On Mon, Feb 9, 2009 at 11:34 PM, Michael Gordon <[email protected] > wrote:
> > > I'm around 150 pounds, and do not find additional comfort on smooth > roads going from say 28 mm to 32 mm or more. I do, however, notice > that as the tire becomes bigger, the wheel feels more ponderous and > heavy. It is not necessary to pump up a 28 mm tire to 120 psi or > something like that and then compare to a 32 mm tire at a much lower > pressure. I weigh 170 and use 28s (labeled 30) on the Motobecane, which usually is carrying a load of some sort, up to 40 lbs or so, on the rear. I don't put more than 90 in the rear, with load, and 80 in front, and generally only 80/70. My roads are generally good, but I don't hesitate to ride this pressure on firm dirt or gravel (but if I ride off road, *then* I want **wide** tires: 700c X 60 mm Big Apples -- why stint yourself on bad surfaces, especially if they are sandy?). For me -- that is, my weight, my surfaces, my riding style, my loads -- 28 is pretty much as big as I care for on a mostly pavement bike. 25 or so for a pure road bike, tho' in the absence of options for 559 and 571, I run 23s and even 21s of supple quality (and hence, good ride). (If someone can tell me of a 25 to 28 mm 559 tire *of good quality* I'd be very grateful. Yes, I've used 32 mm 559 Paselas and don't find them any better in ride quality and not better in durability and flat resistance, than my 21 mm Turbos or 23 mm Grands Prix. So no Paselas. FWIW, the owner of Tandems East told me a number of years ago that tandem riders wanting a fast tire often use the same little 190 gram 21 mm 559 Turbo.) Frankly, I think that ride quality comes as much from the quality -- suppleness -- of the tire as from width. OTOH, I've not tried really expensive and supple fat tires like some of the 650B tires reviewed by Bicycle Quarterly. OTOH, when riding fixed, there are benefits to a heavy wheel, in that the "flywheel" feeling is much more noticeable with a heavy wheel. That is one thing I miss with the very light small wheels and tires on the Riv fixeds. My former Diamond Back Axis Team mtb fixed gear, with 2 lb (each!) 559X60 mm Big Apples, felt really good on pavement thanks to this "inertial" feel. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
