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switched stock 29 mtb tires for 700x32 satellites, much slower, wtf? Street should ..

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AntiNSA

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I just switched my stock knobbies from my 2009/8 not sure cobia for a set of 700x32c bontrager satellites... I used the stock 29 tubes (pain in the ass to get in without pinching, need to get different tubes) and I saw my 12.5 km commute INCREASE by 3 minutes almost!@!@!@ WTF? I expected to be faster! Going up a hill I normally do 23-25 on I am now doing 19 only!?

now I normally ride 5 days a week, 3 days 25 km and two days 72 km. The last two weeks I missed 4 x 72 km. I dont know if my body is just way out of shape from missing that ride or the tires suck.

Anyone seen there times increase or decrese when switching to 700x32 ?

Thanks for the feedback
 
#2 ·
I have commuter tyres for my WFO, schwalbe big apples, they are SO much faster on road.

You will need to get used to a set of tyres, but 3 mins is a lot.
Guess the wind was not your firend those days.
 
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#3 ·
AntiNSA said:
I just switched my stock knobbies from my 2009/8 not sure cobia for a set of 700x32c bontrager satellites... I used the stock 29 tubes (pain in the ass to get in without pinching, need to get different tubes) and I saw my 12.5 km commute INCREASE by 3 minutes almost!@!@!@ WTF? I expected to be faster! Going up a hill I normally do 23-25 on I am now doing 19 only!?

now I normally ride 5 days a week, 3 days 25 km and two days 72 km. The last two weeks I missed 4 x 72 km. I dont know if my body is just way out of shape from missing that ride or the tires suck.

Anyone seen there times increase or decrese when switching to 700x32 ?

Thanks for the feedback
Click to expand...
Probably because the huge wadded up tubes inside the relatively tiny tires. Going to create a lot of rolling resistance. The Satellites are not exactly a "fast" road tire in the first place.
 
#4 ·
I ride schwalbe big apples 2.35 width on my 29er with p-35 rims as an urban assault tire which has the volume to bowl over any thing. If you want some fast tires get some race lites they make a 700x32 and maybe a 35 i cannot remember off my head
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
CaveGiant said:
I have commuter tyres for my WFO, schwalbe big apples, they are SO much faster on road.

You will need to get used to a set of tyres, but 3 mins is a lot.
Guess the wind was not your firend those days.
Click to expand...
Yeah I dont know how that even happened/// I was sooo dissappointed...
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Im wondering if that is a huge difference... I have 29x2.2 or something like that in there...

I was looking at bontragers site and the only tubes they have listed in 700x32 are the slime filled ones... :( sadly bontragger through one of the only trek dealerships is the only kind of tube I can get in China :(

The tire is already heaver because it is the hardcase type.. I hate to put a slime tube in it to really weight it down...
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
yeah I was thinking about getting the race... but it rains alot in China here and the traffic is insane.... I cant manage to stay out of the middle... I was thinking the satellites would be better in the rain... I have almost no choiuce... the have a set of the 32 race lite hc and on pair of the satellites.. if they wernt such a pain in the ass to get on I would put my knobbies back on untill I could find another tube... so you think the race is hugely diffrent over the satellites? I was thnking I was going to save at least 3-5minutes from my commute... not add more :(
 
#8 ·
My fastest commutes we one Big Apples 2.35's, in any kind of weather, rain, shine, storm.
I had some wicked quick ones in total perfect tail wind conditions, with a road bike. LEss than perfect conditions, and the fatties would always get me home faster. No time lost in corners when your bike can cut them.
 
#9 ·
i have satellites (38s!) and put 26" tubes in them. they work great for lite trails usage and pavement touring (pretty good "all around" tire for bike paths, imo)....but i wouldn't consider them fast.

now, the conty gatorskins in 28 i had on there before were fast as crap...just kind of difficult to use with mountain bike gearing where i was riding.
 
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#10 ·
AntiNSA said:
Im wondering if that is a huge difference... I have 29x2.2 or something like that in there...

I was looking at bontragers site and the only tubes they have listed in 700x32 are the slime filled ones... :( sadly bontragger through one of the only trek dealerships is the only kind of tube I can get in China :(

The tire is already heaver because it is the hardcase type.. I hate to put a slime tube in it to really weight it down...
Click to expand...
Hardcase tires are not supple/fast. They are designed for cut/puncture resistance.

You can fit a 700x20/25 tube in a 32mm tire
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
So you think compared to the big apples everyone is talkning about I got the tires desighned for grandpa cruiser? I had to chose between them and the bontrager race lite hd... I thought these would be safer in the rain...700x20-25 will work? Damn I just passed up a chinese no name tube on the way home because I thought it was too small. I could have dested it tomorrow morning :(. These tires feel like I am sticking to the ground. I dont have a gauge, but feel like I pumped them up really strong........
 
#12 ·
700x32's are faster on the pavement, no question. There are other variables at work here... wrong tubes, crazy chinese traffic, etc... There is no way going to a smaller, smoother contact patch on pavement is going to slow you down.
 
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#13 ·
maybe you were less sure of yourself in traffic with the smaller tires and didn't push it as hard or something (maybe subconsciously?).
 
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#14 ·
I can't imagine its safe using a 29er tube in tires that small (I'm thinking tire blow off at an inopportune moment...). 29er tubes are meant for so much more air volume...I'd feel much safer using a smaller tube than one that much bigger.
 
#15 ·
Big Apples Rule! Kevlar lined! For street use these babies are the best. Corner great, smooths out the bumps, Use heavy duty punture proof tubes, screw the weight, once you get up to speed, the weight is irrellevant! I ride mine at 55 PSI and can take a corner at full speed with no sway or give at all. Bomb proof!
 
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