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Jim, you have a good handle on the factors that affect ride
comfort.
o Tubulars in general are more comfortable (softer riding)
than clinchers. Tubular aficionados say you can run
efficiently (and safely) with lower pressure on tubulars
if the road surface is rough. Underinflated clinchers are
hard to maneuver, and can bottom out on the rims. Tire width
may make a bigger difference than anything else. TPI
(threads per inch) in the casing is also said to be a
factor in comfort and rolling resistance.
o Frame material can affect ride comfort a lot, but there's
lots of debate. It's almost a religious issue. My Kestrel
(carbon fibre monocoque) got an amazing range of judgments
from knowledgeable cyclists -- everything from, "Fast but must
stiff as a board!" to "Comfortable, but how can you ride
something that mushy??" Arrrgh!
Cannondale extra-big-tube aluminum bikes are felt by many
to be fast but very harsh to ride; Vitus standard-size tubing
aluminum frames are whippy enough they're only good for light
riders. OS (oversize) steel tubing has proponents for comfort.
I've found the carbon-fibre-wrapped tubing (Trek, Specialized)
responsive and comfortable, but too mushy for my taste. My
SL tubing De Rosa seems much more comfortable than the SLX
De Rosa - same tubing, only the SLX is rifled and reinforced.
Frame angles may have much more to do with comfort than anything
else - seat tube angle, especially. This is another hotly debated
opinion.
In the end, it depends what kind of riding you do, how far per ride,
what kind of road surfaces, how much you weigh, how you sit on the
bike. Things like that.
-john
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| >> I would think that a turing frame would give a softer ride because
>> the wheelbase is a greater distance than say a racing frame.. right??
Right but the biggest factor on a touring bike is stability. With a loaded down
touring bike you can be sure you don't want lightning fast handling (aka
twitchy handling)
>> Also, wouldn't tires have a big effect... Are gumwall tires better
>> riding than tubular..?? Do tubular tires corner better...??
Tires are a big help with comfort on the road. 90% of all road shock absorbed
by the bike rather than your arms and butt takes place at the tires. For the
most part the wider the tire the more comfortable it is, but the drawback is
the wider the tire the more rolling resistance.
Tubular tires are the best riding tires for a bike. They are like radial car
tires compared with bias ply truck tire ride that narrow clinchers can have.
And just like radial tires they do help in corner traction. If they weren't so
expensive you'd see everyone riding them that doesn't mind the mess of the
glue.
>> Why would frame material effect ride characteristics..?? I have been
>> reading in this file about how aluminum frames ride better than steel...
>> Is the difference great... Would an aluminum racing bike ride as soft
>> as a steel turing bike....??
Maybe, but do you want an aluminum frame designed for racing supporting touring
equipment. If you want a soft ride you can get most of that though wider tires.
Yes SOME Al bikes do ride softer that steel but the also flex more and rob
power from you in the same breath. There are some AL bikes that ride like they
are on iron rails and you feel every bump. They are designed to be STIFF.
Take the bikes out for rides you'll see it was up to the designer not the frame
material the governs the feel of the bike.
Tom
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