Road bikes vs hybrid/mtb bikes
07-01-09, 06:14 AM
#51
Senior Member
Interesting juxtaposition! This bit of the discussion opens onto a much larger experience, which in some way is sure to visit the more casual cyclist later — if only in that someone will turn it into making a buck. Look at the custom car trade these days!! What seems today a niche is tomorrow's fortune for somebody.
Do you mean treaded tires for the wet? I followed some comment from the late Sheldon Brown. After riding thus far in Japan's version of the monsoon called the 'tsuyu', I'm convinced that he is right! You don't need tread pattern in a bicycle tire!!!!! The profile CAN'T aquaplane! At least not at any speeds we can accomplish! My recent experience tells me that rubber compound contribute to more of a differnce in adhesion to the road surface. If it has a tread, I'm not buying it. I love the pure slick tire. Sorry ... off topic but it was too natural a juncture to resist. (And at 61, I'm not taking chances at sprawling all over the some rain blasted road on the way home from work!)
Two sets of tires go on the bike, these are the wet weather (maybe it for the year here) tires.
07-01-09, 08:16 AM
#52
just keep riding
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07-01-09, 04:38 PM
#53
Boomer
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Slicks for the road bike, knobby tires for the wet dirt trails and very small knobs for the dry dirt. I think Stapfam would advise something else still for serious mud as it appears that the tires need to get rid of the mud between the knobs before it builds up into a thick slippery gooey mess.
The wet weather tires on the Dormouse are different front to rear. The rear tread is more bar like to provide forward thrust while climbing and the fronts have smaller knobs to help the tires steer. The wet tires are a much larger disadvantage when the bike goes on asphault as the knobs just slow them down horribly. IMHO, the dry tires (Kenda Kozmik Lite II) are the best all around compromise for dry trails and asphault. There are several other brands that make a similar tire.............minimal knobs about 1/8" in the center and larger knobs out on the sides that normally come into play only when the tires sind into something softer. They can run at 40psi on a pure dirt day or 80psi on a pure asphault day or some compromise setting in between for mixed media.
The Kozmic Lites start to spin (no forward bite) however when the ground gets too wet or slick or there is too much large gravel rock (like riding in a dry creek bed)
Road bikes run best on slicks. The best improvement there in the rain is to go with tires that have sticky race rubber but those tires will have a low lifespan before wear out.
The wet weather tires on the Dormouse are different front to rear. The rear tread is more bar like to provide forward thrust while climbing and the fronts have smaller knobs to help the tires steer. The wet tires are a much larger disadvantage when the bike goes on asphault as the knobs just slow them down horribly. IMHO, the dry tires (Kenda Kozmik Lite II) are the best all around compromise for dry trails and asphault. There are several other brands that make a similar tire.............minimal knobs about 1/8" in the center and larger knobs out on the sides that normally come into play only when the tires sind into something softer. They can run at 40psi on a pure dirt day or 80psi on a pure asphault day or some compromise setting in between for mixed media.
The Kozmic Lites start to spin (no forward bite) however when the ground gets too wet or slick or there is too much large gravel rock (like riding in a dry creek bed)
Road bikes run best on slicks. The best improvement there in the rain is to go with tires that have sticky race rubber but those tires will have a low lifespan before wear out.
07-01-09, 07:24 PM
#54
just keep riding
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There's no "U" in asphalt. 
07-02-09, 03:42 AM
#55
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This year I may get in a little more time as a roadie so I guess I may as well learn how to spell the word................"Tar".
07-03-09, 08:37 AM
#56
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This is my hybrid, 9spd LX drivetrain, 700x25's, adjustable fork cranked tight. I mostly use it as my rain commuter, riding with my 10 YO, pulling the tag a long (not much anymore), or any time I 'll be doing some leisurely paced stuff. Tonight it'll be hauling cooler and lawn chair for the fireworks. On camping trips I'll swap the original 32's on and loosen up the fork. It definitly doesn't ride as fast as my road bikes, but it does OK.
