Discussion
Fatter tyres, lower pressures, stay relaxed, maintain speed and if you can, pick a better line.
If you're running 23mm tyres at 120psi, the bike will ping off everything, shaking you around and slowing the bike down.
If you're tense and fighting the bike, then that's effort wasted that could go into propelling the bike forward. You'll also feel every jolt, which slows you down.
If you maintain speed, then the bike will have enough momentum to ride/skip over the worst of it.
You soon get used to it. I rarely - if ever - notice the "rough" roads these days, potholes aside.
If you're running 23mm tyres at 120psi, the bike will ping off everything, shaking you around and slowing the bike down.
If you're tense and fighting the bike, then that's effort wasted that could go into propelling the bike forward. You'll also feel every jolt, which slows you down.
If you maintain speed, then the bike will have enough momentum to ride/skip over the worst of it.
You soon get used to it. I rarely - if ever - notice the "rough" roads these days, potholes aside.
Road surfaces make a huge difference to your ride, effort and progress (IMHO). Tyres, carbon seat posts, forks etc make the difference but the long and short of it is that a poor road surface will have an impact on your ride!
I went for a quick spin around the Chilterns tonight, the roads in and around Marlow, Henley etc tend to be quite good, so even the climbs are nice and smooth but once you get into the sticks the road surfaces are shocking, to the extent where some of the descents take quite a lot of effort to keep the bike moving forward at a decent pace!
I am running Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp tyres at 140 psi and cannot rate them highly enough, the rolling resistance on decent surfaces is phenomenal, the cornering at speed is extremely surefooted but they rattle the fillings out of my teeth on badly maintained road surfaces!
I don't think the poor road surfaces are restricted to Surrey (although they are bad), Bucks, Hants and W Sussex also seem to lack budget for decent road surfaces!!
I went for a quick spin around the Chilterns tonight, the roads in and around Marlow, Henley etc tend to be quite good, so even the climbs are nice and smooth but once you get into the sticks the road surfaces are shocking, to the extent where some of the descents take quite a lot of effort to keep the bike moving forward at a decent pace!
I am running Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp tyres at 140 psi and cannot rate them highly enough, the rolling resistance on decent surfaces is phenomenal, the cornering at speed is extremely surefooted but they rattle the fillings out of my teeth on badly maintained road surfaces!
I don't think the poor road surfaces are restricted to Surrey (although they are bad), Bucks, Hants and W Sussex also seem to lack budget for decent road surfaces!!
MadDad said:
Road surfaces make a huge difference to your ride, effort and progress (IMHO). Tyres, carbon seat posts, forks etc make the difference but the long and short of it is that a poor road surface will have an impact on your ride!
I went for a quick spin around the Chilterns tonight, the roads in and around Marlow, Henley etc tend to be quite good, so even the climbs are nice and smooth but once you get into the sticks the road surfaces are shocking, to the extent where some of the descents take quite a lot of effort to keep the bike moving forward at a decent pace!
I am running Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp tyres at 140 psi and cannot rate them highly enough, the rolling resistance on decent surfaces is phenomenal, the cornering at speed is extremely surefooted but they rattle the fillings out of my teeth on badly maintained road surfaces!
I don't think the poor road surfaces are restricted to Surrey (although they are bad), Bucks, Hants and W Sussex also seem to lack budget for decent road surfaces!!
140psi is enormoous. Most racing guys won't run tyres that hard. Your bike must be rock hard and skittish at that pressure. Take them down to 90psi next time out and feel the difference! I went for a quick spin around the Chilterns tonight, the roads in and around Marlow, Henley etc tend to be quite good, so even the climbs are nice and smooth but once you get into the sticks the road surfaces are shocking, to the extent where some of the descents take quite a lot of effort to keep the bike moving forward at a decent pace!
I am running Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp tyres at 140 psi and cannot rate them highly enough, the rolling resistance on decent surfaces is phenomenal, the cornering at speed is extremely surefooted but they rattle the fillings out of my teeth on badly maintained road surfaces!
I don't think the poor road surfaces are restricted to Surrey (although they are bad), Bucks, Hants and W Sussex also seem to lack budget for decent road surfaces!!
anonymous said:
[redacted]
When the time comes, maybe. Starting with tyres first, of course. I like Continental GP4000S' (note the upper-case S, and not to be confused with GP4000s (lower case s denoting plural!) in 25mm format. 85-95psi and the ride's like silk without living in fear for your tubes/runs. Ditto Vittoria Open Pavés (only in 24mm for clinchers). A little pricier, but on-so-good on the horrible roads and in the grime of winter. Plus you look as pro as f.k with the green
Simond S said:
What should i be putting in my tyres?
Boardman air 9.8
Gippiemme Equippe 5.5 wheels, Pro3 tyres.
15 stone.
currently pump to 120 each ride, i thought it would make me quicker
There's a trade off. Too high and the tyre can't deform over bumps. Instead, it hits and has to climb over them. This saps energy, slows you down and makes the ride harsh/jarring/uncomfortable. The tyre also "skips" around, reducing grip/confidence, which again, slows you down.Boardman air 9.8
Gippiemme Equippe 5.5 wheels, Pro3 tyres.
15 stone.
currently pump to 120 each ride, i thought it would make me quicker
It's difficult to say what pressures to run: rider weight, tyres, tyres width, road surfaces ridden and tolerance of pinch flats. By all means drop 10psi or so and see how it goes. Aside from a tube or two, it won't hurt to try
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