Road tires for Schwinn MTB

"Molly" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

After reading many previous postings, I have specific questions for the folks in this group...

I have a 1991 Schwinn High Plains MTB with 26 x 2.0 knobby tires. I am 6' 3" 225. I ride
mostly around town for pleasure, but want to join my casual road bike friends for 20-40 mile
weekend rides.

Will switching to slicks allow me to keep-up, and enjoy my road rides more, or will this be a
temporary fix until I learn I need to buy a road bike?

If tires will do the trick, which tires? Will I use my current rims?

Slicks will make a huge difference. Go for it.

You won't "need" a road bike until you're strong enough to spin your top gear. At that point, you'll
benefit from the more aero position and narrow spaced gearing a road bike provides, but not until
then. And frankly, most recreational riders, even avid ones, aren't even close to that point. I have
no trouble keeping up with my friends. People think I'm stronger than I am, because they think MTBs
are slower than they really are.

Which slicks to get -- well, Bontrager has some nice 1.5" ones for about $15 each. Continental
Avenues are the fastest I've tried, but they're more expensive, and hard to get on and off the rim.
There are dozens of good models though. I had some $12 ones from Performance that were great. Look
for a smooth tread and a supple casing.

Matt O.

Molly-<< I have a 1991 Schwinn High Plains MTB with 26 x 2.0 knobby tires. I am 6' 3" 225. I ride
mostly around town for pleasure, but want to join my casual road bike friends for 20-40 mile weekend
rides. >><BR><BR>

<< Will switching to slicks allow me to keep-up, and enjoy my road rides more, or will this be a
temporary fix until I learn I need to buy a road bike? >><BR><BR>

Slicks on a MTB will make a huge difference. There are tires available in 1 inch or so widths.

Same rims, Conti as well as others make some good tires.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

I recently switched from 2.0" slicks to 1.2" Hutchinson Top Slick Gold sticks. They can hold a lot
more pressure and are totally smooth with some grip on the sides. they remind me of a typical road
bike tire actually. I only have about 55LBS in mine right now and the ride is still pretty smooth
and they make a suprising difference compared to the 2.0"'s. They're on sale (or were?) at nashbar
for $10 each.

Mike mikebeauchamp.commikebeauchamp.comOpen ↗

"Molly" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

After reading many previous postings, I have specific questions for the folks in this group...

I have a 1991 Schwinn High Plains MTB with 26 x 2.0 knobby tires. I am 6' 3" 225. I ride
mostly around town for pleasure, but want to join my casual road bike friends for 20-40 mile
weekend rides.

Will switching to slicks allow me to keep-up, and enjoy my road rides more, or will this be a
temporary fix until I learn I need to buy a road bike?

If tires will do the trick, which tires? Will I use my current rims?

Thanks for your advice!

Molly said:

join my casual road bike friends for 20-40 mile weekend rides.

Will switching to slicks allow me to keep-up, and enjoy my road rides more, or will this be a
temporary fix until I learn I need to buy a road bike?

All things being equal (that's probably not the case), the slicks would not suffice.

If you are almost keeping up with them now, then the slicks might be enough.

Quoted message said:

If tires will do the trick, which tires? Will I use my current rims?

Completely slick tires would be best. Higher pressure is an advantage, too.

If you feel that you need some tread, maybe an inverted-tread tire like
lickbike.comi1837050.htmOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Thanks for your advice!

--
Rick Onanian

Rick Onanian <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Molly said:

join my casual road bike friends for 20-40 mile weekend rides.

Will switching to slicks allow me to keep-up, and enjoy my road rides more, or will this be a
temporary fix until I learn I need to buy a road bike?

All things being equal (that's probably not the case), the slicks would not suffice.

If you are almost keeping up with them now, then the slicks might be enough.

Quoted message said:

If tires will do the trick, which tires? Will I use my current rims?

Completely slick tires would be best. Higher pressure is an advantage, too.

If you feel that you need some tread, maybe an inverted-tread tire like
lickbike.comi1837050.htmOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Thanks for your advice!

Seems like mixed opinions so far...very similar to the advice from my local bike shops, although
they of course wanna sell me a new road bike!

It just seems like the $30 I spend now will help decide how much further I want to take my bike
riding hobby...or am I wasting my time and money?

You guys are the "experts"...please help.

Thanks!

Molly said:

It just seems like the $30 I spend now will help decide how much further I want to take my bike
riding hobby...or am I wasting my time and money?

It will be worth your while (and money) to try the slicks. They won't help you decide if you want a
road bike, and they may not be enough for you to keep up with your group, but even if they aren't,
they will be enjoyable on their own.

Another option is to salvage a 10-speed on trash day. It may feel weird pulling a bike out of
somebody's garbage, but it's really cheap. They will usually have 27" wheels, so you can put the
suprisingly-adequate $6 Wal Mart 27" road bike tires on. You will be closer to keeping up with the
group than you think.

Quoted message said:

You guys are the "experts"...please help.

Hah! You must not have meant me.

Quoted message said:

Thanks!

--
Rick "Expert Schmexpert" Onanian

On 16 Sep 2003 13:49:01 -0700, [email hidden] (Molly) wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Seems like mixed opinions so far...very similar to the advice from my local bike shops, although
they of course wanna sell me a new road bike!

It just seems like the $30 I spend now will help decide how much further I want to take my bike
riding hobby...or am I wasting my time and money?

You guys are the "experts"...please help.

Thanks!

Definitely get the slicks for your current bike, you will have considerably less rolling resistance
and you will greatly appreciate the smoothness in turns. A 1.5" slick would probably be a good
compromise regarding speed and comfort. Try to get a tire with no pattern, as this will offer the
most grip in any on-road and most off-road conditions as well as robbing you of the least energy.

Even if at some point in the near future you buy a road bike, you will still have a nicely equipped
bike for errands (where you can feel comfortable locking it), for inclement weather or just for a
more leisurely ride. I'm not sure that you can expect to keep up with others on road bikes because
you will presumably be in a more upright position and air resistance will hold you back more as the
speeds get higher.

--
Chris Bird