Paris Roubaix

Watching Paris Roubaix on the video last night...

What tyre pressure are they running? Are they running the same tyres as
they'll run in (e.g.) the TdF? The tyres didn't look any bigger than
700x23, but how do you maintain traction on that vicious surface with
high pressure 700x23s? And if you're going to drop the pressure,
especially given the nature of the surface, don't you need a bigger
section?

Are the bikes the same as they use in pure road races, or do they use
frames with springier forks and seatstays? Are there rules about this?

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Hobbit ringleader gives Sauron One in the Eye.

Simon Brooke wrote:

: What tyre pressure are they running? Are they running the same tyres as
: they'll run in (e.g.) the TdF? The tyres didn't look any bigger than
: 700x23, but how do you maintain traction on that vicious surface with
: high pressure 700x23s? And if you're going to drop the pressure,
: especially given the nature of the surface, don't you need a bigger
: section?

700x28 is the most common I believe, with lower pressure than normal (say
6 bar) and tubs to prevent pinch flats with the low pressure.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune PGP/GPG Key: http://www.clune.org/pubkey.txt
Don't get me wrong, perl is an OK operating system, but it lacks a
lightweight scripting language -- Walter Dnes

On 19/4/05 10:00 am, in article
, "Simon Brooke"
wrote:

Watching Paris Roubaix on the video last night...

What tyre pressure are they running? Are they running the same tyres as
they'll run in (e.g.) the TdF? The tyres didn't look any bigger than
700x23, but how do you maintain traction on that vicious surface with
high pressure 700x23s? And if you're going to drop the pressure,
especially given the nature of the surface, don't you need a bigger
section?

Are the bikes the same as they use in pure road races, or do they use
frames with springier forks and seatstays? Are there rules about this?

Hincapie used a prototype trek with a rear suspension but rigid forks.
Aparently this takes teh edge off the cobbles.[1]

...d

[1]OK, technically setts..

...d

Simon Brooke wrote:
Watching Paris Roubaix on the video last night...

What tyre pressure are they running? Are they running the same tyres
as they'll run in (e.g.) the TdF? The tyres didn't look any bigger
than 700x23, but how do you maintain traction on that vicious surface
with high pressure 700x23s? And if you're going to drop the pressure,
especially given the nature of the surface, don't you need a bigger
section?

Am I correct in thinking that the green and black tyres a lot of them use in
P-R and other cobbled classics are Vittoria Pave? If so, they are only
available in 700x24 in clincher form -- I don't know if this is the case
with the tubs they'll be using.

Simon Brooke wrote:

Are the bikes the same as they use in pure road races, or do they use
frames with springier forks and seatstays? Are there rules about this?

IIRC a few years ago the Posties showed up with bikes with boingy forks, but
the Blazers made them go home and get their Victorian bikes like everyone
else.

--
Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
Putting just the right amount of gin in your goldfish bowl makes the
fishes' eyes bulge and causes them to swim in a very amusing manner.

Link to "The bikes of Hell - the weird, the conservative and the 'courageous'"

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2005...ch/?id=default

Most popular tyre choice seems to be Continental's new 'Competition' 25mm tubulars.