Talk to me about tires and cornering techniques

[sydney_b]

Ok 'cross fans ....

What's your favorite tires for which conditions?

AND

Tell me about your grass cornering techniques. It seems like I am losing too much momentum on the grass switchbacks. What kinds of things do u do to maintain your momentum?

[velogirl]

This season I'm running Bontrager Carbon Race X-Lites with Tufo Flexus tubulars. My training/pit wheels are hand-built (by me) -- PowerTap hub on the rear with a velocity aerohead rim; pink chris king on the front with the same rim -- Ritchey Speedmax tires.

In past seasons I've run the Tufo Elite tubulars but chose the Flexus this season because they have an extra set of knobs on the sides so they seem more stable for cornering.

Are you running your psi as low as possible? This will help you grab the course and is especially important on sloppy stuff and corners.

[SheFly]

This whole tire pressure thing is a mystery to me... Some say run it low, others say something different. I don't have a pit bike, or a spare set of wheels, so am afraid of getting a flat, thus running my PSI on the higher side of the scale. Not sure if this is hurting me, or helping me though.

I switched from a 32 to a 35 tire with bigger knobbies on it after a few races. Determined that in the wet/slick stuff that we encounter here, more tread was definitely better. They don't go as well on the pavement though. I think mine are Kenda's, and I run tubes in mine.

I think the cornering issue, in addition to tire choice and pressure, comes with practice. I can corner REALLY well on my MTB, and that seems to be translating well into 'cross. Try to hit the apex of the corner, like you would in a road crit - that will carry some of your momentum. The issue I have had is with too much momentum in some cases, throwing me wide and off the course.

SheFly

[velogirl]

Lower psi is definitely better. Try this next time you race. On your first pre-ride lap, put a higher pressure in the tires. By higher, I mean 45-50 in clinchers and 40-45 in tubulars. See how much you slide around. On your next lap, take some air out and see if your bike handles better. I highly recommend getting a little tire pressure gauge. Once you find the psi you like, check the pressure with a gauge and see what it is. That's where you want to start for the next course (similar terrain).

Typically you want to run your psi as low as you can without pinch flatting (clinchers) or bottoming out (tubulars).

Of course, differents types of courses and different terrain will warrant different tire and psi choices, but for the most part, the biggest mistake new racers make is running too much psi.

[SheFly]

So racing with 80 psi in my first two races was a bad thing???

Thanks for the advice - I'll give this a try!

SheFly

[velogirl]

Are you serious? 80psi?

[nancyinky]

Tires i can tell you about. As for cornering I want advice.

i have tried all types of tires. As for pressure...i go like 30-35 and wiegh in at 120.

Here is my history with tires: take what you like from it comment whatever...

Kenda kqicks clichers 32...file tread did not offer enough grip on front or rear in mud,front steep turns, rear in sand.

douglas tubbies in the 32....nice casing but not enough side knob and they wore down fast (not worth the cash and I wished I had gone with 34's)

WTB wier wolf clincher...great back tire for muck...I slap it on when I cannot keep a nice smooth spin across a really gunky field. Only tried it on the back.

Vitoria tigre cross tubbies in a 28....silly buy, but the green looks cool. Nice for a course of perfect dry grass conditions. Not fat enough to attempt to get rear traction in a pit of sand. The rear spins out period and the front wants to rut...not easy to accomplish that front 'float' in the grove sort thing.

Vittoria cross 34(the silver ones) in a 34...what I am sporting now. About right for me...not to much money, enough grip on the side, never had issues rutting or spinning out. I like them for most days. i would not like them in the 32 as well. I guled them on myself with tufo tape and abuse them...on snug and hold at 30 lbs. After the douglas they feel bouncy, but had I never been spoiled I'da said they felt smooth.

I have an old specialized team pro (no longer made now in a 32, but feels more like a 34 not counting the knobs)...it lookes like the richey pro. Basically it is a kenda kqick much nicer with side knobs...it digs into turns so well that I have kept this for (EKKKK years) The side wall finaly stoped holding the seal and it was retired as my crap weather front to mate the wier wolf from WTB on my back. I am yet to pick up the ritchy pro...but i think it is my plan.


As for low pressure, not only do I feel it helps with more grip and thus more forward speed and sure feel...but also my arms get much less abuse....that helps at 45 minutes into a ride when i have to lift that darned thing up one more time. You know that my sternum aches feeling? It helps that not happen.

[madisongrrl]

WTB wier wolf clincher...great back tire for muck...I slap it on when I cannot keep a nice smooth spin across a really gunky field. Only tried it on the back.
.

It's a great all-around tire. I race on those tires exclusively and love them.

[SheFly]

Something that has definitely helped me with the corners this year is to look THROUGH the corner, not AT the corner. What I mean is, when approaching the corner on your bike, look through it to where you are going to exit. This will help you to steer through the corner more smoothly.

Once you are through the corner, it's out of the saddle for 3-5 (or more, depending) HARD pedal strokes to get back up to speed as quickly as possible.

Just my $0.02, but it seems to be working well for me - helped me put distance on two racers yesterday.

SheFly