7/28/14 7:04 PM

got my 2nd serious excursion in on the gravel-grinder today. only 90 mins...not alot of miles, but plenty of gravel.

discs brakes are a treat. even on a dry ride, rims pick up a boat-load of dust which compromises braking. With discs my stopping was just as crisp and consistent from from mile 1 to mile 20. i know there's alot of impracticality when it comes to disc brakes from a racing/peloton perspective, but if you're not dealing with that side of things disc brakes have alot to offer. as others have said, discs are the future and it's inevitable, and that's coming from a guy that thinks discs are also a solution looking for a problem! Far from necessary but have real merit.

phattie rims/tires are also sweet. my combo of 23mm rims w/ 28 tires and a medium roadie tread worked nicely on hard-packed backroads with a sprinkling of coarse gravel. on some of the sketchier sections with heavier graveli was definitely on the limit of this combo when carrying any sort of speed on curves. i think lightly treaded 32s will be perfect.

Last edited by walter on 7/28/14 8:52 PM; edited 2 times in total

7/28/14 7:18 PM

Maybe some speed max type ? 33mm File tread with some encouragement for turning on the edges. ;)


<img src="http://bmxmuseum.com/forsale/000_3510_blowup.jpg" width=320 /img>

7/28/14 7:24 PM

Vittoria Cross XN Pros. i want a minimal tread and lively-lightweight carcass -- gotta feel fast, just some light knobs on the sides. i was checking out kenda karvs but they're avail only up to 28mm.



Last edited by walter on 7/28/14 7:32 PM; edited 1 time in total

7/28/14 7:29 PM

My gravel grind a few weeks back was with the 33mm Racing Ralphs. I found myself wanting some 38-40s ;)

But the low profile teeth [2mm in center] on the tire did not seem to bog me down. I spent a lot of time in low gears with too many climbs. And it was the descents after those I was wanting some more rubber...

That XN looks like A Pave with some edge grip...

Do they make it with the 80% Cotton 20%kevlar in the casing like the Pave?

I found the H Plus Son Arch for 54.00 each free shipping. Going to order up a pair.

EDIT: the XNs are 150tpi in the clincher it looks like. 320 in the tubular.

7/28/14 7:57 PM

my low gear now is 34x26 and i sometimes find myself needing something lower at times.

either go with a bigger cogset and mid-cage rear mech.

or

those cool sugino cranks that nick-p turned me onto.

7/28/14 7:59 PM

Those crank sure are pretty too.

I used my 30 tooth on the triple on the TCX on the climbs on the return. Because I didn't on the climbs on the outbound 20+ miles and popped a few times.

What about the Clement LAS Tire?

Continental Speed Cyclocross Tire? 42C folding that reviews report sit out at 39mm on wider rims. More for me than you maybe. ;) But there is a 35mm also.

7/28/14 8:28 PM

Mine are also like those of Walters. Smooth in the middle and knobs on the side, a bit more prominent on mine.

Tomorrow, I'm going to do a loop of 40km pavement and 10km dirt/gravel. I'm very glad I have the mostly road-oriented rubber!

7/28/14 8:38 PM

Yep. Saw those Clements, liked em too! Basically identical to the XNs.



liked the XNs because I've had good luck with Vittoria and they have some kind of (thin) protective belt.

Last edited by walter on 7/28/14 8:57 PM; edited 2 times in total

7/28/14 8:53 PM

I just ordered 42C Conti Speed Ride Folding. Will report when I get them in and on.




Sure wish you lived out here walter, we could go CZ Trail Gravel Bombing. As shown in other thread via posted links. ;)

7/28/14 8:58 PM

April, are you gravel grinding a CX?

7/28/14 8:58 PM

I'd snap em right up!

7/28/14 9:15 PM

They come in 35s, as Cyclocross Speed, and Conti run small. Googling reviews to see what width they sit at.

Found a pic of a TCX with the 42C Speed Ride tires on it.

7/28/14 9:19 PM

Pic with calipers of 35C cyclocross speed on an A23 rim @ 60 lb.







Link to review with that and other pics

http://ridingagainstthegrain.com/2011/12/30/cyclocross-speed-marathon-mondial/

7/28/14 9:45 PM

quote:

---

April, are you gravel grinding a CX?

---

7/29/14 5:35 AM

I use the Clements on a cross bike, geared 46/30, 12-32. Works for me. here's the bike:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=1ActGblq5bsWF4

7/30/14 6:03 PM

Saw this, because everyone should spend as much as possible for their tires. But seriously, was not aware they were making this style tire. 300 TPI Open clincher is a mere 118.00 per tire. ;)

28,36,38, Open and nylon clinchers.

http://gravelgrindernews.com/challenge-tires-introduces-the-gravel-grinder-tire-line-up/

Bit more aggressive edge knobs than most?

<img src="http://gravelgrindernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Gravel_Grinder_CL_02_LD.jpg" width=480 >

7/31/14 9:07 AM

quote:

---

.....300 TPI Open clincher...

---

7/31/14 12:00 PM

True, like my GP4KS VS my Pave CGs

7/31/14 12:14 PM

Walter as usual is a bad influence on me.

Got the Conti Speed 42C this am.

I put one on a 23mm wide rim and one on a narrow road Bonti Rim/wheel. Definitely run small, but that is a good thing when you see the CS space. ;0

On wide rims; 37.4mm, narrow rim .8mm less width and 1mm more height @ 50lb

Supports my theory regarding diminishing return with wide rims and bigger sizes. Although I bet it will feel better on the wider rim. Will see.

Bike got a lot taller it seems, like I wish it was not the XL, but the next one down. Maybe a good excuse to finally get another Strong. Down to one since I traded the 29er off years back...

<img src="http://coupekiss.host-ed.me/images/ttf/pub/20140731_105748.jpg" width=425 >
<img src="http://coupekiss.host-ed.me/images/ttf/pub/20140731_105756.jpg" width=425 >
<img src="http://coupekiss.host-ed.me/images/ttf/pub/20140731_105809.jpg" width=425 >


<img src="http://coupekiss.host-ed.me/images/ttf/pub/20140731_105729.jpg" width=425 >

Last edited by Sparky on 8/5/14 2:44 PM; edited 1 time in total

7/31/14 2:20 PM

1st impressions:

There are a few gravel and badly broken pavement roads close to me. Maybe 2 mile worth total in two different directions. Holes filled in with crushed stone and long sections with stone and even big stone on one section.

The loop which I have been on the 33mm Racing Ralph CX, and a even the 28C Conti GP4All Seas. Which take the gravel without trauma to my surprise.

One section is 1-1/2" stone for 100 yards to cure a wash out. This is where the Speed 42C shined the most. But also excellent on the loose dust gravel packed crap too. They are brown now from the test ride.

Chip seal mostly for the paved portions, very good on that. I pushed them for the 6 mile ride, and started to feel the weight of them being used to tire a lot lighter.

Slowed the steering a touch due to girth, but that was a very good thing for fast pace on the crud I found. Bike went straight as an arrow on the chipseal in the big ring and at 20ish.

Faster on the crap, and slower on the chipseal. Well it just costs more for them to not be slower on the pavement I guess. ;)

So.. so far, a 'LIKE' Dare I say the cure for Aluminum at this size...


I bet the 35C ones Walter ordered will be even better/faster on the pavement.

8/5/14 10:13 AM

I'm curious how hefty they are.

Come to think of it, I'm assuming that these are the newer "Speed Ride" as opposed to the original "Cyclocross Speed" in 42 size. Which do you have?

8/5/14 12:19 PM

If they're for racing, yeah you have to weigh them as some unfamiliar tires can be offered in similar-looking "heavy" and "racing" versions. Usually the racing version is folding-bead, but I don't even need a scale to detect the added weight of the pedestrian model in some cases.

"Got the Conti Speed 42C this am.

I put one on a 23mm wide rim and one on a narrow road Bonti Rim/wheel. Definitely run small, but that is a good thing when you see the CS space. ;0

On wide rims; 37.4mm, narrow rim .8mm less width and 1mm more height @ 50lb"

I've always found the tires gain height when mounted on the wider rim, but measuring height up from the rim is an exercise in viewing parallax so can be difficult to compare, especially when the rim-width differences are small.
...And especially with new tires that might have molding flash poking up from the center of the tread.

8/5/14 2:51 PM

Speed Rides 42C [38s in reality].

Did 24 miles on mostly gravel this am.

Same CZ trail ride as last time when on the 33 Ralphs.

Speeds @ 37.5mm and 45/50 lbs, very nice indeed. Coming back down the 5% after climb and turn around.. I big ring bombed to the point my bud on FS Trek went out of my site. 3 miles or more and a lot faster than going up it in granny and 32 rear cog.

With the Ralphs I coasted, on the brakes a lot on that descent while John disappeared in front of me.
Today in my little glasses mirror was where he disappeared...


Edit: I did not weigh them, but advertised @ 450 for folding, and 490 for the wire, IIRC.

I am wondering how Walter is doing on those 35s [33 in real life it seems].

I think for this route, auto re-sizing tires that are 33 going up and then 42 going back down is the answer. ;)

Last edited by Sparky on 8/7/14 2:14 AM; edited 2 times in total

8/5/14 4:10 PM

Tire width and pressure changes, oh, what a difference!

Recalling what it was like having 32psi in 2.3" tires on my hectacular Heckler.
Taught me how to ride off-road.

8/5/14 5:35 PM

They make a Cross Ride 42C as well FYI.

I may get one to swap onto the front with the Speed Ride on rear...