Comments on: Bikedan: Seven Tips for Riding Rough Roads

By: Rider

Rider — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:55:50 +0000

ride bigger tires. 25s will fit most racing bikes. 28 / 32 / 35 on a cx bike are available in smooth tread and not much heavier than 23s but a lot more reliable.

keep the pressure high if you use clinchers. on gravel especially, most flats are pinch flats; when I ride gravel with my 25s I pump them up 10-15 psi higher than if I’m doing a pavement-only ride. sure it makes the ride a bit rougher but it’s better than standing there sweating to change a flat

on chipseal, on the other hand, I go with lower pressures – maybe as low as 85-90 psi and I weigh 185.

By: Saturnreturn

Saturnreturn — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 03:44:54 +0000

Get higher TPI tyres….I’m rolling Diamante Pro’s which are 220 TPI. This difference coming from the Rubino pro at 150TPI is nuts. Previously I would avoid the sh*t house West Auckland coarse chip roads when I had 60TPI armadillos….god they are HAAAAAARD. In fact they were so bad I didn’t even want to ride. Now its no problems I personally have gone from thinking about ‘maximum puncture protection’ to ‘maximum speed balanced with comfort’. because of that I’m happy to replace tyres a little sooner than if I had say armadillo’s. You want to be fast but also comfortable too. And most tyres these days are pretty good on the puncture protection anyhoo IMHO.

Also, hold the tops of the handlebars if you can – easier on the hands (pave’ style). Your butt shouldn’t really be THAT sore….if it is you may have a fit problem or your shorts have a poo chamois!

I don’t think you need a Roubaix particularly….my Tarmac pro is comfy-as on those harsh roads through the above methods, and that’s STIFF

By: Cruiser

Cruiser — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 03:43:47 +0000

nice one,
I agree with the higher gear over rough ground, less [arse]pounding happens

I just noticed you’re deaf olympian, my Dad was NZ Deaflympic president for Los Angeles 85, CHCH 89. Tony W.

By: NZMatto

NZMatto — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 03:42:42 +0000

Ride a Roubaix. With all the dampening you won’t get such an arse pounding. (from experience). Oh, and work out which speed works best for you. I have found at 33 the roughest roads around here are awful, but at about 37 they become smooth. At about 41-42 they start becoming bad again. I guess there is some frequency sweet spot thing that may cause this.