Do I need wider tires?

I have a Peugeot Nice 12speed - 61cm frame that I use for commuting
(7-10miles one way). I also do occaisional 30 mile jaunts on it, including
one last night. My commute route is all paved roads, never anything off
road. The jaunts are on beat up asphalt with many potholes/patches.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a6/...9/MVC-027F.jpg

The tires on this bike are 700C x 23's. I thought I remember reading on
here that unless you are racing/training for a race you really shouldn't be
riding anything less than a 28. Would I be more comfortable on a 28 or
larger? I'm used to the 23's now but am wondering if all the jostling on
the potholed jaunt last night causing fatigue and strain in my elbows and
forearms would be elminated with wider tires.

Recommendations?

Cheers!
Duke

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 08:31:21 -0500, Dukester wrote:

Would I be more comfortable on a 28 or
larger?

Absolutely! You might even be able to sneak 32's on there if those are
standard reach vs. short reach brakes (cute bike btw! love the paint).

I switched from 25s @ 100psi to 28s @ 80psi (90 recommended on the
sidewall) and the ride quality difference is enormous. Bike doesn't feel a
bit slower, but train track crossings and gravely bits are much less
treacherous feeling.

For commuting, fit the fattest smoothish tire your bike can handle.

Dukester wrote:

The tires on this bike are 700C x 23's.

Would I be more comfortable on a 28 or
larger?

Definitely. What kind of pressure are you running in the 23s? Either
25 or 28mm tires at lower pressure would be more comfortable and
stable, and less likely to pinch flat. For even more comfort (but at a
slight weight penalty) 32s are a possibility. Check the clearance at
the fork, chainstays, and brake arches. That will be the limiting
factor.

Art Harris

"Art Harris" wrote in message
oups.com...
Dukester wrote:

The tires on this bike are 700C x 23's.

Would I be more comfortable on a 28 or
larger?

Definitely. What kind of pressure are you running in the 23s? Either

110? I'm guessing. I think that is what my PC pancake air compressor output
is set at.

Will I need wider rims to handle wider tires?!

Thanks!
Duke

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 19:24:57 -0500, Dukester wrote:


Will I need wider rims to handle wider tires?!

Any 700c rim should handle up to a 32mm wide tire just fine, I've never
personally put anything wider on my ride than that, but I've seen a
cyclocross bike with Mavic openpros and knobbies that must have been 35mm
wide. No problemo. Brake clearance is your only thing to worry about--and
chainstays too maybe. My long reach sidepulls can take 32s without worry.

Nashbar's got a ton in that size on sale now for under ten bucks a pop.

The Hutchinson Excel comes recommended from me--I've had good luck with
them, I'm riding the cheaper Flash version now in the city and haven't had
a flat since October.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

They've also got a couple Kendas for cheap:
the quest appears to have thicker rubber and a slightly aggressive tread
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=


The touring model intrigues me, it's really light for its size, I'd like
to hear from anybody that's ridden it:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

"maxo" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 19:24:57 -0500, Dukester wrote:

Any 700c rim should handle up to a 32mm wide tire just fine, I've never
personally put anything wider on my ride than that, but I've seen a
....
Nashbar's got a ton in that size on sale now for under ten bucks a pop.

Wow, as always, great help here. Thanks for the information; I'm limited in
my LBS's (lack of) help excepting for trying to sell me all new everythings.

Cheers!
Duke

maxo wrote:
I've seen a
cyclocross bike with Mavic openpros and knobbies that must have been 35mm
wide. No problemo.

I run 38c's on Openpros all the time.

CC

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 20:36:07 -0700, corvuscorvax wrote:



maxo wrote:
I've seen a
cyclocross bike with Mavic openpros and knobbies that must have been
35mm wide. No problemo.

I run 38c's on Openpros all the time.

CC

Ah, good to know! My stolen city bike had that width tire on slightly
wider rims and I wasn't absolutely sure it would work on superskinny rims.
I guess it affects the cross section a wee tad--would you say your tires
ride a bit "tall" compared to mounting them on a wider rim?

I must say that 28mm tires on my Mavic ma3's feels just about perfect for
anything the city could throw at me. And I get to use those sexy skinny
fenders that don't look too Fred. LOL I even had a guy ask me the other
day, "what are those silver covers on your wheels?" "Um, *fenders*" I
replied and he blushed significantly. :P

The OP still needs to consider chainstay and brake arm clearance, but from
the looks of the photo, the brakes look like standard reach. Sticking with
28s would allow the use of 35mm fenders--giving the bike a nice French
sport touring feel--as it is a Peugeot.

Here in the Carolinas, we have what I have come to call "40-grit" roads.
These are "paved" by first laying down a layer of tar, then pouring a
layer of gravel on top and mashing the later into the former. The result
resembles a coarse grade of sandpaper (scaled up in size, of course),
hence the name. I'm sure you can imagine what it's like to ride on it.

I wouldn't recommend anything LESS than 25 mm, and many of the RACERS
here ride wider.

- -

"May you have the winds at your back,
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

Chris Zacho "The Wheelman" wrote in message
...
Here in the Carolinas, we have what I have come to call "40-grit" roads.
These are "paved" by first laying down a layer of tar, then pouring a
layer of gravel on top and mashing the later into the former.

Isn't this just we call chip seal? Or is it different? The biggest problem
with riding in the San Juan Islands is that the roads are all chip seal --
except the climb up to Mt. Constitution, which is sort of in a class by
itself anyway.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referr*al/Cpetersky