T.T.

Long time marathoner turned biker (spandex not leather) due to getting Old....

I inheritted a Cervelo P2k TT bike, that is literally brand new. It is a 2007-2008, that was left in storage. The tires were took off the rims, now I have an awesome bike with new rims/wheels minus the tires and tubes.

The rims are Mavic CXP21 571x15

I live in the middle of no where, there is not a local bike shop, no bike guru hence my desperation for your guidance.

What tires and tubes do I need to buy to get this bike up and moving? I see this ride as a training bike to meter my interest in cycling.

Game On!

habilis

Check out this article: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/rim-sizing.html

Welcome to the sport! It will be easier on your joints. The article indicates that you need to do some figuring to translate your rim size (ETRTO) to the ISO system or inch system commonly used for tire measurement. You'll need to measure the rim as described in the article.

Retro Grouch 

I think that it makes a difference where you live.

All tire manufacturers make similar tires that have varying degrees of puncture protection. Tires with the highest degree of puncture protection ride like ox carts. Tires with little or no puncture protection perform better in all ways except they puncture more easily. The tires that I'm using have a light degree of puncture protection. If I lived in goat head thorn country I'd want more.

MichaelW

571 is ERTRO designation for 650c, a smaller (26") size used in tri bikes and road bikes for smaller riders. It is available in common racing width from 19mm-25mm and occasionally in winter-training/touring 28mm width
23mm is normal width for this kind of bike, modern fashion is for wider 25mm tyre, esp for rough/wet winter roads.
Note 650c is NOT 26" MTB and NOT 650B.
Continental and Vittoria are main brands for this size. As an "enthusiast/specialist" size, no one makes bad tyres in 650c.
You need an inner tube specified for a range including your tyre (i.e. 19-25mm), with a shorter valve length (ie ≈40mm not 60mm) 60mm will fit but is vulnerable to damage when pumping hard. Buy a spare or 2.
Also make sure the rim is fitted with decent rim tape. In none, fit Velox tape.

T.T.

Thank you for all the insight! Speaking cycling is literally Greek to me. Who knew that such an amazingly addictive/simplistic sport could lead one to the breaking points of delirium within the minutia of technical spec's.


The last time I measured my purchases in grams, was at college....


So just to confirm for my sanity; a 650c x 23 will work with the rim? Continental and Vittoria are good enough to train on, make sure that they have a high level of puncture protection because we are rich in road debris in our neck of woods, don't forget the wheel tape and then the table is set of maximum fun!


Again thank you all for the information, someday I wish to ascend on high, Ohmmm.


Party on!

Maelochs

I was going to make some wise-mouth remark about "Need Help? Way too late if you are on this site."


No need ... you have found out on your own.


You might need to go back to those college buy-by-the-gram folks just to cope with your growing cycling addiction.


it is too late for you, my friend. You are one of us, now.Cannot confirm your sanity (see above) but those seem like correct understandings. Tires with a little extra rubber for training, 650x23, rim tape ... I have used Conti and Vittoria (in other sizes) and trust them both.

I hope you become one of the good addicts who actually enjoys cycling, and not one of the bitter addicts who spend all day asking if a gram of carbon fiber weighs more than a gram of hydro-formed aluminum, if the carbon fiber comes from China.

Cycling can be an awesome addiction.

Homebrew01

Yes

You also need to bring on your rides: 2 spare tubes, tire levers, a method to pump them up (CO2 and/or pump), and the knowledge of replacing tubes. You'll learn most of it installing the new tires. Getting tires on and off can be a pain, or no big deal, depending on the rim-tire combination.

A floor pump with gauge is very nice to have at home to top off before riding, since tires gradually lose pressure over a few days or week.

Some people save the flatted tubes, and patch them later for reuse.

hoodat

Depending on your temperament you can get caught up in all the fine tuning or you can keep it simple. One nit picking detail will hardly be noticeable if (like me) you mainly just need something to get around on. With your Marathon background you are probably going to get caught up in details. To each his own. Some folks have more fun fine tuning than they do riding.

jfowler85

Do you plan on tri'ing?

bmthom.gis

That's what I was wondering, too. If not, OP might want to look into selling and getting a road bike instead of a TT bike. Those come with their own limitations, like a very narrow margin of tire widths that will fit (forget going to a wider tire), a position that is very uncomfortable to those who aren't used to it, plus finding 650 tires isn't all that common, whereas 700C are everywhere.

Also wondering, does the bike actually fit the OP.

avidone1

Can't help but think that you are one lucky dude.
Most of us have a beat up Schwinn as our first bikes.
You started at the top.

Jackmen

If you are evaluating cycling, a time trial bike is not necessarily going to give you a good read on the sport. I realize the circumstances of getting the bike , but your experience of riding may be different if you are able to ride a standard road bike which will be much more comfortable.

You may want to try the time trail bike a few times to see how it works but they are not built for comfort, and may give you an impression of cycling that is not what it should be.

I would see if you could borrow somebody's road bike to also try out regular road biking before you make a determination about cycling, especially if you are just getting started in the sport.

Phil_gretz

^agree with the above. That bike is simply an awful choice to begin cycling. Recommend that the OP list/sell the bike and buy something ride worthy with the proceeds. That's what I'd do, UNLESS, the OP comes back and says that he only wants to train for triathlons or somesuch...