Steel Handlebars Opinion?
02-24-25 | 12:45 PM
#26
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Yes it makes sense to “dress the part” when riding the old bikes but if you’re uncomfortable then that’s where you need to draw the line.
The wider tire suggestion is a very good one. Also, with 28 tires you should be able to have considerably less pressure than 85psi. would think 50psi should be enough. You only need enough not to pinch sidewalls. The idea you need high pressure to reduce rolling resistance/ go faster has been debunked. At 50psi wide tires are like having shock absorbers.
The wider tire suggestion is a very good one. Also, with 28 tires you should be able to have considerably less pressure than 85psi. would think 50psi should be enough. You only need enough not to pinch sidewalls. The idea you need high pressure to reduce rolling resistance/ go faster has been debunked. At 50psi wide tires are like having shock absorbers.
02-25-25 | 03:51 PM
#27
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Northern California
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
I am not uncomfortable on this bike at all. I am just considering options. Maybe some summer, I'll try aluminum Maes bars just to pamper myself. I use 28mm tires on my touring bike (Manufrance), but the roads i ride on here in central Maine are very smooth, so I can keep high-pressure. I'll usually run the spec on the side of the tire, or up to ten pounds below that. Do you actually run 27" tires at 50psi? I'm only 170 pounds, but that seems low even for me.
When I installed the (actual) 35mm CST tires I bought from China, I let the pressure drop below 40psi before I noticed any pronounced softness.
Although the tires felt slow even initially, at 52psi, I had slowly become used to their getting slower, so was surprised to see less than 40psi in the rear tire without ever having felt it bottom on any of the sharp road irregularities of my usual travels.
That said, I weigh only 140lbs but my Six-Ten weighs over 30lbs with rack and "trunk" luggage, and with it's suspension seatpost, plus these heavy 1-3/8" hybrid-style tires:
02-25-25 | 05:38 PM
#28
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02-26-25 | 01:00 AM
#29
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,808
Likes: 1,781
From: Northern California
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
I run my 27x1" Paselas at 70-72psi. 27" Paselas run large, so their 27x1" measures a full 26mm wide on touring rims as shown below.
Last edited by dddd; 02-26-25 at 01:08 AM.
