I'm a light rider and have run Rene Herse tires in 26, 28, 32, 35, 38 and
48mm widths over the same terrain which is mostly paved roads. Starting at
either end of the spectrum, the 26's felt like ice-skating in the best
scenario but would flat if I even looked at a gravel road. I wasn't willing
to pump them up past 80psi to avoid flats so those got the boot pretty
fast. The 48's on the other hand were what I'd call idiot-proof. I would
aim for the potholes on pavement and they were disconcertingly confident
(and fast!) off-road.
32's and 35's were probably the goldilocks widths for paved rides longer
than 70 miles while carrying stuff. If I weighed more, carried more, or the
bike was over-built, 38's would be right there too. These days, my rides
rarely go past 60 miles so a couple candy bars and 28mm tires on a road
bike is all I need.
If I were more of a masochist with my riding and knew sleep deprivation and
all-road conditions were on the horizon, I'd go with the widest tire I
could fit. But if I want to feel quick and nimble, 28-32s do the best for
me.
- Andrew
On Thursday, August 11, 2022 at 7:29:59 PM UTC-5 Patrick Moore wrote:
> I have to say that the 559 labeled-32 but measure-27 (skinny rims) RH Elk
> Pass tires are the nicest 26" road tires I've used and, in fact, the nicest
> road tires of any size I've used, gauging by "feel" of speed* and feel of
> smoothness.
>
> * I personally have never associated buzz or harshness with speed; in
> fact, just the opposite: I associate smoothness with speed. Besides
> smoothness, the EPs just seem easier to pedal at given cadences in given
> conditions at given gears.
>
> I wish they plumped out at 5 mm wider, but I don't want to change my rims.
>
> At 55/60 they feel as smooth over high freq/low amp bumps as the 559X42 mm
> (41 mm actual) Naches Pass extra lights at 35/40, and they seem easier to
> pedal as defined above, though not by a great deal.
>
> One benefit to the narrower tires is that they do make the bike's handling
> feel more nimble -- "crisper." OTOH, the 622X61 mm actual Big One ELs at 18
> to 21 psi on the earlier Matthews feel as easy to pedal ("as fast" --
> similar gearing, conditions, cadences) as the Elk Passes; but very
> different bikes and 175 mm vs 170 mm cranks. And these fatties don't feel
> all that smoother over small pavement bumps than the EPs or the NPs. It
> seems that if you put sufficiently minimum air pressure into very supple,
> light tires of any width, the feel over small bumps remains about the same.
> I do like bashing over the 5" wide expansion cracks in our streets with the
> BOs or the NPs, though; I have to be more careful with the EPs.
>
> Btw, all 3 frames relatively light tubing. In fact, the 1999 gofast that
> has the EPs has the stoutest tubing of the bunch, I think.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 10, 2022 at 6:38 AM Garth <gart...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> For road riding on a compliant frame a 32-33mm feels "just right". Even a
>> liitle more narrow is good. My favorite tires these days is a Schwalbe
>> Marathon Racer 35mm which measures 32-33mm on a Mavic A719 @37-42 PSI. I
>> don't notice them, and that's the point. This is with my Franklin road
>> bike. While it can take a 38, it's actually worse with a wider tire. It's a
>> matter of feel, of detail, of precision and handling. A .3mm mechanical
>> pencil feels and writes a whole lot different than a .9mm. A bolder font
>> doesn't make these letters any easier or better to read than they are
>> presently.
>>
>> In contrast, I ride my Bombadil on the road and no matter the tire, be it
>> 38mm or 50mm, it feels overkill to me. I think it has more to do with the
>> nature of the frame and it's handling though. Ironically, even on
>> primitive, broken up hole ridden roads I prefer the ride and handling of
>> the Franklin road bike. It tends to glide over everything, while the much
>> stiffer and wheelbarrow-like steering can be a bit jarring and ragged
>> feeling on the same surfaces.
>>
>> Within the confines of this group it may appear a certain number may
>> prefer wide-r tires, isn't it funny how one tends to focus on that which
>> agrees, and ignore/dismiss that which does not. In reality "everyone" rides
>> "everything". Take a look at bicyles/riders all around the world and you'll
>> find such variety you quickly realize there is a certain silliness to any
>> and all claims of this or that tire as "best" or even "required" for this
>> or that surface.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>> .
>>
>
>
> --
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Patrick Moore
> Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum
>
>
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