I run Schwalbe Marathon Supremes on my Atlantis, 700 x 35. My un- loaded tire pressure is 50 front & 60 rear (kinda sorta based on Jan's tire pressure chart). Never thought to lower it off road. I'm moving up a size next time I need tires.
I try to keep steady pedal pressure, not pound or otherwise change it too quickly. Sometimes I just 'stall out" on hills, sometimes spin. That's telling me it's time for a walk. I have lots of gears & use 'em all, especially the little ones. Can't imagine doing this on a single speed - you must have very good technique. Andy M does better on the dirt than I. He uses I believe the Schwalbe XR around 2" wide on 26" wheels. These have a more agressive tread pattern the Supreme but don't seem any noisier on the road. dougP On Oct 13, 11:08 am, Lee <leec...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Anne. I'm no great bike handler, but here is what I ride. The > Quickbeam is a 650B conversion. So far, I've used the 32mm Nifty > Swiftys with the lightly-treaded checkerboard pattern. I had trouble > with them in terms of traction on some steep upward pitches. I had > them at about 50-55 last time I rode these trails. > > I've used Col de la Vies on a few different bikes in the Headlands and > these worked very well. They measure out to about 35.5555555etc. mm > and have good, deep oval-shaped treads. Normally, I run them at 60-65 > psi on my commute. On the trails, I set them to about 55-60. Less > would probably help both with traction and to provide "float" on the > deeper, sandy stuff. > > Speaking of deep, sandy stuff, that is the main issue I have with > trail riding. On climbs, I can spin out when I hit such a patch, > particularly on the one speed. So, I try to pick a decent line and > hunker my butt down on the back edge of the saddle when cranking > through it, as recommended to me on my last mixed terrain ride report. > > On descents, I get a little leary of the slip-and-slide action as I > pass through the wash. So again, I try to pick a decent line, dampen > my speed some before hitting the patch. Then, let loose the brakes and > try to keep my line as straight as possible as I forge my way through > the deep stuff. Overall, though, I'm a pretty slow descender on > trails. > > Again, I'm a newb to this type of riding and I'm sure there are a lot > of smart techniques out there that folks have developed, if anyone > wants to chime in here. > > My Col de la Vies have given out, so I'm thinking about the new Soma > 650B tires, which are ~38mm equivalents of your Paselas (at least > superficially). I'm interested in seeing how they do on those trails. > Plus, they are a little bit lighter than the Col de la Vies. I know, I > know, it's all about the engine. But this engine welcomes any help it > can get! > > Best, > Lee > > On Oct 13, 9:55 am, Anne Paulson <anne.paul...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > Sounds fantastic. What tires do you find necessary for adventures like > > that? What tires would you recommend for someone who's not a great > > bike handler? What pressure did you run your tires at? > > > I like riding my Atlantis (32 mm Panaracer Paselas) on dirt fire > > roads, but lately, at the end of the summer, I've been chickening out > > and walking more, as the fire roads in the South Bay (and presumably > > in Marin as well) are covered with gravel and dust. > > > On Wed, Oct 13, 2010 at 9:50 AM, Lee <leec...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Morning, all. I was able to wheel out the Quickbeam for a weekend ride > > > for the first time in more than a month. It took me out into the Marin > > > Headlands to explore the wonderful set of trails inscribed there along > > > the southern three ridges. Despite being underpowered and therefore, a > > > bit undergeared, it was a wonderful afternoon. Trails, hills, beaches, > > > and an ocean, with only minimal interruptions by three other cyclists, > > > two runners, and a handful of hikers--all just 10 miles or so from my > > > urban-crushed doorstep. > > > -- > > -- Anne Paulson > > > My hovercraft is full of eels- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
