BEst slick tyres for riding a 60 miles sportive on MTB?

concorde

As the title says really. What can I get away with. Looking forward to passing a load of lycra clad roadies on my MTB. What is the biggest size i should go for, for MTB rims? Any suggestions on tyre?

Cheers

The Rookie

Go as narrow as you can, 1.5" are a good option, budget end is the Schwalbe City Jet, great VFM at about £11 each, you then need to jump to about £25 each for something like a Panaracer RiBMo/Spesh Nimbus/WTB Slickasaurus etc which are a bit lighter and take a bit more pressure, I have run all of those last 3 on various commuter and town bikes and like the RiBMo most of the 3, although they are all pretty close together, my daughter runs SCJ's.

njee20

Your average roadie is a hell of a lot fitter than your average MTBer, you may be in for a shock!

You can get 1.3" Panaracer Pacelas or 1" Conti GPs or Spesh All Conditions if you're so inclined.

concorde

Cheers both, I'll take a look.

it's 66 miles with 5,000ft of climbing. I climb that much within about 30 miles on the MTB. Albeit not as fast, I'll be ok.

How do I find out how skinny I can go?

cooldad

You do realise roadies just eat gel and weird stuff like that on the move. They don't stop for cake and pies every few miles.
Or so I am told.

njee20

it's 66 miles with 5,000ft of climbing. I climb that much within about 30 miles on the MTB. Albeit not as fast, I'll be ok.

I'm sure you will, but I suspect you'll be surprised by the fitness of most roadies.

How do I find out how skinny I can go?

What rims have you got? To be honest unless you've got ludicrously wide rims I'd have no qualms about using a 1" tyre.

concorde

Haha, yes I do realise that. Don't get me wrong the vast majority will be fitter than me but I'll pick a fair few off. That'll do me.


Sun Inferno 25 Black 32 hole rims, not very wide I don't think....

The Rookie

Inner bead is 20.3mm, I wouldn't go to a 1" on that personally, but 1.25 upwards would be OK.

I'm with njee, you'll be in for a shock I'm afraid, Roadieing is a different type of fitness, all about high effort for sustained periods were most hobbyist MTBers are moderate effort and then expolosive bits at odd periods.

concorde

Ok cheers on the tyres.

Ah right, maybe I'll come last then Haha! Would borrowing a roadie for the day make much difference?

njee20

If it's an option I'd certainly do it, although only if you can get a bit of time riding it before hand, otherwise you're likely to find it uncomfortable and not do too well. Fit matters more on the road, you don't really move around like on the MTB.

concorde

njee20 wrote:

If it's an option I'd certainly do it, although only if you can get a bit of time riding it before hand, otherwise you're likely to find it uncomfortable and not do too well. Fit matters more on the road, you don't really move around like on the MTB.

Yeah it's a real option. I might do that then, it appeals to me more to do it on a MTB though...

Cheers

cooldad

Don't forget to shave. Only reason roadies ride fast is reduced wind resistance.

The Rookie

cooldad wrote:

Don't forget to shave EVERYWHERE. Only reason roadies ride fast is reduced wind resistance.

FTFY

Also skin tight Lycra is actually compulsary....

concorde

The Beginner wrote:

cooldad wrote:

Don't forget to shave EVERYWHERE. Only reason roadies ride fast is reduced wind resistance.

FTFY

Also skin tight Lycra is actually compulsary....

Haha! Don't know how I feel about those!