What tires do the fast guys run?
What tire pressures?
I’ve done BWR a couple different ways in the past. I’m a MTB guy who’s pretty comfortable in the dirt. I’m interested in other peoples opinions. How low can I go with tire pressure on a 32mm tubeless road tire before it really starts to drastically effect the rolling resistance?
If you’re trying go go as fast as possible, I’d run more on the road side of tires. There’s a ton of road riding, and the the amount of dirt isn’t that technical. I did it a few years ago at 25mm Grand Prix 4-Season. If I were doing it again I’d probably do 28mm GP5K TL @ like 70 PSI.
I ride 32mm conti 5000s as my everyday training tire and usually pump them to about 50 psi, going as low as 40 if I know the roads will be super rough (bad chipseal or light gravel). I weigh 165-170. I’m sure I’m giving up some watts but it sure is comfy. Planning to just use this combo at BWR.
What tires do the fast guys run?
What tire pressures?
I’ve done BWR a couple different ways in the past. I’m a MTB guy who’s pretty comfortable in the dirt. I’m interested in other peoples opinions. How low can I go with tire pressure on a 32mm tubeless road tire before it really starts to drastically effect the rolling resistance?
I’ve done (completed) BWR with 3 tire combos:
2013 - Conti GP4000S 23C (measured >25mm mounted) @ 72/75 psi F/R, latex tubes, on a Cervelo Alu Soloist
2016 - Specialized Turbo Cotton, 24C Front / 26C Rear @ 70 psi in both, latex tubes, on a 1986 steel Bianchi Sport SX
2017 - Compass Snoqualmie Pass 44C (measured ~42mm mounted) @ 55/60 psi F/R, latex tubes, on a Fuji Jari
Relative to the field, I was fastest by far on the 2017 setup, despite bonking at ~mile 120, so in my opinion there’s no harm in going as wide as possible, as long as the tires are still “fast” on the road (The Compass tires are basically equivalent to a GP4000S w/latex for pavement Crr)
I thought about doing it again this year until it sold out before I had decided to register. If I had done it, my plan would’ve been to ride it this time on my custom Stinner steel bike (the "Aero Camino), and run 32c Conti GP5000 TL tires. Would probably run ~60/62 psi F/R.
Just some food for thought…
The fast guys run 28-30. Pressure depends on your weight and what your comfortable with.
I ran 28’s at 60 psi, but I only weigh 140lbs.
I’m hoping to buy a disc bike before this years race and get some 32c slicks. I want to be able to roll over the rougher stuff a little better and have a little more float for the sandy bits.
If it rains, or I was doing the short course I would bring a CX bike with my 38’s.
Tannus tire inserts will be you friend
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Do those things not kill rolling resistance?
Thanks, I weigh 150 so it seems like I could run 45 to 50 psi and be okay.
Great information, thanks Tom.
What casing were you using when testing the crr of the Compass tires? I’m assuming the “extralight”.
Do those things not kill rolling resistance?
No as they are the internal inserts to your favorite tires, and not full solid tires as I like to preach about
.
Do those things not kill rolling resistance?
No as they are the internal inserts to your favorite tires, and not full solid tires as I like to preach about
Does.
Not.
Compute.
What casing were you using when testing the crr of the Compass tires? I’m assuming the “extralight”.
He tested both Standard and EL. There’s not a whole ton of difference between them: the only difference is the density of the casing fabric weave, and the Standard casing is already quite supple.
I’m currently using ELs on my gravel bike, but that’s for the black casing as much as anything else.
Do those things not kill rolling resistance?
No as they are the internal inserts to your favorite tires, and not full solid tires as I like to preach about
Internal inserts flex much like if they were a part of the tire, and as such, are absolutely capable of contributing to rolling resistance.
Otherwise, it would be possible to hack the beads off a Marathon Plus and toss it inside of a Corsa Speed, and enjoy the durability of the former with the low rolling resistance of the latter. Lots of people would do stuff like this, if it actually worked.
What casing were you using when testing the crr of the Compass tires? I’m assuming the “extralight”.
I’ve tested both. The ELs are the ones similar in Crr to a GP4000S. The standard casing only gives up ~2.5W to the EL per tire. After suffering a sidewall cut on the rear EL I was running at the time, I mounted the standard casing tire there instead…so, a good compromise is EL up front and standard in the rear.
I’m hoping to FINALLY have my gravel tire chart up on the blog sometime during this upcoming long weekend…
Thanks Tom. I’ve been waiting for the gravel tire update. Can’t wait to see the numbers.
This will be BWR #4 for me this year and, likeothers, I lean towards road since it’s basically a road century with some non-technical dirt.
The first two were run on Hutchinson Sector 28 at 60psi but last year was run on Hutchinson Sector 32 at 55psi. Coincidentally, I suffered a catastrophic sidewall tear of the front tire in the rocky wash at mile 10 before the first dirt sector. The Velofix truck mounted a 32 IRC Serac CX Edge that performed flawlessly for the remainder of the ride.
This year I plan to run Specialized Roubaix Pro 30/32 at 55psi as that’s what I’ve been training on.
Thanks, I’ve run the Hutchinson Sector 32 at BWR previously with no issues, but I was at 75psi. I think I can really drop the pressure.
The bigger question is going to be…
… Which tires for BWR Asheville?!
But the biggest question is going to be…
… Which tires for BWR Cedar City? (ok maybe not the biggest question since it’s 107 miles of dirt and only 30 paved miles)
Used 32 Maxxis Peed Terrane last year for wafer. Really liked them as seemed to hold well on dirt in the corners and not slip out in climbs while pretty smooth on the road.