Commuting on skinny tyres

I've been commuting on 700 x 23c tyres during the summer wthout
incident but with the weather about to turn is there anybody out there
using such skinny tyres in the winter months? Or should I get a hack
bike for the coming months. My Specialized Langster won't accept a
wider tyre I think. Any opinions most welcome.

wrote:
I've been commuting on 700 x 23c tyres during the summer wthout
incident but with the weather about to turn is there anybody out there
using such skinny tyres in the winter months? Or should I get a hack
bike for the coming months. My Specialized Langster won't accept a
wider tyre I think. Any opinions most welcome.

You can get by with 23c tyres in the winter if they're tough enough, but
fatter ones will be more comfortable and grip a bit better on bumpy roads if
lower pressure is used as well.

You do want to allow for some clearance, but it might be worth checking if
you can fit 25's. You might think 2mm difference is nothing, but remember
it's 2mm taller as well as wider.

I wouldn't get one purely to use fatter tyres, but a hack bike would be good
if you can't, or don't want to, fit full mudgaurds and a rack to your nicer
bike.

~PB

wrote:
I've been commuting on 700 x 23c tyres during the summer wthout
incident but with the weather about to turn is there anybody out there
using such skinny tyres in the winter months? Or should I get a hack
bike for the coming months. My Specialized Langster won't accept a
wider tyre I think. Any opinions most welcome.

I got a pair of Gatorskins (700x23) during the "summer" after 2 punctures in
2 days on wet roads. So far so good, although I've only done about 800
miles on them so far, but I've no plans to change them going into the winter
months. I was recommended the Gators by a chap in my CTC section who
reckoned on upwards of 5000 miles on a pair with no problems.

--

Nigel

Thanks guys, I have Specialized Mondo's fitted as standard at the
moment but will buy Conti's in the future. I have RaceBlades fitted
and find them excellent apart from a little bit of toe-overlap because
of them but not enough to cause distress. I think I shall continue
riding the Langster during winter as singlespeeds are recommended for
winter training anyway.

Cheers, Bill

On 2007-10-15, wrote:
I've been commuting on 700 x 23c tyres during the summer wthout
incident but with the weather about to turn is there anybody out there
using such skinny tyres in the winter months? Or should I get a hack
bike for the coming months. My Specialized Langster won't accept a
wider tyre I think. Any opinions most welcome.

I have for 3 years since the frame of my fixie also won't accept wider
tyres. I've had the odd skitter where I think a wider tyre might've
helped but the biggest problem IMO is the hard ride when
one happens to hit a rough spot that was hiding in the darkness. Ow!

I'd definitely recommend some mudguards if you can squeeze them in
though. Cold wet slutch up your back is not a good way to start the
day...

Regards,

-david

On Oct 15, 9:05 pm, David Nutter wrote:
On 2007-10-15, wrote:

I've been commuting on 700 x 23c tyres during the summer wthout
incident but with the weather about to turn is there anybody out there
using such skinny tyres in the winter months? Or should I get a hack
bike for the coming months. My Specialized Langster won't accept a
wider tyre I think. Any opinions most welcome.

I have for 3 years since the frame of my fixie also won't accept wider
tyres. I've had the odd skitter where I think a wider tyre might've
helped but the biggest problem IMO is the hard ride when
one happens to hit a rough spot that was hiding in the darkness. Ow!

I'd definitely recommend some mudguards if you can squeeze them in
though. Cold wet slutch up your back is not a good way to start the
day...


Some good news and bad news. You can fit 700x28c's in the Langster -
I used to run 23s in the summer and 28s in the winter. It's not a
bike to take fenders though. You could get one in the front if you
change the carbon front fork for some cross forks or something, but
you're only option for the back will be a seat-post mounted jobbie.

Regards,

Duncan

In article .com,
Duncan Smith
says...

Some good news and bad news. You can fit 700x28c's in the Langster -
I used to run 23s in the summer and 28s in the winter. It's not a
bike to take fenders though. You could get one in the front if you
change the carbon front fork for some cross forks or something, but
you're only option for the back will be a seat-post mounted jobbie.

Funny how Bill's running Race Blades then ...

wrote:
Thanks guys, I have Specialized Mondo's fitted as standard at the
moment but will buy Conti's in the future.

YMMV but I've found Conti tyres downright scary in the wet.

I use some Bontrager Race Lite 23 mm tyres on my winter
trainer, which seem reasonably puncture resistant and grip well.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune PGP/GPG Key: http://www.clune.org/pubkey.txt
The struggle of people against power is the struggle
of memory against forgetting - Milan Kundera

On Oct 15, 5:43 pm, wrote:
I've been commuting on 700 x 23c tyres during the summer wthout
incident but with the weather about to turn is there anybody out there
using such skinny tyres in the winter months? Or should I get a hack
bike for the coming months. My Specialized Langster won't accept a
wider tyre I think. Any opinions most welcome.

I have commuted year round for some 6 years in London on 23s. I lost
the front end once on a drain cover. On my occaisional 700x32 bike I
have low-sided twice on bends in the wet. I don't think either crash
resulted from hitting anyt object or surface irregularity in the
carriageway

best wishes
james

On Oct 16, 3:49 am, Rob Morley wrote:
In article .com,
Duncan Smith
says...

Some good news and bad news. You can fit 700x28c's in the Langster -
I used to run 23s in the summer and 28s in the winter. It's not a
bike to take fenders though. You could get one in the front if you
change the carbon front fork for some cross forks or something, but
you're only option for the back will be a seat-post mounted jobbie.

Funny how Bill's running Race Blades then ...

With 28s?