stuck - newb tire question

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2008-08-06 10:05 AM

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Subject: stuck - newb tire question
Okay, I REALLY did search for this, and all I got was, "Just take your mountain bike to the local shop and get some road tires" for answers.

So... I really don't have much money right now (I'm a teacher...no pay in the summer!). I really would love to do the final tri. of the season coming up in a month and a half...it will be my first. I only have a mountain bike. I know I should get some road tires, but I am at a loss for how much I should really spend on tires?

If I buy expensive ones then they will be wasted if I really like the experience and buy a road bike eventually.

If I don't like it, then it's wasted money.

If I go cheap, am I really sacrificing too much time? And should I really care about that now?

Or, should I take the money I'd spend on new road tires for the mountain bike, and buy some cheap old road bike at a garage sale and get it serviced at a bike shop? By cheap, I mean REALLY cheap!

Any advice would REALLY be helpful! Thanks so much everyone...

Mike

2008-08-06 10:11 AM
in reply to: #1584989

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Subject: RE: stuck - newb tire question

lordkovacs - 2008-08-06 10:05 AM I know I should get some road tires, but I am at a loss for how much I should really spend on tires?

$6.99

2008-08-06 10:13 AM
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Subject: RE: stuck - newb tire question
You can get cheap mountain bike slicks. Just search for them, I got my slicks for $15 from my LBS. The only diffrence between more expensive slicks, and a cheap set might be resistance to punctures. The diffrence you will notice will depend on how knobby you current tires are.
My trail tires are very knobby, they would slow me down alot.
I can average about 21mph on my slicks, but on my knobbies I would lose at least 2-3mph.
And, I would be alot more tired constantly fight the higher rolling resistance of the knobbies.
Hope that helps.
2008-08-06 11:02 AM
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Subject: RE: stuck - newb tire question
Don't waste your money. I spent my first season on a mountain bike. I spent $15 for two slick tires for it. It made absolutely NO difference in the average speed I got on my training rides. Just stick with what you have and have fun at your first TRI!!!
2008-08-06 11:16 AM
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Subject: RE: stuck - newb tire question

keyone - 2008-08-06 11:02 AM Don't waste your money. I spent my first season on a mountain bike. I spent $15 for two slick tires for it. It made absolutely NO difference in the average speed I got on my training rides. Just stick with what you have and have fun at your first TRI!!!

Funny how your results differ from nearly everyone else's experience, or the laws of physics, for that matter.

2008-08-06 11:40 AM
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Subject: RE: stuck - newb tire question
the bear - 2008-08-06 12:16 PM

keyone - 2008-08-06 11:02 AM Don't waste your money. I spent my first season on a mountain bike. I spent $15 for two slick tires for it. It made absolutely NO difference in the average speed I got on my training rides. Just stick with what you have and have fun at your first TRI!!!

Funny how your results differ from nearly everyone else's experience, or the laws of physics, for that matter.



I don't get it either. My other odd experience is that when I upgraded from a mountain bike to a good road bike, my average speed was STILL the same. That really ticked me off! It wasn't until I worked on my "engine" that my average speed started to improve. My belief is that cycling is 95% engine and 5% equipment. Carlos Sastra could whip my butt riding a banana bike!

2008-08-06 11:44 AM
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Subject: RE: stuck - newb tire question
If you want to compromise w/o spending, simply inflate the tires to max pressure recommended on the sidewalls or 5-10psi more. You'll have reduced the footprint susbtantially versus where you'd ride them as trail tires.

If you do buy a set of tires, maybe some "low profile" miuntain bike tires would be a fair trade-off. I have a set of low-profile MTB tires which I use when the trails get dry and dusty and you don't need that extra grip of a full profile one. These would be an improvement but yet still be multi-purpose since you'd have a second set of off-road tires.

Throwing out alternatives here...
2008-08-06 12:00 PM
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Subject: RE: stuck - newb tire question
evomike1 - 2008-08-06 10:13 AM

The diffrence you will notice will depend on how knobby you current tires are.
And, I would be alot more tired constantly fight the higher rolling resistance of the knobbies.


Rolling resistance is real, and it will slow you down.
The "work your engine" argument is very valid, but only if you have a proper bike.
You can work as hard as you want on your MTB, but you will always be faster on a road bike.
If you do some research you will find that many of the fastest road cyclists got their start racing on dirt.
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