You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Looking at speeding up my commuting/errands, for which I currently use an old 26" MTB on 2.1" off-road tyres. I'm thinking skinnier road-biased tyres (1.5") on the 23mm rims, or possibly swapping the bike for something more appropriate such as a hybrid.
I've never ridden smaller tyres or any type of bike that's remotely fragile, so I've never really had to think about bike preservation while riding. I don't ride like a lunatic but I'll cross kerbs etc. without much thought, I don't slow down for any type of speed bump (even the harsh plastic ones), I'll go off paths onto the grass to spare slowing down to pass pedestrians safely, potholes and broken tarmac on cycle paths are no problem.
Seen a few things about skinny tyre riders that are a bit concerning. Videos of people crashing their bike by getting the front wheel stuck in a drain cover, seen roadies first-hand shouting at drivers pushing them a bit close to the bumpy/muddy edge of a country road, people in town being super cautious about riding up dropped kerbs, people getting off their bike to negotiate a bumpy bit of a nearby cycle path which has some harsh bumps due to roots growing underneath the tarmac. Also on a nearby cycle path there's been a gash in the tarmac for a few metres, maybe 2 inches deep, for a few years. Recently it has been marked out with paint in an amateur fashion so I presume someone has come a cropper on it with their skinny tyre. I don't really want to think about such things.
So, what kind of things do you have to think about, do and not do, with skinnier tyres?
I'm not sure what some key boundaries are, but for example how do you adapt riding for:
2.1" (53mm) MTB - anything goes
1.5" (38mm) MTB slick / gravel
30mm
25mm road
Just have to look where you are going.
Slick tyres of any size are sketch with mud and stuff but a 25c tyre at a sensible pressure is a very resiliant thing to the odd pothole smash or misjudged kerb hop. you can come a cropper if you ride into soft grass for someone as it sinks in though.
you are overthinking basically, "skinny tyres" have been around a lot longer than 2.1 inch knobblies.
Lose the nobbles, keep the volume.
APF
skinny tyres on bumpy roads?
Not that careful, tbh, far more robust than you'd believe.
Lose the nobbles, keep the volume.
APF
^^This^^ it's the lack of tread that makes them roll better on smooth surfaces. Do they still make 26er 'Big Apples'?
No need to go skinny to go fast. Marathon Supremes 26x2 are fast, very puncture resistant and wide enough to laugh at kerbs etc . Not cheap but can't get everything.
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m14b0s142p1034/SCHWALBE-Marathon-Supreme-HS469-folding
https://road.cc/content/review/28702-schwalbe-marathon-supreme-26x20-tyre
seen roadies first-hand shouting at drivers pushing them a bit close to the bumpy/muddy edge of a country road,
They're probably less concerned with the mud, and more with the close proximity of a car.
Slick tyres of any size are sketch with mud and stuff
Paris-Robaix video
I see 🙂
Sounds like I don't need to be so concerned about durability, and should think about comfort generally and grip for when I'm not on clean tarmac or when it's wet.
dont forget that in some of the situations youve witnessed or read about, the super light wheels could be what the rider is trying to spare..
They’re probably less concerned with the mud, and more with the close proximity of a car.
Maybe, I was walking both times and they looked reasonable, I was trying to work out what the cyclists were so angry about. I thought perhaps it was scarier than when on a MTB as you can't get onto the verge and ride it out should you need to, and a bumpy road surface at speed might deflect you off course more than on a MTB.
Agree with the others about keeping volume.
I've got some schwalbe big ben tyres on one wheelset and they're great for urban stuff.
Comfy, puncture resistant, faster rolling than knobbly tyres, and don't have to worry about kerbs or pot holes. I've ran marathon tyres as well and I prefer the big Ben's.
I used to use my old MTB 26" rigid for commuting running slick 1.2 tyres - it was proper quick, but looked weird.
I then went fixed gear, heavy panniers and 23mm tyres. nothing to worry about TBH, just avoid smashing into pot holes. I ran 110 PSI in the rear of the fixed gear road bike as the panniers were heavy. I did get the occasional pinch flat, but they were from big holes that I just couldn't avoid due to traffic.
I ride both road and MTB. Currently using 25c road tyres with a little grip as I'm doing more country lanes/farm tracks.
When I use to cycle to work I used Specialized Nimbus Armadillo, they seemed to roll fast and very puncture proof.
Perhaps try Schwalbe Landcruiser Plus? They have excellent puncture protection, roll very well on smooth surfaces but also dig in when on soft ground. I used to fit them to police bikes and never got any complaints. I also use them on my shopping/trail/casual bike, better than their appearance suggests!
Make sure Plus - level 5 puncture protection and not level 3, still good but not as good.
Hope this helps.
My stock answer to this type of question - you'll be fine
Use to race XC on 1.5 inch tyres and was fine. A little more bumpy but fast. Skinny tyres on the road are great if the road is smooth. Rubbish on bumpy roads with potholes though.
30mm tubeless, not especially careful, had a few punctures but nothing that would not seal. I wouldn't want to ride them anywhere super gnarly but fine for local bridleways, just don't expect to have lots of grip if it's muddy.
Well back in the 90s I had 21mm Hutchinsons. These days I wouldn't go less than a 28mm.