2014 - The Year of the 28

[MattTuck]

After the winter we've had, the roads are in terrible shape around here -- this should not come us a surprise. Pot holes, frost heaves, huge dips. I just drove a loop (with a lot of climbing) that I had been planning to ride frequently this year. I had to drive most of it at 10-15 mph because of the terrible road conditions.

I'm expecting the 28mm tire to be de rigueur this year. But I don't think it will be enough. I really have concerns about safely getting down some of the hills I saw today, if I were riding a bike.

I'm not even sure that another layer of pavement would do the trick. I'm thinking about reaching out to the highway department, but I'm not even sure what I'd suggest as a remedy.

Any road engineers here? Is there another solution besides ripping up the road, regrading it, and putting down new pavement?

[thirdgenbird]

I'm trying 27-28s too. Pretty excited.

[572cv]

New England roads heave when there is sufficient moisture beneath the road bed to freeze and expand the soil, gravel, whatever is making up the sub base. The solution is drainage, keeping the road bed dry. There are, effectively, two approaches to minimizing (notice I did not say eliminating) the moisture.

First is really diligent ditch maintenance. Good ditches can remove a great deal of water, and keep it from pooling beneath the road. The second, more expensive, approach is to rebuild the road from the base up, using filter fabric to keep clay fines from mixing with the gravel and stone and retaining water in that area. The roads around here where the base is proper and the ditches are maintained are not too bad, even after this winter. The ones which have not had such attention are as you describe...

Repaving without attention to the base and ditching is really short term thinking, IMO.

[fourflys]

after going to the Clement Strada 28s a couple years ago, I'll never go smaller... I'm excited to try the new tires from Jan Heine/Compass Cycles...

[bluesea]

after going to the Clement Strada 28s a couple years ago, I'll never go smaller... I'm excited to try the new tires from Jan Heine/Compass Cycles...


Ditto on the Grand Bois-- can't wait to try them. In the meantime there are some Conti 4 Seasons to try out.

[Davist]

I've been riding continental GP4 Seasons in 28s for a year now, love 'em. I have a pair of Schwalbe Ultremos (which are supposed to be a bit wider/truer 28) to try when the roads clean up a bit. No loss of speed vs the 25s I was using, highly recommend to you all.. Fits easy in CAAD10.

[jonk]

28's were so last year. Bring on the 32's.

[gomango]

I'm trying 27-28s too. Pretty excited.

I've been cramming these onto every road bike I have.

....and selling the ones they don't fit on.

The roads in the Twin Cities are simply awful.

I think I'll order another set of Grand Bois Cerf 26s for my Kvale in town here.

[Climb01742]

I've been riding continental GP4 Seasons in 28s for a year now, love 'em. I have a pair of Schwalbe Ultremos (which are supposed to be a bit wider/truer 28) to try when the roads clean up a bit. No loss of speed vs the 25s I was using, highly recommend to you all.. Fits easy in CAAD10.

Can a CAAD 10 really take 28s? What rim size are you running, regular width or a wider rim? Good to know and thanks!

[Ed-B]

It'll be 650x38B here in Maine, at least until the roads settle down a bit and the crews can get out and patch them up again. There's broken pavement, potholes and frost heaves everywhere, you just can't avoid it.

[teleguy57]

I've been riding continental GP4 Seasons in 28s for a year now, love 'em. I have a pair of Schwalbe Ultremos (which are supposed to be a bit wider/truer 28) to try when the roads clean up a bit. CAAD10.

Running the Ultremo ZX 28s on my TB-14 rims, and they measure out a hair over 29mm so should run a true 28 on the non-wide rims. Sublime ride with latex tubes even on the crappy post-winter (almost) roads. Pretty close (but not quite) on a par with my Veloflex Roubaixs on Nemesis.

Would be interested in comparing the Ultremos to the Compass/Gran Bois tires.

[JAGI410]

Rode my 650bx38s today, so fast and plush at 55psi! My "skinny" roadie wears 28s and I'm debating 32's!

The "mill & pave" is really the only option to repair that makes financial sense.

[commonguy001]

I'm down to one bike that won't take at least 32s and it's miles are numbered.
If it wasn't Ti I'd have stripped it and moved on already.
Long live 27mm and up road tires!

[bking]

Can a CAAD 10 really take 28s? What rim size are you running, regular width or a wider rim? Good to know and thanks!

I've got a 2013 Caad 10 running a mavic ksyrium es (older wheel, 2007?) with vittoria rubino pro, 28's. they measure more 26.5. I did have to change from Red calipers to new ultegra, good change, by the way, and they fit fine. Might be able to run a full 28, but it'd be tight on this wheel anyway. I've got other wheels with 28 mounted; if you do need to know pm me and i'll try them on.

[sparky33]

Gosh, I must be contrarian as I was thinking of adding a skinny tire bike this year, short reach brakes and all.
That said, everything else in the garage is plump and I've got no complaints.

[Climb01742]

I've got a 2013 Caad 10 running a mavic ksyrium es (older wheel, 2007?) with vittoria rubino pro, 28's. they measure more 26.5. I did have to change from Red calipers to new ultegra, good change, by the way, and they fit fine. Might be able to run a full 28, but it'd be tight on this wheel anyway. I've got other wheels with 28 mounted; if you do need to know pm me and i'll try them on.

Thanks for the offer. How do you like the ride of your CAAD with the fatter tires? Seems like a great combo...all the responsiveness of a CAAD mellowed on bad roads by 28s.

[binxnyrwarrsoul]

Can a CAAD 10 really take 28s? What rim size are you running, regular width or a wider rim? Good to know and thanks!

I've got 26 Gran Bois Cerf's on Nucleons on my CAAD9 (Chorus 10S calipers), and they fit (true 26), but I'd guess "true" 28's would be a tight fit.

[Camelstache]

I like 25's Michelin Lythions on my road bike. They are big for 25's...and cheap and durable. Also I use Clement LAS file treads on my cx bike for these beat up roads in NE.

[oldpotatoe]

After the winter we've had, the roads are in terrible shape around here -- this should not come us a surprise. Pot holes, frost heaves, huge dips. I just drove a loop (with a lot of climbing) that I had been planning to ride frequently this year. I had to drive most of it at 10-15 mph because of the terrible road conditions.

I'm expecting the 28mm tire to be de rigueur this year. But I don't think it will be enough. I really have concerns about safely getting down some of the hills I saw today, if I were riding a bike.

I'm not even sure that another layer of pavement would do the trick. I'm thinking about reaching out to the highway department, but I'm not even sure what I'd suggest as a remedy.

Any road engineers here? Is there another solution besides ripping up the road, regrading it, and putting down new pavement?

25c is the new 23..and if a 28 fits, no payback..but majority of 'enthusiast's bikes, the ones that are sold the most, will fit 25s, probably not 28s..don't see that changing anytime soon.

[nahtnoj]

Potholes and frost heaves should be seen as an opportunity to do more bunny hops.

[joosttx]

I have been riding on Challenge PR 28's for about 3 years now. They wear out super fast but I cannot give them up because the a super smooth. I just put on a pair with the thick construction. Performance has not changed I hope life span does.

[benb]

Curious what pressure people ride 28s at...

I currently have 2 sets of wheels, I have 700x35c on one set and 700x23c on the other. I swap them back and forth.. the 700x35c I run at 55f/60r and the bike does great on anything but technical MTB trails. I use the 700x23c set at around 116r/110f for days where I want to go fast and not bother with including any dirt, etc.. The 700x35s I have are pretty slow on smooth road.

I was thinking I'd replace the 700x23c tires with 700x28s at some point this spring/summer.

[Black Dog]

Curious what pressure people ride 28s at...

I currently have 2 sets of wheels, I have 700x35c on one set and 700x23c on the other. I swap them back and forth.. the 700x35c I run at 55f/60r and the bike does great on anything but technical MTB trails. I use the 700x23c set at around 116r/110f for days where I want to go fast and not bother with including any dirt, etc.. The 700x35s I have are pretty slow on smooth road.

I was thinking I'd replace the 700x23c tires with 700x28s at some point this spring/summer.

I am about 160 pounds and run 28's at 85psi rear and 75-80psi front. Certainly as fast as 23's at 110psi but way more comfy!

[Admiral Ackbar]

i run my 28s at 55-60

but i only weight like 135lbs

wish i could get 32s onto my road bike, been meaning to try out some of the 30mm offerings from challenge

[Andreas]

28s are so 2012...

all the cool guys are back on 18s.


CAAD10 fits 28 4seasons, 28 ultremos, 28 rubinos on 23 rims, 27 Vit Pave tubularsl, 27 Challenge PR (measure 29 on a Mavic PR rim)
ultegra brakes

I am 6', 145-150lbs and ride the clinchers at 50 front, 75 rear, challenge tubulars at 45/65

[Climb01742]

28s are so 2012...

all the cool guys are back on 18s.


CAAD10 fits 28 4seasons, 28 ultremos, 28 rubinos on 23 rims, 27 Vit Pave tubularsl, 27 Challenge PR (measure 29 on a Mavic PR rim)
ultegra brakes

I am 6', 145-150lbs and ride the clinchers at 50 front, 75 rear, challenge tubulars at 45/65

Thanks for the detailed breakdown.

[MerckxMad]

The latest issue of BQ contains an article on tire width and tire presssure. My understanding of the upshot is that tire pressure (assuming you don't botom out) in wider tires with supple casings doesn't much matter. There does not seem to be much of a reason to run narrow tires pumped up rock hard. Go low and wide, my friends. Go low and wide.

[russ46]

I switched to GP4 25's three years ago & have found no reason to go back to 23's. Feedback from my tailbone was the only input I received & it was all positive. Last year I started using GP4 28's & I think they provide a slightly better ride although I'm not sure why as there is a negligible size difference between the two sizes. Continental has an odd sizing system for this model. I have a pair of Contact II 28's that are much bigger & require a little force to get them past the pads while the GP4 28's have clearance.

I like to ride dirt roads & would like to move up to 32's but I don't think I have enough clearance. If anyone has a Concours and uses 32's please let me know the tire mfg/mdl.

Also, I prefer the Contact II's for dirt, but weight is a drawback. if anyone has found a 28 that doesn't weigh 500 grams per tire I would also appreciate knowing the mfg/mdl.

[Pete Mckeon]

Conti 25s will be my preferred ones. I do not know of road Serotta F2/3 fork that will take bigger than 25s . Nver was able to use more than 23 mm on F1 fork. :mad:

Pete

[572cv]

I just came across NH from Plymouth westerly, yesterday, and MattTuck is sadly correct. These roads are practically reduced to rubble by the frost heaving this year. It was some impressive. I thought we were bad over here in the Champlain Valley, but it is nothing like what I saw yesterday in NH. In general, the roads in northern Vermont seem somewhat better, at present.

We should have a regional road report thread or threads when spring finally rolls around everywhere. Might help everyone with spring and summer planning.

[s_curran]

Ditto on the Grand Bois-- can't wait to try them. In the meantime there are some Conti 4 Seasons to try out.

I'm a huge fan of mine, you wont get the miles out of them that you would get with the GP4's, but they are really comfy, and look great. They also feel fantastic with latex tubes.

Edit, also, I'm usually around 105 PSI, but I weigh in at 210 right now. I tend to run less than that in the poorer conditions.

[David Kirk]

I've been using and loving the Conti 28's for 3-4 seasons now and can't imagine ever going to a 'normal' tire again. They weigh just a few grams more and handle anything I come across and they roll along just as quickly as a skinny tire does.

I see very little downside with them.


dave

[Netdewt]

I've been trying to decide whether to go 28s, or 25s with fenders. Short reach brakes. I've only ever had 23s.

[moose8]

Where are people starting to see a downside on width? I feel like my 32s are noticeably slower than my 25s, but at the same time the 25s are expensive light tires and the 32s are bulletproof heavy tires, so it's apples and oranges. Anyone figured it out with same tire in different widths?

[David Kirk]

I've been trying to decide whether to go 28s, or 25s with fenders. Short reach brakes. I've only ever had 23s.

If your bike is built around SRC then you are correct in thinking that 25's are probably the most tire you'll fit under a fender..........even that could be really tight with that brake.

The complicating issue is that tire sizing is nominal. By that I mean that the 28 mm tires I use measure 25 mm wide and some other 28's measure 30 mm wide - yet they are all marked '28'. The conti 28's are the same width as their 25's but they are taller. So the air volume is there that's needed for the ride but width and aero drag are about the same as the smaller tire. A tire like this can cause problems on some bikes with SRC brakes.

On the other hand Michelins seem to get wider and not much taller and these are easier to fit under a fender or low mounted brake.

If you have a shop that stocks them it might be worth seeing if they would mount them (or let you do it) on your wheel and see what tire fits best.

Dave