I've been caught on gravel roads and trails a few times on my road bikes. Most of those times were back when I was running slick 23 mm Michelin Pro Race 3 tires on alloy rims. With some careful bike handling they got me to where I had to go with no problems. I run the best 25 mm tires, Continental Gran Prix 4 Season, on most of my road bikes now. They are awesome and handle every road condition (except snow and ice). I tried 28 mm tires on the two bikes that could accept them but switched back to 25 mm. The 25's are lighter, faster, and just made the bike feel better to me. All my bikes have rim brakes and alloy rims. I think the original sound would be fine for your video on riding in rain. It adds to the atmosphere. I enjoy your videos!
The 25s are more 'nimble'. I'm using 25c 4 Season front and 32c 4 Season rear. The challenge comes with what size spare to carry, so I've settled on 28c. I'm now waiting to see which tire needs replacing first, but being 4 Season, they're going into their third year of wear, and a lot of my treks are on gravel back-roads and crushed limestone trails. Conti 4 Seasons aren't cheap, but you really get your money's worth...
We've come full circle with bike tires. My 1972 Peugot had 27" (630mm) x 1 1/8" (32mm) tires. That was standard in Mercx's era. In the 90s, I raced on 1.95" x 26" mountain bike tires. In the 2000s, I had a cyclocross bike with 28mm road tires in 'allroad' spec and 35mm knobbies for off-road. I rode 23mm tires on pavement for a long time and they were fine. Now, new road bikes come with 28 to 35mm slicks and Gravel bikes run 38 to 50mm tires. Supposedly, it's faster, but it seems like old ideas are recycled to generate new sales. Keep riding your 23mm, rim brake, round tube bike, Reginald. It's awesome!
The ride in the rain with original audio sounds pretty epic. I'd say it works out fine. Trying to imagine how that rain feels like. Kind of like a welcome warm shower I bet. I've biked through such rain and it felt quite nice.This video was well timed in my case I was just pondering what tyre size to use for a gravel bike build and the comments help as well, 28 mm seems like a good choice for gravel.
Bigger can be better, but it depends on what kind of gravel you plan to do. 🙂 Unfortunately most people say I should voice over, so I will see what I can do. 🤔
@@reginaldscot165 admitted I was using headphones so it's easy enough to hear. I use 23 mm tyres on my other bikes, 28 or 30 mm is about the max that would fit on the new bike build. I drive a bit of gravel on 23 mm but sometimes it's a bit awkward, especially when you loose traction.
I've got the exact same tires, and they are awesome! I haven't done a lot of gravel riding just because the gravel roads are also steep as hell and I just don't really have to resort to it, but the little bit of gravel I did was absolutely no problem. I even rode over a completely overgrown riverside bank path, and the Litespeed with the contis ate it like a champ! Regarding audio - I would LOVE a video on riding in the rain, since I do ride in the rain sometimes. I would listen even with the rough audio - but I would absolutely prefer a voice over. It's just not really clear at moments. Love your videos Reg!
Hey Reginald, I’ve always used 23mm Gatorkins reason being,two flats in eight years. My cycling route consists of secondary country roads. Can’t say I’ve had any problem with the choice of my tires. Looking forward to your next video. All the best!
I use continental 22mm tubular on my racing wheels, they work well on bad pavement, absolutly not confortable but I enjoy when I can go fast on climbs, sprint well, I love the moment of gluing a tube. I dont recomend using 22-23 tubulars but for old school riders its still a thing.
I drink my coffee the same way! Black with one or two sugars. I have also ridden many light offroad trails and gravel on my single speed steel frame road bike with 23c road tires. Does fine other than sand and mud. Sure bigger tires would grip better and ride smoother but not actually necessary for a little trail riding.
What tire pressure do you usually ride at? I would think that with a wider tire run at lower pressure you would get a little more bump absorption for more comfort. That is the only reason I would go with a wider tire.
Well, sure it's possible... it's also possible to make a tour around the world on a bobbycar - but do we really want that? ;D Anyway, nice video, haha. And finally some more beautiful parts of Brunei than the highways, hehe
Fit the widest tyres that your frame allows, and run as low a pressure as possible. However, the narrower the tyre, the higher the PSI, as you'll just keep hitting the rim every time you hit anything rough/ rocky. I ran some 28mm Vittoria Corsa the other day, and took a detour over some gravel/ canal towpaths.....they do handle it, but wider tyres with some knobs (GravelKing SK) are far better and you can ride over most stuff.
For gravel wider is definitely better, especially with some nobles. 🙂 But man are they slow on the road sections. 😂 As you can see from the video nothing got close to hitting my rim on 23s. The tyre doesn’t depress that far. If it had I would have had a pinch flat I would imagine. 🙂😉
Very nice bike, Reginald, About coffee and especially in winter black mixed with brandy we caal it i Spain ( The builder coffee) .oh , yeah, you get worm straight away,,,
In Italy you put a shot of Grappa (basically Italian grape vodka) in your coffee. It’s called “Caffè corretto” basically correct, because it corrects you! 😁
On the round Isle of Wight route I do there's a 1 mile section of gravel. On my 23mm front/25mm rear it's rather nerve-wracking as I'm bounced all over and waiting for a puncture. Which carbon wheels do you ride? I tried 55mm, but it's often windy where i am and i found the 55mm very twitchy.
I don’t get any flats on the Gator hard shells or the 4 seasons. If I did this on the GP5000s I’d have got about 10-20 flats on that 1 road. 😂 I’m using 50mm Hypers. They are very stable in the wind, I don’t notice any issues to be honest.
I like your message that you should ride what you like to ride, and not let conditions deter you from taking the bike you're on to the place you want to go just because it's not the ideal match. I can concur that 25mm tires with a steel frame can be very comfortable on the road surfaces where I live. Bigger tires are more comfortable on rough surfaces, but don't feel as nimble to me. You were intelligible in the rain.
Thank you! You seem to be 1 of the few people who actually got the message! 😂 I think other people didn’t watch to the end. 🤔 Thank you again and safe riding! ❤️
Depends on the surface! I’ve ridden Conti 4000 22mm on metalled (gravel) in NZ but due to the camber I had to stay in the middle of the road. If I went to the side I slid into the gutter.
Horses for courses - I've done gravel on 25s, but the 38s are less stress inducing on loose sharp rocks. Bigger tyres do help you achieve 50km/h on the rough stuff, and that's fun. Italians also drink cappuccinos and correttos you know ;)
Well, you could have done that ride on a single speed Dutch bike. If that's the only bike you have, then it's better than nothing. But the right tool for the job just makes it more enjoyable.
That’s very true! Some people think I’m saying they should put 23s on their gravel bikes? I’m not! I’m just saying if you find yourself on a light gravel road can you do it on 23s if that’s what you have? The answer is yes! 😁👍🏻
Actually,the only real coffee,is a Turkish coffee ☕😅 I ride my single speed/fixed gear frame(aluminium) everywhere! 25 and 28mm tires! I may switch to 30 or 32mm just to ride those nastier fire roads! I love the agility and simplicity of the single speed! Be it road version(my go to everyday bike),or my 29er! It can be done! If the frame is made good,the ride quality doesn't have to be jarring! Greetings from Croatia from Kris 😎
I will be riding in the german Westerwald region next week. Lots of heavy gravel but I did it before on my Conti 25mm tires. The great Gary Fisher once said "every bike is a gravel bike" so who am I to disagree? 😁
My first commuter about 5 years ago was a lent 1980s Peugeot Champion everything as it was toe path and unadopted roads perfectly fine. It's really funny how your mind shifts. I mean when we were kids, we only had one bike for everything.
I would ride my MTB with the 45mm wide tires pumped to 36 - 38 psi and front fork suspension over that - that set up it will eat gravel and any poor condition road up for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That set up also serves me on the harder trails where others have wide tires and dual suspension. Overall a much better ride on those sorts of roads then my steel Ritchie Road Logic running 28mm wide tires pumped to 75 psi could ever give me. For enjoyment factor I would not even consider the Logic on those sort of roads- let me at my MTB on 45's any day riding those sort of conditions. As for a good road, my steel stead - Merckx '91 Corsa Extra does the job and i'll see ya later on handicap ! As for the commentry over the rain, I am in favour of that, much better than a dry voice over.
Funny thing is on that road/gravel road I got 2nd 🥈 on STRAVA 😂 I was up against people on MTBs. I think the road bike was so much faster on the normal road on the was to the gravel that it made time on the other riders. I’m planning to go back with my gravel bike. 😁
Hi Reg, the sound is not the best, but I can hear all you are saying. Not a patch on your normal audio though which is great quality. Your normal audio is 8 out of 10. This audio is nearer 3 out of 10, but intelligable.
I use 23 mm Continental Grand Prix tires on my road bike, and apart from a short unavoidable gravel section here and there, I try to stay on pavement 100% of the time. I think you need to go up to something like 28 mm to actually start enjoying gravel riding on a road/gravel bicycle, although it does depend on the rider.
No one needs gravel bikes or even road with 32" wheels. In our next episode, Reg will take his 23" tires through city sewer grates. Just to show you how to crash. (Sorry Reg, this is ridiculous and looks about as fun with 90+ psi 23" tires as root canal.)
@@reginaldscot165 - Didn't think of it as entertainment but navigating on skates through treacherous areas with poisonous snakes, well, now I understand. I think.
Bigger tires have less rolling resistance on most roads, flat less, better grip, more comfortable. Don't really see the downside of running bigger tires.
IF… that were true then there would be little (but not no) downside. Personally I have no evidence they they flat less. That’s something I hear people say but I don’t know of any video anyone has done showing that? In my experience there is no difference. The speed thing? I’m also very sceptical of that. Because it goes against at least 3 laws of physics. Fatter is less aerodynamic, fatter is heavier, fatter has a bigger contact patch so more friction and thus more loss. 🤔 Better grip, maybe, that again is dependent on the tyre choice, they certainly contact more of the road, but I actually think at high speeds in the wet you are better off on a thin tyres. 🤔 Thanks for the comment! 🙂👍🏻
@@reginaldscot165 Testing has confirmed that rolling resistance is less, especially as surfaces get rougher. Aerodynamics benefit is significantly less at lower speeds, so unless you ride at 40kph+, the difference is negligible. You should really research this stuff instead of using anecdotal evidence.
I totally agree with you, Reginald. I spent good money on 28 mm Continental Gran Prix 4 Season tires after being conned into thinking they would be better (and faster) for road riding. I used them extensively on two of my best road bikes for about 6 months. The bikes felt a little sluggish and almost made me believe that I (I'm 63) was starting to slow down. I put 25 mm versions of the same tire on these bikes and they now feel livelier and average speeds went up on the same courses. I have never flatted on a 25 mm Continental Gran Prix 4 Season tire during the more than 15,000 km using them.
(Bigger tires have less rolling resistance on most roads) Even as I use larger ones, I seriously question all the claims for lower rolling resistance. Sorry, it just doesn't make sense without massive caveats. *It all depends on many other factors as well*. *Can they be?*. Absolutely. At all times? Absolutely not. There's a limit to how much wider a tire offers advantages in *any* situation.
The main reason wider tires are faster in real world situations is because they deflect and roll over protuberances on the surface you're riding on. That's b/c they run at lower pressure. Narrower tires which you run necessarily at higher pressures don't deflect as much and "bounce" more. In a perfect world with smooth surfaces everywhere narrower/higher pressure tires would win out.
@@reginaldscot165 Yes, yes, yes, generally faster, depending on the surface, the crappier the surface the more advantageous wider, supple sidewall tires are, -according to Jan Heine (Bicycle Quarterly) who has already done extensive testing on this very topic. Check him out 🙂
@@reginaldscot165 First think of each little bump on the road surface as a wall your tire is running into. A hard narrow tire bounces you over, so your body weight is deflected upwards and that is lost forward momentum. A softer tire deforms over those bumps saving you that loss. It's the same argument as supple rubber tires have over other hard rubber tires of the same width, only extended because you have wider tires with more air volume to absorb those hits. Some of the other comments here are about their narrow tires feeling faster, and the theory there, which I'm sure you've heard, is that the vibrations they feel which are slowing them down give them the impression of speed the same way a rickety old clunker car is scary at a speed a smooth-running car will feel safe at.
well, what brings joy to a human is getting both variety and certainty in life. I guess its doable with 23mm, but i think its much comfier in low pressure 35mm tyres
a bit off topic - If you compare the bicycle industry with the music industry (guitars) , consumers and professionals still desire technology of 1960s and 1980s even with three or four big companies with a large part of the market. Accoustic guitars (non electric) still the most popular.
Man that looked torturous, I could feel the jarring through my computer monitor! It looks like you're having fun and that's the most important thing but personally I prefer fast and smooth over slow and bumpy. With the information and technology we have today there is zero practical reason for running such skinny tires at high pressures. 30mm tires @50-60psi are faster and smoother in nearly every circumstance.
Interesting you should say that, I find plenty of benefits to 23s on normal roads. I have a video coming on testing the rest of the fatter is better theory. 😊👍🏻
I know you hate the racer analogies but if 23mm tires were actually faster you can bet the farm that pros would be using them. Instead they race on 28's, minimum.
@@reginaldscot165 Interested to hear what those benefits are. I know you hate the pro racer analogies but if professional riders could go faster on skinny tires you can bet the farm they would use them. Instead they ride 28's or even 30mm.
Looks uncomfortable, sounds uncomfortable..it’s uncomfortable 33mm is sporty, 38mm fine for mixed terrains ..40mm exactly right for gravel only..but HEY you can ride also 19mm on your bike..just please keep the philosophy inside of your head and don’t claim it makes sense
What's interesting is that if you're doing proper gravel, you're better off using MTB tyres altogether. Have a look at Dylan Johnson's channel - he's racing at the top level in gravel and uses continental Race King 2.1" tyres because they have lower rolling resistance than any gravel tyre he's tried. The fact they're also significantly more comfortable so he's less fatigued after 200 miles on gravel, averaging 20 mph is the icing on the cake.
The philosophy is “if you are riding on road then road tyres are good, (especially if you ride titanium or steel bikes) and if you need to cross a short gravel road to get where you’re going it can be done.” I wasn’t suggesting that you should put 23mm tyres on your gravel bike! 😂
Probably true, but I find it’s interesting that the main reason for that is not the main reason GCN push them. For example you might need them for bad roads. But GCN started pushing them because they claim they are faster… and I don’t believe that’s true. 😉 All the best! 🙂👍🏻
@@reginaldscot165 The whole GCN pushing larger widths is so tubeless/hookless can work properly. But I do believe larger tires with lower pressures is faster anyway
Yes, absolutely! It's rare to come across a UK road that is relatively smooth. Most are potholed, covered in gravel, and rough as anything.....And in winter, even worse.
The sound in the rain was ok. Generally you do not appear to care for carbon, but you ride carbon wheels? Why do you prefer carbon over alloy? Your podcasts are informative and entertaining. Don't agree with all of your viewpoints but life would be boring if we all agreed on everything. I have a new carbon gravel bike, disc, sram force etc. Outstanding ride. I opted out of carbon wheels (hookless). I went with Boyd aluminum (old school clinchers) CCC wheels. Light weight and can handle tires from 30 to 50 mm. Hookless wheels appear to be limited in the range of tire sizes..
I could ask you the same question? 😉 I have a set of carbon rims for racing and road riding, the braking on this set is amazing, better than on my aluminium rims and amazing in the wet, like no issues at all! I was honestly shocked how good they are. They are light, cheap and very aero (I did my own testing.) So for me I can see the benefits in them. As for frames is always avoid carbon, simply because the ride is better on metals like steel and titanium and they are less likely to get damaged. 🙂❤️
@@reginaldscot165 Thank you for the input. I ride disc brakes so rim material is not a factor, at least I do not believe it is when it comes to braking. Carbon wheels appear to be almost all hookless nowadays. Tire size and pressure appear to be restricted. With my alloy I can run 50 on gravel and switch to 30 for the road. I have a CAAD 9 roadie. I also have a F2000 MTB. Both are aluminum and both were born in the USA. I also have a 12 year old carbon lefty. All are outstanding bikes. The rides do not appear to be harsh to me. Perhaps my weight of 200 lbs. alleviates the harshness. Anyway, I have had good luck with carbon. Your comments on titanium has raised my interest. I try to buy USA and there's a few titanium outfits here in the states.
"I don't drink soy lattes and like my coffee black" oh wow watch out for this nonconformist, it's just him and about a billion people in his demographic sharing these daring tastes. What a rebel!
I would definitely not post a video with the original rainy audio, probably 90% of people will click away after listening to the first few seconds and it will tank your impressions for the next few videos. Audio quality trumps video quality and even content quality!
maybe you don't have more ideas for your posts and that's why you ask such questions....23 is the most uncomfortable thing I've ever experienced even on asphalt/tarmac...I went through 23, 25, 28 and today I put on 32 continental...i swear :) ...23 on gravel is just a joke sorry for my google translated English
I am a heavier than average cyclist so no way could I cope with 23mm tyres. The 25mm ones I use can't cope with potholes and pit the heck out of my cup and cone wheel bearings. At least the derailleur greenery wasn't a snake !
Ha ha yeah I am carful about snakes! 😂 So as you are heavier (90-100kg?) you must be riding on a steel or titanium frame with a higher weight limit right? 😉 I’m guessing you are on a carbon or aluminium bike and that’s where the majority of the problems are. Get a more compliant frame and you will notice a big difference. Unfortunately the heavier you are the more pressure you need to run in your tyres so a slightly fatter tyre probably wouldn’t have much effect. 🤔
@@reginaldscot165 I'm 100Kg on an Aluminium frame. Can't really fit much bigger tyres anyway as I have mudguards and the bike is a 2009 model. The wheel rims are only 13mm internal width so a 32mm tyre may in combination with lower pressure cause cornering instability. As a compromise I will probably end up getting a steel framed touring bike. I may switch to recumbents eventually so don't want to commit to a Titanium frame.
You avoided demonstrating one of the best arguments against rim brakes... dip into one of those dirty puddles of water then hit the brakes. :) It's not that the braking performance would be terrible, but the grinding sound is horrible and to hear it with expensive carbon. yikes! hehe I hated it even with my aluminum rimmed mountain bikes with rim brakes back in the day. You can splash that junk up on to disc brakes also, and they'll make some noise, but it's on wear components at least. By the way, I get cosmetic scratches on the sides of my carbon rims from gravel riding on questionable roads even with 40mm tires so expect that eventually.
Well the video title is about gravel, not mud. So that’s how I get around that. 😂 Also i would have probably got stuck in that mud. 🤣 I don’t recommend carbon rims for off road, I don’t understand why MTB people buy carbon wheels? But then again I don’t understand carbon bike frame for MTB. 😅
I thought this video was subtle comedy but then slowly realised you were being serious. The whole time banging on about how 23mm tyres are the dogs bollocks and Ti is making it so smooth while simultaneously bumbling slowly on a gravel road losing control constantly and having to highlight specific rocks that made up come unstuck. The very fact you keep banging on about having to check for "damage" to your bike underlines the point how 23mm's aren't the tool of choice for gravel riding - especially considering the super low tyre height has caused rocks to flick up and hit your carbon rims. I'm all for underbiking etc. Just confounding at best to use it as an avenue to push your personal bike preferences as dogma when it's objectively the wrong tool the for the job. Unsurprisingly it's always the retrogrouches waxing lyrical about anything new who happen to also be the most mediocre bike handlers.
After this comment (and the other one you already made on my waxing video) I have concluded you are possibly low IQ. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, it just means I probably won’t waste any more of my time talking to you. 🤷🏻♂️ Firstly, you are incapable of understanding the video. I didn’t say at any point that the bike or the 23mm tyres are the “tool of choice” and I did not advocate for the use of 23s as a preferred/dedicated gravel tyre. The video thumbnail and the video title clearly indicate that I am showing the limitations of and what is possible on a 23mm tyre. But you clearly don’t have the cognitive capacity to understand that. At no point in the video did any rocks hit my carbon rims. I pulled over to check after the ride and you can see that they only came halfway up my tyres. You are seeing things that didn’t happen. You may have a mental condition that requires treatment. I’d recommend seeing a specialist. 👍🏻 As for my “bike handling” I can’t comment as I’m biased. But I will enjoy seeing your video of you riding on deep gravel and rocks on your 23mm tyres. Do let us know when you upload that video. All the best and get well soon! 🙂
you could ride a penny farthing on ngravekl if you really wanted to...doesnt mean you should. its not about conforming, its about doing what works for you...but suggesting it should be the way we all ride is a joke,...time to unsubscribe i think...there is definitely a reason why your sub numbers are so very static
@@reginaldscot165 you seem to forget that you are not the be al and end all of bike knowledge. You just have an opinion. And opinions are like arseholes, everybody has one
Ha ha well I have a video all about why I do it this way. It’s not really conforming, especially when the majority of the world ride on the wrong side of the road! 😂
Right hand for front brake is not conformity, it's the best combination because it gives your dominant hand control over your dominant brake. People who drive on the wrong side of the road have other ideas but they're wrong.
@reginaldscot165 it actually makes a lot more sense to use right=rear when riding on the left, because the majority of your turn signals will be left and using the front brake with only one hand on the bars is a bad idea . I have watched your video on that subject. Enough said. Like I said , you are a conformist. I'm surprised you have moved on from groats and pieces of eight.
I've been caught on gravel roads and trails a few times on my road bikes. Most of those times were back when I was running slick 23 mm Michelin Pro Race 3 tires on alloy rims. With some careful bike handling they got me to where I had to go with no problems. I run the best 25 mm tires, Continental Gran Prix 4 Season, on most of my road bikes now. They are awesome and handle every road condition (except snow and ice). I tried 28 mm tires on the two bikes that could accept them but switched back to 25 mm. The 25's are lighter, faster, and just made the bike feel better to me. All my bikes have rim brakes and alloy rims. I think the original sound would be fine for your video on riding in rain. It adds to the atmosphere. I enjoy your videos!
Excellent comment! Thank you so much! 🙂👍🏻
The 25s are more 'nimble'. I'm using 25c 4 Season front and 32c 4 Season rear. The challenge comes with what size spare to carry, so I've settled on 28c. I'm now waiting to see which tire needs replacing first, but being 4 Season, they're going into their third year of wear, and a lot of my treks are on gravel back-roads and crushed limestone trails.
Conti 4 Seasons aren't cheap, but you really get your money's worth...
We've come full circle with bike tires. My 1972 Peugot had 27" (630mm) x 1 1/8" (32mm) tires. That was standard in Mercx's era. In the 90s, I raced on 1.95" x 26" mountain bike tires. In the 2000s, I had a cyclocross bike with 28mm road tires in 'allroad' spec and 35mm knobbies for off-road. I rode 23mm tires on pavement for a long time and they were fine.
Now, new road bikes come with 28 to 35mm slicks and Gravel bikes run 38 to 50mm tires. Supposedly, it's faster, but it seems like old ideas are recycled to generate new sales. Keep riding your 23mm, rim brake, round tube bike, Reginald. It's awesome!
Thank you for the comment and historical information. I will! 😉👍🏻🙏🏻
The ride in the rain with original audio sounds pretty epic. I'd say it works out fine. Trying to imagine how that rain feels like. Kind of like a welcome warm shower I bet. I've biked through such rain and it felt quite nice.This video was well timed in my case I was just pondering what tyre size to use for a gravel bike build and the comments help as well, 28 mm seems like a good choice for gravel.
Bigger can be better, but it depends on what kind of gravel you plan to do. 🙂
Unfortunately most people say I should voice over, so I will see what I can do. 🤔
@@reginaldscot165 admitted I was using headphones so it's easy enough to hear. I use 23 mm tyres on my other bikes, 28 or 30 mm is about the max that would fit on the new bike build. I drive a bit of gravel on 23 mm but sometimes it's a bit awkward, especially when you loose traction.
I've got the exact same tires, and they are awesome! I haven't done a lot of gravel riding just because the gravel roads are also steep as hell and I just don't really have to resort to it, but the little bit of gravel I did was absolutely no problem. I even rode over a completely overgrown riverside bank path, and the Litespeed with the contis ate it like a champ!
Regarding audio - I would LOVE a video on riding in the rain, since I do ride in the rain sometimes. I would listen even with the rough audio - but I would absolutely prefer a voice over. It's just not really clear at moments.
Love your videos Reg!
Thank you my friend! Great comment! ❤️🙏🏻🙂
Hey Reginald, I’ve always used 23mm Gatorkins reason being,two flats in eight years.
My cycling route consists of secondary country roads.
Can’t say I’ve had any problem with the choice of my tires.
Looking forward to your next video.
All the best!
Lovely! Thank you. 🙂🙏🏻
I use continental 22mm tubular on my racing wheels, they work well on bad pavement, absolutly not confortable but I enjoy when I can go fast on climbs, sprint well, I love the moment of gluing a tube. I dont recomend using 22-23 tubulars but for old school riders its still a thing.
Cool 👌🏻 😎
I drink my coffee the same way! Black with one or two sugars.
I have also ridden many light offroad trails and gravel on my single speed steel frame road bike with 23c road tires. Does fine other than sand and mud. Sure bigger tires would grip better and ride smoother but not actually necessary for a little trail riding.
Agreed! 🙂
What tire pressure do you usually ride at? I would think that with a wider tire run at lower pressure you would get a little more bump absorption for more comfort. That is the only reason I would go with a wider tire.
On the road normally 96psi in the rear and 94psi in the front. 🙂
Well, sure it's possible... it's also possible to make a tour around the world on a bobbycar - but do we really want that? ;D Anyway, nice video, haha. And finally some more beautiful parts of Brunei than the highways, hehe
Ha ha thanks! Yes you got the message, you can, but only if you really have to. 😁
Fit the widest tyres that your frame allows, and run as low a pressure as possible. However, the narrower the tyre, the higher the PSI, as you'll just keep hitting the rim every time you hit anything rough/ rocky.
I ran some 28mm Vittoria Corsa the other day, and took a detour over some gravel/ canal towpaths.....they do handle it, but wider tyres with some knobs (GravelKing SK) are far better and you can ride over most stuff.
For gravel wider is definitely better, especially with some nobles. 🙂 But man are they slow on the road sections. 😂 As you can see from the video nothing got close to hitting my rim on 23s. The tyre doesn’t depress that far. If it had I would have had a pinch flat I would imagine. 🙂😉
Very nice bike, Reginald, About coffee and especially in winter black mixed with brandy we caal it i Spain ( The builder coffee) .oh , yeah, you get worm straight away,,,
In Italy you put a shot of Grappa (basically Italian grape vodka) in your coffee. It’s called “Caffè corretto” basically correct, because it corrects you! 😁
@@reginaldscot165 Nice!
On the round Isle of Wight route I do there's a 1 mile section of gravel. On my 23mm front/25mm rear it's rather nerve-wracking as I'm bounced all over and waiting for a puncture.
Which carbon wheels do you ride? I tried 55mm, but it's often windy where i am and i found the 55mm very twitchy.
I don’t get any flats on the Gator hard shells or the 4 seasons. If I did this on the GP5000s I’d have got about 10-20 flats on that 1 road. 😂
I’m using 50mm Hypers. They are very stable in the wind, I don’t notice any issues to be honest.
I like your message that you should ride what you like to ride, and not let conditions deter you from taking the bike you're on to the place you want to go just because it's not the ideal match.
I can concur that 25mm tires with a steel frame can be very comfortable on the road surfaces where I live. Bigger tires are more comfortable on rough surfaces, but don't feel as nimble to me.
You were intelligible in the rain.
Thank you! You seem to be 1 of the few people who actually got the message! 😂
I think other people didn’t watch to the end. 🤔
Thank you again and safe riding! ❤️
Reginald, may I ask how you finish the tape on the top of your handlebars with no, or hidden, edging tape?
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Yes I have a video on this, 🙂 ua-cam.com/video/HyClhQGy1xE/v-deo.htmlsi=5LRn_eyQAOTKg4vf
Depends on the surface! I’ve ridden Conti 4000 22mm on metalled (gravel) in NZ but due to the camber I had to stay in the middle of the road. If I went to the side I slid into the gutter.
Impressive 🙂👍🏻
Horses for courses - I've done gravel on 25s, but the 38s are less stress inducing on loose sharp rocks. Bigger tyres do help you achieve 50km/h on the rough stuff, and that's fun.
Italians also drink cappuccinos and correttos you know ;)
They do, but only in the morning.
Listening intently I can hear your words. However, I think for your more casual listener and for archive sake I would say a voiceover would be great👍🏻
Good comment! Thanks! 👍🏻🙂
Well, you could have done that ride on a single speed Dutch bike. If that's the only bike you have, then it's better than nothing. But the right tool for the job just makes it more enjoyable.
That’s very true! Some people think I’m saying they should put 23s on their gravel bikes? I’m not! I’m just saying if you find yourself on a light gravel road can you do it on 23s if that’s what you have? The answer is yes! 😁👍🏻
13:24: "I had to go slowly of course because I´ve got no grip". No further comment necessary imo.
Yes, road tyres or “slicks” are not the best on loss surfaces. 😂👍🏻
I am thinking about going from 26x1.5 to 26x1.2 for touring/commuting.I am a bit concerned about how harsh that might be on a rigid fork steel bike
Should be fine on a steel fork. 🙂👍🏻
Actually,the only real coffee,is a Turkish coffee ☕😅
I ride my single speed/fixed gear frame(aluminium) everywhere! 25 and 28mm tires! I may switch to 30 or 32mm just to ride those nastier fire roads! I love the agility and simplicity of the single speed! Be it road version(my go to everyday bike),or my 29er! It can be done! If the frame is made good,the ride quality doesn't have to be jarring! Greetings from Croatia from Kris 😎
I've drank gallons of Turkish coffee, in Turkey. But there is only one way to obtain the widest range of flavour from coffee & that is by espresso.
@@Esse-vp1bc I only drink Croatian version of the Turkish coffee 😅
Ours is not that strong!
Greetings from Croatia 😎
That’s interesting! I didn’t know that. 😊👍🏻
I will be riding in the german Westerwald region next week. Lots of heavy gravel but I did it before on my Conti 25mm tires. The great Gary Fisher once said "every bike is a gravel bike" so who am I to disagree? 😁
Did he? That’s a cool fact I didn’t know. Thanks! 🙂🙂
i am old school and run 23's, and the Conti 4 seasons is my preferred choice.
It’s a great tyre! 🙂
My first commuter about 5 years ago was a lent 1980s Peugeot Champion everything as it was toe path and unadopted roads perfectly fine. It's really funny how your mind shifts. I mean when we were kids, we only had one bike for everything.
That’s so true. 🙂
The sound in the rain is good to share your pain😆
Ha ha no pain, it was lovely. 😂
I would ride my MTB with the 45mm wide tires pumped to 36 - 38 psi and front fork suspension over that - that set up it will eat gravel and any poor condition road up for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That set up also serves me on the harder trails where others have wide tires and dual suspension. Overall a much better ride on those sorts of roads then my steel Ritchie Road Logic running 28mm wide tires pumped to 75 psi could ever give me. For enjoyment factor I would not even consider the Logic on those sort of roads- let me at my MTB on 45's any day riding those sort of conditions. As for a good road, my steel stead - Merckx '91 Corsa Extra does the job and i'll see ya later on handicap ! As for the commentry over the rain, I am in favour of that, much better than a dry voice over.
Funny thing is on that road/gravel road I got 2nd 🥈 on STRAVA 😂 I was up against people on MTBs. I think the road bike was so much faster on the normal road on the was to the gravel that it made time on the other riders. I’m planning to go back with my gravel bike. 😁
Hi Reg, the sound is not the best, but I can hear all you are saying. Not a patch on your normal audio though which is great quality. Your normal audio is 8 out of 10. This audio is nearer 3 out of 10, but intelligable.
Thank you, very helpful! 👍🏻🙂
Agree. I suggest a voice over for rain video. 🌧
I rode several long sectors of strada bianche on 25mm power cup clinchers no punctures no issues in the dry
Impressive! 🙂👍🏻
Father Ted,,,,,, so good! 😂
The best! ❤️
I use 23 mm Continental Grand Prix tires on my road bike, and apart from a short unavoidable gravel section here and there, I try to stay on pavement 100% of the time. I think you need to go up to something like 28 mm to actually start enjoying gravel riding on a road/gravel bicycle, although it does depend on the rider.
Agreed 👍🏻 🙂
@@reginaldscot165 Ditto...You can do it on 23s (I did for years) but once you've gone to a larger section, you wonder why you didn't years ago)
No one needs gravel bikes or even road with 32" wheels. In our next episode, Reg will take his 23" tires through city sewer grates. Just to show you how to crash. (Sorry Reg, this is ridiculous and looks about as fun with 90+ psi 23" tires as root canal.)
Ha ha! But was it entertaining? That’s all that matters. 😅
@@reginaldscot165 - Didn't think of it as entertainment but navigating on skates through treacherous areas with poisonous snakes, well, now I understand. I think.
Under biking is fun, but this was way under biking. hehe
Bigger tires have less rolling resistance on most roads, flat less, better grip, more comfortable. Don't really see the downside of running bigger tires.
IF… that were true then there would be little (but not no) downside. Personally I have no evidence they they flat less. That’s something I hear people say but I don’t know of any video anyone has done showing that? In my experience there is no difference. The speed thing? I’m also very sceptical of that. Because it goes against at least 3 laws of physics. Fatter is less aerodynamic, fatter is heavier, fatter has a bigger contact patch so more friction and thus more loss. 🤔 Better grip, maybe, that again is dependent on the tyre choice, they certainly contact more of the road, but I actually think at high speeds in the wet you are better off on a thin tyres. 🤔
Thanks for the comment! 🙂👍🏻
@@reginaldscot165 Testing has confirmed that rolling resistance is less, especially as surfaces get rougher. Aerodynamics benefit is significantly less at lower speeds, so unless you ride at 40kph+, the difference is negligible. You should really research this stuff instead of using anecdotal evidence.
I totally agree with you, Reginald. I spent good money on 28 mm Continental Gran Prix 4 Season tires after being conned into thinking they would be better (and faster) for road riding. I used them extensively on two of my best road bikes for about 6 months. The bikes felt a little sluggish and almost made me believe that I (I'm 63) was starting to slow down. I put 25 mm versions of the same tire on these bikes and they now feel livelier and average speeds went up on the same courses. I have never flatted on a 25 mm Continental Gran Prix 4 Season tire during the more than 15,000 km using them.
(Bigger tires have less rolling resistance on most roads) Even as I use larger ones, I seriously question all the claims for lower rolling resistance. Sorry, it just doesn't make sense without massive caveats. *It all depends on many other factors as well*. *Can they be?*. Absolutely. At all times? Absolutely not.
There's a limit to how much wider a tire offers advantages in *any* situation.
@@stephensaines7100 Yeah, sure there is a limit, but it certainly isn't at 23mm. Unless maybe your talking about a perfect flat track surface.
Audio is good enough.
Noted. 🙂👍🏻
The main reason wider tires are faster in real world situations is because they deflect and roll over protuberances on the surface you're riding on. That's b/c they run at lower pressure. Narrower tires which you run necessarily at higher pressures don't deflect as much and "bounce" more. In a perfect world with smooth surfaces everywhere narrower/higher pressure tires would win out.
Are they faster though? I’m about to do my own testing on that theory. 😊
@@reginaldscot165 Yes, yes, yes, generally faster, depending on the surface, the crappier the surface the more advantageous wider, supple sidewall tires are, -according to Jan Heine (Bicycle Quarterly) who has already done extensive testing on this very topic. Check him out 🙂
@@reginaldscot165 First think of each little bump on the road surface as a wall your tire is running into. A hard narrow tire bounces you over, so your body weight is deflected upwards and that is lost forward momentum. A softer tire deforms over those bumps saving you that loss. It's the same argument as supple rubber tires have over other hard rubber tires of the same width, only extended because you have wider tires with more air volume to absorb those hits.
Some of the other comments here are about their narrow tires feeling faster, and the theory there, which I'm sure you've heard, is that the vibrations they feel which are slowing them down give them the impression of speed the same way a rickety old clunker car is scary at a speed a smooth-running car will feel safe at.
well, what brings joy to a human is getting both variety and certainty in life. I guess its doable with 23mm, but i think its much comfier in low pressure 35mm tyres
I agree 😁👍🏻
I despise stones and sand,but dry dirt roads are much more comfy depending on soil type.
That’s true. 🙂👍🏻
what brand do you use for tpu tubes?
I have a video all about them! Ride now. 😊
a bit off topic - If you compare the bicycle industry with the music industry (guitars) , consumers and professionals still desire technology of 1960s and 1980s even with three or four big companies with a large part of the market. Accoustic guitars (non electric) still the most popular.
That is interesting, but much is about quality and feel, if cyclists were like that everyone would be riding steel. 😂
Man that looked torturous, I could feel the jarring through my computer monitor! It looks like you're having fun and that's the most important thing but personally I prefer fast and smooth over slow and bumpy. With the information and technology we have today there is zero practical reason for running such skinny tires at high pressures. 30mm tires @50-60psi are faster and smoother in nearly every circumstance.
Interesting you should say that, I find plenty of benefits to 23s on normal roads. I have a video coming on testing the rest of the fatter is better theory. 😊👍🏻
@@reginaldscot165 The only benefits I find are a harsher ride and slower speeds 🙃
I know you hate the racer analogies but if 23mm tires were actually faster you can bet the farm that pros would be using them. Instead they race on 28's, minimum.
@@reginaldscot165 Interested to hear what those benefits are. I know you hate the pro racer analogies but if professional riders could go faster on skinny tires you can bet the farm they would use them. Instead they ride 28's or even 30mm.
@@doughorner5730 Not their choice! They must race with what their sponsors pay them to ride on.
Got a cheapo gravel from Decathlon, a triban, on 700x38....would literally glide over that gravel...barbers don't use a hammer for reason🤷♂️
That’s very true. But if you don’t have a gravel bike and you are out for a ride maybe you can take that short cut on the 23s 😉
Looks uncomfortable, sounds uncomfortable..it’s uncomfortable 33mm is sporty, 38mm fine for mixed terrains ..40mm exactly right for gravel only..but HEY you can ride also 19mm on your bike..just please keep the philosophy inside of your head and don’t claim it makes sense
What's interesting is that if you're doing proper gravel, you're better off using MTB tyres altogether. Have a look at Dylan Johnson's channel - he's racing at the top level in gravel and uses continental Race King 2.1" tyres because they have lower rolling resistance than any gravel tyre he's tried. The fact they're also significantly more comfortable so he's less fatigued after 200 miles on gravel, averaging 20 mph is the icing on the cake.
The philosophy is “if you are riding on road then road tyres are good, (especially if you ride titanium or steel bikes) and if you need to cross a short gravel road to get where you’re going it can be done.” I wasn’t suggesting that you should put 23mm tyres on your gravel bike! 😂
28mm are a minimum now on UK roads imo
Probably true, but I find it’s interesting that the main reason for that is not the main reason GCN push them. For example you might need them for bad roads. But GCN started pushing them because they claim they are faster… and I don’t believe that’s true. 😉
All the best! 🙂👍🏻
@@reginaldscot165 The whole GCN pushing larger widths is so tubeless/hookless can work properly. But I do believe larger tires with lower pressures is faster anyway
Yes, absolutely! It's rare to come across a UK road that is relatively smooth. Most are potholed, covered in gravel, and rough as anything.....And in winter, even worse.
what is 23mm capable of...paris/roubaix for many years.
True.
The sound in the rain was ok. Generally you do not appear to care for carbon, but you ride carbon wheels? Why do you prefer carbon over alloy? Your podcasts are informative and entertaining. Don't agree with all of your viewpoints but life would be boring if we all agreed on everything. I have a new carbon gravel bike, disc, sram force etc. Outstanding ride. I opted out of carbon wheels (hookless). I went with Boyd aluminum (old school clinchers) CCC wheels. Light weight and can handle tires from 30 to 50 mm. Hookless wheels appear to be limited in the range of tire sizes..
I could ask you the same question? 😉 I have a set of carbon rims for racing and road riding, the braking on this set is amazing, better than on my aluminium rims and amazing in the wet, like no issues at all! I was honestly shocked how good they are. They are light, cheap and very aero (I did my own testing.) So for me I can see the benefits in them. As for frames is always avoid carbon, simply because the ride is better on metals like steel and titanium and they are less likely to get damaged. 🙂❤️
@@reginaldscot165 Thank you for the input. I ride disc brakes so rim material is not a factor, at least I do not believe it is when it comes to braking. Carbon wheels appear to be almost all hookless nowadays. Tire size and pressure appear to be restricted. With my alloy I can run 50 on gravel and switch to 30 for the road. I have a CAAD 9 roadie. I also have a F2000 MTB. Both are aluminum and both were born in the USA. I also have a 12 year old carbon lefty. All are outstanding bikes. The rides do not appear to be harsh to me. Perhaps my weight of 200 lbs. alleviates the harshness. Anyway, I have had good luck with carbon. Your comments on titanium has raised my interest. I try to buy USA and there's a few titanium outfits here in the states.
"I don't drink soy lattes and like my coffee black" oh wow watch out for this nonconformist, it's just him and about a billion people in his demographic sharing these daring tastes. What a rebel!
Ha ha not where I live… 😅
Voice over, definitely.
Thanks! 🙂
I would definitely not post a video with the original rainy audio, probably 90% of people will click away after listening to the first few seconds and it will tank your impressions for the next few videos. Audio quality trumps video quality and even content quality!
Thank you very helpful!
maybe you don't have more ideas for your posts and that's why you ask such questions....23 is the most uncomfortable thing I've ever experienced even on asphalt/tarmac...I went through 23, 25, 28 and today I put on 32 continental...i swear :) ...23 on gravel is just a joke
sorry for my google translated English
Cool beans. 🙂👍🏻
Don’t worry I have too many video ideas. 😉
23 mm too narrow. 96 PSI way too high.
Agreed! But it will still work if you have no other option. 🙂👍🏻
Depends on weight. I’m 200lbs and run 26mm tires and run 90psi. So 23mm at 96psi isn’t outrageous. Weight dependence.
I am a heavier than average cyclist so no way could I cope with 23mm tyres. The 25mm ones I use can't cope with potholes and pit the heck out of my cup and cone wheel bearings. At least the derailleur greenery wasn't a snake !
Ha ha yeah I am carful about snakes! 😂 So as you are heavier (90-100kg?) you must be riding on a steel or titanium frame with a higher weight limit right? 😉 I’m guessing you are on a carbon or aluminium bike and that’s where the majority of the problems are. Get a more compliant frame and you will notice a big difference. Unfortunately the heavier you are the more pressure you need to run in your tyres so a slightly fatter tyre probably wouldn’t have much effect. 🤔
@@reginaldscot165 I'm 100Kg on an Aluminium frame. Can't really fit much bigger tyres anyway as I have mudguards and the bike is a 2009 model. The wheel rims are only 13mm internal width so a 32mm tyre may in combination with lower pressure cause cornering instability. As a compromise I will probably end up getting a steel framed touring bike. I may switch to recumbents eventually so don't want to commit to a Titanium frame.
To much other noises, a voiceover might be better.
Thank you! 🙂
ur crazy lol i tried it a few time on 28 lol its doable but NO fun
I have 1.95 like 50mm they just squeek in lol
Did you do it on a ti bike though? Because that makes a huge difference - from experience :P
Ha ha good comment 😁👍🏻
I know you have family in Italy… this advice does not apply there because you will end up on ‘light gravel’ doing 30% downhill.
Sounds like fun! 😂
You avoided demonstrating one of the best arguments against rim brakes... dip into one of those dirty puddles of water then hit the brakes. :) It's not that the braking performance would be terrible, but the grinding sound is horrible and to hear it with expensive carbon. yikes! hehe I hated it even with my aluminum rimmed mountain bikes with rim brakes back in the day. You can splash that junk up on to disc brakes also, and they'll make some noise, but it's on wear components at least.
By the way, I get cosmetic scratches on the sides of my carbon rims from gravel riding on questionable roads even with 40mm tires so expect that eventually.
Well the video title is about gravel, not mud. So that’s how I get around that. 😂 Also i would have probably got stuck in that mud. 🤣
I don’t recommend carbon rims for off road, I don’t understand why MTB people buy carbon wheels? But then again I don’t understand carbon bike frame for MTB. 😅
See, you have to slow down and wonder if you can get through it, my MTB on 45's just straight into it job done eat my mud splatter !
That’s true 🙂
Why the jab at vegans Reginald? You say you don't conform to them but they are among the biggest non-conformists out there.
It’s a joke! I’m quite a sarcastic fellow. 😉
Vegans were non-conformists 25 years ago - now they're the trend. Met many who perfectly personify that attention seeking mentality.
Its fine for 1 ride suree
Sure. If needed it works.
I thought this video was subtle comedy but then slowly realised you were being serious. The whole time banging on about how 23mm tyres are the dogs bollocks and Ti is making it so smooth while simultaneously bumbling slowly on a gravel road losing control constantly and having to highlight specific rocks that made up come unstuck. The very fact you keep banging on about having to check for "damage" to your bike underlines the point how 23mm's aren't the tool of choice for gravel riding - especially considering the super low tyre height has caused rocks to flick up and hit your carbon rims.
I'm all for underbiking etc. Just confounding at best to use it as an avenue to push your personal bike preferences as dogma when it's objectively the wrong tool the for the job.
Unsurprisingly it's always the retrogrouches waxing lyrical about anything new who happen to also be the most mediocre bike handlers.
After this comment (and the other one you already made on my waxing video) I have concluded you are possibly low IQ. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, it just means I probably won’t waste any more of my time talking to you. 🤷🏻♂️
Firstly, you are incapable of understanding the video. I didn’t say at any point that the bike or the 23mm tyres are the “tool of choice” and I did not advocate for the use of 23s as a preferred/dedicated gravel tyre. The video thumbnail and the video title clearly indicate that I am showing the limitations of and what is possible on a 23mm tyre. But you clearly don’t have the cognitive capacity to understand that.
At no point in the video did any rocks hit my carbon rims. I pulled over to check after the ride and you can see that they only came halfway up my tyres. You are seeing things that didn’t happen. You may have a mental condition that requires treatment. I’d recommend seeing a specialist. 👍🏻
As for my “bike handling” I can’t comment as I’m biased. But I will enjoy seeing your video of you riding on deep gravel and rocks on your 23mm tyres. Do let us know when you upload that video.
All the best and get well soon! 🙂
you could ride a penny farthing on ngravekl if you really wanted to...doesnt mean you should.
its not about conforming, its about doing what works for you...but suggesting it should be the way we all ride is a joke,...time to unsubscribe i think...there is definitely a reason why your sub numbers are so very static
I think you didn’t fully listen to the intro. The truth is never popular. 😉 But thankfully the numbers are increasing daily. 🙂👍🏻
@@reginaldscot165 you seem to forget that you are not the be al and end all of bike knowledge. You just have an opinion. And opinions are like arseholes, everybody has one
with audio like that you just need to ADR because it is a pain to listen
Ha ha yeah.
Doable but not fun for everyone😂
Fun, because silly, but not practical. 😁
You conform to " right brake lever, front brake, left brake lever, rear brake", which is just about the worse type of conformism...
I didn't realise that's a confirmation thing. I've always have the right lever set to rear brake......but is there a rule for that? (Genuine question)
Ha ha well I have a video all about why I do it this way. It’s not really conforming, especially when the majority of the world ride on the wrong side of the road! 😂
Right hand for front brake is not conformity, it's the best combination because it gives your dominant hand control over your dominant brake. People who drive on the wrong side of the road have other ideas but they're wrong.
@@drooghead You see? And that's not even funny.
@reginaldscot165 it actually makes a lot more sense to use right=rear when riding on the left, because the majority of your turn signals will be left and using the front brake with only one hand on the bars is a bad idea . I have watched your video on that subject. Enough said. Like I said , you are a conformist. I'm surprised you have moved on from groats and pieces of eight.