I have to say I'm amazed by how well Jan's Compass tires float over the loose stuff and track better through it than I would have guessed based on my experience with the wider Schwalbe Duremes. No doubt that simply reveals my ignorance -- but I'm learning. Supple tires make a big difference in both speed and ride quality/grip/tracking/floating. Do they have their limits? Absolutely. I found them riding single track. Roots, loose gravel on narrow steep descending track with curves and turns, I was not as comfortable as with my 2.25" Smart Sams (on the Hunqapillar) or 38mm MSO's on the Quickbeam. But depending on the ride, I would still ride that section with the 38mm Barlows so I could ride the balance of the ride on them too.
But Anne, it's not about what I'm comfortable with, or Jan, or anyone but you. Go with what works for you and enjoy the ride! With abandon, Patrick On Friday, June 6, 2014 1:46:34 PM UTC-6, Anne Paulson wrote: > > While I don't doubt your and Ira's experience, I'm not sure how well it > applies to non-racers. Maybe I *should* be comfortable riding 42 mm tires > in deep sand and deep gravel, and down steep dirt descents. But I'm not. No > sense choosing equipment I ought be able to use, if I can't use it. > > > On Fri, Jun 6, 2014 at 8:34 AM, Jan Heine <hei...@earthlink.net > <javascript:>> wrote: > >> I agree that if you have to walk significant distances, you'd lose more >> than you gain on the parts. However, even Ira on his 38 mm tires didn't >> walk, except one steep climb to preserve his legs. I walked a few more of >> the really steep rollers toward the end, but it was a concern for my knees, >> not tire width, that forced me off the bike. Wider tires would have been a >> little faster on the really sandy parts, but probably not much... >> >> Jan Heine >> Editor >> Bicycle Quarterly >> >> >> On Thursday, June 5, 2014 8:56:31 PM UTC-7, Anne Paulson wrote: >>> >>> It depends on how bad the performance is on the remaining 10%. I've seen >>> the pictures of the Oregon Outback route, and I understand why a lot of the >>> riders wanted something wider than 42 mm tires. If I were riding that route >>> on 42 mm tires, I'd end up walking a lot. I'd give up a lot of speed in a >>> bike tire in order not to have to walk 35 miles. >>> >>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com <javascript:>. >> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com >> <javascript:>. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > > > > -- > -- Anne Paulson > > It isn't a contest. Enjoy the ride. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
