Originally Posted by bostontrevor
And do you steer with your rear tire as well? Because otherwise I'll put maintaining control over acceleration any day.
No, my leg power translates into my rear tire, not my steering. I find grip has everything to do with control, because as the real wheel is being powered, the front wheel is merely being pushed along (think about this) so if i have to "control" myself out of an occasional sand patch or a minor wet bog, you know im going to want some tread in the rear to help me kick out of there.
Originally Posted by bostontrevor
The only conditions in which a knobby rear will "grip" the road are exactly the conditions under which you should instead have a knobby front for control. Only put the treaded tire on the back if you're interested in powering through your front-end wash-out.
Oh, and be aware that putting a knobby up front will sacrifice handling on hard surfaces.
Yes but were talking about road cycling with some minor dirt and sand paths here no?
He runs a CX steed but isnt trying to do much CX riding, in which case he would need to hook up with a knob in the front.
and as you call it "powering through your front-end wash-out" im speaking from a touring point of view, and sometimes, "powering through your front-end wash-out" will save your ass.
Its a personal balance between speed/friction/pressure/smoothness/grip/stability. also the terrain you plan to hit is also a big factor.
have fun
-=stevey