Well, It Almost Worked: 2.1" Tires On A Gravel Bike?
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- Опубліковано 14 лис 2024
- @oldguyandabike has been playing around with bigger tire sizes on his gravel bike and this recent experiment did not go as planned!
Still, it was an eye opening experience. Have a look and see what I mean.
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You’re on the right track. Running 29x2.1 Mezcals on my Otso Warakin. It’s the bee’s knees. Great tires.
Mezcal XC vs Mezcal XC Trail ? Differences, 60vs120TPI, 1C vs 4C rubber compound?
I just went from 40mm Terra Speeds to 29*2.0 RaceKings and i definately can feel the difference. Am currently on a mostly gravel bikepacking course and i appreciate the extra volume. Thanks for the video
I just switched to those tires as well. Definitely the right moved for single track and rougher trails.
Dylan Johnson, Lifetime Grand Prix gravel racer, took tenth place at the 200mi Outbound Gravel Race using 29x2.2 Continental Race King tires.
I ran those for years on XC 29ers...great tires and I have a set in the garage but I think they would be too wide. I might give them a mount up and test fit, but the calipers seemed to show them as a bridge too far. As well, I was running out of time for my event deadline to keep messing around.
gg
Maxxis Aspen ST are great tires also
Running a 29x2.25 Continental Race King on my gravel bike is awesome! 😎💯👍
They don't make a 2.25" RK...
2.2"?
Good experiment. I’ve been pondering some 650bs which I am supposed to be able to use up to 2.2. That sounds like that may work better than my 40mm tires on the 10 miles of rooty dirt on my 26 mile loop from home.
Go 26inch and get some nice 2,3 tires 😋
Having a Vittoria Barzo in the front and the Mezcal in the back works wonders on singletrack
Been Riding Southeast Gravel Series in North and South Carolina and the course in Hot Springs NC and Brewer Plantation SC need BIG freaking tires with all kinds of sand chunck gravel, crazy road washouts super steep decents with deep lose gravel
Some of that stuff is gnarly. Seen vids. Makes my area look smooth!
gg
I run 650b with 2.1 Nano’s and have been pleased with its all around competence around where I live in the UP of Michigan…. But I always have thought a 29’er 2.1 would be the ultimate all rounder.
Used to ride a current-gen Crux with Pathfinder 47mm tires and a suspension stem. Arm pump got unbearable with the gravel roads I ride at, so I opted to get a Lauf Seigla for my next gravel bike. Installed Schwalbe Thunder Burt tires in 2.25" with that leaf-spring fork and I'm never looking back. Rolls just as fast on road or gravel but with twice the traction and comfort of a MTB tire. Very affordable bike as well, and they make a model with a regular fork if that's preferred. If your local gravel roads aren't graded regularly I can't see an argument for going any smaller than a 45c.
I currently have 27.5x2.2” Conti Race Kings on my Specialized Diverge but had to do it on 650 wheels for them to fit. I love them everywhere except pavement. I especially love them on singletrack. The side clearance is about 6mm (1/4”) on both the front and back. My other wheelset has 700x47 Specialized Pathfinders, which also have about 6mm side clearance. The official Specialized recommendation for my bike is a max tire width of 47mm on 700’s and 2.1” on 650’s.
I have the Specialized Tracer pro 700 47mm on my Diverge and they measure 49mm on 24mm internal rims and these still seems a bit of room, but not much more.
I echo your sentiments. Last year I converted an old XC mountain bike frame so I could test using XC tires on gravel. I used Race King 2.2s. Turned out to be overkill 90% of the time. This season I am going to the opposite extreme with an old CX frame. Challenge now makes a 40c tubeless tubular for gravel that is rated for 1.5 to 3 bar. With the ability to run very low CX pressures, this should prove to be more versatile than a TLR clincher setup not to mention the additional weight savings. Here's hoping :)
Changed my Lynsey Live Wire to a gravel bike. Drop bars 50cm Ritchey Venture Max, Enve fork, Continental Race King 2.2 tires. 22lbs fast and fun.
Once I go that big I am on a lightweight ti hardtail with 120 mm fork susp and flatbar with bar ends inside. Liking the mezcal 2.25 xc tires and roval wheels. And a dropper! Good luck Mammoth.
Try to get a hold of some Rene Herse Antelope 700c x 55c slicks with the stronger endurance casing to test. They may fit your Cyclosys with the lack of knobbies and offer that high volume experience. The slicks may perform well in your dry SoCal environment. Would be interesting to hear your feedback.
RaceKings still exist in a 50mm/2.0 as does Schwable with a few 2.1 tires, those are faster than the Mezcal and good on the road too. Faster than a lot of knobby gravel tires too. May also want to take a look at the Pirelli Cinturato M, which is like a gravel tire meets XC tire and comes in both 45mm and 50mm options. I have 2.1 on my gravel bike, which specs say max out at 2.2 and I will not go back to anything smaller than a 50mm for gravel. Now my road setup for that bike is a 44mm Rene Herse tire in the standard casing. I was sold on the hype and some of it is true, but honestly not worth the full price. Got them open box so I saved $20 per tire, which helped.
Absolutely! My gravel bike came with 38’ combo tires, I’ve gradually moved up to the largest the frame can handle which is 47 rear and a 50 on the front, I also have a set of 47’s for light gravel/road excursions, now I just need another set of wheels…..always something else I need……
Yeah...it does keep adding up.
gg
I previously mentioned that I love my 650x55 tires. What I didn't mention is that's a recent change, for the last year+ I was running a 55 front, 48 rear. why? Because I had the 48s, might as well use them. Finally wore them down and moved to the 55 in the rear. It has become a different bike. Cushier and faster, I'm often running 1 gear higher than I used to (easy to see with AXS gear display), though maybe not quite the same cadence. Yeah, as you get bigger, those same few millimeters add lots more volume than on the smaller tires.
I put a set of 2.1” Mezcal’s on my gravel bike a few weeks ago and agree with the upsides you describe - fun, floaty, confidence-inspiring.
One downside I noticed is that, with the relatively narrow width of drop handlebars (relative to MTB), it’s pretty hard to lean the bike hard enough to really use/dig into the outer treads. I sorta feel like I’m dragging them around for no reason…
Ahhhh. Interesting observation. I never got that far.
gg
Perhaps you can try to grind down the knobs on the center of the tire??
I ended up getting an XC hardtail earlier this year as I started to mix in a bunch of single track. It was 40% off. So much fun with 2.4" tires. I do lose speed on the gravel roads.
My own experience with MTB tires on a gravel bike is that they're absolutely great for absolutely everything BUT road climbing. Mostly because of the weight I guess. Maybe that's because I'm not fit enough? but there was a huge gap in *my* performances and fatigue compared to 42mm and even more with 36mm. These things are heavy, and if you get them in their lightest versions, they're fragile, which defeats the whole purpose of using them on a gravel bike. But if you're riding 100% offroad, there's no match: bigger is always better.
To ride bigger tires I bought a new bike. Marin dsx 2. Yes , it's a flat bar, but.... for some reason, geometry in Medium and Large is absolutely similar to the new Baum DBM.Maybe later, I will convert to the drop bar. Originall tires are 44 mm. Got new tires Vittoria Terreno dry 54mm. Tubeless. They roll like a charm. There are no issues with the frame. PS I'm thinking I'm done with a drop bar on gravel bike.
Interesting. That I would not do. Give up drop bars.
gg
I have been amazed how good 2.25" XC Racing MTB tires (Mezcal race) are on my gravel bike. Yeah, I have the luxury of those fitting a Cutthroat. But I didn't think I'd have these on so often. I originally thought it would just be for gnarly rides. But they ride so remarkably efficiently and comfortably I use them for any ride not on champaign gravel (where I swap for 38mm). It's really against expectation. I had expected them to roll super slow like a regular MTB tire. But the efficient XC class tires are amazing
Yeah? I wonder if that would have been my experience? Well, I might try and reload with another tire at some point.
gg
So close! It would have been nice to have that option. That’s why I like the Cutthroat. It fits from 43mm to a 2.4 mtb tire, but it is boost, so yeah, a drop bar mountain bike. But I just love the capability, however, I do sometimes find myself thinking about a lighter, racier gravel bike😊
Yeah...I really hate to give up that scooty feeling of a tight geo gravel bike. I do like underbiking in that regard, although a Cutty would her been a great choice for that event!
it is a bike I would like to own.
gg
I stumbled upon your channel a little while ago. I really enjoy your videos. Are you sure you're not Randy Pobst, the race car driver? He sounds like you and has a lot of wise words, also.
No, but I am exceptionally fast.
Not.
gg
@oldguyandabike did you try 2.1 on 650b? On UK XC trail I ride, 2.1x27.5 mezcal rear and 2.1x27.5 barzo front, good and grippy.
On gravel, 50-584 race king and if I need more front grip, cross king.
I am looking into kinesis tripster plus frame which is design to run XC tyres and beach racer (55-622) slicks
I don't really have a suitable set of 650b wheels for the bike. Maybe I will add that in some day.
gg
I found I'm just not riding my new-to-me used hardtail off-road, so I installed 2.2" Continental Race Kings, and using it as a "flat bar" gravel bike. Sure, it won't be as fast as a true gravel bike, but let's be honest-there is a lot of overlap between a gravel bike and a hardtail. I do wonder-are we going to see drop-bar XC mountain bikes from major manufacturers in the next few years?
We may, but it is a pretty niche market. For instance, Salsa Cycles sells a few that are in that category, and I don't see them all over the place.
By the way...a true drop bar MTB in the classic sense is designed with a taaaalllll head tube so you drive them from the drops, not the hoods.
But that is the old way.
gg
Got 38s Switching to 44s
Maxxis Aspen ST are a great low profile nobby race tire
Mezcal 2.25” x 650b for the chunky local So Cal fire roads and Maxxis Rambler 40 x 700 for rougher urban riding.
Would a 27.5” wheel set solve your clearance issue or mess up your geometry?
Well it would fit, but in a place where the soil is very soft or the roads are very washboarded, the smaller wheel diameter is just less than great. If it was just rocky stuff, then that option would be really good.
I expect it would affect handling for sure, but I am not sure how much so.
gg
Shave the center of tread down a bit. I just switched to the Continental race kings 2.0
I should have ordered those instead...I bet they would have fit.
gg
Gravel bike will go through the same super-fat craze as mtb did. About 10-15 years ago we were told that plus-size mtb tires were the future and everyone ran out and bought a plus bike. People tried em and realized they were too squidgey, so we’re back on 2.3/2.4.
I’m thinking the same thing. I lived through that craze. Same thing with super wide rims.
gg
As said a couple times, why not use 650b wheels? That takes care of the overall diameter issue you are having.
Good question. Because they have such a small overall diameter and I noticed that with 650bx50s when I tried them. I did like the increased 'distance' from the rocks to the rims, but the way they slowed down quickly over washboard and in sandy soils was noticeable. In that smaller wheel/tire combo (in diameter) the contact patch is shorter as a result. Width is not as important as length in that contact patch as far as traction and flotation goes.
SO it is an option, but not one I think is the answer either.
gg
do you think a 27.5 with 2.1 would be good on a gravel bike?
Yes...but you do lose that big rolling wheel of the 700c so washboard and sand are more of a bummer. But for rocks and chunk? It would be very good based on my time on 650bx50. It would weigh less as well.
gg
But your bb and pedals will likely be closer to the ground and make pedal strikes on rocks and roots more likely
Vitoria tires super fast rolling but grip is trash IMHO.. The profile is to round I find. I running Schwalbe Thunder Burts. Again, super fast grip not good but, I am not riding MTB.
I realized a few years back that I don’t ride fast enough to care about maximizing speed. I don’t ride anything less than 2.1 at this point. I’ll never buy another bike that won’t fit at least a 2.25.
Same here. Good analogy. You only want these 5% of the time. The pros too. Can’t run in the mud, anywhere with lots of climbing. Too many people are drinking the Kool-Aid on MTB tires.
Sure they are fun and faster on dry big rocky gravel, but they are slower everywhere else
Yes...I've cut down on Kool-Aid...too much sugar. :)
gg
Can you get the seat tube crimped by a builder?
Welllllll...maybe, but that never occurred to me.
gg
Are you using custom bike? Can i have the details/geometry chart of your size, I'm making a custom bike, like to make sure I don't get the same problem.
It is a stock Turner Cyclosys, but a year old version. That should be on-line.
gg
You are about three hammer strikes (to the back of the seatube) from success! 😊😊😊
That would about do it!
gg
2.1 Schwalbe Thunderburt, 550 Gramm, faster than a lot of gravel tires.
To me, a gravel bike should have the room for up to a 2.4. That gives you choices. Tires are your primary suspension. Every bump that your tires don’t absorb causes the bike and rider to go up and over every little bump. That is slow.
But the drivetrain pinch is an issue. I really would rather not have a Boost gravel setup.
I really do not see that kind of approach being widely accepted. I mean, how many Cutthroats are being sold unless you are bikepacking?
gg
@@oldguyandabike That is certainly a consideration if you are just buying a frame and have wheels etc. but if one is buying a complete bike it allows options.
Rocky Mountain Solo 2023 and up
Lower your pressures a little, and trim the tread.
Side bar, please tell me where you got that shirt. I want to gift one to a deserving friend.
It is a Cyclogy shirt but I dod not see the design anymore on the website? Pity.
gg
Wait until gravel bikers discover the benefits of a suspension fork...
Wait till gravel riders figure out the benefits of mountain bikes! 🤣
@@Shawn-in-da-Canyon it’s all I rode for 30 years. Now I have not ridden my mtb for what…2 years?
gg
I need a clavicle club shirt having recently joined 🙁
Ohhhh man. Not a club I wanted to join. Heal up!
gg
Does anybody make a rigid XC mountain bike anymore? Buy the frame and build it up as a gravel bike.
I did the opposite. I bought a gravel frame and built it up as a rigid XC mountain bike. It fits 700x50 tires. If I need more tire width than that, I break out my real mountain bike. That works perfectly for my area.
I see those mostly in bikepacking.
gg
The 40mm spectrum of "gravel" tires is a damn scam. The tread depth on them is just ridiculously shallow for any sort of longevity, I get about 1k miles on my rear riding 99% kitty litter/walking trail gravel on top of that the prices which are as much as my damn motorcycle tires and even a small car tire!!! I've been debating selling my Jamis Renegade, Salsa-Fargo and Specialized Sirrus and getting a Bearclaw Beaux Jaxon. The Fargo can fit the fatties but the front triangle is just non existent for a half frame bag, the Jamis can fit a nice half frame bag but wont fit the fatties, the Beaux Jaxon can fit the fatties and has the same size front triangle as my Jamis. Really the only thing holding me back from immediately selling them all is that the Beaux Jaxon is internally routed for the rear brake and I hate that for hydro brakes, I weight 250lbs and theres no comparison between mechanical and hydraulic for my husky tail, I could always just velcro strap or tape the rear brake line externally but we shall see 😔
Ah...the Momma Bear/Just Right pursuit. It's a chase worthy of your efforts.
gg
@oldguyandabike update, I just crimped the chainsatays on the Jamis and it fits 29x2.2s now! With a set of Teravail Sparwoods in the lite and supple flavor its an entirely different and bouncy bike! I want to run the Pirelli Scorpion XC H in the lite casing, looks like I can get allot of life out of them. Now to see if the crimp on the chainstays will stand the test of time 🤞🤞
@@wheelzandgillz Wow...you really wanted to make this work!
gg
@@oldguyandabike yea man Im tired of paying these ridiculous prices on "gravel" tires that only last 1k miles
Too much thinking, analyzing, weighing, contemplating, deciding about a plus or minus 0.1 inch or 0.2 inch in tire width ..... just put on a good tire that fits with no rubbing and ride your bike 🙄
@@radiocontrolled9181 party pooper.
gg