BIKE THREAD
200 watchers
Jan 2017
9:40pm, 6 Jan 2017
7,028 posts
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GordonG
So, would you spend $500 on these? bbc.co.uk I must admit, the idea of being able to hear directions (without having to wear earphones) is good, but I'm not sure there's anything else here I would need in real time. |
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Jan 2017
9:32am, 30 Jan 2017
7,041 posts
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GordonG
quick question about tyres... I was doing some googling about how long road bike tyres last and someone on a website somewhere was going on about how grip on the front tyre was more important than grip on the rear tyre. Is this correct? I’ve always assumed that if I had one tyre a bit more worn than the other, the better tyre should be on the rear wheel cos that’s where most of the weight is. Thoughts? |
Jan 2017
10:14am, 30 Jan 2017
5,229 posts
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cathrobinson
You want more grip on the front as that's the last one you want to slip / give way. If the rear slides out a bit, you can still retain control, whereas if the front one goes (controlling your steering), your chances of crashing are higher. A bit less rolling resistance on the rear isn't a bad thing either, hence also why you might run higher pressure in the rear to the front (again, pressure is a bit lower at the front also to help with control and traction).
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Jan 2017
10:18am, 30 Jan 2017
7,042 posts
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GordonG
that's really helpful, thanks CR. I've learnt something today! 
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Jan 2017
12:12pm, 30 Jan 2017
20,226 posts
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eL Bee!
What cath said!
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Jan 2017
5:29pm, 30 Jan 2017
5,151 posts
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Winded
What Cath & eL Bee! said! Also re the front wheel being more important do you have a car? If so think about what happens when you put the brakes on hard & then lift off. When you put your foot sharply on the brake the body of the car pushes forwards relative the wheels and you can feel the front end dip - when you then lift off the front end of the car literally lifts up (it actually bounces up higher than the normal ride height; I used to have a sports car that would only go over one local speed bump using this method). What happens on a bike is very similar but less obvious (lacking the play in the suspension you have on a car - but you can feel it in your arms). The action of braking puts more through the front wheel making it more important/effective and making it easier to lock out the back brake as the load through the back wheel is less. That's why if you only have one brake you want the front one - if you look at fixies sold with one brake it is always on the front. The back brake on road bikes is mostly for emergencies & very steep hills where the front needs help. The theory is it's a bit different off road as when the wheel bounces over a bump any braking will make the wheel lock and when the front comes down locked you (well, I and others less gifted) mostly fall off but when the back comes down locked you have a fair chance of staying on. |
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Jan 2017
9:05pm, 30 Jan 2017
7,044 posts
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GordonG
fab explanation winded, ta.
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Jan 2017
8:07pm, 31 Jan 2017
20 posts
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Julii
thanks for the info about front tyre grip.... in response to ice or slippery I put a knobby on my commuter MTB front wheel. Can't get mudguards & knobby to co-exist on the rear. My husband thinks it's a bit mad that front is knobby & rear is slick, but it's a compromise. I have noticed the rear slip a few times but I didn't go over, phew.
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Jan 2017
11:17pm, 31 Jan 2017
5,236 posts
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cathrobinson
I'm running a fairly knobby tyre on the front and a fairly worn summer tyre on the rear of my winter MTB so we're in good company
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Feb 2017
4:56pm, 4 Feb 2017
3,857 posts
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Kieren
I'm glad January has finished. I had a front wheel skid on diesel (?) when going around a bend. Thankfully power was going through the rear so was able to pop the front up back to trippy road. Then I for low impact hits from the rear in traffic twice in as many weeks. Both drivers said sorry and witnesses offered help on the second nudge. I've bought a camera for the rear and have decided to try and improve my filtering skill. Strangely enough both cars were volvos but a less spurious correlation is they were between 8am & 9 am (on a 21km commute) and young children were in both cars. I think leaving slightly earlier might lower my risk |
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