Tire size help please

[pugwash4x4]

Hi Guys,

A casual cyclist would really appreciate some help please.

Currently have a Marin Muirwoods (a nice basic chomoly framed bike- rides well and absorbs bumps, and as i'm not the lightest it gets a good pounding) which gets used on trails and roads. Problem i have is that the wheels are tiny- they don't give a lot of ground clearance and 6to be honest the gearing is all wrong- first is far too low for me (your doing much less than walking pace even at good revolutions) and 24th is also too low (tops out at about 25mph).

Thought getting bigger wheels could be the answer (my other halfs Marin has much bigger rims for some reason), but could you tell me what i need to do? do i buy a complete wheel, or just the rim and spokes and use my current hubs. What do i do about brakes? how do i work out how big i can go? If at all. I'm found the braking to be slightly lacking if i'm honest- even when well adjusted its hard to lock the rear wheel up (again my size probably isn't helping- loads of traction!). Woudl disc brakes help?

[ewenm]

You'll struggle with bigger wheels as you'll have clearance issues. I'd get a different set of chainrings (the front gears) to shift all you gears up a bit. Your local bike shop should be able to help.

[stu8975]

What size tyre are you using? what gearing are you using (front and rear)?, you could have the wheels re-biult with bigger rims but as mentioned you will probably have clearance issues and the brake calliper position would be out.

[Jimbo.]

...first is far too low for me (your doing much less than walking pace even at good revolutions)

That's partly the idea of first: an "end of day, final climb, hanging out yer' arse" crawler gear.

[ewenm]

Jimbo. said:

...first is far too low for me (your doing much less than walking pace even at good revolutions)

That's partly the idea of first: an "end of day, final climb, hanging out yer' arse" crawler gear.

Yep, for road riding (away from Wrynose and Hardknott ) I never use the smallest chainring on my MTB. Very useful for some technical climbs though.