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Tires. NYC commute in Jeans with Road Bike

Old 04-04-07, 06:54 PM
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Tires. NYC commute in Jeans with Road Bike

I have a steel framed road bike with Alex DA22 rims. My stock tires which have been great for circuits in Prospect Park in bike shorts (700c x 23mm) are fragile and harsh but very fast. For more utilitarian use, I want fatter tires and to ride in blue jeans!

What is the fattest, mushiest, puncture resistent tire I can fit on this bike? Bike has a carbon road fork. Not much room in it. I may want to go cro-mo on the fork for front bag/rack braz-ons at some point.

The LBS says 28mm Specialized Armadillo's would be the obvious choice. I don't count grams so weight is a non-issue. Can I fit a fatter or softer tire on a pure road bike? It has a 3 ring front crank and 105 rear derailierre.

Thanks for any input. See you on the Brooklyn Bridge!

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Old 04-04-07, 07:01 PM
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Any pictures of your bike? That might give a clue to how much clearance you have. But 23c tires are not inherently fragile. They may ride a bit harsh, true. Maybe you shouldn't inflate them to 110 psi?
As for jeans: are you sure you want that double-stitched seam riding right up the middle there?
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Old 04-04-07, 07:06 PM
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Those 28 mm tires will make a huge difference in your comfort level. I'd say even if you had the clearance for wider tires and the rims to accommodate them (which I doubt), why? Why not then get a MTB then so you can go really slow on the pavement?
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Old 04-04-07, 07:06 PM
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Hi Fellow Brklnite

No pictures but the bike geometry is similar to a trek 1000.

And yes, jeans are better on a 3 speed Dutch style bike than this!

Could I fit a 32mm Marathon tire on this bike? Maybe I the 28mm would be just fine then. How many people change from shorts to pants on their commute?

I am selling my MTB. I hate it. Only 48 teeth on the main-ring. Too slow for me. I'll put it on Craigs soon, if my friends don't want it. Thanks for your input. 28mm sounds like the way to go.

BTW, noob alert. MTB means a mountain bike? Or a mushy tire for a road bike?

While Im here with all these Brooklyn riders:

What's the best way up the East side off of the Bkln Bridge. I've been taking Center Street to Lafayette? Laff ends on 4th avenue. Gramercy area to 3rd ave uptown to 40th?

Last edited by BrooklynRider; 04-04-07 at 07:14 PM.
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Old 04-04-07, 07:28 PM
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Where are you in Brooklyn? Unless you're in the Heights, I'd recommend the Manhattan Bridge: far fewer tourists, plus it drops you off a dozen or so blocks north. And I don't know how comfortable you are riding in traffic yet, but boy, Manhattan Bridge to Delancy and up First Avenue is a breeze. If you catch the traffic right on First Ave., you can draft the traffic on one green light all the way to 33rd Street.
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Old 04-04-07, 07:36 PM
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Nice solution.

I'm embarrassed to say I have never taken the Manny Bridge before. The few blocks east part and North is very attractive. I start in carroll gardens.

Great advise. Thanks man! I'll break the ice and ride that tomorrow or Friday on my back-breaking Rockhopper...

Im still riding this Rockhopper with slicks. Never a flat... but Like I said, Im on my hands the whole ride and I'm done with this bike... That's why this Trek 1000 clone with a steel frame is in escrow...

Nevertheless, I'll start out a little earlier and take the Manny Bridge. I like that neigborhood and see it often from the car windows...
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Old 04-04-07, 07:58 PM
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Another carroll gardens rider, where are you? I'm on 3rd pl. Come out for the central park ride this friday night.
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Old 04-04-07, 08:00 PM
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What time is this CP ride? I might be stuck at work in Midtown till 7:30, 8ish. . .
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Old 04-04-07, 08:10 PM
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10 pm.
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Old 04-04-07, 08:12 PM
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yes!
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Old 04-05-07, 08:09 PM
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Thanks for the invite for Friday. I would come but I'm working. Do you guys do pace riding? I'm not up to that stuff at any rate!

I'm working on getting back in shape. Bored of treadmills at the gym, etc. I could work up to pace riding someday. Why not. I'm not a kid, though. Longer, slower is my thing more than racing.

Used to tour a bit back when. 200 mile trip to Boston from Long Island. Westchester to Charlestown RI fully loaded on a Shwinn Le Tour. Etc. Signed up for the 5 Boro Tour on May 7th.

I purchased a pair of Specialized Armadillos in 700c x 28. I hope they fit on in Reynolds Ouzo fork. So I'll have those on my road bike by next week (when it comes!) Couldn't afford a trek 520 so I did my best o purchase locally. No LBS had a Jamis Aurora, so I had to improvise. A whole other story.

Anyhoo. Let's keep in touch as I'll be stoked for some riding as the weather warms.
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Old 04-05-07, 09:38 PM
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So did you take the Manhattan Bridge today?
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Old 04-06-07, 09:43 AM
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No, I took the subway this morning... I'm going to explore the path this weekend if I have time between work and Easter. It could solve the problem I have of getting to 23rd Street on less used roads than Center Street and Park Ave South.

I'll check it out as soon as I can!
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Old 04-06-07, 11:07 AM
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Pace work on the CP Moonlight ride? LOL, sorry, it's a leisurely 10 mph ride on the ped paths throughout the park. Throw in a little off-roading and it's fun as hell.

As for the tires, I run 700x28 Conti Gatorskins on my steel fixie and they're comfy and durable.
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Old 04-06-07, 02:55 PM
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Get one of these:



Then just measure the inside of your fork and rear triangle. Note that due to wheel dish your rear tire may come closer to one side than the other. Also note that tires aren't always the exact width they're marked with,so give yourself a mm or two extra clearance.
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Old 04-07-07, 06:15 PM
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Sounds like the Moonlight ride would be fun! Need a cup holder by the sounds of it! And a coaster!

I already purchased the Armadillos in 28mm. I hope they fit. LBS said I should be fine.

I may buy a measuring caliper anyway, since I love instruments like that, and have always wanted one! If I had one already, I can imagine dozens of times I could have used it.

Thanks for the tips!

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Old 04-07-07, 09:53 PM
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Another Carroll Gardens rider here. I start out on Carroll and Court. One thing to watch out for on the Manhattan Bridge is broken glass. I flatted on my Gatorskins twice in the past few months. Though I rode in over the Brooklyn Bridge this morning and the tourists were far far worse than any amount of glass.
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Old 04-07-07, 10:05 PM
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is it a steel allez you got?
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Old 04-07-07, 11:00 PM
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I've got a pair of mitutoyo waterproof calipers. If you ever need to use em or other bike tools, drop by 3rd and henry.

Originally Posted by BrooklynRider
Sounds like the Moonlight ride would be fun! Need a cup holder by the sounds of it! And a coaster!

I already purchased the Armadillos in 28mm. I hope they fit. LBS said I should be fine.

I may buy a measuring caliper anyway, since I love instruments like that, and have always wanted one! If I had one already, I can imagine dozens of times I could have used it.

Thanks for the tips!
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Old 04-08-07, 06:41 PM
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Originally Posted by gwhalin
...I rode in over the Brooklyn Bridge this morning and the tourists were far far worse than any amount of glass.
No sh-t! It's ridiculous. More ridiculous is how I find myself too lazy to get off my bike to carry it up the stairs on the Manhattan Bridge so as a result I am on the BB wading through the clueless and the dawdling. Thing is, I turn into a hostile A-hole, the kind of person I try not to be. I was so pissed, some guy from Osmegosh, USA was chasing after a map and lightly bumped into me. I started spewing all kinds of really vile sh-t, nearly foaming at the mouth ... a total over reaction to a minor infraction. I felt like such an idiot, afterwards.

I definitely have to get over my laziness, walk the few stairs and cross in relative peace. I have to reserve my venom for idiots that really deserve it, like Access a Ride drivers.

BTW, when are they opening up the the other side of the bridge?
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Old 04-08-07, 07:59 PM
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I hear October.
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Old 04-09-07, 08:40 AM
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A 28mm tire will probably fit without fenders, 23mm with fenders.
Good tires that come in that size. Conti Gatorskin and Schwalbe Marathon. The Conti are faster the Marathon tougher.
28mm makes a big difference in ride comfort and either of these tires are much tougher than the average 23mm racing tire. I've tried commuting on light weight tires and havn't had one last more than a week without a flat. With my normal commute tires I get at most 1 or 2 a year (Not including stupid rim tape failures).
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Old 04-09-07, 08:47 AM
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Originally Posted by EGreen
No sh-t! It's ridiculous. More ridiculous is how I find myself too lazy to get off my bike to carry it up the stairs on the Manhattan Bridge so as a result I am on the BB wading through the clueless and the dawdling. Thing is, I turn into a hostile A-hole, the kind of person I try not to be. I was so pissed, some guy from Osmegosh, USA was chasing after a map and lightly bumped into me. I started spewing all kinds of really vile sh-t, nearly foaming at the mouth ... a total over reaction to a minor infraction. I felt like such an idiot, afterwards.

I definitely have to get over my laziness, walk the few stairs and cross in relative peace. I have to reserve my venom for idiots that really deserve it, like Access a Ride drivers.

BTW, when are they opening up the the other side of the bridge?
I completely understand how the Brooklyn Bridge can incite rage. I've two things this spring to change my outlook on the Brooklyn Bridge. I stopped riding my road bike to work, for a couple of reasons, and that limits my desire to ride at a breakneck pace. And I stopped treating the bridge as a way to make up time I'd lost in Brooklyn traffic. I'm really trying to be cool about it while I cross, limit my speed and to basically act like a man in big boots in a room full of stupid kittens. They just don't know any better, the poor things. Even if it means I spend the whole crossing dawdling at near walking speed, well, that's honestly probably the most beautiful part of my commute, so I try to enjoy the sky and work on my low-speed wind resistance techniques. (...and lean into the gust!)
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Old 04-09-07, 04:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Laika
I'm really trying to be cool about it while I cross, limit my speed and to basically act like a man in big boots in a room full of stupid kittens.
This is great! Might actually help me to dehumanize them... but to make them cute, I'm not so sure I can. The bigger challenge is to explore why I am such an unfriendly rider growling and cursing and worse towards people while simultaneously claiming, knowing, riding to be among the greatest joys of my life. I'm not even friendly to my fellow cyclists ...they don't even try to be cordial to me I look so angry.

Actually the other day another rider came up behind me unawares at a light and had some complimentary words for my bike. I was caught completely off guard, didn't know what to say ... it was really awkward. Just not used to being friendly and sociable on my bike. (while otherwise I really am.)

Sorry, didn't mean to usurp the thread.
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Old 04-09-07, 06:51 PM
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Well, you guys rode the Brooklyn Bridge on a weekend! I love the BB. It's always fun to see people enjoying one of our great landmarks. And such a young landmark at that! It's only 214 or something. There are tourists walking it every season and every hour. Those stairs from under the bridge is a short hop up...

Take a chill pill if you get wound up. A deep lung full on that bridge is the cleanest the air gets in NYC. Tonic and relaxing. Until you get to work...
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