fell off! better tyres?

muz250
muz250 Posts: 95
edited November 2007 in Road beginners
Well 2nd ride on my new bike and I,v already hit the tarmac. Nothing big, was going round a small round about at what I thought was a very slow speed when the front wheel just went :roll: , I was suprised to say tthe least, the chain came off but no damage.

What kind tyres are available for winter use and do they make a big difference (price, links etc) , I also had a few small moments when cycling at the side of the road and would prefer not to have them again, think at was a mixture of hitting the white lines and the dirt at the side of the road coming out on to the road a bit further than normal.

Comments

  • Bronzie
    Bronzie Posts: 4,927
    If it was a patch of diesel you skidded on at the RAB, no tyre would have kept you upright.

    That said, some of the tyres specced by manufacturers are very poor. Michelin Kyrlions usually get a good write up from various forum members. There are loads of "What winter tyre?" threads in "Road Gear" forum if you do a search in there you'll get a better idea of what's available.
  • I went through cyclist hell t'other day: If it wasnt a wet manhole cover, it was a bloody big patch of diesel spread across the carriageway. Went on for about 3 miles :(
  • fizz
    fizz Posts: 483
    Sometimes you will fall, especially on Diesel, white lines, manhole covers etc. Also I dont think the salt actually helps and it just makes it greasy when the roads thaw again.

    Just ride slower, get your braking done before you want to turn, and dont lean the bike over as much. I tend to ride out quite away from the gutter at this time of year theres all kinds of cack in there.

    I can't give specific advice on tyres I've got Continental Ultra Sport on the front of my winter bike, never had slip with it yet, the other thing you could do is let a bit of air out of the tyres.

    Might be a daft question, but do cycle tyres need scrubbing in like motorbike tyres do ? On my motorbike the tyres need a scrub by riding gently for the first 50 - 100 miles as they have a releasing agent on them when they come out of the mould that makes them really slippy to start with. Are cycle tyres made in a similar way ?
  • muz250
    muz250 Posts: 95
    It could well of been diesel, also the roads Am cycling are fairly quiet but alot of HGVs coming out of quarys make the roads dirty and slippy in places also...

    The tyres on the bike are "Bontrager Select, 700x25c" and are pritty much slick. I was looking on wiggle at the road touring / hybrid tyres, I was looking at these for example,

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... ing%20Tyre

    Would this be the sort of tyre am looking for? (would it fit my bikes rims?? would it fit through my brake calipers?) .

    I mean its winter and the roads are going to get worse, so sacrificing performace seems like an acceptable loss considering am not racing anybody just now, just tring to get fit.I had a quick look through the first few pages of road gear but couldn,t see a post.
  • Muz

    Quarry lorries sounds familiar. You wouldn't be around St Brides/Ewenny in the Vale of Glamorgan would you?

    Our particular breed of quarry lorries are an absolute menace.
  • Bronzie
    Bronzie Posts: 4,927
    muz250 wrote:
    Would this be the sort of tyre am looking for?
    No experience of the Vittoria Randoneur tyres - they do look a bit too chunky at 700x35 or 700x38 it's unlikely they'll fit a normal road frame (clearance under the rear brake bridge or fork crown will be too tight).

    Have a look at these threads:
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12543407
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12550650
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12549178
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12548060
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12546773
  • fizz wrote:
    SNIP
    Might be a daft question, but do cycle tyres need scrubbing in like motorbike tyres do ? On my motorbike the tyres need a scrub by riding gently for the first 50 - 100 miles as they have a releasing agent on them when they come out of the mould that makes them really slippy to start with. Are cycle tyres made in a similar way ?
    yes my impression is taht they do.. i have bontrager basic model - quite reasonable road holding in teh wet but we are talking about a new bike - straight off the shelf - perhaps teh 'shine' does need riding off carefully.
  • muz250
    muz250 Posts: 95
    Camlan wrote:
    Muz

    Quarry lorries sounds familiar. You wouldn't be around St Brides/Ewenny in the Vale of Glamorgan would you?

    Our particular breed of quarry lorries are an absolute menace.


    Nope, am in fife scotland, the roads around burntisland were Iv been trying to put in the miles. That was another thing yesterday, about 5 mins after I fell off a hgv driver about ran into the back of me, all I heard was his brakes locking up!.

    About beding in new tyres, that could be a good point, both days Iv been out on the bike the roads have been greasy so there not realy getting scrubbed in.

    Thanks for the links Bronze, am going to the LBS on thursday to get some bits and peaces ill get there advise aswell. I thought the Vittoria tyre would be to big.