Slicks - what a difference!

BoardinBob

Finally got round to fitting slicks on the SS MTB after 7 months of commuting.

I can't believe the difference they've made. I picked a pair of Schwalbe City Jets at the weekend for £15 and this morning was my first ride.

The speed difference is shocking and climbing is so much easier too.

If you're riding knobbly tires, stop now and put slicks on

CiB

Then add thinner tyres / wheels {700 x 23 are good), opt for a more traditional frame geometry, Shimano groupset and a 53/39 front ring + 11-25 rear cassette, and you'll be flying.

Kieran_Burns

I think I'm going to change my CX 32c tyres for the Conti 32c ones I have as I swear I get this sticking type noise when I'm riding on the streets. The tyres are great but they must be causing me more unneeded effort.

It's weird how everything on my commute is based around the one stretch of bridleway I have.

roger_merriman

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I think I'm going to change my CX 32c tyres for the Conti 32c ones I have as I swear I get this sticking type noise when I'm riding on the streets. The tyres are great but they must be causing me more unneeded effort.

It's weird how everything on my commute is based around the one stretch of bridleway I have.

on the MTB i've got some very old mud tires so thin high tires with few but massive nobs, on tarmack or anything thats not mud, they are loud and very very slow, still no one steps out on you, as it sounds like a landie...

BoardinBob

roger merriman wrote:

on the MTB i've got some very old mud tires so thin high tires with few but massive nobs, on tarmack or anything thats not mud, they are loud and very very slow, still no one steps out on you, as it sounds like a landie...

Yes the silence was noticeable too.

1.5 tires and I noticed the difference everywhere. Acceleration, straight line speed, cornering, climbing. All improved.

There was even a pretty brutal headwind that would have brought me to a standstill before but it hardly affected me today.

soy_sauce

totally agree with you about the slicks. got mine setup and running for the past coupld of week now and it reduce almost a 1/3 of my total commute time.

i got mine pump up to 60 bpi too. the only down side is that now i feel every single bump on the road...

p.s. im using Land Cruiser 26x2.0 semi slicks

always_tyred

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I think I'm going to change my CX 32c tyres for the Conti 32c ones I have as I swear I get this sticking type noise when I'm riding on the streets. The tyres are great but they must be causing me more unneeded effort.

It's weird how everything on my commute is based around the one stretch of bridleway I have.

I went for 28c's - might go 25's soon - on my cx. I have to navigate about 2k of cinder/gravel bridleway which, for about 2-300yds gets a bit loose/deep/rocky enough to require me to slow down (we are talking 1/2 house brick size rocks). The 28's manage okay. I can get through okay on 23's when its dry.
I managed to get to the absolute top of Glentress on 28c slicks the other week (again, pretty dry, but not the smoothest). Overtake full-susers for fun on the way up. "Jesus Christ I need more grip" on the way down (steep, loose, 20% pitches though).
Hope that gives you some guidance on what's possible, anyway.

girv73

I switched to slicks on the work bike a few months ago, from 2.1 knobblies to 1.25 Gatorskins, and I saw about 2-3mph difference easily.

I also swapped the heavy sus forks for lighter rigid ones, but that's another thread

tardington

henry_ho_yin wrote:

totally agree with you about the slicks. got mine setup and running for the past coupld of week now and it reduce almost a 1/3 of my total commute time.

Same with me! The difference is amazing.

Kieran_Burns

Always Tyred wrote:

I went for 28c's - might go 25's soon - on my cx. I have to navigate about 2k of cinder/gravel bridleway which, for about 2-300yds gets a bit loose/deep/rocky enough to require me to slow down (we are talking 1/2 house brick size rocks). The 28's manage okay. I can get through okay on 23's when its dry.
I managed to get to the absolute top of Glentress on 28c slicks the other week (again, pretty dry, but not the smoothest). Overtake full-susers for fun on the way up. "Jesus Christ I need more grip" on the way down (steep, loose, 20% pitches though).
Hope that gives you some guidance on what's possible, anyway.

Cheers for that. I've noticed that the tyres allow up 100 psi on them and I've been running at 90, so I might up the pressure first THEN try the 32c conti idea. I have 28c available as well but I found the ride slightly harsh on the potholed roads around here with them.

Oddly, I am at least as 'quick' on the CX as I was on my old Carrera. Well it's worth a go I guess just to see what happens

Kieran_Burns

Well - I pumped the tyres to 100psi, but also adjusted the saddle height about 2cm higher AND cleaned and lubed the bike....

Errrrr......

Did someone get me a new pair of legs? I took the bike for a spin 'round the block and I flew! :shock:

I was going to have a rest day tomorrow, but I want to see what this is like on a full commute, so wish me luck

cjcp

Always Tyred wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I think I'm going to change my CX 32c tyres for the Conti 32c ones I have as I swear I get this sticking type noise when I'm riding on the streets. The tyres are great but they must be causing me more unneeded effort.

It's weird how everything on my commute is based around the one stretch of bridleway I have.

I went for 28c's - might go 25's soon - on my cx. I have to navigate about 2k of cinder/gravel bridleway which, for about 2-300yds gets a bit loose/deep/rocky enough to require me to slow down (we are talking 1/2 house brick size rocks). The 28's manage okay. I can get through okay on 23's when its dry.
I managed to get to the absolute top of Glentress on 28c slicks the other week (again, pretty dry, but not the smoothest). Overtake full-susers for fun on the way up. "Jesus Christ I need more grip" on the way down (steep, loose, 20% pitches though).
Hope that gives you some guidance on what's possible, anyway.

Re that sticking feeling, I'm not familiar with cross-specific tyres, but would the tread on them be like riding with mtb knobblies?

always_tyred

cjcp wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I think I'm going to change my CX 32c tyres for the Conti 32c ones I have as I swear I get this sticking type noise when I'm riding on the streets. The tyres are great but they must be causing me more unneeded effort.

It's weird how everything on my commute is based around the one stretch of bridleway I have.

I went for 28c's - might go 25's soon - on my cx. I have to navigate about 2k of cinder/gravel bridleway which, for about 2-300yds gets a bit loose/deep/rocky enough to require me to slow down (we are talking 1/2 house brick size rocks). The 28's manage okay. I can get through okay on 23's when its dry.
I managed to get to the absolute top of Glentress on 28c slicks the other week (again, pretty dry, but not the smoothest). Overtake full-susers for fun on the way up. "Jesus Christ I need more grip" on the way down (steep, loose, 20% pitches though).
Hope that gives you some guidance on what's possible, anyway.

Re that sticking feeling, I'm not familiar with cross-specific tyres, but would the tread on them be like riding with mtb knobblies?

Yes, but mine are just fat road tyres.

Kieran_Burns

They are like fat road tyres with a smooth centre section and ridged / treaded outer. It might just be mine but they do make that tyres on a hot road sound when I ride on tarmac.

It's somethig I've said before, but they DO look much bigger than 32c. I'll have to take a photo so you can see