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Date: 06 Oct 2007 00:06:56
From: Dien Cai Dau
Subject: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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I am riding the stock 700x38c tires that came on my road bike; right now riding circuits of 20 to 30 or more miles, trying to work up to riding century tours. I have been told that if I changed to narrower tires (700x32c) I would reduce rolling resistance and would be able to expend a little less energy pedaling. Unless my math is wrong, the difference in circumference of the two tire sizes in miniscule but over distance is does factor in -- for a 20-mile ride the narrower tire will have to make about 220 more revolutions than the slightly wider one. My question to the group is whether the energy savings of lower resistance with the road exceed the energy expenditure of having to pedal the tires through more revolutions?
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Date: 14 Oct 2007 17:34:50
From:
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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On Oct 14, 9:05 am, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@yahoo.com > wrote: > frkry...@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: > > > >> Tire were 47-406 Mitsuboshi Tioga Comp Pools. > > > Hmm. I wonder if there were any significant differences between your > > bike and mine (and the OP's). What do you think? > > Most likely. ;) > > > FWIW, not only are my tires narrower than yours, they're also way > > larger in diameter. > > butbutbut, you did not specify that in you post. A better statement > would have been, "I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires, on a bicycle > with wheel sizes ranging from ISO 571-mm to ISO 630-mm". Sorry, your logic is wrong. My statement is correct as it stands. A smaller wheel diameter would not tempt me to violate what I said. - Frank Krygowski
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 21:59:19
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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frkrygow@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: > On Oct 14, 9:05 am, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@yahoo.com> wrote: >> frkry...@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: >> >> >>>> Tire were 47-406 Mitsuboshi Tioga Comp Pools. >>> Hmm. I wonder if there were any significant differences between your >>> bike and mine (and the OP's). What do you think? >> Most likely. ;) >> >>> FWIW, not only are my tires narrower than yours, they're also way >>> larger in diameter. >> butbutbut, you did not specify that in you post. A better statement >> would have been, "I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires, on a bicycle >> with wheel sizes ranging from ISO 571-mm to ISO 630-mm". > > Sorry, your logic is wrong. > > My statement is correct as it stands. A smaller wheel diameter would > not tempt me to violate what I said. I did a metric century with a 28-406 Conti GP rear tire, because it came on the bike. The harsh ride and poor handling on loose surfaces convinced me to change the tire for a 47-406 Tioga Comp Pool, which was an all around improvement (and likely lower rolling resistance to boot). -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 08 Oct 2007 03:45:17
From: smn
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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"Dien Cai Dau" <xbaycb@hotmail.com > wrote in message news:BRDNi.13131$495.1142@newsfe22.lga... >I am riding the stock 700x38c tires that came on my road bike; right now >riding circuits of 20 to 30 or more miles, trying to work up to riding >century tours. > > I have been told that if I changed to narrower tires (700x32c) I would > reduce rolling resistance and would be able to expend a little less energy > pedaling. Unless my math is wrong, the difference in circumference of the > two tire sizes in miniscule but over distance is does factor in -- for a > 20-mile ride the narrower tire will have to make about 220 more > revolutions than the slightly wider one. > > My question to the group is whether the energy savings of lower resistance > with the road exceed the energy expenditure of having to pedal the tires > through more revolutions? So you think you are sitting higher on 38's. No, cause they get less psi. the resistance comes from having less air. My narrow width 26in MTB tires would probably outperform yours cause they hold 100 psi
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Date: 07 Oct 2007 20:35:38
From: Bob
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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On Oct 7, 7:28 am, "Roger Zoul" <rogerzo...@hotmail.com > wrote: > "Stephen Harding" <smhardin...@msn.com> wrote in message > > news:qb3Oi.1869$pl2.399@trndny07... > > > > > > > I think the only tire "inappropriate" for a century ride > > would be something with a knobby tread. > > > If it's a road tire, 38 or 21mm doesn't make much of any > > difference. > > > My joy bike has 25mm tires and my tourer has 37mm and I > > can't really tell much performance difference between the > > two on a century ride with the exception that the 37's > > make for a generally more comfortable ride. > > > Now off course I'm not in a pace line or trying to keep > > up with anyone. Just covering the distance. If you're > > trying to stay with a pack, then you'd go for the higher > > pressure skinny tires to help you out. > > > Why anyone would want to do a century ride in this way > > is beyond me though. > > Which way? The way I read it he was saying he doesn't understand why anyone would want to do a century in a paceline, just trying to keep up with other riders, or just grinding out the miles. I can understand that sentiment. Regards, Bob Hunt
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Date: 14 Oct 2007 08:17:18
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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Cyclist Bob Hunt wrote: > On Oct 7, 7:28 am, "Roger Zoul" <rogerzo...@hotmail.com> wrote: >> "Stephen Harding" <smhardin...@msn.com> wrote in message >> >> news:qb3Oi.1869$pl2.399@trndny07... >> >>> I think the only tire "inappropriate" for a century ride >>> would be something with a knobby tread. >>> If it's a road tire, 38 or 21mm doesn't make much of any >>> difference. >>> My joy bike has 25mm tires and my tourer has 37mm and I >>> can't really tell much performance difference between the >>> two on a century ride with the exception that the 37's >>> make for a generally more comfortable ride. >>> Now off course I'm not in a pace line or trying to keep >>> up with anyone. Just covering the distance. If you're >>> trying to stay with a pack, then you'd go for the higher >>> pressure skinny tires to help you out. >>> Why anyone would want to do a century ride in this way >>> is beyond me though. >> Which way? > > The way I read it he was saying he doesn't understand why anyone would > want to do a century in a paceline, just trying to keep up with other > riders, or just grinding out the miles. I can understand that > sentiment. It does seem rather odd behavior for an invitational ride. If one wants to ride hard in a paceline, why not join a club that does "training" rides? Similarly, there are people who skip rest stops so they can have better overall times. Seems to miss the point of an invitational ride. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 07 Oct 2007 18:42:38
From:
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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On Oct 7, 12:44 pm, "Mike Kruger" <Mik...@mouse-potato.com > wrote: > Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote:> frkry...@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: > >> ... > >> For what it's worth, I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires. And > >> unless I was riding on super-rough surfaces, or carrying camping > >> gear, I probably wouldn't even use 32s. Most organized century > >> rides are on fairly smooth roads, where maybe 28s (or even narrower) > >> are appropriate. > > > Huh? I road a double-metric century in about 6-1/2 hours on 47-mm wide > > tires, and my best century time was on 44-mm wide tires. > > I did a century earlier this year on my recumbent with 1.95 inch wide tires > (49.5 mm) -- Maxxis hookworms, that carry 110 psi. (slower than Tom did, > unfortunately) > > I don't claim expertise, but I thought that tread pattern and PSI were more > important than width. I haven't made an in-depth study of the issue, but my impression is that a) tread hurts rolling resistance; b) higher pressure helps, provided the road is smooth enough. (You don't so much pressure that the tire becomes effectively rigid at the roughness you encounter); c) thick rubber and thick, low thread count fabric hurt, and d) width wouldn't be a big problem (and might even be an advantage) if it weren't for "c." But my impression is that most wider tires also have thicker sidewalls and coarser fabric reinforcement, which gives more hysteresis losses and more rolling resistance. I've heard there are exceptions, but that they're not easy to find. BTW, the wide Conti Top Touring tires I passed on to a friend (37mm, I think) were reputed to be wide tires with good rolling. But he told me that their sidewalls had failed for him, just as their "sister" pair failed for me. Too thin and supple for durability? - Frank Krygowski
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Date: 07 Oct 2007 08:58:53
From:
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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On Oct 7, 10:20 am, "Tom \"Johnny Sunset\" Sherman" <sunsetss0...@invaalid.com > wrote: > Just A User wrote: > > Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote: > >> frkry...@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: > >>> ... > >>> For what it's worth, I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires. And > >>> unless I was riding on super-rough surfaces, or carrying camping gear, > >>> I probably wouldn't even use 32s. Most organized century rides are on > >>> fairly smooth roads, where maybe 28s (or even narrower) are > >>> appropriate. > > >> Huh? I road a double-metric century in about 6-1/2 hours on 47-mm wide > >> tires, and my best century time was on 44-mm wide tires. > > > Double metric in six and a half. Pretty good. What were you riding? I > > have done a single metric in 4 hours. > > See <http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/images/Sherman1.jpg>. > > Tire were 47-406 Mitsuboshi Tioga Comp Pools. Hmm. I wonder if there were any significant differences between your bike and mine (and the OP's). What do you think? FWIW, not only are my tires narrower than yours, they're also way larger in diameter. - Frank Krygowski
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Date: 14 Oct 2007 08:05:36
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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frkrygow@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: > On Oct 7, 10:20 am, "Tom \"Johnny Sunset\" Sherman" > <sunsetss0...@invaalid.com> wrote: >> Just A User wrote: >>> Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote: >>>> frkry...@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: >>>>> ... >>>>> For what it's worth, I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires. And >>>>> unless I was riding on super-rough surfaces, or carrying camping gear, >>>>> I probably wouldn't even use 32s. Most organized century rides are on >>>>> fairly smooth roads, where maybe 28s (or even narrower) are >>>>> appropriate. >>>> Huh? I road a double-metric century in about 6-1/2 hours on 47-mm wide >>>> tires, and my best century time was on 44-mm wide tires. >>> Double metric in six and a half. Pretty good. What were you riding? I >>> have done a single metric in 4 hours. >> See <http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/images/Sherman1.jpg>. >> >> Tire were 47-406 Mitsuboshi Tioga Comp Pools. > > Hmm. I wonder if there were any significant differences between your > bike and mine (and the OP's). What do you think? Most likely. ;) > > FWIW, not only are my tires narrower than yours, they're also way > larger in diameter. butbutbut, you did not specify that in you post. A better statement would have been, "I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires, on a bicycle with wheel sizes ranging from ISO 571-mm to ISO 630-mm". -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 06 Oct 2007 14:59:19
From:
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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On Oct 6, 12:06 am, "Dien Cai Dau" <xba...@hotmail.com > wrote: > I am riding the stock 700x38c tires that came on my road bike; right now > riding circuits of 20 to 30 or more miles, trying to work up to riding > century tours. > > I have been told that if I changed to narrower tires (700x32c) I would > reduce rolling resistance and would be able to expend a little less energy > pedaling. Unless my math is wrong, the difference in circumference of the > two tire sizes in miniscule but over distance is does factor in -- for a > 20-mile ride the narrower tire will have to make about 220 more revolutions > than the slightly wider one. > > My question to the group is whether the energy savings of lower resistance > with the road exceed the energy expenditure of having to pedal the tires > through more revolutions? Unless you are riding a single speed bike, the slightly smaller circumference doesn't mean you'll move the pedals any more, if that's what you were thinking of. You'll ride in a slightly higher gear, on average, and make up for the difference in circumference. And you will have slightly less rolling resistance, despite the difference in circumference. Don't worry about the circumference. You'll see a net improvement. For what it's worth, I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires. And unless I was riding on super-rough surfaces, or carrying camping gear, I probably wouldn't even use 32s. Most organized century rides are on fairly smooth roads, where maybe 28s (or even narrower) are appropriate. - Frank Krygowski
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Date: 07 Oct 2007 11:13:26
From: Stephen Harding
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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frkrygow@gmail.com wrote: > For what it's worth, I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires. And > unless I was riding on super-rough surfaces, or carrying camping gear, > I probably wouldn't even use 32s. Most organized century rides are on > fairly smooth roads, where maybe 28s (or even narrower) are > appropriate. I think the only tire "inappropriate" for a century ride would be something with a knobby tread. If it's a road tire, 38 or 21mm doesn't make much of any difference. My joy bike has 25mm tires and my tourer has 37mm and I can't really tell much performance difference between the two on a century ride with the exception that the 37's make for a generally more comfortable ride. Now off course I'm not in a pace line or trying to keep up with anyone. Just covering the distance. If you're trying to stay with a pack, then you'd go for the higher pressure skinny tires to help you out. Why anyone would want to do a century ride in this way is beyond me though. SMH
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Date: 14 Oct 2007 08:13:08
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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Stephen Harding wrote: > frkrygow@gmail.com wrote: > >> For what it's worth, I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires. And >> unless I was riding on super-rough surfaces, or carrying camping gear, >> I probably wouldn't even use 32s. Most organized century rides are on >> fairly smooth roads, where maybe 28s (or even narrower) are >> appropriate. > > I think the only tire "inappropriate" for a century ride > would be something with a knobby tread. > > If it's a road tire, 38 or 21mm doesn't make much of any > difference. > > My joy bike has 25mm tires and my tourer has 37mm and I > can't really tell much performance difference between the > two on a century ride with the exception that the 37's > make for a generally more comfortable ride. > > Now off course I'm not in a pace line or trying to keep > up with anyone. Just covering the distance. If you're > trying to stay with a pack, then you'd go for the higher > pressure skinny tires to help you out. > > Why anyone would want to do a century ride in this way > is beyond me though. I say a guy [1] on a full-suspension ATB with knobby tires on an invitational ride. There was considerable pogo of the suspension as he rode. That he was able to maintain almost 20 mph on the flats was most annoying. ;) [1] Probably early 20's with sub 5% body fat. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 07 Oct 2007 08:28:40
From: Roger Zoul
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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"Stephen Harding" <smharding16@msn.com > wrote in message news:qb3Oi.1869$pl2.399@trndny07... > I think the only tire "inappropriate" for a century ride > would be something with a knobby tread. > > If it's a road tire, 38 or 21mm doesn't make much of any > difference. > > My joy bike has 25mm tires and my tourer has 37mm and I > can't really tell much performance difference between the > two on a century ride with the exception that the 37's > make for a generally more comfortable ride. > > Now off course I'm not in a pace line or trying to keep > up with anyone. Just covering the distance. If you're > trying to stay with a pack, then you'd go for the higher > pressure skinny tires to help you out. > > Why anyone would want to do a century ride in this way > is beyond me though. Which way? Seems as if you're saying the skinnier tires are faster and fatter tires are more comfortable. So, if you want comfort, use fatter tires, if you want faster, use skinnier. So, which way is "beyond" you? Seems as if you appreciate both advantages. What seems to be the case most often, in my POV, that ligher rides don't mind skinny and like to go fast and get the ride done. Heavier riders take longer and appreciate the comfort. Or, perhaps some older riders enjoy the comfort. Or, perhaps those who enjoy looking at the scenery along the route enjoy the comfort...or those who aren't pack riders. But I'm sure you can find those who like to look but also like to go fast, so they might want skinny so they can look when they want to and then "put the hammer down" when they need to worry about getting home. :)
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Date: 06 Oct 2007 22:51:20
From: Tom \Johnny Sunset\ Sherman
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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frkrygow@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: > ... > For what it's worth, I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires. And > unless I was riding on super-rough surfaces, or carrying camping gear, > I probably wouldn't even use 32s. Most organized century rides are on > fairly smooth roads, where maybe 28s (or even narrower) are > appropriate. Huh? I road a double-metric century in about 6-1/2 hours on 47-mm wide tires, and my best century time was on 44-mm wide tires. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia A Real Cyclist [TM] keeps at least one bicycle in the bedroom. -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 23:55:38
From: David L. Johnson
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote: > > Huh? I road a double-metric century in about 6-1/2 hours on 47-mm wide > tires, and my best century time was on 44-mm wide tires. > This does not change the fact that, with narrower tires, which would-be/could-be/must-be inflated to a higher pressure, the rolling resistance would be lower. So, had you gone down to 23mm tires, you might have been able to do that double metric in 6 hours. But if you want to ride with fatter tires, fine. No harm, and you do get somewhat more exercise per mile. -- David L. Johnson A mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems. -- Paul Erdos
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 23:34:25
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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David L. Johnson wrote: > Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote: >> >> Huh? I road a double-metric century in about 6-1/2 hours on 47-mm wide >> tires, and my best century time was on 44-mm wide tires. >> > This does not change the fact that, with narrower tires, which > would-be/could-be/must-be inflated to a higher pressure, the rolling > resistance would be lower. So, had you gone down to 23mm tires, you > might have been able to do that double metric in 6 hours. And I would have been bouncing all over the place on the bumps. Not to mention the better traction of the wider, lower pressure slick on the damp, high speed descent, or that I could have wedged a narrower tire into the longitudinal gaps on the bridge I crossed at high speed. Or pinch-flatted when I hit a pothole. Narrow tires have no place on a faired recumbent ridden on poor to fair condition roads. > But if you want to ride with fatter tires, fine. No harm, and you do > get somewhat more exercise per mile. Well, there are no ISO 406-mm tires narrower than 28-mm. I doubt that any of them have a lower rolling resistance on typical roads than the 47-406 Comp Pool (based on rolling resistance tests). -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 07 Oct 2007 16:44:10
From: Mike Kruger
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote: > frkrygow@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: >> ... >> For what it's worth, I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires. And >> unless I was riding on super-rough surfaces, or carrying camping >> gear, I probably wouldn't even use 32s. Most organized century >> rides are on fairly smooth roads, where maybe 28s (or even narrower) >> are appropriate. > > Huh? I road a double-metric century in about 6-1/2 hours on 47-mm wide > tires, and my best century time was on 44-mm wide tires. > I did a century earlier this year on my recumbent with 1.95 inch wide tires (49.5 mm) -- Maxxis hookworms, that carry 110 psi. (slower than Tom did, unfortunately) I don't claim expertise, but I thought that tread pattern and PSI were more important than width.
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Date: 14 Oct 2007 08:09:01
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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Mike Kruger wrote: > Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote: >> frkrygow@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: >>> ... >>> For what it's worth, I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires. And >>> unless I was riding on super-rough surfaces, or carrying camping >>> gear, I probably wouldn't even use 32s. Most organized century >>> rides are on fairly smooth roads, where maybe 28s (or even narrower) >>> are appropriate. >> Huh? I road a double-metric century in about 6-1/2 hours on 47-mm wide >> tires, and my best century time was on 44-mm wide tires. >> > I did a century earlier this year on my recumbent with 1.95 inch wide tires > (49.5 mm) -- Maxxis hookworms, that carry 110 psi. (slower than Tom did, > unfortunately) > > I don't claim expertise, but I thought that tread pattern and PSI were more > important than width. And tire indestructibility (relatively speaking)? I have Hookworms on my trike, since they allow me (combined with the rear suspension) to ignore most road hazards. If it makes you feel better, I would be much slower on the trike than on a bicycle with a front fairing and bodysock. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 07 Oct 2007 09:56:55
From: Just A User
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote: > frkrygow@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: >> ... >> For what it's worth, I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires. And >> unless I was riding on super-rough surfaces, or carrying camping gear, >> I probably wouldn't even use 32s. Most organized century rides are on >> fairly smooth roads, where maybe 28s (or even narrower) are >> appropriate. > > Huh? I road a double-metric century in about 6-1/2 hours on 47-mm wide > tires, and my best century time was on 44-mm wide tires. > Double metric in six and a half. Pretty good. What were you riding? I have done a single metric in 4 hours.
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Date: 07 Oct 2007 09:20:10
From: Tom \Johnny Sunset\ Sherman
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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Just A User wrote: > Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote: >> frkrygow@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: >>> ... >>> For what it's worth, I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires. And >>> unless I was riding on super-rough surfaces, or carrying camping gear, >>> I probably wouldn't even use 32s. Most organized century rides are on >>> fairly smooth roads, where maybe 28s (or even narrower) are >>> appropriate. >> >> Huh? I road a double-metric century in about 6-1/2 hours on 47-mm wide >> tires, and my best century time was on 44-mm wide tires. >> > Double metric in six and a half. Pretty good. What were you riding? I > have done a single metric in 4 hours. See <http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/images/Sherman1.jpg >. Tire were 47-406 Mitsuboshi Tioga Comp Pools. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia A Real Cyclist [TM] keeps at least one bicycle in the bedroom. -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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Date: 08 Oct 2007 07:59:46
From: Just A User
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote: > Just A User wrote: >> Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote: >>> frkrygow@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: >>>> ... >>>> For what it's worth, I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires. And >>>> unless I was riding on super-rough surfaces, or carrying camping gear, >>>> I probably wouldn't even use 32s. Most organized century rides are on >>>> fairly smooth roads, where maybe 28s (or even narrower) are >>>> appropriate. >>> >>> Huh? I road a double-metric century in about 6-1/2 hours on 47-mm >>> wide tires, and my best century time was on 44-mm wide tires. >>> >> Double metric in six and a half. Pretty good. What were you riding? I >> have done a single metric in 4 hours. > > See <http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/images/Sherman1.jpg>. > > Tire were 47-406 Mitsuboshi Tioga Comp Pools. > That's a tailwind correct? With dual 20's (406)? Interesting. That seems like a pretty fast ride for that bike. I mean I am sure that the front fairing and body soc helped with the speed. But from my limited experience with small rear tires is that the overall speed seems to less than with a larger tire. I think I am considerably faster with the 26 tire on my v2 than one my ez-1 with a 20 in back.
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Date: 14 Oct 2007 08:03:01
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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Just A User wrote: > Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote: >> Just A User wrote: >>> Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote: >>>> frkrygow@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: >>>>> ... >>>>> For what it's worth, I'd never try a century on 38 mm tires. And >>>>> unless I was riding on super-rough surfaces, or carrying camping gear, >>>>> I probably wouldn't even use 32s. Most organized century rides are on >>>>> fairly smooth roads, where maybe 28s (or even narrower) are >>>>> appropriate. >>>> >>>> Huh? I road a double-metric century in about 6-1/2 hours on 47-mm >>>> wide tires, and my best century time was on 44-mm wide tires. >>>> >>> Double metric in six and a half. Pretty good. What were you riding? I >>> have done a single metric in 4 hours. >> >> See <http://www.ransbikes.com/Gallery/Archive/images/Sherman1.jpg>. >> >> Tire were 47-406 Mitsuboshi Tioga Comp Pools. >> > That's a tailwind correct? With dual 20's (406)? Interesting. That seems > like a pretty fast ride for that bike. I mean I am sure that the front > fairing and body soc helped with the speed. But from my limited > experience with small rear tires is that the overall speed seems to less > than with a larger tire. I think I am considerably faster with the 26 > tire on my v2 than one my ez-1 with a 20 in back. Strictly speaking, the bike started life as a RANS Wave, but I purchased a fork for a 406-mm wheel. The Wave and Tailwind frames at that time were identical, with only the fork being different (the Wave used an ISO 305-mm wheel). The Zzipper fairing and bodysock definitely helps with the speed. I think a V2 with an ISO 406-mm rear wheel would still be considerably faster than an EZ-1. The V2 would have a lower seat height, greater seat recline, and lighter weight. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 06 Oct 2007 06:14:36
From:
Subject: Re: Are narrower tires really more efficient?
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On Oct 5, 11:06 pm, "Dien Cai Dau" <xba...@hotmail.com > wrote: > I am riding the stock 700x38c tires that came on my road bike; right now > riding circuits of 20 to 30 or more miles, trying to work up to riding > century tours. > > I have been told that if I changed to narrower tires (700x32c) I would > reduce rolling resistance and would be able to expend a little less energy > pedaling. Unless my math is wrong, the difference in circumference of the > two tire sizes in miniscule but over distance is does factor in -- for a > 20-mile ride the narrower tire will have to make about 220 more revolutions > than the slightly wider one. > > My question to the group is whether the energy savings of lower resistance > with the road exceed the energy expenditure of having to pedal the tires > through more revolutions? I really doubt that you'll notice much difference, probably not nearly enough to make up for the cost of the new pair of tires. Smokey
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