Wire bead failure

[FurryOnTheInside]

I have to agree with butterbean in his posts #6 and #7 lol. I wouldn't do it, I like around a 15% drop, never less than that if the bicycle carries unsuspended weight (like cargo or an engine) but it's your bike.

Thanks for giving us some figures on failure rates for the tube, tyre and pressure combinations you've been using. It makes interesting reading even if I never intend to go down that route.

To me it sounds like you really need to get a full suspension frame! I don't think a GT LTS replica in steel is the only way to go, though. I think you could probably take the rear (quadrangle?) off a Specialized FSR (various models, lots that are widely available used, and pretty cheap) and get just a front triangle custom made which would position the shock behind the seat tube and allow a large enough space inside the frame to accomodate an engine. I have an old 8" travel Specialized Big Hit frame so I have been thinking about this as a future project. I've done a few sketches and I think the travel could be reduced this way as well as making the frame able to accomodate an engine and jackshaft. I will try some cardboard and water pipe mock ups but I'm thinking way into the future so I'm not going to spend too much time thinking about it right now lol.

You can run a 24" wheelset too, of course. This would effectively give you greater tyre clearance.

Agreed on the uselessness of a grooved tyre tread on a hard surfaced road.. I'm sure they only do it for marketing reasons (cagers expect it's nessesary, or something).

Now I'm going to try to figure out how much you weigh, lol.

 

[Fabian]

To me it sounds like you really need to get a full suspension frame!

I agree.

There was some word floating about that SickBikeParts was developing a GT LTS replica frame in steel, adapted perfectly for use in a motorized application.
I have been patiently waiting and waiting for it to appear on their website. Now i am impatiently waiting for it to happen.

The moment it does happen, my credit card will be out faster than a group of women running to a department store mega sale.

 

[Fabian]

but it's your bike.

I feel greatly reassured that it "is" my bike.
For a minute i had a vision of someone else riding around on it with an ear to ear smile on their face.
Outside of a motorized bicycle experience, the only way you get that effect these days is to pay $500 for half an hours exercise, surrounded by mood lighting ;-)

 

[FurryOnTheInside]

LOL! I'm glad you don't think I'm trying to say "I know best"

 

[Fabian]

If i want to hear someone say "i know best" , i'll go and see my urologist and ask for an alternative method to checking my prostate gland, because after the first time, i didn't have any finger nails left; trying to climb Teflon coated walls to escape the consultation room.

 

[butterbean]

No, that's not why I bought the tires, I was just explaining to you what type of tread they have. So you know they aren't knobbys. That is not what I bought them for, but that is what the tread was designed for. I don't think anyone is worried about hydroplaning on a bicycle. However, it is one of the reasons for that type of tread on a car or motorcycle. And the design is based on motorcycle tires.

You are concerned about hydroplaning on a motorized bicycle when it's traveling at 25 miles per hour?

Are you regularly riding through deep water rivers?

 

[grinningremlin]

Hydroplaning only happens at speeds far outside most MAB's range.Butters, $20 a tire is cheap, that's barely a night in the bar, now try Schwalbe's for $50, as much as a car tire.Full suspension means more to fix/vibro apart, if one could find a lightly built DF made from Ti and some fat tires, the best passive FS there is.

 

[Fabian]

Butters, $20 a tire is cheap, that's barely a night in the bar,

I didn't say anything because $20 a tyre is fairly cheap. In Australia (at your local bicycle shop) you'll be paying $120 for a Schwalbe Marathon tyre. The first time i saw the sticker price, it almost knocked me out; sending me flying on my arse. Thankfully i wasn't near a glass window pane or this would have happened as i staggered out the shop in a complete daze,







or i might have got cranky and started attacking the shop windows; over the outrageous price,

 

[FurryOnTheInside]

I didn't say anything because $20 a tyre is fairly cheap. In Australia (at your local bicycle shop) you'll be paying $120 for a Schwalbe Marathon tyre. The first time i saw the sticker price, it almost knocked me out; sending me flying on my arse. Thankfully i wasn't near a glass window pane or this would have happened as i staggered out the shop in a complete daze,







or i might have got cranky and started attacking the shop windows; over the outrageous price,

Lol! So... Did you buy it?

 

[butterbean]

Just because a tire is cheap, doesn't mean it should be abused and replaced more often than necessary. As stated before, my tires still look new after 600 miles. If I under-inflated and abused them, they probably wouldn't. I'll spend $40 a year maybe, and you'll spend 12 times that. I never said hydroplaning was a concern. I simply stated what the tread on these tires is designed for. Maybe it's not for hydroplaning specifically, but it is supposed to help the tire make more contact with the road in wet riding conditions.