Semi slick (road) tyre reccomendation for MTB

[51mon]

I've signed up (been talked into signing up....!) to do Manchester to Blackpool night ride at the end of Sept with a few lads from work, and am weighing up the idea of getting some semi slicks to put on instead of my knobblies when we actually do the ride.

I'm only after some cheapie's as I'll only really use them for the ride, and then they'll end up in the corner of the garage. Any recommendations much appreciated!

On a side note, I'm planning on cycling to work once a week (about 20 miles each way) to improve my stamina a bit. I did a trial run yesterday and managed it there and back in one go OK, so I'm not too bothered about my legs, but f*ck me my arse was sore at the end of it!
I'm used to riding for 3 - 4 hrs or so off road but I guess you spend a lot more time out of the saddle on trails etc, whereas on the road your sat down 95% of the time. Should I just stick with it and hope back side gets used to it, or would you expect that I would need the saddle positioned differently for road stuff?

[paulmon]

I have these on my Boardman and they are very good.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

[Rolls]

All on the road? These would do the job -cheap too
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

[one eyed cat]

I use Schwable city jet tyres, noticeable increase in speed and usually well priced, good luck

[scrwright]

running these myself, a little less slick but usefull as I do forest tracks on the aswell as road http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod... Much easier rolling, gained 3kmh on my road circuit I do

[51mon]

scrwright said:

running these myself, a little less slick but usefull as I do forest tracks on the aswell as road http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod... Much easier rolling, gained 3kmh on my road circuit I do

These probably look more suited to the route I'll be taking to work, probably should have mentioned that theres a couple of miles of towpath and then a mile or so of unsurfaced road. Think the first ones mentioned might make things a little hairy.....!

[daz3210]

How do you tell the minimum width your wheel will take? My current tyre is 26x1.95. Will I need new tubes too?

[JABB]

Rightly or wrongly I have just bought some Furious Freds for my bike, the aim being mostly off road with some hard pack

[metalsteve]

I use schwalbe landcruisers, really rate them. They roll on the continuous centre ridge on the road but have nobbles on the sides to cope with a bit of off roading. I've got 1.75 on my hardtail and just today fitted some 1.9 on my full susser. Got them for £22.95 delivered from absolute cycles ebay store.
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=2...

[daz3210]

I was looking at Schwalbe City Jets, but they are only 1.5, whereas current tyres are 1.95.

The furthest off road I venture is on canal towpaths.

I would keep the existing tyres for winter/snow etc.

[MadDad]

I have used Sammy Slicks in the past, quick rolling on tarmac and fast and capable on towpaths, sand, loose gravel etc. Pump them up to 45psi on the road then drop them to 30/35 off road and they do the job (well).

As for the saddle issue,rule 5 my friend!!!! - in all seriousness give it a few weeks, if you still cannot get on with it the most comfortable saddle I have found for an MTB (which I have fitted to both of mine), is a Charge Spoon......

[scrwright]

51mon said:

These probably look more suited to the route I'll be taking to work, probably should have mentioned that theres a couple of miles of towpath and then a mile or so of unsurfaced road. Think the first ones mentioned might make things a little hairy.....!

I had brain fade the first time I ran them over my local offroad route, lost the frontend downhill, first time I have fallen off a bike in 20 odd years LOL Rmember to take it a bit easier on downhill wet grass now with these on. Supprisingly grippy on hard forest tracks though, and much better on wet roads than the knobblys

[metalsteve]

With regard to the sore backside, have you tried padded shorts? I recently bought some endura humvees with the padded clickfast liner from chain reaction. Really nice shorts, padded liner makes a big difference when in the saddle.

[scrwright]

51mon said:

I'm used to riding for 3 - 4 hrs or so off road but I guess you spend a lot more time out of the saddle on trails etc, whereas on the road your sat down 95% of the time. Should I just stick with it and hope back side gets used to it, or would you expect that I would need the saddle positioned differently for road stuff?

Asked about this recently, I had a lardy wide comfy thing on my MTB, was okay for 30 mins then real arse ache. Found an old narrow gel saddle in my shed and it is much better. Also make sure your saddle is high enough on the road, also releived more arse ache getting my seat height correct.

Edited by scrwright on Sunday 5th August 21:37

[51mon]

Thanks for the replies guys, I'll go for something along the lines of the Road / Land Cruisers I reckon, look to be the best compromise for speed vs not falling off!

With regards the sore ass, I already have padded shorts. As you quite rightly point out, they're all but essential for any significant time on the bike.
My saddle is a standard Cube one which came on my bike (Cube Ltd Comp), and it's been spot on for my usual off road riding for the last 18mths or so, but I guess I'm just not used to spending so long sat on it!

Looks as though I'm just going to have to get the cement pills out and harden the f*ck up a bit - rule 5 all the way....!

[essayer]

daz3210 said:

I was looking at Schwalbe City Jets, but they are only 1.5, whereas current tyres are 1.95.

The furthest off road I venture is on canal towpaths.

I would keep the existing tyres for winter/snow etc.

You'll probably be OK with 1.5" maybe even 1" depending on how wide your existing rims are..

The city jets are great but be careful on grass/mud towpaths with them!

[daz3210]

essayer said:

daz3210 said:

I was looking at Schwalbe City Jets, but they are only 1.5, whereas current tyres are 1.95.

The furthest off road I venture is on canal towpaths.

I would keep the existing tyres for winter/snow etc.

You'll probably be OK with 1.5" maybe even 1" depending on how wide your existing rims are..

The city jets are great but be careful on grass/mud towpaths with them!

Towpaths I tend to use are pretty much all gravel/cobbles. I don't generally get 'proper' off road much

[smack]

I had a set of Specialized Fat Boys (26 x 1.5) and never had a problem, and lasted a long time. Moved to Conti's, Gaterskins from memory 26 x 1.25's softer compound, which I liked, but stopped doing the regular road miles on the MTB since I moved back to the sticks, so can't comment on how they last.

[lazygraduand]

paulmon said:

I have these on my Boardman and they are very good.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

Have these too, they're fantastic. Upped speed, comfort and massively reduced noise over knobblies. Plus, after months in London which seemed to be terrible for punctures, I've not had one. Only downside is they aren't the cheapest

[mk1fan]

Thin 1 or 1.5-inch tyres will feel funny on an mtb. I'd suggest getting a 2-inch dirt jump tyre like a Maxxis Holy Roller or a Specialized Hemisphere Urban or a Specialized Fast Track - which is available with Armadillo puncture protection. All three should fit alot easier than a thin slick.

As for the saddle. Unfortunately, saddles are a personal thing and you need to get used to them to a certain extent. If you're not use to spending time in the saddle then any saddle will be uncomfortable. If you're riding three - four times a week then you should be 'used' to a saddle within three weeks. If you're not then start to look around. Go into an LBS and ask their advice (take your existing saddle with you). Make sure you go a a quiet time so you can actually chat to the guys that work their. Weekends, lunchimes and early evenings are not good times to go to a bike shop.