Slicks - Do they make your ride much easier.

[Hunterelli]

Hey there, I rode the dome2dome yesterday with my MTB with normal MTB tyres and my running shoes, I did a 3:27 for the 91Km. A friend told me that if I put slicks on and rode with cleats I would improve my time drastically. I would like to find out from someone with experience with riding both ways how much time could I really save.

[Face Plant]

slicks do make a huge difference!! as the cleats will too

[TNT1]

mountain bike? slicks? what planet are you from?

[MaxUmis]

They make a big difference. Much less rolling resistance than mtb tyres.

[Hunterelli]

Cool thanks guys, I will put slicks on for the 94.7, maybe my time will be a little faster.

[GTfan]

I'm putting slicks on my mtb for the Amashova, and only costing me R80 for the pare.. ahh yes, us mountain goats have the best of both worlds

[Christopher Brunsdon]

Put some slicks on a week ago as I commute 100% on tar and they make a massive difference. Went for a 30km ride on Saturday and it was the fastest that I've ever done on my MTB - averaged 20km/h.

 

If your not sure if its for then get some el-chepo Kenda slicks (about R110 from Sportsmans Warehouse). This is what I did and with tubes cost me R330 with tubes.

 

[Hunterelli]

Indeed, I prefer mountain bike anyday to a road bike, imagine takling to the trails with a road bike LOLOL. Anyways I will only change my tyres for the 94.7 and then back afterwards. That rout yesterday was sooo bumby I actually felt sorry for the road bikers.

[rad006]

Depends on the Knobblies. My tricycle had small Knobs and Ive noticed no difference since I changed to Slicks. My times havent changed so ya.... But the faster you go Slicks are the way to go. Just dont do offroad or get those cross country`s by conti I think. They have a slick middle and knobs on the outeredge for cornering... so best of both worlds

[Hunterelli]

LOLOL Yeah, the knobblies on my tyres are huge.

[Flea]

and they much quieter - no whine when going fast

[mudda]

lower rolling resitance due to

 

1) Smooth surface

2) Higher tyre pressure

 

This means less effort for the same speed, or more speed for the same effort.

 

Wheel sucking in a bunch probably means much less use of the slicks.

 

 

 

 

 

[CAAD4]

Get The Conti Town & Country tyres. That way you can fly on tar and take the shortcut through the dirt on the way home.

[Christopher Brunsdon]

Going to upgrade to the Conti Town & Country next. With summer coming up I'm tempted to do some mountain goating on my commute home.

[Hunterelli]

Cool thanks for the advice, want to get the best, don't care if it costs a litlle more.

[levett]

As everyone said, slicks make a huge difference. The only problem is that they reduce the 'rolling circumference'and therefore reduce the gearing even further.

One solution is to have some wheels 'made up'with MTB Hubs and 700C rims (then you can use 700 25C tyres), the other is to get some 29er MTB wheels and fit something like a 700 32C tyre- then they are around the same 'rolling circumference' as 26" MTB Knoblies (slightly larger, so check they fit the frame) - oh, this is only good for us with disc brakes, it won't work for bikes with V Brakes.

 

We rode the Dome2Dome (only 40km) on our MTB with slicks - me on the 29er, and 'the boss'on her 26er with wheels with MTB hubs and 700C rims (made up by Johan Bornman).

 

So my recommendation is to go the slicks route, but also consider 'gearing