There's still something about 23c tires
06-14-21, 01:10 PM
#76
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I'll put in a vote for larger tires (32 or better). The first thing I do with a bike new to me is to switch out the tires if they are less than 32. I like the softer ride and better traction.
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06-14-21, 01:46 PM
#77
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Steel is real
Bilinkey will cut up and weld on couplers, I was supposed to be on the Baltic with a forty year old Gran Prix.
I make motorcycle and car comparisons. When I park at a cafe, I feel like I parked a 356 Porsche, or a Commando.
I make motorcycle and car comparisons. When I park at a cafe, I feel like I parked a 356 Porsche, or a Commando.
06-15-21, 08:49 AM
#81
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I rode 23's like many of you have for years. Still have 23's on my LeMond Zurich. When I got my Fuji it came with 25's and my Specialized came with 26's (what an odd size) because it's hard to find 26's. I now run 25's on them. The difference of ride comfort was quite noticeable with the wider tires. I'll probably never go back to running 23's. I'll have to look and see if 25's will fit on my LeMond race lite rims and if there is enough clearance. Currently LeMond and I are separated by about 8,000+ miles and 14 time zones so it may be awhile due to Covid.
06-15-21, 09:12 AM
#82
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I was mostly riding my motorcycles and my mtb around 1990 when I noticed that 23mm tires seemed to be replacing the older standard "700x25c" tires that were really ~20mm tires (often with embossed "20-622" on the sidewall).
I was very happy with the change to wider rubber and would go on to put lots of miles on Michelin and Specialized 23's.
I especially liked not having to use 100+psi to protect the rims.
I was very happy with the change to wider rubber and would go on to put lots of miles on Michelin and Specialized 23's.
I especially liked not having to use 100+psi to protect the rims.
06-15-21, 10:01 AM
#83
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23s are faster, but not enough to matter.
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance...000-comparison
When we analyze our rolling resistance test results at the 15% tire drop air pressure, we see that the tables have turned and the larger tires do not have have a lower rolling resistance anymore! As we've explained that's mostly because the bigger tire will give a more comfortable ride.
But wait...
In the previous tests where we tested all tires at the same air pressures, the bigger tires had a lower rolling resistance. At the same air pressure, a bigger tire will be less comfortable as tire drop will be less and subsequently works as a harder spring.
But wait...
In the previous tests where we tested all tires at the same air pressures, the bigger tires had a lower rolling resistance. At the same air pressure, a bigger tire will be less comfortable as tire drop will be less and subsequently works as a harder spring.
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance...000-comparison
06-15-21, 10:38 AM
#84
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Frankly, I don't trust their measurements to be representative of real world conditions since they use a diamond-plate roller surface. That is unlikely to give an accurate assessment of the energy loss due to the vertical motions of the bike and rider on anything but very smooth roads, exactly the conditions where wide tires with low inflation pressures shine. I trust Jan Heine's roll down comparison tests on real road surfaces much more than I trust these measurements.
