Ultra distance tire size choices
05-27-19, 12:54 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Ultra distance tire size choices
There seems to be a trend towards wider tires for localized randonneuring, at least that’s my impression from what I read. My personal experience is very limited as I can’t get to group events very easily so I don’t often see what people are riding. However, when one looks at the tire sizes on bikes used in Ultra distance events, they all seem to be 25 & 28mm wide. If the wider tires offer such an advantage, why do the top riders in these events roll on 25 and 28mm tires?
05-27-19, 06:45 PM
#2
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,394
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,694 Times
in
2,516 Posts
what events are you talking about? RAAM?
05-27-19, 08:25 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Events such as the Trans Continental, Indi- Pac, Trans Am.
I believe Mike Hall rode around the world on 28’s as well.
I believe Mike Hall rode around the world on 28’s as well.
05-27-19, 08:36 PM
#4
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
There seems to be a trend towards wider tires for localized randonneuring, at least that’s my impression from what I read. My personal experience is very limited as I can’t get to group events very easily so I don’t often see what people are riding. However, when one looks at the tire sizes on bikes used in Ultra distance events, they all seem to be 25 & 28mm wide. If the wider tires offer such an advantage, why do the top riders in these events roll on 25 and 28mm tires?
05-27-19, 08:56 PM
#5
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,394
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,694 Times
in
2,516 Posts
when I first started randonneuring, I counted on people riding 19 and 23mm tires to have flats so I could have someone to ride with
I suspect there are people riding bigger tires in those races, maybe not 650bx44mm. Someone go to the start of TABR with a caliper. Seems to me that a lot of the people on TABR are riding all-road bikes, and it would be a little weird to put 28mm tires on a bike like that.
I am randonneuring on 32mm tires now. Got tired of pinch flats. I have 40mm tires on another bike that I use for randonneuring, I'm still trying to tell if they are slowing me down or not. So far it seems like they don't
05-27-19, 09:08 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Alabama
Posts: 519
Bikes: Konas: Jake the Snake-Fire Mountain-Zing Supreme, Dew Deluxe,Zone Ltd. (frame, needs parts), Surly Long Haul Trucker, Santana Arriva tandem, Montagues: Paratrooper-Fit, Trek 1200, Bianchi Ocelot, Fantom Cross Uno, Bridgestone 200
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 108 Post(s)
Liked 227 Times
in
122 Posts
I spent most of tens of thousands of miles on 23c Axial Pros, and while I loved how they felt, insofar as getting power to the ground and general handling, on an aluminum 'cross bike riding over chip and seal roads, a wider tire would have been far more comfortable. But, we were all convinced that narrow and high pressure were the way to go.
Jake's getting 32s for a bit.
Jake's getting 32s for a bit.
