Tire width on a CT1?

C. Ballou

I have a Colnago CT1 I am set to use as a travel bike. I want to go to
Europe with it, but some of the tours I am looking at have roads that
apparently aren't that good. It has been suggested that I use a bike
with wider tires, like a hybrid. I'd rather not.
Question: Does anyone know how wide a tire I can safely put on my
bike? The rims are Mavic Open 4's. I run 23's now. Can I go 28 or more
for the trip?
Thanks.

Michael Press

In article <jcnp349qm0jsrtp0iph18t9pgk65b1ks4n@4ax.com>,
C. Ballou <Not@Chance.com> wrote:

> I have a Colnago CT1 I am set to use as a travel bike. I want to go to
> Europe with it, but some of the tours I am looking at have roads that
> apparently aren't that good. It has been suggested that I use a bike
> with wider tires, like a hybrid. I'd rather not.
> Question: Does anyone know how wide a tire I can safely put on my
> bike? The rims are Mavic Open 4's. I run 23's now. Can I go 28 or more
> for the trip?

I saw some guys going up a gravel road in the
Italian alps on 23 mm tires the other day.

--
Michael Press

Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com

On May 27, 10:25*pm, C. Ballou <N...@Chance.com> wrote:
> I have a Colnago CT1 I am set to use as a travel bike. I want to go to
> Europe with it, but some of the tours I am looking at have roads that
> apparently aren't that good. It has been suggested that I use a bike
> with wider tires, like a hybrid. I'd rather not.
> Question: Does anyone know how wide a tire I can safely put on my
> bike? The rims are Mavic Open 4's. I run 23's now. Can I go 28 or more
> for the trip?
> Thanks.

Only way to really tell is go to your favorite bike shop, make an
'appointment' to test tire width at THEIR convenience, take along a
sixer of the guy's favorite and put some tires on the wheels to see.
If 28c work, buy them. Try a Conti gatorskin 28 for starters.

russellseaton1@yahoo.com

On May 28, 12:15*am, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
> In article <jcnp349qm0jsrtp0iph18t9pgk65b1k...@4ax.com>,
> *C. Ballou <N...@Chance.com> wrote:
>
> > I have a Colnago CT1 I am set to use as a travel bike. I want to go to
> > Europe with it, but some of the tours I am looking at have roads that
> > apparently aren't that good. It has been suggested that I use a bike
> > with wider tires, like a hybrid. I'd rather not.
> > Question: Does anyone know how wide a tire I can safely put on my
> > bike? The rims are Mavic Open 4's. I run 23's now. Can I go 28 or more
> > for the trip?
>
> I saw some guys going up a gravel road in the
> Italian alps on 23 mm tires the other day.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027811_1_full

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027747_1_full

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027750_1_full

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027749_1_full

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027751_1_full

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027764_1_full

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027765_1_full

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027777_1_full

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027781_1_full

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027784_1_full

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027819_1_full

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027820_1_full

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027829_1_full

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027839_1_full






>
> --
> Michael Press

bookieb

On May 28, 1:34 pm, "Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com"
<pe...@vecchios.com> wrote:
> On May 27, 10:25 pm, C. Ballou <N...@Chance.com> wrote:
>
> > I have a Colnago CT1 I am set to use as a travel bike. I want to go to
> > Europe with it, but some of the tours I am looking at have roads that
> > apparently aren't that good. It has been suggested that I use a bike
> > with wider tires, like a hybrid. I'd rather not.
> > Question: Does anyone know how wide a tire I can safely put on my
> > bike? The rims are Mavic Open 4's. I run 23's now. Can I go 28 or more
> > for the trip?
> > Thanks.
>
> Only way to really tell is go to your favorite bike shop, make an
> 'appointment' to test tire width at THEIR convenience, take along a
> sixer of the guy's favorite and put some tires on the wheels to see.
> If 28c work, buy them. Try a Conti gatorskin 28 for starters.

Just ot add to what Peter wrote, the Gatorskin in a 28 is not only
wider than a "racing" 23, but the casing is tougher than most too, so
for poor roads, it gives both more cushioning and better resistance to
damage. If the 28 won't fit, have a look at the 25.

I run the Gatorskin in a 25 year round on my commuting/winter
training/"get around" bike - tough casing, reasonable cut/puncture
protection, a bit of extra cushioning, but not so heavy as to be
noticeable.

I weigh 90kg, so I'm no lightweight, but I can run the 25 at 90psi
(which gives a lot more comfort on a bad surface) without too much
risk of pinch flats.
By contrast, I need to keep the 23c Conti GP4000s tires that I use on
my racing bike above 105psi to prevent pinch flats.

Purely subjectively, it feels like to 23c 4000s has less drag when
coasting than the 25c Gatorskin on the same bike, but some of that is
probably perception and expectation on my part, rather than anything
concrete.
I also think the grip from the 4000s is marginally better (back end
doesn't slip around when sprinting), but bar that I wouldn't be too
upset to do all my riding on the 25 Gatorskin.

For me and the riding I do, it's a good compromise - heavy enough to
take the abuse of moderately bad surfaces, wide enough to be
comfortable, light enough not to deaden the feel of the bike. If the
surfaces were worse again, I'd be on the 28c.

hth,

bookieb.

Derk

C. Ballou wrote:

> I have a Colnago CT1 I am set to use as a travel bike. I want to go to
> Europe with it, but some of the tours I am looking at have roads that
> apparently aren't that good.
I have a CT1 myself and I just wonder if that's the bike one should ride if
roads are so bad that one needs 28mm tires.

I'd rather ride a steel/full titanium bike on such a trip.

Derk

jim beam

Derk wrote:
> C. Ballou wrote:
>
>> I have a Colnago CT1 I am set to use as a travel bike. I want to go to
>> Europe with it, but some of the tours I am looking at have roads that
>> apparently aren't that good.
> I have a CT1 myself and I just wonder if that's the bike one should ride if
> roads are so bad that one needs 28mm tires.
>
> I'd rather ride a steel/full titanium bike on such a trip.
>

you're not under the impression that those materials are more durable i
hope - for fatigue, cfrp is much more resistant than either.

Derk

jim beam wrote:

> you're not under the impression that those materials are more durable i
> hope - for fatigue, cfrp is much more resistant than either.
I read a few reports about above-average number of problems a.o. here (hope
you read German) :

Written by a guy who calls himself "veld01":

http://forum.tour-magazin.de/showth...3&highlight=CT1

I bought one nevertheless, because I like the frame very much. Riding it on
bad roads with maybe lots of luggage is a different story. If a glued
connection ever fails while on vacation, you're in deep sh%$. There are not
*that* many Bikeshops that will give people they don't know a loaner for a
few weeks.

Derk

Derk

jim beam wrote:

> you're not under the impression that those materials are more durable i
> hope - for fatigue, cfrp is much more resistant than either.
Let me refrase that, hoping I can make my point of view any clearer:
The CT1 is a great frame in my opinion. It's a pure-bred race frame.
I compare it to a Ferrari. Would you ever consider taking a Ferrari off-road
to participate in a rally cross? There are different kinds of cars that
are more suitable for that. That doesn't take away that a Ferrari is a
unique and great car.

Do you understand what I mean?

Derk

daveornee

+1 unless you have a support vehicle carrying spares like the race moto or your team car.

carlfogel@comcast.net

On Wed, 28 May 2008 05:50:12 -0700 (PDT), "russellseaton1@yahoo.com"
<russellseaton1@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On May 28, 12:15*am, Michael Press <rub...@pacbell.net> wrote:
>> In article <jcnp349qm0jsrtp0iph18t9pgk65b1k...@4ax.com>,
>> *C. Ballou <N...@Chance.com> wrote:
>>
>> > I have a Colnago CT1 I am set to use as a travel bike. I want to go to
>> > Europe with it, but some of the tours I am looking at have roads that
>> > apparently aren't that good. It has been suggested that I use a bike
>> > with wider tires, like a hybrid. I'd rather not.
>> > Question: Does anyone know how wide a tire I can safely put on my
>> > bike? The rims are Mavic Open 4's. I run 23's now. Can I go 28 or more
>> > for the trip?
>>
>> I saw some guys going up a gravel road in the
>> Italian alps on 23 mm tires the other day.
>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027811_1_full
>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027747_1_full
>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027750_1_full
>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027749_1_full
>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027751_1_full
>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027764_1_full
>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027765_1_full
>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027777_1_full
>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027781_1_full
>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027784_1_full
>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027819_1_full
>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027820_1_full
>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027829_1_full
>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2..._0027839_1_full
>
>> --
>> Michael Press

Dear Russell,

To return to the original poster's question about wider tires, those
racers on the 23 mm tires (with all the support handy that your links
show) only went _up_ the gravel road.

Going up a gravel road on an unloaded racer is a much slower and
gentler proposition than going down it on a loaded touring bike.

Even a racer would be likely to use wider tires if he planned to zoom
back down that gravel road, for comfort, for pinch flat resistance,
and for handling and braking.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Tom Kunich

<carlfogel@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1avq34dfd28riv54h1ttejtj2qij8e457n@4ax.com...
>
> To return to the original poster's question about wider tires, those
> racers on the 23 mm tires (with all the support handy that your links
> show) only went _up_ the gravel road.
>
> Going up a gravel road on an unloaded racer is a much slower and
> gentler proposition than going down it on a loaded touring bike.
>
> Even a racer would be likely to use wider tires if he planned to zoom
> back down that gravel road, for comfort, for pinch flat resistance,
> and for handling and braking.

I ride off-road quite a bit on 23 mm road tires. I don't have a problem
since I know where and when to be careful. I do agree that the dangerous
part is going downhill on poor road surfaces with narrow smooth tires.

However, I've ridden 25 mm tires as well and haven't had any problems. I'm
6'4" tall and used to weigh about 200 lbs though I've lightened up a good
deal lately. Must be spring riding.

Tom Kunich

"Derk" <nobody@invalid.org> wrote in message
news:483d68a1$0$14353$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl...
> jim beam wrote:
>
>> you're not under the impression that those materials are more durable i
>> hope - for fatigue, cfrp is much more resistant than either.
> Let me refrase that, hoping I can make my point of view any clearer:
> The CT1 is a great frame in my opinion. It's a pure-bred race frame.
> I compare it to a Ferrari. Would you ever consider taking a Ferrari
> off-road
> to participate in a rally cross? There are different kinds of cars that
> are more suitable for that. That doesn't take away that a Ferrari is a
> unique and great car.
>
> Do you understand what I mean?

Firstly - what's the difference between your CT-1 and my Look KG241 which I
would ride anywhere?

Secondly - I agree that a long wheelbase bike with large tires handles
better off-road but you can go just about anywhere on just about any street
bike if you have good judgment and sufficient experience.

Derk

Tom Kunich wrote:

> Firstly - what's the difference between your CT-1 and my Look KG241 which
> I would ride anywhere?
It's a Colnago. ;-)

> Secondly - I agree that a long wheelbase bike with large tires handles
> better off-road but you can go just about anywhere on just about any
> street bike if you have good judgment and sufficient experience.
Of course you can ride whatever combination you want, as long as it fits.
Maybe I can climb Mt. Everest wearing Adidas shoes, but I guess I'm better
off wearing mountain shoes.

Derk