In a message dated 6/4/02 4:43:56 AM, REClassicBikes@aol.com writes:
<< I have always believed that tyre choice and pressure has a greater effect than most things. >>
I've been quiet about all this so far, but I'd like to share this anecdote. Several years ago, I built a frame using .8/.5/.8 (.8/.6 seattube) Reynolds 531 main tubes in "standard" oversize with 525 .8/.6 c.stays and 14mm DT s.stays. Geometry was nothing weird-73 parallel, 8cm drop, about 42 or 43 cm c.stays, about 6 cm trail. I thought it might have been a bit overbuilt, if anything. At the time, I was a great believer in low rotating mass = quick bike, so the wheels were tubulars, Arc-En-Ciel rims 32 3x butted spokes with 225gm(claimed) tires by a well known European manufacturer who shall remain nameless. I was very disappointed with the bike-it was a dead slug. I figured it MUST be the frame-after all, the wheels, they were light! Some time later, I happened to put on a set of wheels that I had considered "utility" wheels (clinchers, Mavic Open Pro rims, 32 3x,14 SG spokes, Michelin Axial Pro tires with cheap tubes) and the bike just came alive! It was like night and day! This incident, among others, blew a lot of my notions out of the water. I put the same tubular wheels on a Genius bike with a plastic (okay, carbon fiber-it was given to me) fork that was a lively bike with the Michelin clinchers (I thought it MUST have been the frame tubing that made it lively) and they killed that bike, too. The point of this, of course, is NOT that clinchers are better than tubulars. Just that all tubulars (even quality ones) are not created equal, nor are clinchers, and that tires have a tremendous impact on perceived ride quality, in my opinion, greater than tubing choice. One of my favorite riding bikes is a motley collection of TTemper RC2, 531, and Col. Cromor. Sorry if I've gone on too long.
Best Regards,
Wes Gadd
Unionville,CT