Originally Posted by
gauvins
Hmmm... I regret that I have to puncture the super kid impression, but it has been 100k over the week end, with a sleepover mid way. Still, quite a bit, but not like 100k in one fell swoop. Just so you know, we were close to mutiny at breakfast on day 2. Once under way, she was singing happily on her bike. Both girls (14 and 9) are used to 60-80 kms/day. Our 14 y-o was 11 on our first summer tour. Rare episodes of dejection. Lots of ice cream. And marshmallows over the campfire.
Thanks for the link.
WRT 23mm.... Frankly I don't know. These kids weigh next to nothing, which means that a small patch goes a long way. A wider tire will add weight and rolling resistance, not great for small legs.
Here are some options that are CX designed. Knobs are less stable in general vs smooth, but when they are tight packed, its effectively a smooth tire for the most part. The knobs wont help any on scattered gravel, but the wider width will help.
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...oaAofeEALw_wcB
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...waAh98EALw_wcB
100K in a weekend over 2 rides is still fantastic and she should be really proud to see what she is capable of. Ha- I know what the edge of mutiny looks like from experience too!
As for the tire width and contact patch- You mentioned in the first post that you guys ride wider tires and were interested in a wider tire for the 24" bike. Now you seem to be reversing course by pointing out that it will add weight and rolling resistance. Yes, a wider tire may do those things, but that isnt new information and you were considering a wider tire before.
I simply dont find a benefit in 23mm tires for any recreational rider, really. My oldest daughter's 650c road bike came with 23mm tires and we swapped em out for 28s. She is a feather and doesnt need high pressure tires and the new tires are barely heavier than the old ones(i think 60g total between the two tires). For that 'sacrifice', she has a more stable contact patch for when she encounters mud/dirt/construction gravel. Personal benefit is she can go longer without pumping tires since she uses that bike around the neighborhood too on impulse riding with friends, so PSI isnt nearly as important.
A 60# kid is creating a seriously small contact patch on a 23mm tire. Hitting most anything that cant be easily crushed may cause the tire to deflect and bounce off the objects which means less stable riding compared to a wider tire that can roll over objects easier. Seems like stability is more valued than rolling resistance in your first post. If thats no longer the case and rolling resistance is now more valued than stability after time to think, cool then. Its always a tradeoff and neither is right or wrong.
Good luck on the search and figuring out what the best approach is to balance safety, confidence, and execution! Its really neat that you guys do this as a family.
