Experience in tires for fixed gear bikes for urban riding?

I was wondering to hear everyone's opinion on their favorite tires for riding a fixie around the city. I'm especially curious if anyone uses those thick slicks I have been seeing around lately? Is it easier to skid sideways on them, what's their rolling resistance, traction-wise? I imagine they won't stop so easily if they are slicker and offer lower traction, but speed will be maintained more easily on them, am I correct here? I appreciate all opinions and experiences being shared.

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Permalink Reply by Ivo Iliev on July 24, 2013 at 9:16am

Thanks for the info! I have been riding fixed for little over a month and have no problems skidding - took me about a week to get the technique right... Also I prefer not to use brakes and I just keep the front one for emergency and insurance compliance. But since I am still fairly new to fixed gear riding I am in a position to modify my riding style so I was curious to hear the opinions of more experienced riders. So thank you and everyone else who responded here

Vitaliy said:

You dont have to skid to stop, you can always run a rear brake; do not follow a fad. Consider your capabilities and if you really want to commit to skidding as your preferred mode of braking. I say ThickSlicks all the way. I have been using the Elite edition which are the sturdiest and thickest tires that Freedom produces. I have been running one of these on my rear for almost a year now and have a third order shipping. I have only gotten one flat on them, but I speculate wet conditions had something to do with it. Ease of skidding merely depends on how easily you can lock you rear wheel. Essentially how strong your legs are; so you arent really giving anything up unless you consider traction, which doesnt affect skidding at all. One downfall of TSs is the lack of traction on wet roads, if you make a sharp enough turn you can wipe out; this is where traction lingers on ThickSlicks.

Cheers

Here is the Freedom website: http://www.freedombicycle.com/project/thickslick/

Permalink Reply by Andrew on July 24, 2013 at 10:29am



Vitaliy said:

You dont have to skid to stop, you can always run a rear brake; do not follow a fad.

You meant front brake, right? When you brake the weight transfers to the front of the bike. The front brake gives you much more stopping power than the rear.

Consider your capabilities and if you really want to commit to skidding as your preferred mode of braking.

If you want to commit to skidding as your preferred mode of braking, sell your bike and buy some roller skates. ;-)

Permalink Reply by Vitaliy on July 24, 2013 at 11:19am

Andrew

It was not a typo, people run front and rear brakes on fixed gear bikes because they want to be safer*** but still enjoy the perpetual pedaling.

Permalink Reply by Thedutchtouch on July 24, 2013 at 12:12pm
I'm one of them. Just because you have brakes doesn't mean you ave to use them... But I do enjoy having them, they've stopped me short of being doored, run over, more than a few times. Now, if I could only find cable stays that fit my abnormally sized/shaped top tube...
Permalink Reply by Vitaliy on July 24, 2013 at 4:40pm

Clarify yo' self.

Jeff Schneider said:

Where brakes are absolutely necessary is with a tall gear ratio.

Permalink Reply by Andrew on July 25, 2013 at 2:47am

46/16 is basically the same ratio as 52/18.

Also what some brakeless riders here seem to be missing is that it doesn't matter what the gear ratio is. Even if you run a low ratio and you can lock up the back brake without any trouble, you're still totally f*cked if you have to stop quickly and you're double f*cked if your chain breaks. Educate thyselves: http://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html


Michael Perez said:

I've learned my lesson there. I'll stick to 46/16 for now rather than going back 52/18 again.

Permalink Reply by physis 8.2 on July 25, 2013 at 3:34am

quick division (which doesn't take into account a few other factors) says that there's a negligible difference between the two ratios.  if you're skidding, consider 17t or 19t rear cog for the skid patches?

and yeah, brake redundancy is...more comforting to me than wearing a helmet (which does NOT mean a rear brake on a fixed gear imo and does not mean that I do not wear a helmet!)



Michael Perez said:

I've learned my lesson there. I'll stick to 46/16 for now rather than going back 52/18 again.

Jeff Schneider said:

Where brakes are absolutely necessary is with a tall gear ratio.  You can destroy knees trying to skid stop.

I also agree that it is 

much safer (for the rider) and more responsible (toward walker/bikers/drivers) around you to have brakes.

Thedutchtouch said:

I'm one of them. Just because you have brakes doesn't mean you ave to use them... But I do enjoy having them, they've stopped me short of being doored, run over, more than a few times. Now, if I could only find cable stays that fit my abnormally sized/shaped top tube...
Permalink Reply by Vitaliy on July 25, 2013 at 5:59am

My last two cents about skid stopping is the reaction time. I ride 48/16 and have a front brake attached, but that doesnt mean I use it; if anything, it stays inert on my handlebars and I practically never refer to it.  Training yourself to skid at moment's worst and quickest is a useful talent to learn. I have had a few close calls but managed to avoid anything drastic through skid stopping and simple immediate awareness.

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