Talk to me about tires and cornering techniques

[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?

[SheFly]

Are you serious? 80psi?

Dead.

That was with the skinnier tires, but yup - 80 PSI.... I'm running a wider tire now, and am putting in about 55 PSI. Sounds like it still may be too much. Does it matter that I'm not small?

SheFly

[velogirl]

I'm not small. I'm 5'10" and just south of 160lbs. I know 200lb guys who run 35psi. Much will depend on the course, but you'll be amazed at how differently you can handle your bike if you drop the psi. Try it -- what have you got to lose, right?