[RBW] Re: Tire Choice -- 99 Years Ago
He WAS walking,,, and we don't know what he was THINKING, I've got lots photos of old timers riding WSTB (did I make that up?) 35s. But 23s or 35s, no matter. Racers were have always been sketchy ones to copy! G On Feb 27, 5:37 pm, Eric Norris campyonly...@me.com wrote: I was looking at my Tour de France calendar and it occurred to me that the February page can teach us something about tire choice in the Golden Age. The photos at the link below are from the 1912 Tour. Remember that in those days (as shown in the photo), much of the riding took place on unpaved roads that sometimes degraded to goat paths in the high mountain passes. Nevertheless, the rider in the photo (walking his bike over a summit) appears to be riding tires that are about the same width as a 700x28 -- maybe a 700x32. I wonder why he didn't select a wider tire, given the atrocious roads. http://www.flickr.com/photos/35176895@N03/sets/72157626037266187/ --Eric campyonly...@me.comwww.campyonly.comwww.wheelsnorth.org -- 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-bunch@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.
[RBW] Re: Tire Choice -- 99 Years Ago
In the 1860's they knew that the *real* secrets to comfort and speed are wrought-iron frames and steel tires. This 'vulcanized rubber' stuff is just marketing hype http://imagecache6.allposters.com/LRG/46/4609/QKZFG00Z.jpg http://www.copakeauction.com/bicycles/2003-bicycles/046.jpg On Feb 28, 10:21 am, grant grant...@gmail.com wrote: He WAS walking,,, and we don't know what he was THINKING, I've got lots photos of old timers riding WSTB (did I make that up?) 35s. But 23s or 35s, no matter. Racers were have always been sketchy ones to copy! G On Feb 27, 5:37 pm, Eric Norris campyonly...@me.com wrote: I was looking at my Tour de France calendar and it occurred to me that the February page can teach us something about tire choice in the Golden Age. The photos at the link below are from the 1912 Tour. Remember that in those days (as shown in the photo), much of the riding took place on unpaved roads that sometimes degraded to goat paths in the high mountain passes. Nevertheless, the rider in the photo (walking his bike over a summit) appears to be riding tires that are about the same width as a 700x28 -- maybe a 700x32. I wonder why he didn't select a wider tire, given the atrocious roads. http://www.flickr.com/photos/35176895@N03/sets/72157626037266187/ --Eric campyonly...@me.comwww.campyonly.comwww.wheelsnorth.org -- 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-bunch@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.
[RBW] Re: Tire Choice -- 99 Years Ago
Well, we can't tell *exactly* what he's thinking-- but I think we've all seen that look on his face once or twice in our lives. It's the look that says: dang, why is the fork crown so narrow on this thing. The guy behind him is clearly jonesing for Schwalbe marathons to come out (he couldn't have known they would be delayed until '83 due to world events). Matt On Feb 28, 10:21 am, grant grant...@gmail.com wrote: He WAS walking,,, and we don't know what he was THINKING, I've got lots photos of old timers riding WSTB (did I make that up?) 35s. But 23s or 35s, no matter. Racers were have always been sketchy ones to copy! G On Feb 27, 5:37 pm, Eric Norris campyonly...@me.com wrote: I was looking at my Tour de France calendar and it occurred to me that the February page can teach us something about tire choice in the Golden Age. The photos at the link below are from the 1912 Tour. Remember that in those days (as shown in the photo), much of the riding took place on unpaved roads that sometimes degraded to goat paths in the high mountain passes. Nevertheless, the rider in the photo (walking his bike over a summit) appears to be riding tires that are about the same width as a 700x28 -- maybe a 700x32. I wonder why he didn't select a wider tire, given the atrocious roads. http://www.flickr.com/photos/35176895@N03/sets/72157626037266187/ --Eric campyonly...@me.comwww.campyonly.comwww.wheelsnorth.org -- 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-bunch@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.
[RBW] Re: Tire Choice -- 99 Years Ago
Did they even have fat tires for bikes in 1912? Did clincher rims exist? I always thought the fat tire age was essentially ushered in by the Pre-WWII Frank Schwinn designs, Elgins, Hawthornes, etc...) Those early Tour riders were indeed a brave (if not totally insane) breed for sure... But today, where the roads are paved, skinny is clearly the tire of choice amongst racers. Yet at the GDR (Great Divide Race), racers have plenty of tire choices, but here they clearly believe that fatter is better. I'm not convinced the early riders had much of a choice... I hope some of our resident historians can set me straight on this. Thanks for the AWESOME picture!!! BB On Feb 27, 8:37 pm, Eric Norris campyonly...@me.com wrote: I was looking at my Tour de France calendar and it occurred to me that the February page can teach us something about tire choice in the Golden Age. The photos at the link below are from the 1912 Tour. Remember that in those days (as shown in the photo), much of the riding took place on unpaved roads that sometimes degraded to goat paths in the high mountain passes. Nevertheless, the rider in the photo (walking his bike over a summit) appears to be riding tires that are about the same width as a 700x28 -- maybe a 700x32. I wonder why he didn't select a wider tire, given the atrocious roads. http://www.flickr.com/photos/35176895@N03/sets/72157626037266187/ --Eric campyonly...@me.comwww.campyonly.comwww.wheelsnorth.org -- 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-bunch@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.
[RBW] Re: Tire Choice -- 99 Years Ago
I was curious about this myself, and found this link (among others, but this summary seems well put-together): http://www.everybicycletire.com/Encyclopedia/History.asp -Matt On Feb 28, 11:53 am, Montclair BobbyB montclairbob...@gmail.com wrote: Did they even have fat tires for bikes in 1912? Did clincher rims exist? I always thought the fat tire age was essentially ushered in by the Pre-WWII Frank Schwinn designs, Elgins, Hawthornes, etc...) Those early Tour riders were indeed a brave (if not totally insane) breed for sure... But today, where the roads are paved, skinny is clearly the tire of choice amongst racers. Yet at the GDR (Great Divide Race), racers have plenty of tire choices, but here they clearly believe that fatter is better. I'm not convinced the early riders had much of a choice... I hope some of our resident historians can set me straight on this. Thanks for the AWESOME picture!!! BB On Feb 27, 8:37 pm, Eric Norris campyonly...@me.com wrote: I was looking at my Tour de France calendar and it occurred to me that the February page can teach us something about tire choice in the Golden Age. The photos at the link below are from the 1912 Tour. Remember that in those days (as shown in the photo), much of the riding took place on unpaved roads that sometimes degraded to goat paths in the high mountain passes. Nevertheless, the rider in the photo (walking his bike over a summit) appears to be riding tires that are about the same width as a 700x28 -- maybe a 700x32. I wonder why he didn't select a wider tire, given the atrocious roads. http://www.flickr.com/photos/35176895@N03/sets/72157626037266187/ --Eric campyonly...@me.comwww.campyonly.comwww.wheelsnorth.org -- 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-bunch@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.
[RBW] Re: Tire Choice -- 99 Years Ago
The bike does not have much clearnce at the top of the fork is one reason He couldn't get a bigger tire on that machine Second, it is a fixed gear bike and is probably made out of rather heavy plane guage tubing. Thus weight may have been a factor since bikes back then typically used steel hanflebars and cranks. On Feb 28, 10:32 am, scott clankbonesh...@gmail.com wrote: Everyone knows that people were tougher back then. On Feb 27, 7:37 pm, Eric Norris campyonly...@me.com wrote: I was looking at my Tour de France calendar and it occurred to me that the February page can teach us something about tire choice in the Golden Age. The photos at the link below are from the 1912 Tour. Remember that in those days (as shown in the photo), much of the riding took place on unpaved roads that sometimes degraded to goat paths in the high mountain passes. Nevertheless, the rider in the photo (walking his bike over a summit) appears to be riding tires that are about the same width as a 700x28 -- maybe a 700x32. I wonder why he didn't select a wider tire, given the atrocious roads. http://www.flickr.com/photos/35176895@N03/sets/72157626037266187/ --Eric campyonly...@me.comwww.campyonly.comwww.wheelsnorth.org- 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-bunch@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.
[RBW] Re: Tire Choice -- 99 Years Ago
Let's see what we can deduce from the entire photo. The road looks very smooth to me. It definitely isn't a goat path, and it isn't atrocious. Based on the photo, it's darn near smooth. There is an automobile immediately behind the cyclists, so the road can accommodate an automobile. Another vehicle seems to be parked off to the side, leading me to conclude that the road is at least two vehicles wide. A man is off to the side, looking elsewhere, so he doesn't seem too absorbed by the action. Cyclist in front looks relaxed, almost smiling, and his appearance does not make him look blown out, stressed. Does your calendar tell you any more? Is there any possibility a stage has concluded, and that's why they are walking? Some other context? IMO, 28's would be plenty on the surface shown in the photo. I ride mixed pavement and dirt on 28's fairly regularly, did so yesterday. Cheers, pb On Feb 27, 5:37 pm, Eric Norris campyonly...@me.com wrote: I was looking at my Tour de France calendar and it occurred to me that the February page can teach us something about tire choice in the Golden Age. The photos at the link below are from the 1912 Tour. Remember that in those days (as shown in the photo), much of the riding took place on unpaved roads that sometimes degraded to goat paths in the high mountain passes. Nevertheless, the rider in the photo (walking his bike over a summit) appears to be riding tires that are about the same width as a 700x28 -- maybe a 700x32. I wonder why he didn't select a wider tire, given the atrocious roads. http://www.flickr.com/photos/35176895@N03/sets/72157626037266187/ --Eric campyonly...@me.comwww.campyonly.comwww.wheelsnorth.org -- 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-bunch@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.
[RBW] Re: Tire Choice -- 99 Years Ago
Everyone knows that people were tougher back then. On Feb 27, 7:37 pm, Eric Norris campyonly...@me.com wrote: I was looking at my Tour de France calendar and it occurred to me that the February page can teach us something about tire choice in the Golden Age. The photos at the link below are from the 1912 Tour. Remember that in those days (as shown in the photo), much of the riding took place on unpaved roads that sometimes degraded to goat paths in the high mountain passes. Nevertheless, the rider in the photo (walking his bike over a summit) appears to be riding tires that are about the same width as a 700x28 -- maybe a 700x32. I wonder why he didn't select a wider tire, given the atrocious roads. http://www.flickr.com/photos/35176895@N03/sets/72157626037266187/ --Eric campyonly...@me.comwww.campyonly.comwww.wheelsnorth.org -- 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-bunch@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.
