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 2012-05-15 8:34 PM |
New user 186   Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |  Subject: I need tips for biking on soft dirt roads!I live out in the country, so once I get off the main road that I live on, I am on dirt roads. I am on a hybrid commuter bike, so I have wide, solid tires (to everyone who has those fancy road/tri bikes, I am the person that you pass at least (and likely more than) once each race.. The question relates to the road I am on for about 3 miles of my favourite 10 mile loop - it is hilly and quite twisty. Earlier this spring, it was packed solid, and although my pace slowed a little bit when I was on this stretch, I didn't notice a huge difference in handling on the bike. Unfortunately, someone groomed the road recently, and it was really soft this evening (mixed dirt and gravel). I found it caused me to slow down a lot and that on the downhills (and some of the flats where I was going at a faster speed) I felt like my bike was going to skid out from underneath me. Any tips for biking on a soft dirt road? Is it just a case of keeping my weight back to help with balance? Thanks! Heather |
).| 2012-05-15 9:08 PM in reply to: #4211882 |
Extreme Veteran 1019 | Subject: RE: I need tips for biking on soft dirt roads! If the surface is going to stay that way for a while, wide mountain bike tires will be the best solution. |
| 2012-05-15 9:16 PM in reply to: #4211932 |
Extreme Veteran 547 Chicago, USA | Subject: RE: I need tips for biking on soft dirt roads! wbattaile - 2012-05-15 9:08 PM If the surface is going to stay that way for a while, wide mountain bike tires will be the best solution.
Or a bike like this (link): monster cross! |
| 2012-05-15 11:40 PM in reply to: #4211882 |
Champion 19065  MA | Subject: RE: I need tips for biking on soft dirt roads! Lower pressure of tires a bit. I ride 700x32 or 700x34 on my cross bike and when off road I ride 30-35 PSI and on road I ride 70-80 PSI. The lower pressure give more cushion when riding over uneven terrain. As you ride more in the conditions you will be more comfortable. Rear wheel feeling like it is slipping out is common when on soft surface and making turns. Practice riding at slower speeds you will gain some bike handling skills. Slowing down is normal when on sand/dirt that isn't packed down. What type of tires do you have? Look and see what the number is on the side which shows the size. |
| 2012-05-16 1:34 AM in reply to: #4212078 |
Coach 8193 Stairway to Seven Gold member | Subject: RE: I need tips for biking on soft dirt roads! KathyG - 2012-05-15 10:40 PM Lower pressure of tires a bit. I ride 700x32 or 700x34 on my cross bike and when off road I ride 30-35 PSI and on road I ride 70-80 PSI. The lower pressure give more cushion when riding over uneven terrain. As you ride more in the conditions you will be more comfortable. Rear wheel feeling like it is slipping out is common when on soft surface and making turns. Practice riding at slower speeds you will gain some bike handling skills. Slowing down is normal when on sand/dirt that isn't packed down. What type of tires do you have? Look and see what the number is on the side which shows the size. Perfect advice here!! |
| 2012-05-16 6:57 AM in reply to: #4211947 |
Pro 4922 Melbourne FL Bronze member | Subject: RE: I need tips for biking on soft dirt roads! DarkSpeedWorks - 2012-05-15 10:16 PM I concur! I now have a monster cross bike and can take it any where my old MTB went.wbattaile - 2012-05-15 9:08 PM If the surface is going to stay that way for a while, wide mountain bike tires will be the best solution. Or a bike like this (link): monster cross! |
| 2012-05-16 7:07 AM in reply to: #4211882 |
| Expert 878 | Subject: RE: I need tips for biking on soft dirt roads! Buy a pugsley!!!
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| 2012-05-16 10:09 PM in reply to: #4212078 |
| New user 186 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Subject: RE: I need tips for biking on soft dirt roads! KathyG - 2012-05-16 12:40 AM Lower pressure of tires a bit. I ride 700x32 or 700x34 on my cross bike and when off road I ride 30-35 PSI and on road I ride 70-80 PSI. The lower pressure give more cushion when riding over uneven terrain. As you ride more in the conditions you will be more comfortable. Rear wheel feeling like it is slipping out is common when on soft surface and making turns. Practice riding at slower speeds you will gain some bike handling skills. Slowing down is normal when on sand/dirt that isn't packed down. What type of tires do you have? Look and see what the number is on the side which shows the size. Thanks for the tips everyone! As to your question re: the size of the tires, I went and wrote down all the numbers on the tire (except the psi stuff, because I know what that all means).. hopefully it means something to you |
: 50-559 26x1.95 k905-001.
| 2012-05-16 10:40 PM in reply to: #4214116 |
Extreme Veteran 547 Chicago, USA | Subject: RE: I need tips for biking on soft dirt roads! hgoudreau - 2012-05-16 10:09 PM Thanks for the tips everyone! As to your question re: the size of the tires, I went and wrote down all the numbers on the tire (except the psi stuff, because I know what that all means).. hopefully it means something to you That's nearly a 2" wide or 50mm tire. That's pretty wide, if you want, you can go a little wider to 2.2" (~55mm) wide, but you're not likely gonna get a big improvement on soft dirt, and you might have tire clearance problems on your hybrid bike. But, with your existing tires, depending on your weight (if you're lighter, you can go to lower pressures), you can keep your tires at 30-35 psi. That will help you on the soft dirt, although it won't be super fast on asphalt. Just be sure to boost your pressures back up (around 60-65 psi or so) if you're going to do a race on good asphalt. Or, better yet, get some much narrower 'slicks' for your hybrid for your races. It will make a big difference.
Edited by DarkSpeedWorks 2012-05-16 10:43 PM |
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