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The dominance of the narrow racing tire on bikes is over

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The dominance of the narrow racing tire on bikes is over

Old 10-13-22, 07:33 AM
  #76  
I-Like-To-Bike
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Originally Posted by Fredo76
Tight clearances on racing bikes were already becoming a fad in the late '70s. I say fad, because the disadvantages outweigh the non-existent advantages, really, except maybe for looking cool in the eyes of one's peer group. That fad marked the beginning of the fetishization of the sport, along with Cinelli hiding the handlebar clamp bolt...
Don't underestimate the appeal of looking cool in the eyes one's peer group. Any perusal of threads and posts on BF, including and especially the 50 Plus list, demonstrates the power of trendy fads and "looking cool" in making bicycling equipment choices for some bicycling enthusiasts. The 50 Plus list demonstrates that the hold of old fads and what was considered "cool" in the past is a sticky if not permanent concept for some old timers.
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Old 10-13-22, 07:39 PM
  #77  
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Don't underestimate the appeal of looking cool in the eyes one's peer group. Any perusal of threads and posts on BF, including and especially the 50 Plus list, demonstrates the power of trendy fads and "looking cool" in making bicycling equipment choices for some bicycling enthusiasts. The 50 Plus list demonstrates that the hold of old fads and what was considered "cool" in the past is a sticky if not permanent concept for some old timers.
Speaking of trendy reminded me of the '80s "aero" fad--concealed brake cables, hiding shift levers above and behind the down tube, narrow unicrown forks, thin-section fork blades, oval tubes, and odd side-pull brake caliper shapes that tried to hid the arms out of the slipstream. Skinny tires, tight clearances, and deep-section alloy rims were also part of this "revolution."
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Old 10-13-22, 07:47 PM
  #78  
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Given that everyone can ride on whatever tire they choose, why do people argue about this? Why do people feel the need to prove that their choice is superior?
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Old 10-14-22, 08:38 PM
  #79  
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Originally Posted by jon c.
Given that everyone can ride on whatever tire they choose, why do people argue about this? Why do people feel the need to prove that their choice is superior?
Because it's interesting? Because the physics reveals some concepts that seem counterintuitive?
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Old 10-14-22, 11:35 PM
  #80  
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Don't underestimate the appeal of looking cool in the eyes one's peer group. Any perusal of threads and posts on BF, including and especially the 50 Plus list, demonstrates the power of trendy fads and "looking cool" in making bicycling equipment choices for some bicycling enthusiasts. The 50 Plus list demonstrates that the hold of old fads and what was considered "cool" in the past is a sticky if not permanent concept for some old timers.
Oh, I agree wholeheartedly, and I'm one of the worst!

After buying some NOS sew-up wheels because they are almost as cool as stem shifters, I got a NOS 14-22 Regina Oro freewheel to go on them, just to look cool, I confess!

My 14-28 wasn't small enough, in the looks department.


NOS wheels w/ 30mm sew-ups

Last edited by Fredo76; 10-15-22 at 12:49 AM.
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Old 10-15-22, 05:06 AM
  #81  
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Originally Posted by scottfsmith
For a recreational cyclist, 23mm is and always has been a non-optimal tire ... the grip in turns is nowhere near as good.
If the road is smooth, there's nothing like a narrow tire on a racing bike, especially in the turns. For me, they feel smooth, silent, responsive and fast.
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Old 10-15-22, 07:24 AM
  #82  
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Originally Posted by jon c.
Given that everyone can ride on whatever tire they choose, why do people argue about this? Why do people feel the need to prove that their choice is superior?
You can't be right on the internet unless you can prove someone else is wrong.
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Old 10-15-22, 10:40 PM
  #83  
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
The 50 Plus list demonstrates that the hold of old fads and what was considered "cool" in the past is a sticky if not permanent concept for some old timers.
QFT. These feelings run deep. The other night I had a DREAM, in which I was getting a bike fit and the fitter was trying different saddles on for me and she put on one that I found amazingly comfortable and told her so... and then I got off and looked at it and it was some bigass tractor-sized hyper-padded atrocity and thought there was NO WAY I would ever buy such a ridiculous saddle.
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Old 10-16-22, 01:38 PM
  #84  
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Originally Posted by DiabloScott
QFT. These feelings run deep. The other night I had a DREAM, in which I was getting a bike fit and the fitter was trying different saddles on for me and she put on one that I found amazingly comfortable and told her so... and then I got off and looked at it and it was some bigass tractor-sized hyper-padded atrocity and thought there was NO WAY I would ever buy such a ridiculous saddle.
There is a difference between being a slave to fads and not wanting your bike to look like an express train to dorksville.

As for the theme of the thread, I used 23s for everything for 30+ years. One of my bikes I rode for 11 years wouldn't fit a 25. I tried to put 28s on my current bike a few years ago and there isn't enough clearance for me so when I switched from 23s I went with 25s. For the riding I've been doing the last 3 years they're fine.
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Old 10-16-22, 04:52 PM
  #85  
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Originally Posted by DiabloScott
QFT. The other night I had a DREAM, in which I was getting a bike fit and the fitter was trying different saddles on for me and she put on one that I found amazingly comfortable and told her so... and then I got off and looked at it and it was some bigass tractor-sized hyper-padded atrocity and thought there was NO WAY I would ever buy such a ridiculous saddle.
When I have dreams like this, it usually means I have to get up to pee.
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Old 10-16-22, 06:46 PM
  #86  
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Well if Geraint Thomas is riding on 28mm wide tyres (as he mentioned in his latest podcast) then I'm guessing they are faster than narrower tyres.
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Old 10-16-22, 07:29 PM
  #87  
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I don't care what type of tires the pros ride...I make my own decisions as to what type of tires I use
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Old 10-21-22, 04:28 AM
  #88  
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Originally Posted by terrymorse
Why don't "the rest of us" need narrow tires like the pros race on? Some of the rest of us like to ride fast, and a 25mm tire is fast. If they weren't fast, pros would use something else.
Perhaps for the professional riders who do grand tours -- the trade-off will be road grip/stability and comfort over a period of days' races. The 25's will work on most kinds of road surfaces and still grip well on fast descents.

Anyone who is not racing and doing a 2 hour ride (duration) will also let out some air from the tires.
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Old 10-21-22, 07:13 AM
  #89  
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A lot of talk here about tire width, but what about height?

On my bike-Lynskey R230 rim brake, there is plenty of clearance laterally, but minimal between the top of the tire and underside of the fork. I have had to stop a few times to clear leave, pebbles, etc. Conti 23's are the biggest that fit.

I am looking for new (carbon) wheels and am hoping that wider rims will reduce the "lightbulb effect" and allow me to run bigger tires.

I am hoping to get 59.5 miles of comfort and am willing to concede the 2 city limits sign sprints.
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Old 10-21-22, 09:19 AM
  #90  
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Originally Posted by bblair
A lot of talk here about tire width, but what about height?

On my bike-Lynskey R230 rim brake, there is plenty of clearance laterally, but minimal between the top of the tire and underside of the fork. I have had to stop a few times to clear leave, pebbles, etc. Conti 23's are the biggest that fit.

I am looking for new (carbon) wheels and am hoping that wider rims will reduce the "lightbulb effect" and allow me to run bigger tires.

I am hoping to get 59.5 miles of comfort and am willing to concede the 2 city limits sign sprints.
My Colnago C59 was the same way. Wider rims made a huge difference for me.
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Old 10-21-22, 09:37 AM
  #91  
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Originally Posted by bblair
A lot of talk here about tire width, but what about height?

On my bike-Lynskey R230 rim brake, there is plenty of clearance laterally, but minimal between the top of the tire and underside of the fork. I have had to stop a few times to clear leave, pebbles, etc. Conti 23's are the biggest that fit.

I am looking for new (carbon) wheels and am hoping that wider rims will reduce the "lightbulb effect" and allow me to run bigger tires.

I am hoping to get 59.5 miles of comfort and am willing to concede the 2 city limits sign sprints.

I, too, assumed that a wider rim would make the tire wider but not taller.
This old diagram from HED shows the same tires getting wider and usually a little taller on wider rims. Trace the different colors for the 23mm and compare.



~~~
Continental tires used to be bigger than their nominal sizes -- a 25mm was close to 27mm wide. I think they are more true to size now.

Last edited by rm -rf; 10-21-22 at 09:41 AM.
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Old 10-22-22, 07:06 AM
  #92  
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Originally Posted by rm -rf
I, too, assumed that a wider rim would make the tire wider but not taller.
This old diagram from HED shows the same tires getting wider and usually a little taller on wider rims. Trace the different colors for the 23mm and compare.



~~~
Continental tires used to be bigger than their nominal sizes -- a 25mm was close to 27mm wide. I think they are more true to size now.
That is opposite of what I would have thought, but they did the research, so I guess it's legit.

So, from this diagram, I should look for a narrower rim?
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