Faster Me with thinner tyres ???

[Grayduff]

I am sure this has been asked before SO sooooory !!..I ride a flat bar racer with 32c Kenda West Tyres, my average speed over a 25 mile run is 13.5 mph, I went out on a ride today with a friend who has just purchased a hybrid with 23c tyres ,I am sure he is no fitter than i am but he was noticeably quicker.WOULD 23/25 tyres fitted to my bike make it/me quicker..

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Gearing differences probably. Wider tyres are faster

 

[HLaB]

You wider tyres may be heavier but there are probably other factor too the types of bikes, gearing etc.

 

[Grayduff]

Same gearing, so its down to me and not the tyres me thinks ??

 

[HLaB]

Same gearing, so its down to me and not the tyres me thinks ??

Same bike ? if you are genuinely evenly matched and he's new to cycling its likely to be the weight difference of the two bikes, don't be too hard on yourself

 

[biggs682]

the only way you can tell is a back to back test but loads of other factors to take in cosideration

 

[xpc316e]

I have read lots of stuff about how wider tyres are faster as they have less rolling resistance, but this is not what my legs tell me. I know that it's not scientific, but I reckon that I am faster on 23s. I also cannot help but notice that the TdF does not seem to rolling along on Schwalbe Big Apples.

 

[Norm]

I have read lots of stuff about how wider tyres are faster as they have less rolling resistance...

I think there's a misunderstanding there. There is some difference between 26" and 29er/700c tyres but the difference in rolling resistance between 23 and 35 would be negligible, compared to other factors.

My average speed on my Tricross with 32s and my Secteur on 25s is pretty much exactly the same. As @User says, narrower tyres are easier on flat surfaces but, sadly, I don't commute on flat surfaces.

I've just moved from 26x1.5 to 26x1.75 and the extra comfort is noticeable. Again, the tyres are heavier (not just from the extra rubber but 240 titanium studs might also have an effect ) but I can just ride through / over lumps, bumps and holes faster with the bigger tyres.

So, ultimately, you might be faster with narrower tyres if you ride on boards but the relative performance on "normal" riding surfaces would be down to the exact route you are riding as much as anything else.

 

[Grayduff]

I think there's a misunderstanding there. There is some difference between 26" and 29er/700c tyres but the difference in rolling resistance between 23 and 35 would be negligible, compared to other factors.

My average speed on my Tricross with 32s and my Secteur on 25s is pretty much exactly the same. As @User says, narrower tyres are easier on flat surfaces but, sadly, I don't commute on flat surfaces.

I've just moved from 26x1.5 to 26x1.75 and the extra comfort is noticeable. Again, the tyres are heavier (not just from the extra rubber but 240 titanium studs might also have an effect ) but I can just ride through / over lumps, bumps and holes faster with the bigger tyres.

So, ultimately, you might be faster with narrower tyres if you ride on boards but the relative performance on "normal" riding surfaces would be down to the exact route you are riding as much as anything else.

That makes sense ..thanks...i will stick with the tyres i have and get fitter..

 

[lulubel]

What you haven't mentioned here is wheels - specifically wheel rims. Lighter rims will spin more easily and give you a higher average speed than heavier ones.

I've just swapped my road wheels for a set of cyclocross wheels with thicker (ie heavier) rims, and the difference in how they spin up to speed is noticeable, and this is reflected in my average speeds. (I'm happy though, because the new rims take wider tyres, and it's MUCH more comfortable.)

 

[tyred]

Tyre compounds and pressures also play a part.

 

[Cycleops]

Try upping the pressures, that will make as bigger a difference as anything, although other factors will play a part.

 

[mark st1]

Would it not be easier to ask him to swap bikes for 10 minutes on your next ride ? If he whips your ass on your bike chanes are he is just fitter than you. Just a thought of course.

However if you are 6ft5" and he is 4ft5" maybe not such a good idea lol

 

[Grayduff]

Would it not be easier to ask him to swap bikes for 10 minutes on your next ride ? If he whips your ass on your bike chanes are he is just fitter than you. Just a thought of course.

However if you are 6ft5" and he is 4ft5" maybe not such a good idea lol

Good idea, we are out again at the weekend.....he is 6 inches shorter than me, 2 stone lighter....