The cure for chipseal riding
08-14-19, 06:11 PM
#1
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The cure for chipseal riding
i recently posed the question how do you go fast on chipseal pavement after reviewing the responses i decided to get bigger tires and ride them at a lower psi...it works very well ..the bumpy ride is greatly reduced and my speed remains close to the same.i went from 25s at 100 psi to 27s at 80 psi...i can deal with chipseal now...im gonna have to its going down everywhere
08-15-19, 06:28 AM
#2
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My solution included getting ride of both of my stiff carbon fiber racing bikes and going to a variety of steel bikes. My avg speeds are now higher since I'm not beat up and bounced around the whole ride. Bikes like the Domane exist to try and replicate what most steel framed bikes have always offered.
Let the flames begin, LOL!
Let the flames begin, LOL!
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Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
08-15-19, 06:54 AM
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I have Peugeot PGN-10 steel frame I have been testing out. One thing I noticed is how much movement I get with the chromed Reynolds fork. I can see the front axle in constant movement as I ride down the road, bouncing probably 1/4", forward and back. My steel Bottecchia had a fork like this too, and was quite comfortable on long rides.
None of my other bikes have this much movement in the forks, and I have to assume that these forks are eating up a ton of road shock.
So that would be my suggestion, find an old steel road bike with one of these type of forks for riding on chipseal. Steel bikes in general, beat me up quite bit less on long rides. That probably why I have so many of them compared to uber-stiff aluminum and CF frames, which are admittedly faster, just not as comfortable (for me) for long rides.
None of my other bikes have this much movement in the forks, and I have to assume that these forks are eating up a ton of road shock.
So that would be my suggestion, find an old steel road bike with one of these type of forks for riding on chipseal. Steel bikes in general, beat me up quite bit less on long rides. That probably why I have so many of them compared to uber-stiff aluminum and CF frames, which are admittedly faster, just not as comfortable (for me) for long rides.
08-15-19, 09:03 AM
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The cure is to HTFU. 
08-15-19, 09:28 AM
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I was running some Hutchinson 700c-28 tubeless tires but ended up having just a tad a bit of a frame rub. I cheaped out and picked up some Hutchinson 700c-25 all season tires. They are heavier, my speeds are down a slight bit but they were a lot cheaper. All that said, they stick to the road like glue.
My commute takes me on some roads where cracks have been sealed with tar and sand. When I am on them, I recall the original thread about chip seal and have found that I have no issues with these tires and I run 100psi all the time.
My commute takes me on some roads where cracks have been sealed with tar and sand. When I am on them, I recall the original thread about chip seal and have found that I have no issues with these tires and I run 100psi all the time.
08-15-19, 11:27 AM
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Be thankful that it's just chipseal. Many of the potholes in my area are being repaired with little mounds of asphalt that are brutal and destabilizing if hit at speed.
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08-15-19, 12:04 PM
#7
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i recently posed the question how do you go fast on chipseal pavement after reviewing the responses i decided to get bigger tires and ride them at a lower psi...it works very well ..the bumpy ride is greatly reduced and my speed remains close to the same.i went from 25s at 100 psi to 27s at 80 psi...i can deal with chipseal now...im gonna have to its going down everywhere
08-15-19, 04:37 PM
#8
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08-15-19, 08:53 PM
#9
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This is why i ride a steel frame gravel bike with 28 to 32 tires. 99% of my riding is rural chip seal roads.
08-15-19, 11:10 PM
#10
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I do a lot of riding on chip seal roads. About 35 years ago switched to tubulars for them. Haven't changed back yet. The only times I'll use clinchers is in winter or just after the new gravel has been spread.
08-16-19, 06:12 AM
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Chip seal? Pfft. Try 15 miles and 3,200+' of elevation gain riding a fully loaded bike fitted with 37c tires at 85 psi.
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08-16-19, 06:17 AM
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Chip seal. Someone forgot to seal it!
I used to ride "madacam" gravel on logging roads in the Pacific Northwest. Hated that stuff, but your gravel seems to have a hardpack base, much more forgiving.
I used to ride "madacam" gravel on logging roads in the Pacific Northwest. Hated that stuff, but your gravel seems to have a hardpack base, much more forgiving.
08-16-19, 06:18 AM
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Or up and down on 30 miles of this smooth surface.
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08-16-19, 06:21 AM
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08-16-19, 06:32 AM
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My solution included getting ride of both of my stiff carbon fiber racing bikes and going to a variety of steel bikes. My avg speeds are now higher since I'm not beat up and bounced around the whole ride. Bikes like the Domane exist to try and replicate what most steel framed bikes have always offered.
Let the flames begin, LOL!
Let the flames begin, LOL!
I did a long tour last weekend on some hot TX country roads and was glad I went with my TI bike.
FYI - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipseal
08-16-19, 10:34 AM
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Yup!! Loving my 28mm GP5Ks (measure out to 30mm on 21c wheels) at 70/80psi (around 90kg bike&rider), comfortable and fast. No pinch flats yet, but not sure I want to go any lower and find the limit. lol
08-17-19, 05:40 AM
#18
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08-17-19, 06:51 AM
#19
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08-17-19, 09:33 AM
#20
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If you ride chip seal and don't like it...visit RI and do some riding and then you'll be thankful for the smooth chip seal roads.
Dan
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08-17-19, 02:13 PM
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08-17-19, 02:31 PM
#22
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I recently got a new set of wheels, HED Ardennes Plus which are wider rims and I run 25c tires at about 70 psi per HED's website. Very nicely eat up the Texas chip/seal on my Ti bike.
The days of 100 psi are over for me.
The days of 100 psi are over for me.
08-17-19, 05:42 PM
#23
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08-17-19, 05:43 PM
#24
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dont u miss the days of smooth as glass fresh pavement...and how fast it was to ride on it
08-17-19, 05:45 PM
#25
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Sounds like you may live near me in Rhode Island. We have some of the worst maintained roads in the U.S. I'm originally from Indiana and go back to visit a couple times per year...I ride a lot of the chip seal out there.
If you ride chip seal and don't like it...visit RI and do some riding and then you'll be thankful for the smooth chip seal roads.
Dan
If you ride chip seal and don't like it...visit RI and do some riding and then you'll be thankful for the smooth chip seal roads.
Dan
