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32mm front tyre for mountain descending

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  • November 23, 2019 at 6:19 pm #30302
    theslowcyclistxx

    Hi everybody!
    I have become a bit nervous descending due to some crashes last year, and I am going to do some riding in the mountains in the beginning of next year. I am considering going 32 mm in the front (corsa or gp5000) to improve control. Does it make any sense, or should I just lower the pressure on a 28? I still plan to use a 28mm on the rear. Any experiences?

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  • November 24, 2019 at 4:51 pm #953033
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    Pub bike

    Was it grip that was the

    Was it grip that was the problem that is prompting your thoughts, or was it just carrying too much speed into a bend for the conditions?  If you can’t crank the bike over because you’re going too fast, having more grip might actually be worse for you.

    In the French Alps, for example, a lot of hairpins are similar.  If you can keep one eye on your speedo, you can quickly get to know the maximum speed you can safely carry into a dry hairpin on different lines e.g. inside line, outside line, racing line, which will be three different speeds .e.g 14mph, 18mph and 21mph.   Also, if you have very good visibility down the next straight after a right hand hairpin as you’re approaching it then you can take a faster line and achieve a higher speed before the next one.

    Once you’ve worked this out, you just have to make sure you hit those target speeds before you enter the bend.  Sitting upright in good time to maximise drag, and pulling very hard on the ends of the levers from the drops may be necessary if you are carrying a lot of speed e.g. > 40 mph.   Also, if you have panniers on the front, then you have to pull the bars round harder but the bike will still turn in as long as you’re not going too fast for the bend.  In the wet the speeds are going to be different of course, but you’ll be likely riding much more gingerly in such conditions.  It can be possible to descend safely at around 30mph when it is raining.

     

    November 23, 2019 at 10:07 pm #953031
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    maviczap

    Even though you think a wider
    Even though you think a wider tyre is going to help you because it’s putting more rubber on the road, the contact patch isn’t going to be much more than the 28mm you’re using now.
    Sounds like your descending techniques were the cause of your crashes, which has obviously led to you losing your confidence, which I understand. I’m always nervous on my first day descending in the mountains, until I’ve got my descending head on.
    I only use 25mm tyres, either GP4000, or this year Hutchinson Fusions tubeless, which I was really happy with.
    I taught an American friend to descend better by telling him
    Brake before the corner
    Look through the corner where you are going, the bike will go that way.
    Relax on the descent, don’t grip the bars tight.
    Tr

    Try to ride with someone who can descend but get them to build the speed up, so your confidence builds up.

    As a motorcyclist, I’m used to picking my lines at speed, so I transfer that skill to descending, just accounting for the narrower tyres!

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