'Upgrading' to skinny tyres pointless for London commuting

Been riding my Pearson touché for last year or so but started to get bored with both the bike and bone shaking ride (running 700 x 25 specialized armadillos at max psi). I had a rusting (and much hated stretched out steerer tube cut too low) bad boy in the garden with slicks, so upgraded with 45 degree on one stem, high riser bar and 2.2 halo twin rails at 50 psi. Result = armchair ride over North Londons third world road network. However most surprising was that I get to work in exactly the same time....even thought the chainset is knackered and the bike feels a couple of kilos heavier. Conclusion is that due to traffic lights and traffic, 'upgrading' to skinny tyres just for commuting is utterly pointless

Try not running your tyres at max psi. Fine if you're riding on a perfectly flat surface but not on our roads.

Cool story bro

You've discovered bigger tyres = lower rolling resistance, no surprise there, even the pro are going for wider rims to get lower rolling resistance.

I rode on 33.3c tyres, smooth and fast.

It's all still very CSB.

OP your conclusion is flawed because you changed your stem and bars at the same time. This could have made you ride faster, so your experiment proves nothing. Basic rule of science: change one variable at a time.

Ed bigger tyres do equal lower rolling resistance, but the power saving of the decreased rolling resistance is dwarfed by the power loss from increased drag and the increased weight of the tyres. They will also be slower going up hills and accelerating.

In other words your 33.3c tyres are more comfortable, but still slower.

...commuting is utterly pointless

I KNEW IT!

You've discovered bigger tyres = lower rolling resistance, no surprise there, even the pro are going for wider rims to get lower rolling resistance.

I rode on 33.3c tyres, smooth and fast.

It's all still very CSB.

As usual Ed, you could make it very hard for people to believe that you have actually worked in a cycle shop. That is just wrong.

OP your conclusion is flawed because you changed your stem and bars at the same time. This could have made you ride faster, so your experiment proves nothing. Basic rule of science: change one variable at a time.

Ed bigger tyres do equal lower rolling resistance, but the power saving of the decreased rolling resistance is dwarfed by the power loss from increased drag and the increased weight of the tyres. They will also be slower going up hills and accelerating.

In other words your 33.3c tyres are more comfortable, but still slower.

You are correct good sir; but seriously, even a small child should be able to work this out, without being taught or told it. Tragic that it needs to be explained, to counter the nonsensical spoutings from our non-hearing comrade in arms.

edscoble...................taking Fail to whole new levels.

As usual Ed, you could make it very hard for people to believe that you have actually worked in a cycle shop. That is just wrong.

You are correct good sir; but seriously, even a small child should be able to work this out, without being taught or told it. Tragic that it needs to be explained, to counter the nonsensical spoutings from our **non-hearing comrade in arms. **

edscoble...................taking Fail to whole new levels.

what's that got to do with anything you fucking pedantic prick? Talk about taking fail to new levels whilst making yourself look like a nasty little smartarse.

There is an optimal tyre width for rolling resistance and it is wider than 25c, so Ed is indeed right.
This is only to a point though and the rolling resistance of a 300c tyre is higher than a 23c. I think the optimal was around 30c.

I'm thinking about upgrading to skinny jeans for the aero benefit.

There'll be more resistance if I try rolling them up though. Swings and roundabouts.

If only I could fit into a 30" waist pair to be optimal.

don't forget to chop your arms off for more aero too..

You could compliment the jeans with some diamante shoe covers too...

I'm thinking about upgrading to skinny jeans for the aero benefit.

Rep deserved here!

With traffic lights and traffic, you can ride just about any old piece if shit and arrive at the same time.

I just enjoy riding on my Conti GPs because the bike absolutely boots it when you lay the power down. I've ridden wider tyres too, eg. Conti 32c slicks, but prefer narrower. Also, upright riding position doesn't make a very noticeable difference until you're riding into maybe the 20s which you may not do on a commute. I ride up to 30-30mph every day which is utterly pointless, but I find it fun.

As usual Ed, you could make it very hard for people to believe that you have actually worked in a cycle shop. That is just wrong.

Why dont you take some time to get an argument correct, otherwise you just make a fool of yourself, 28c has much lower rolling resistance than 18c, especially on rougher roads. However as stated before they are not necessarily faster due to added drag and weight...

Sounds like a case for...

SUPER MDCC !!!!

(Does he have a cape ?)

capes aren't aero

capes aren't aero

Comment of the Year 2012

Sounds like a case for...

SUPER MDCC !!!!

(Does he have a cape ?)

I think we need a "this thread needs Tester" meme.

what's that got to do with anything you fucking pedantic prick? Talk about taking fail to new levels whilst making yourself look like a nasty little smartarse.

Let's get this straight cunt, I know Ed, and Ed knows me. He's known me for years, and we agree and disagree on many things. I view Ed as a mate/colleague, as with other longer standing forumengers on here. The prick here is you. And you are the first idiotic fool to call me little, in more than 30 years. When Ed is wrong, people say so; it doesn't stop him from giving his opinion on anything, and that is the mark of a man with confidence.

I like Ed, and have admired many things about him for years. He's a good bloke, and his heart is in the right place. Now fuck off back to your mother, before you make more of a cunt of yourself. Next time, know something, before you show that you know nothing.

My response is all the stronger because you are probably n***, hiding behind yet another alias, and I despise your little cuntish lack of any backbone.

capes aren't aero

What if it is a tailwind ?

Why dont you take some time to get an argument correct, otherwise you just make a fool of yourself, 28c has much lower rolling resistance than 18c, especially on rougher roads. However as stated before they are not necessarily faster due to added drag and weight...

http://www.analyticcycling.com/ForcesTire_TireRollingResistance.html

Rolling resistance is hardly given the wind-tunnel test by normal people,....instead, it is felt. Yes, if rolling resistance is defined as friction, then your argument (and Ed's) is correct; but if you add increased rotational weight as a factor to resistance, and not just friction, then the common experience is one that others share with me.

Let's get this straight cunt, I know Ed, and Ed knows me. He's known me for years, and we agree and disagree on many things. I view Ed as a mate/colleague, as with other longer standing forumengers on here. The prick here is you. And you are the first idiotic fool to call me little, in more than 30 years. When Ed is wrong, people say so; it doesn't stop him from giving his opinion on anything, and that is the mark of a man with confidence.

I like Ed, and have admired many things about him for years. He's a good bloke, and his heart is in the right place. Now fuck off back to your mother, before you make more of a cunt of yourself. Next time, know something, before you show that you know nothing.

My response is all the stronger because you are probably n***, hiding behind yet another alias, and I despise your little cuntish lack of any backbone.

Fuck me you are the most paranoid crazy bastard on this forum - you spout shit, as you usually do when you refuse to engage brain before keyboard - and then when people call you on it, your response is "The World is out to get you!!!!"

Nice one. Maybe, just maybe you deserve to be called out for failing to think before posting. Has that thought ever crossed your warped, self-centred mind?

But don't mind me - I'm just the forums most patient GA2G-baiting alias anyway. This cover is blown so I'm off to the other, other, other, other, other, other alias to plot more anti-GA2G posts. I'm watching you GA2G, as I am bloody sure you are aware. Better double the thickness on your tin foil hat, I am coming for you.