Originally Posted by
non-fixie
I have the same experience, but since there are so many variables, and I still don't know what it is exactly that makes me like a bike, I'm holding on to all of them until I do know for sure.
I'd hate to have sold a great bike just because the stem was too short, or it had the wrong tires ...
Man oh man, those old Miyata 710 tires hard as rocks, a little cracking but the threads were fine and they had plenty of rubber. New tires were a revelation! The old ones were Tracers, maybe Michelin? 25mm and thick age stiffened sidewalls. The new tires are 23mm race trainers of some kind, but higher TPI and far more compliant. I NEVER would have gusses that thinner tires would give a cushier ride, but that's what happened. So shocked.
Reminds me of motorcycle tire reviews, every new tire is awesome compared to the squared off tread-less one that came off the bike!