Farily spectacular crash today.

[gaz]

isn't someone going to explain the value of tread on a tyre when cornering?

They would be a fool to do so. There is no need for tread on a tyre that will just be used on the road. The tyre flexes and deforms as it makes contact with the road and grips to the not so smooth tarmac. Having a tread would make no difference in this case.

 

[BentMikey]

Bicycle tyres aquaplane, yes? That's pretty much the reason for treads, right, aquaplaning?

 

[BentMikey]

My fast mate Ed! stacked today and is a tad injured. Gutted for him.

Here's me momentarily losing the front wheel on Saturday, excuse the curses as I bricked myself:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQH30roFiGU

 

[gaz]

Bicycle tyres aquaplane, yes? That's pretty much the reason for treads, right, aquaplaning?

I think you have to go like +100mph to aquaplane on a bicycle. Due to the tyre being curved it always pushes the water away from the contact area. The tyre pressure helps push the water away.

 

[GrasB]

isn't someone going to explain the value of tread on a tyre when cornering?

Under what conditions? For a clean road I find that 700x35C Kojak on 622x18C rims are the best gripping tyres in the turns. On muddy roads though I find that the Marathon Winter are better as the wide deep tread gives the mud plenty of space to get out from under the tread blocks.

 

[Origamist]

My fast mate Ed! stacked today and is a tad injured. Gutted for him.

Here's me momentarily losing the front wheel on Saturday, excuse the curses as I bricked myself:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQH30roFiGU

I know Ed! - hope he is OK.

Looks like you wobbled on some overbanding in that vid - it's also in the centre of the lane where most of the diesel/oily stuff resides. You did well not to go down.

 

[boydj]

Either BM is on the wind-up or he is just plain wrong.

Bicycle tyres are far too narrow to aquaplane - it would be almost impossible for water to build up under a bicycle tyre at the speeds that even the fastest cyclists are capable of. Even the widest of bicycle tyres will cut through water to the tarmac. Arguably, on tarmac, tread reduces cornering grip as it reduces the amount of rubber in contact with the road wet or dry.

 

[BentMikey]

Either BM is on the wind-up or he is just plain wrong.

Bicycle tyres are far too narrow to aquaplane - it would be almost impossible for water to build up under a bicycle tyre at the speeds that even the fastest cyclists are capable of. Even the widest of bicycle tyres will cut through water to the tarmac. Arguably, on tarmac, tread reduces cornering grip as it reduces the amount of rubber in contact with the road wet or dry.

Questions to stimulate debate old chap. None of my two road bikes have tread on their tyres. Well, the durano front on the Fujin has a tiny bit, but so little it may as well not have any.

Today your sarcasmometer is this:FAIL

 

[thefollen]

@thefollen. It looks like you live a couple of hundred of metres from me. I'll keep an eye out for you as our routes intersect for a mile or two.

Cool, I'll be the one taking it a little easier round corners!

Having yet to own a proper racing road bike I've always wondered how the smooth tires perform in slick conditions. From the weather today it looks as though it could become icy again. On the really icy day (Wednesday December 1st, I think) although London was very picturesque to cycle through I totally bricked it on the icy downhill sections around clapham/battersea, the level of concentration was astounding!

Attached a pic of my tires in case anyone's interested.