I've found the biggest issue with road tires on a gravel bike!
01-04-21, 02:46 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I've found the biggest issue with road tires on a gravel bike!
I got a 2021 Crux a few months ago, and its awesome. Its lighter, stiffer, and dare I say better riding than my current steel roadie. Despite the 38mm knobbies, its faster a lot of the climbs around here. I decided to try mounting a set of 28mm roadie tires the other day to see how it would do with a bit less tire on the road. It was then that I discovered the MAIN issue with road tires on a gravelly bike:
Yep. It looks awkward as ****. Poor thing. She won't even look at me on the bike rack.
It does ride nicely, but I do have a whole dedicated bike for riding on the road exclusively, so I slapped the knobbies back on and she's proud again:
Yep. It looks awkward as ****. Poor thing. She won't even look at me on the bike rack.
It does ride nicely, but I do have a whole dedicated bike for riding on the road exclusively, so I slapped the knobbies back on and she's proud again:
Last edited by Phatman; 01-06-21 at 07:09 AM. Reason: Found a grammar mistake and nobody called me out on it!
Likes For Phatman:
01-04-21, 02:55 PM
#2
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 13,764
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 111 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7092 Post(s)
Liked 4,109 Times
in
2,371 Posts
Originally Posted by Phatman
I decided to try mounting a set of 28mm roadie tires the other day to see how it would do with a bit less tire on the road. It was then that I discovered the MAIN issue with road tires on a gravelly bike:
Likes For mstateglfr:
01-04-21, 03:10 PM
#3
Doesn't brain good.
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,829
Bikes: 5 good ones, and the occasional project.
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 951 Post(s)
Liked 579 Times
in
346 Posts
Originally Posted by mstateglfr
What am I missing?
Probably quick AF on the road though.
__________________
My lights are obscenly bright because drivers are dim.
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
My lights are obscenly bright because drivers are dim.
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Likes For base2:
Likes For tdilf:
01-04-21, 03:42 PM
#5
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 11,023
Bikes: '15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, '76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, '17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, '12 Breezer Venturi, '09 Dahon Mariner, '12 Mercier Nano, '95 DeKerf Team SL, '19 Tern Rally, ‘21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, ‘19 T Lab X3
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1838 Post(s)
Liked 898 Times
in
549 Posts
It’s got that wet cat look with skinnies on it! 
Likes For chaadster:
01-04-21, 03:42 PM
#6
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 13,764
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 111 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7092 Post(s)
Liked 4,109 Times
in
2,371 Posts
Oh, I didnt think it looked awkward. There is some room in the stays and fork, but if I saw someone riding that on the road I wouldnt think twice.
Thats the whole trend right now- 2 wheelsets 1 bike quiver killer yada yada.
Just looked at it again- still looks like a nice bike with some road tires on it.
Well as long as the OP is happy.
Thats the whole trend right now- 2 wheelsets 1 bike quiver killer yada yada.
Just looked at it again- still looks like a nice bike with some road tires on it.
Well as long as the OP is happy.
Likes For mstateglfr:
01-04-21, 03:54 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,125
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 387 Post(s)
Liked 568 Times
in
334 Posts
I had 1.25" wide tires on my MTB commuter in the 90s. It looked anorexic.
The other drawback is that significantly smaller tires give you a significantly smaller gear. IIRC I was spinning out the big ring/small cog in places where I used the middle ring with 2.1" tires.
The other drawback is that significantly smaller tires give you a significantly smaller gear. IIRC I was spinning out the big ring/small cog in places where I used the middle ring with 2.1" tires.
Likes For msu2001la:
01-04-21, 05:03 PM
#9
Enthusiastic Sufferer
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 215
Bikes: 2015 Specialized Roubaix, 2014 Salsa Fargo, 2013 Trek Remedy, 2014 Cannondale Synapse
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 113 Post(s)
Liked 229 Times
in
89 Posts
Just put on some nice cushy light 32-35mm René herse or similar tyres
Likes For SapInMyBlood:
01-04-21, 05:07 PM
#10
Occam's Rotor
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,229
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,303 Times
in
1,149 Posts
Or 38mm Rene Herse tires. Or 42mm. Or 48mm. Or 55mm. They have slick and knobby versions of these.
Likes For wgscott:
01-04-21, 05:15 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 4,364
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4503 Post(s)
Liked 6,101 Times
in
2,687 Posts
Originally Posted by SapInMyBlood
Just put on some nice cushy light 32-35mm René herse or similar tyres
01-04-21, 05:16 PM
#12
A Roadie Forever
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 9,907
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 105 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3143 Post(s)
Liked 1,797 Times
in
1,179 Posts
My Mooney was designed a long time ago around 27" winter tires and fenders. (The canti bosses are midway between 27" and 700c.) Spent its first several decades on sewups. Rode to the coast 4 years ago on 38c/35c. Now on 28c road tires. He's an all arounder. Takes what he is given and rides them with pride. Someday I'll have to dress him in 27" just for fun.
01-04-21, 06:35 PM
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by base2
That skinny tires are embarrasing & his bike was ashamed.
Probably quick AF on the road though.
Probably quick AF on the road though.
The ride is kinda hard to explain. Definitely quick since the Crux is a way stiff 900 gram frame. It was definitely workable, but when compared back to back with my road bike, the wheelbase feels way long on the Crux, even though it’s a pretty short bike for a CX/graveller. I think that for some reason the tires made it feel like a slow handling road bike rather than a quick handling gravel bike.
Extremely subjective stuff though obviously.
Originally Posted by msu2001la
Nice lookin' bike. Should've gone with 32mm road tires.
01-06-21, 07:11 AM
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Toespeas
the worst part is you spent a fortune on cheap Chinese carbon garbage LOL !!
01-06-21, 07:28 AM
#17
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 13,764
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 111 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7092 Post(s)
Liked 4,109 Times
in
2,371 Posts
Originally Posted by Toespeas
the worst part is you spent a fortune on cheap Chinese carbon garbage LOL !!
01-07-21, 06:45 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Greer, SC
Posts: 272
Bikes: Grail, Cutthroat, 5010
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 161 Post(s)
Liked 179 Times
in
92 Posts
My contribution to the “skinny road tires on a gravel bike” thread...
Canyon Grail SLX8 with 32mm road tires
Canyon Grail SLX8 with 32mm road tires
Likes For sarhog:
01-12-21, 05:39 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 393
Bikes: TCX & CAAD3 SAECO
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 143 Post(s)
Liked 94 Times
in
62 Posts
I agree. It looks funky. I think the 32mm Conti GP5000's are the fix if you're worried about the look of things. I've used them on my Giant TCX and they are amazing. I don't ever want to go back down to 28's for road anymore.
01-12-21, 06:51 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Alabama
Posts: 515
Bikes: Konas: Jake the Snake-Fire Mountain-Zing Supreme, Surly Long Haul Trucker, Santana Arriva tandem, Montagues: Paratrooper-Fit, Trek 1200, Bianchi Ocelot, and an old Bridgestone 200 I rebuilt as a singlespeed.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 106 Post(s)
Liked 221 Times
in
118 Posts
Originally Posted by Hmmm
I agree. It looks funky. I think the 32mm Conti GP5000's are the fix if you're worried about the look of things. I've used them on my Giant TCX and they are amazing. I don't ever want to go back down to 28's for road anymore.
Those do pretty well on my ol' CX bike.
01-12-21, 08:05 AM
#21
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Hmmm
I agree. It looks funky. I think the 32mm Conti GP5000's are the fix if you're worried about the look of things. I've used them on my Giant TCX and they are amazing. I don't ever want to go back down to 28's for road anymore.
01-13-21, 08:11 AM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 393
Bikes: TCX & CAAD3 SAECO
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 143 Post(s)
Liked 94 Times
in
62 Posts
Originally Posted by Phatman
Yeah, the 32mm GP5000s are a better look for sure. Do you find them any slower than a normal size tire?
01-13-21, 09:19 AM
#23
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 13,764
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 111 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7092 Post(s)
Liked 4,109 Times
in
2,371 Posts
Originally Posted by Phatman
Yeah, the 32mm GP5000s are a better look for sure. Do you find them any slower than a normal size tire?
The GP4k tires I rode in 28mm on my main road bike measured 31mm. They were light, fast, and reliable.
I wouldnt consider a 32mm tire to be abnormal. Its certainly on the wider range of road tires, but I view 25mm-32mm as 'normal' for modern road tire options.
Again, splitting hairs and stirring the pot here, I know.
I eagerly await the 32mm GP5k coming in tan wall.
Likes For mstateglfr:
01-13-21, 01:28 PM
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by mstateglfr
Stirring the pot here, but what is a normal sized tire?
The GP4k tires I rode in 28mm on my main road bike measured 31mm. They were light, fast, and reliable.
I wouldnt consider a 32mm tire to be abnormal. Its certainly on the wider range of road tires, but I view 25mm-32mm as 'normal' for modern road tire options.
Again, splitting hairs and stirring the pot here, I know.
I eagerly await the 32mm GP5k coming in tan wall.
The GP4k tires I rode in 28mm on my main road bike measured 31mm. They were light, fast, and reliable.
I wouldnt consider a 32mm tire to be abnormal. Its certainly on the wider range of road tires, but I view 25mm-32mm as 'normal' for modern road tire options.
Again, splitting hairs and stirring the pot here, I know.
I eagerly await the 32mm GP5k coming in tan wall.
I started riding road in the early 2000s, I even owned a set of 20s! It was tough for me to even consider going to 25s on my road bike.
01-13-21, 06:58 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,643
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Canyon Inflite AL SLX, Priority Continuum Onyx, Santana Vision, Kent Dual-Drive Tandem
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 723 Post(s)
Liked 561 Times
in
324 Posts
Yes 32mm GP5Ks are glorious. Have them on my fendered CX bike (not a gravel build, just my rain bike) because smaller tires looked stupid with the big amount of fender clearance I had. They are one of the fastest non-TT tires out there today. Running tubeless I get better grip, braking, and comfort.
