContact on them now, but am sure this is likely to be a disaster.
Doesn't the lower psi equarte to more rolling resistance.
My wife used to ride Metro Duros which were great. I've put Cont SportContact on them now, but am sure this is likely to be a disaster.
Not everyone may agree with the conclusions, but it's something to think about.
04-06-10, 06:17 PM
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Great articles on that website - the one on dynohubs was most illuminating.
Cheers
Steve
Cheers
Steve
04-07-10, 10:56 AM
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On a trip to mexico I showed up with my coupled bike sporting a 26x1.5 semi slick on the front and a 26 1.75 slick middle with flange on the side rear. Mexican cobbles are evil, think wide spaced deep smooth rocks in concrete.
The 1.5 80 psi semi-slick was pure suckage and the 1.75 slick middle, stunk climbing up slippery dirt roads.
I moved the rear to the front and bought a junky knobbie for the rear. The slick middle with flange was perfect on the front. Instead of skidding down each smooth rock the flange would catch and flex a bit.
All I could think after my discovery was, "So that's what this silly side flange is for."
+1
The 1.5 80 psi semi-slick was pure suckage and the 1.75 slick middle, stunk climbing up slippery dirt roads.
I moved the rear to the front and bought a junky knobbie for the rear. The slick middle with flange was perfect on the front. Instead of skidding down each smooth rock the flange would catch and flex a bit.
All I could think after my discovery was, "So that's what this silly side flange is for."
+1
Last edited by escii_35; 04-07-10 at 11:00 AM. Reason: Supply side walls aka flange
