Bike Parts – Tires

So now that nutrition and wheels have been discussed, now it is time for the final HUGE piece of the puzzle – tires. And just like with nutrition – there are a lot of companies with a lot of products to filter through. Hopefully my 3 Belgian Waffle Ride race experiences as well as 3 long years of training and riding can help you with your own selection.

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As can be seen in the image above, tires come in all shapes and sizes and different tread patterns. Another thing to see in this whole post is that my tire brand of choice is IRC Tire thanks to my good friends at Pure Gravel. But, I started down a different route for my 1st Belgian Waffle Ride. For the 2017 race I rode an endurance road bike (2017 Giant Defy Advanced Pro 1) which did not have a lot of clearance for big tires. I was able to fiat a Schwalbe G-One Speed 700x30c front and rear however due to my lack of gravel experience and hesitation with such small tread, I was very timid through the rock and dirt segments. I was really worried about getting flats or crashing so I took my time through those segments and through the nasty dirt climbs and sandy sections – basically I was slow for 40% of the race due to my lack of confidence in dirt. In 2018 I upgraded to a cyclocross bike (2018 Giant TCX Advanced Pro 1) and installed a MTB style set up with a Kenda Happy Medium 700x32c in front and a Schwalbe G-One Speed 700x30c in the rear. The reason for these different tires and sizes was I wanted more grip and control in the front and more speed in the rear – keep in mind this was my second year attempting the race and I was much more confident with my dirt skills! For 2019 I upgraded again this time to a gravel bike (2019 Giant Revolt Advanced Pro 1) and installed IRC Serac CX Sand 700x32c and crushed everything in my path. However – could I have gone smaller and been even faster considering the course had no mud and I knew how to maneuver through all the rock gardens and sand pits and dirt segments really well?

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This brings me to 2020. With the weather looking like it could be another dry spring and potentially the course being pretty much the same with minor changes or additions, should I go smaller and will it help me to be even faster on the road segments? will the 4 mm of girth make that much of a difference in terms of speed and handling? Or should I go for it all and go with what the pros use and go with a 28c with no knobs (by the way this is a sarcastic question as I am NOT a pro nor am I crazy enough to run a smooth tread tire as I want to have fun in the dirt and rock segments). Look above for the choices in 28c and look below for the differences between the 32c Serac CX Sand and the 28c Marbella. Which would you choose?

One final note. I am not worried about weight (I have no idea how much my bike weighs but it is lighter than others I have held and to me it is light) so with regards to tire sealant I add 4 oz to each tire. The main reason for doing this is through experience the only flats I have had were due to sidewall slashes but after numerous rides I have seen evidence of punctures but did not succumb to an actual flat. I have tried Stan’s and Orange Seal with the latter being my choice do to the fact that is has a thicker solution and I just purchased a bottle of Muc-Off to try over the next few months. Also, I do carry a can of GUP Kwiki Sealant as well as a new frame bag with a tube, tire levers, plug kit, Co2 cartridges, and a multi-tool as a backup. Last year I had a fanny pack with all my tools but it bounced around a lot and put strain on my stomach and lower back so I do not recommend it – I did carry extra food in it too but I realize I can just stuff my jersey pockets and by top tube bento box with all the GU Energy nutrition and hydration supplements I need. The tire pressures I ran last year were 40 psi in front and 44 psi in the rear but this is something everyone has their own magical numbers for so find yours and you will feel cushy all day long!