Road Geometry Versus Gravel Geo

[osbk67]

Originally Posted by KonaSS

If we are going to quote what pro riders use, let's be accurate.

As of 2024, 32 tires were the norm at Roubaix. No teams were on anything lower than 30. Bahrain ran 35s. No one was running 28s. And if it was wet, I bet you would see some other teams run bigger tires as well.

History has shown that tech moves slow in the pros. But with Pogacar running tires that measure 33 at the Tour de France, I think we may still see tire size creep up in Roubaix.

What accurate source are you quoting that states no team used less than 30s, or that 32s rather than 30s were the norm, or that Bahrain used 35s please?

[KonaSS]

Originally Posted by osbk67

What accurate source are you quoting that states no team used less than 30s, or that 32s rather than 30s were the norm, or that Bahrain used 35s please?

Escape Collective Paris Roubaix tech galleries. Literally the phrase 32s were the norm was used.

[dmitrik4]

Originally Posted by .RJ

The rolling resistance has more to do with the casing, than the tread. Its why we see the very light mtb tires beat out a lot of gravel tires in rolling resistance.

The weight and aero penalties are real, but then again unbound being raced at 20+ mph over 200 miles with all the top pros on ~50-55mm tires, maybe that penalty isnt as big as we think.

I think that points to the balancing of all those different considerations—it may be that, given the surface and terrain at Unbound, the rolling benefits of the larger tires outweigh the weight/aero downsides*. If Unbound was a 200mi road race—or even a smooth gravel race—my guess is that tire choices would be different.

*in isolation—once the tires is part of a bike, the width is just one factor in the aero calc. And as DJ demonstrated, you can make a bike aerodynamic with wide tires. It’s never as simple as “X is better” in that complex of a system.

[.RJ]

Originally Posted by dmitrik4

If Unbound was a 200mi road race—or even a smooth gravel race—my guess is that tire choices would be different.

Yeah, for sure. But its definitely challenged everyone's assumptions about whats better/faster/etc. 5 years ago would anyone think the tour would be won using 32mm tires?