Manufacturers return to rim brakes

"yet all the teams have switched to disk brakes" and now have to carry around a couple of spare bikes per each rider instead of spare wheels in case of a flat.

Two advantages of 23mm tyres over wider ones:

1) They are always in stock, and sometimes a bit cheaper, because they are totally uncool.

2) They fit into that old road frame you bought when "close clearances" were a thing.

I like 23mm tyres so much I was going to start a blog about them called "23 and me", but the angry letters from Californian lawyers soon put a stop to that.

Whatever floats your boat, great, for me "easy to get because nobody wants them" and "they will fit on a bike that's not designed to take tyres that are more comfortable and will run at the same speed or better" isn't the most resounding recommendation.

Rendel Harris wrote:

Whatever floats your boat, great, for me "easy to get because nobody wants them" and "they will fit on a bike that's not designed to take tyres that are more comfortable and will run at the same speed or better" isn't the most resounding recommendation.

To be fair, the second one is a pretty killer recommendation if that is the frame you have.

Looking at the pros, they seem to be sticking to 25mm tyres for the majority of racing. 28mm and wider for known rougher more challenging days, but the standard still seems to be 25mm. 

I'm personally torn for this season as to which way to go... 28mm for the corners (primiarly racing crits), or 25mm for the pure speed. It's certainly not a given that 28mm is faster in all situations, but for most applications wider provides a better compromise. 

Jimmy Ray Will wrote:

I'm personally torn for this season as to which way to go... 28mm for the corners (primiarly racing crits), or 25mm for the pure speed. It's certainly not a given that 28mm is faster in all situations, but for most applications wider provides a better compromise. 

Have you considered a hybrid mix? I've been forced to because my road bike can't take more than 25 mm on the front but can (just) take a 28 mm on the rear. Since I put a 28 mm on the rear it definitely feels more surefooted when cornering and I believe (though this is solely my subjective impression) that the better grip allows me to accelerate faster and my Garmin data seems to show (I say seems because I haven't done any experiments with exactly the same set up in exactly the same conditions) a small gain of around half a kilometre per hour at 250W. It's very definitely more comfortable as well.

Rendel Harris wrote:

Jimmy Ray Will wrote:

I'm personally torn for this season as to which way to go... 28mm for the corners (primiarly racing crits), or 25mm for the pure speed. It's certainly not a given that 28mm is faster in all situations, but for most applications wider provides a better compromise. 

Have you considered a hybrid mix? I've been forced to because my road bike can't take more than 25 mm on the front but can (just) take a 28 mm on the rear. Since I put a 28 mm on the rear it definitely feels more surefooted when cornering and I believe (though this is solely my subjective impression) that the better grip allows me to accelerate faster and my Garmin data seems to show (I say seems because I haven't done any experiments with exactly the same set up in exactly the same conditions) a small gain of around half a kilometre per hour at 250W. It's very definitely more comfortable as well.

I run a 25mm (real world 26.5) front and 28mm (real world 30) rear and love it. 

Prior to that I ran 23mm front (real world 26.5) and 25mm rear (real world 30mm) and people would turn their noses up at my lack of progressive thinking and old school ways.  

Jimmy Ray Will wrote:

Looking at the pros, they seem to be sticking to 25mm tyres for the majority of racing. 28mm and wider for known rougher more challenging days, but the standard still seems to be 25mm. 

I'm personally torn for this season as to which way to go... 28mm for the corners (primiarly racing crits), or 25mm for the pure speed. It's certainly not a given that 28mm is faster in all situations, but for most applications wider provides a better compromise. 

I believe at least one team got noticed riding on (if I recall correctly) 28 mm relabelled as 25 mm a few years ago, either to fool the other teams, or their own riders (who like ChuckSneed would KNOW the FACT that they needed skinnier tyres to go faster.)

I moved to this combo a few seasons ago and really like it.  All subjective, but having the 28mm to provide extra traction and comfort at the back, whilst keeping the front at 25mm seems to be a great balance all round.

*Unless you actually want to stop.

SimoninSpalding wrote:

*Unless you actually want to stop.

Tish and pish! If you are going to take that line of argument, why, we'd all be riding around on disk braked bicycles.

SimoninSpalding wrote:

*Unless you actually want to stop.

My problem isn't stopping, it's going.

Mungecrundle wrote:

There will always be a market for retro-chique. Nowt wrong with a good rod operated stirrup brake setup in my opinion and very classy on an urban commuter.

I favour the wooden wedge approach, but each to their own.