I recently quit smoking cigarettes and have since decided to start getting back into shape after packing on the pounds over the past few years. Yesterday a friend of mine offered to sell me his 2005 Specialized Hardrock Sport for next to nothing, so I took him up on his offer and took posession of the bike. Now I'm beginning to make it my own.

I plan to mostly ride the bike on the roads around town with the occasional jaunt down the improved bike trail or two, so I feel a slick would be my best choice of tire however I'm having difficulty deciding which width slick would be best for me.

I understand that a narrower tire will have less rolling resistance on hard surfaces and will therefore make the bike faster overall, while being easier to propel. This is very appealing considering my stamina is fairly low at present, so the farther I can go on what energy I have, the better off I'll be.

The only drawbacks I've seemed to read about concerning narrower tires is their obvious propensity to sink when encountering soft surfaces, and they are supposedly less stalbe during cornering than a comperable wider tire. Being a heavier rider, are there any other concerns I should have about a tire being too narrow? I want to ensure i'm not going to end up constantly riding on the rims, or destroying components should I happen to hammer a curb, go bombing down some stairs, or off a small jump / drop? Mind you, I don't plan on being overly aggressive in my riding, but I don't want to cause unnecessary damage to my bike because of improperly selected tire widths.

So, what width slicks would you suggest for me? I'd also like to hear any suggestions concerning brand and model of slicks you think will suit my needs as well.

Thanks in advance to any and all who may be of assistance. :)

I use Ritchey Tom Slick 1.4" tires on an old rigid Rockhopper frame for neighborhood riding. I usually run them at 80 psi. I am in the 200lb plus range. The tires ride smooth, handle well and are very quiet. Rolling resistance is real good with 80 psi. I have done numerous 20-30 mile rides and a couple of 50 milers with this bike/tire setup before getting a road bike.

Also, I noticed a big difference by increasing air pressure to the max rated pressure in my old mountain bike style tires.

Good luck on your road to a healthy lifestyle. Bike riding has made a big difference in my health.

So I shouldn't be concerned about any bike damage as a result of a 1.5" tire being too narrow for a person my size? Good to know, thanks.

... now if only my LBS weren't charging $50 per tire for the Specialized Armadillo's they had in stock I'd be all set.

I have seen the tires online for around $15 each. Even with new tubes and shipping you should be able to get a set of tire for around $50. I cant imagine the tires causing damage to the bike. I have a set of these on my wife's bike also. I have never had a flat with these tires, luck I guess. I have been wanting to try a set of 1" for a while.

take it easy

Sounds good Greg, I'll see what kind of prices I can find online and will also give a few calls to some other LBS' as well.

Actually as it turns out I'd be doing that anyway... It seems the friend who sold me the bike ended up getting in trouble with his old lady for selling it to me without consulting her first, so it may be unsold and I may be looking for a new bike. Figures, huh?

If it turns out that I'm in the market for a new bike both the Rockhopper Comp Disc and the Hardrock Pro Disc have caught my eye... I'm just not really sure how much better the Rockhopper is in comparison to the Hardrock, if it would hold up to my abuse as well as the Hardrock, or how much I'd expect to pay for either of them around here.

Anyone have any suggestions when it comes to good online Canadian Bike Shops?


How easy is easy?

The more cycling get's in your blood the more your bike/bikes become a neverending ongoing project. the evolution of your bike over the years will amaze you if you stay with it! If you want less rolling resistance right now to be able to travel farther and money isn't too tight by all means, get them. Time in the saddle is so important in training, even for seasoned veterans. Most important is to enjoy yourself!