Words of Wisdom:
"...don't overthink it too much. Just start riding and call it good!"
Well said Josiah!
On Monday, June 5, 2023 at 1:16:28 PM UTC-4 Josiah Anderson wrote:
> As a counterpoint to Jim and Brendon, I think supple tires are well worth
> the money (and that's coming from a usually-broke college student), and you
> do NOT need super heavy duty tires for gravel roads. I've run René Herse
> tires for years and years, and Grand Bois before that, which were very
> similar. I have almost always worn out the tread before they die of
> sidewall cuts, and back when I logged mileage it would take 5-6k miles to
> wear out a Babyshoe Pass Extralight (42-584).
>
> Despite the quoted claim from the Riv website, there is a very significant
> difference in ride quality and speed between René Herse tires and heavier
> belted ones. If you are running the heavier tires at high enough pressure
> that it doesn't feel like you're riding through molasses (which is because
> of the friction losses in the thick tire flexing), then they will be a
> harsher ride. More supple tires don't lose speed at lower pressures,
> because it takes almost no energy to flex the casing, so they are both more
> comfortable and faster.
>
> My tire recommendation would be to run whatever tires you have until they
> wear out, and then get the widest René Herse tires that will fit your Clem.
> Yes they are very expensive, but if you can afford them it's absolutely
> worth trying them at least once. I don't think they're essential for
> "gravel" riding, although they're certainly very nice. I'm mostly writing
> this to say that you don't need to go out and buy super heavy duty
> mainstream "gravel" or "touring" tires.
>
> I hope the gravel riding goes well! It's something I've enjoyed for a long
> time, and to echo others' comments, don't overthink it too much. Just start
> riding and call it good!
>
> Josiah Anderson
> usually in Missoula, MT
>
> Le lun. 5 juin 2023 à 09:38, J J <junes...@gmail.com> a écrit :
>
>> Leah, I believe that unless you anticipate doing a ton of competitive
>> riding in super wet and super muddy conditions, your tire choice doesn't
>> matter too much.
>>
>> It's impossible to objectively assess real or perceived benefits of one
>> tire over another, or one manufacturer over another, in real-world
>> conditions. There are too many other variables.
>>
>> Our subjective impressions are important, but preferences, comfort level,
>> and riding style are very personal. You should take my suggestions about
>> what works for me with a grain of salt.
>>
>> Also, "gravel" means different things in different contexts.
>>
>> My take:
>>
>> - If you intend to ride *frequently and aggressively* in super muddy
>> and wet conditions, get big aggressive knobbies. The specific tire or
>> manufacturer does not matter all that much, other than price and
>> appearances, both of which can vary tremendously.
>> - If the riding will be *mostly dry gravel* and on pavement, get
>> tires with smaller, less aggressive knobs, or simply stick with wide
>> "touring" tires, or whatever you might already have handy.
>> - For the most comfort, get the biggest tires you can fit.
>>
>> I ride slicks or touring tires on gravel all the time. When I've
>> occasionally encountered muddy segments, I very cautiously ride through. If
>> the tires spin or slide, or if it looks or starts to feel too sketchy, I
>> dismount, walk, and push the bike through. No biggie.
>>
>> I have SKS plastic fenders (with quick releases that have saved my butt)
>> on all my bikes. I haven't noticed any excessive clanking. I figure it's
>> better for rocks to hit my fenders than it is for them to slam into my
>> frames, anyway.
>>
>> As Brendon mentioned, Panaracer manufactures tires for multiple brands. For
>> a given category of tire, the various treads, compounds, and casing
>> structures are similar no matter the brand.
>>
>> Branding and marketing are powerful, though, as Grant/Rivendell has been
>> inculcating forever. Every company claims their tires are the best for this
>> or that purpose and will give you a competitive edge. I'm skeptical about
>> such claims *for most riding*. (Tires for extreme situations or
>> competitive riding or racing are another matter.)
>>
>> I attached here a section from Riv's website
>> <https://www.rivbike.com/products/soma-shikoro-tires> about tire ride
>> quality fyi.
>>
>> I ran tires from various boutique brands (as Brendon called them) for a
>> couple of years. I'm done with that expensive, longterm experiment. Too
>> many sidewall cuts, blowouts, and problems. I'm back to trusty, robust
>> Schwalbe Marathons. Incidentally, these days Schwalbe is producing some
>> great looking "transparent skin" (tan) tires with reflective strips across
>> their numerous lines.
>>
>> Finally, I ride with tubes. I like to minimize hassles and keep things
>> simple wherever I can, so I don't bother with tubeless. I keep two or three
>> spare tubes with me all the time, which might seem excessive! But a few
>> months back, I experienced two unrelated flats on different sections of a
>> ride. Carrying those extra tubes suddenly seemed brilliant.
>>
>> Jim
>>
>> [image: Rivendell on "plushness".jpg]
>> On Monday, June 5, 2023 at 8:49:30 AM UTC-4 Tom Palmer wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Leah,
>>> Just to pile on a little more- I agree on removing the racks and extra
>>> weight and getting the biggest tires that fit. Schwalbe Thunder Burts are
>>> my go to for dirt roads and they ride well on the road too. I already
>>> shared with you privately that I think the Platypus is a tremendous dirt
>>> road bike if you can let it get dirty.
>>> The big tires will help you overcome the gravel/dirt anxiety if you
>>> still have it.
>>> Tom Palmer
>>> Twin Lake, MI
>>> On Monday, June 5, 2023 at 8:00:54 AM UTC-4 Garth wrote:
>>>
>>>> All I can add is take along a spare tube or preferably two so "if" a
>>>> tube goes wonky it's a relatively quick swap out of tubes. Fold up the
>>>> former tube, squeezing the air out of it, put it in your bag and fix it at
>>>> home at a leisurely pace. I buy rubber cement in the reusable cans sold at
>>>> WallyWorld and/or any auto parts store. The can have an applicator
>>>> built-in
>>>> to the lid and the can lasts indefinitely given the lid is screwed back
>>>> on.
>>>> I used to repair tubes in the field but after running into some patches
>>>> that had were stuck to the plastic, not to mention countless silly little
>>>> tubes of glue that dry out unless used relatively quickly, I decided to
>>>> just take 2 tubes with me and a patch kit as a last resort and run over a
>>>> mine field or something, which of course the tires would be last thing to
>>>> worry about ! I've never needed any of it though, as successful no-drama
>>>> riding is normal.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
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