How much differnce do tyre sizes make

[frank9755]

My guess is that geometry is a sharper than on the Galaxy...( they always used to be 72deg parallel in the old days ). Moving the saddle back a few millimetres might help. Exactly which bit of your nether regions is uncomfortable BTW?

If it's an old Galaxy, yes. But the new ones have the same geometry as just about every other drop bar bike. Eg my Super Galaxy is 73 degrees, with smaller sizes being steeper still. I can actually get more set-back on my Carrera Vanquish.

Dawes do have a pdf of geometry
http://www.dawescycles.com/dawes2010/geometry/
But their site is down at the moment

Regarding the OPs problem, I would have thought that your new Brooks was having the biggest impact on comfort, but bigger tyres would help a bit too - would be worth changing.

 

[Steve N]

Quick update:

I changed the 25's for 28's - the bike won't take 32's; and it did make a noticable difference, not dramatic but worth having.
I'm generally very happy with the bike now but have realised that a comfy saddle is essential. I'm persevering with the Brooks for now in the hope that we can grow to love each other.

 

[Crepello]

Also remember that you can easily over inflate tyres to the detriment of the ride. I'd inflate a good 10 or so PSI under the tyres limit on the back and a further 10PSI less on the front.

I use gel pads under the bar tape which work well. I also use Brooks, but whilst bedding in I'd always use good padded shorts. I can now easily use a B17 without padded shorts for quite a few miles, whereas my new Brooks Pro is a bit scary, even with high quality shorts.

One more point. If you can say where you feel the harshness more - bars or saddle, we may have a better idea of where the problem lies.

 

[Fab Foodie]

You'd have thought Titanium would be comfortable... isn't that the USP for the stuff? Carbon fork as well.
Seems odd to me.
I'm a Brooks fan and find it healps to absorb road shock, but can take a bit of setting-up and perseverance... me I like 'em straight from the box.

Tyres can make a big difference too, not just size but brand, some are hard others more supple.

Make sure the headset is tight too, any slack so that forks and frame are not intimately connected can make any bike feel like a bag of bones.

But I just don't get whey such an expensive titanium confection is a hard ride, does that ever happen?

 

[Bob Everick]

I dropped from 25's to 23's gator's for a recent 250 mile charity ride to tighten up the handling a bit and gain a few mph in speed. It worked.

You have to be careful when dropping from 28's as, looking at rim compatibilities, they seem to be built for up to 25's or 28 and over.

Also the Brooks B17 was superbly comfortable. I was the only one on the ride that didn't suffer with sore contact points.

Bob

 

[ASC1951]

more air = more comfort

Less air = more speed

You'll confuse the lad. If you mean more/less capacity, ok, but if it is 'more/less pumped into it' the reverse is true.

 

[PpPete]

You'll confuse the lad. If you mean more/less capacity, ok, but if it is 'more/less pumped into it' the reverse is true.

Very true. I apologise for my earlier terminological inexactitude.

 

[Steve N]

Also remember that you can easily over inflate tyres to the detriment of the ride. I'd inflate a good 10 or so PSI under the tyres limit on the back and a further 10PSI less on the front.

I use gel pads under the bar tape which work well. I also use Brooks, but whilst bedding in I'd always use good padded shorts. I can now easily use a B17 without padded shorts for quite a few miles, whereas my new Brooks Pro is a bit scary, even with high quality shorts.

One more point. If you can say where you feel the harshness more - bars or saddle, we may have a better idea of where the problem lies.

When I first got the bike I wondered about the tyres and did deflate the 25's slightly and noticed an improvement, that was what persuaded me to try 28's.
I also tweaked other bits as well to try and maximise my comfort. I slightled racked the saddle back and also reversed the stem to gain a little height in the bars.

I think some of my initial concerns were just down to getting used to a different bike. This one does feel slightly stiffer than my old tourer but that makes it more responsive too so that now I've adjusted to that I like it better.

The only area of harshness now is the err, saddle area. I'd never used padded shorts before but tried some and they make a big difference which is why I'm going to persevere with the Brooks.

 

[Tynan]

£2,700 and it's unbearable to ride?

 

[HJ]

Less air = more speed

Na, it is the rubber that is the heavy bit, thinner tyres are lighter...

 

[- Baz -]

Priority towards comfort at the moment - If I'm to regain the ability to walk properly

The combination of the harder ride and the Brooks saddle was sheer torture.
Am on the lookout for a comfy saddle first. The holy grail, I know. But - The Brooks has got to go.

I was going to get a B17 but decided to try a Charge Spoon first, based on the rave reviews here. Best twenty-five quid I'm ever likely to spend on the bike. Wouldn't swap it for anything, now. Why not give one a go?

 

[tincaman]

+1 for the charge spoon, infact I bought 2, one for each bike

 

[PpPete]

My OH had a Charge Ladle (ladies versionof the Spoon), felt it was as good as anything she'd tried up til then..... but has now swapped it out for a B17S.
I'm building her a fixed at mo, so the Charge may go on that.

 

[jimboalee]

I must be the luckiest cyclist in the world. I've had twenty or more bikes in the last forty years, and as many saddles.
I've not had one that was uncomfortable. Even a plastic topped BMX jobbie and the original white topped spring matress thing on the BSA when I got the bike.

I'm the lucky so-and-so who can go on holiday, hire a bike, adjust it and ride a 100km Overseas DIY.

The saddle that came on the Land Rover Tahora. Some would chuck it out straight away. Nope, I rode a 100km Midlands Mesh on it the first week I had the bike... no problems.

Is this a 'wind up'? No. All I can say is "Adjust a saddle's position for your leg's measurements, get your back at the correct inclination and you can ride on any saddle".

 

[Steve N]

I was going to get a B17 but decided to try a Charge Spoon first, based on the rave reviews here. Best twenty-five quid I'm ever likely to spend on the bike. Wouldn't swap it for anything, now. Why not give one a go?

Thanks for the tip - I'll check it out