Square wheels?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
The ongoing battle with studded tyres
(173 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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compared to a studless tyre they seem very keen to track - those herringbone brick raised tables at junctions and crossings are interesting (as is our basement car park). Riding parallel with setts/cobbles or slabs has same effect - the wheel keeps twitching to try and line up with whatever you are riding over. Drain covers have done the same as well. Also they generally don't seem to corner like an all-rubber tyre. I feel I go round much more upright (more tiller steering than leaning through corners) and that I have to force the handlebars more than usual to do as I want them to.
Posted 9 years ago # -
People muttering about swapping between bikes should try getting off a road bike and then using a Brompton...
;-)Posted 9 years ago # -
Ahem.
Recumbent and any upright.
Feels like you're falling over the handlebars all the time...
:p
Posted 9 years ago # -
I love my Bent in summer. Instead of looking at the handlebars and tarmac, I see the sky and trees n stuff. Very pretty.
It is a very different position and I've yet to get the boom length right so it doesn't leave my knees hurting.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@kaputnik - I agree with the tracking thing. I've definitely found this year that the studded tyres are much twitchier than the Marathon Pluses they replaced. Now you mention it, it does seem to be that they tend to track imperfections in the surface much more. The Slateford aqueduct is significantly more 'interesting' with them on.
This is running at full pressure (85psi) on ice-free roads. When running at 50psi on ice they felt much more 'planted', comfortable and less twitchy.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@fimm what about the reverse? Do you not notice the gyroscopic effect of the big wheels on your steering when going from small wheels to big? It always takes several hundred yards before I've got used to the steering on the big bike. Maybe it's just because I have big heavy tyres on it, but I'm conscious of having to really work to make it go round corners, and it realy feels like working against a gyro.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Darkerside wins :-)
To be honest, I was exaggerating the differences for fun :-) I've once or twice come back on the big bike, put it away, and gone straight off on the Brompton and that felt a bit strange for about a minute; but this morning, for example, riding the big bike after using the B yesterday evening, I don't really need to think about the differences, they just happen...
Posted 9 years ago # -
@DaveC: spin more? The 'bent setup is a constant invitation to bench-press one's way up inclines, with inevitable poorly-knee consequences. I had to set up a cadence thing to beep at me when I was too lazy to shift before I broke the habit.
</teaching egg sucking>Posted 9 years ago # -
Yeh but...... it takes me all summer to learn how to and get used to spinning....... Plus short cranks means I'm like wee Jimmy Crankie furiously churning away. I much just prefer coasting down hills at ~80kph.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I think Roibeard and WeeZee might have the recumbers and foldanauts beaten for swapping. I found my bike handling had left the building when I returned to my trusty steeds after a mere day in charge of a cargo bike.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"The worrying bit. I had the bike up on the stand today for the first time since I put the tyres on, and I found that all four wheel nuts were loose. They never normally work loose, and I wonder if the vibration from the studs has loosened them"
"
http://www.citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5085
Posted 9 years ago # -
Maybe it was vibration from the studs which banjoed my rear hub/freewheel.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Who knows, the huge impacts from Edinburgh potholes would seem a more likely culprit if vibration was a factor though?
Posted 9 years ago # -
@chdot - I wondered who had written about the 'worrying bit', and then found it was me two years ago. I think I'd better check my wheelnuts...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Marathon Winters now £19.99 over at Planet X. Currently 'Lots in stock'.
Posted 9 years ago # -
29.99 for 700 35 If only was a tad wider
Posted 9 years ago # -
As for swapping out adjustments, I regularly get off my own bike and straight onto the cargo bike or vice versa and by the end of the road I've adapted. I think the Urban Arrow handles so differently, it demands to be ridden differently. If anything my regular bike riding as changed because of the big bike - I find myself not squeezing through gaps, taking prime+ and not being in a rush.
Posted 9 years ago # -
All set. Now where's that ice gone?Posted 9 years ago # -
My tires have not turned up yet order finally went through yesterday but should not need till end of next week according to weather so oddly lucky perhaps.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@weezee - that is totally awesome.
I can just imagine Crocodile Dundee saying "that's not a cargo bike; this is cargo bike"...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Unbelievable!! Just fitted my cheap Schwalbe winter studded tyres last night and they were amazing this morning on and off road. Bargain at £11.99 each.
I found myself choosing every back un-gritted route I could to have more fun.
More snow please.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Posted 9 years ago # -
Well I was glad of the marathon winters again this morning, but after four winters I think it might be time to renew them, the back wheel studs are pushed in and rounded enough that I was having the odd rear wheel slip under acceleration and they don't inspire the confidence they once did. Bargain for the number of icy patches they've successfully negotiated for less than £20/winter though. I will be buying more! :-)
Posted 9 years ago # -
My new Schwalbe Winters met their first cold snap today. Snow but no (obvious) ice. The deeper tread and wider profile was very reassuring on the snow. Maybe there will be some thaw-and-refreeze to try them on this evening.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Had my first commute of the winter on the marathon winters this morning. I'd forgotten just how secure you feel on them and my trip along the towpath was most enjoyable and only ruined slightly by some numpty in a flouro jacket and MTB. ( see bad cycling thread)
Posted 9 years ago # -
I see there is snow and ice outside today I will need to fit my cheap Schwalbe snow and ice studded tyres.
Posted 9 years ago # -
2 hours, a can of the good stuff. finally got studded tires on (never changed a tire before took a bit of fiddling to get the feel for it). I fitted the front tire twice in the wrong direction, brain of Britain.
Now all in the right direction but my quick release handle is now on a different side of the bike at the back does this matter?
"Unbelievable!! Just fitted my cheap Schwalbe winter studded tyres last night and they were amazing this morning on and off road. Bargain at £11.99 each."
I am quite looking forward to trying mine, praying for some snow and ice.
Posted 9 years ago # -
You can just unscrew the quick release all the way and then put it back the other way round. The handle is usually the opposite side to the cassette.
Posted 9 years ago # -
How well do the studded tired cope with ice, could someone cycle on an ice rink with studded tires ? Of course no plans to cycle on an ice rink but I wonder if came across a large puddle that was frozen and had the effect of an ice rink would studded tires stop bike tipping?
Posted 9 years ago #
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