Road tyres are designed to run as fast as possible on a hard and relatively smooth surface. In these conditions thinner tyres are faster because they are more more aerodynamic and can be pumped to higher pressures which usually reduces the rolling resistance of the tyres. HOWEVER! After decades getting thinner and thinner, the past … Read more Why do road bikes have thin tyres?
The groupset (sometimes referred to as its “gruppo”) is the collection of all the parts involved in braking, shifting gears, and transferring power from the pedals to the rear wheel (the drivetrain). These components include: Gear/brake levers Brake calipers Front and rear derailleurs Chainset Bottom bracket Chain Cassette The groupset market is dominated by 3 … Read more What is a bike’s groupset?
Like its main competitors SRAM and Campagnolo, Shimano has a hierarchy of groupsets with levels offering different weights, number of gears and – of course – prices! It’s important to remember that while each groupset name maintains its place in the hierarchy, they are usually updated every few years. So, for instance, when Dura Ace – Shimano’s top-of-the-line … Read more What’s the difference between Shimano road groupsets?
Like its main competitors Shimano and SRAM, Campagnolo has a hierarchy of groupsets with levels offering different weights, number of gears and – of course – prices! It’s important to remember that while each groupset name maintains its place in the hierarchy, they are usually updated every few years. So, for instance, the Campagnolo Record of the early 1960s was a 6-speed … Read more What’s the difference between Campagnolo road groupsets?
Like its main competitors Shimano and Campagnolo, SRAM has a hierarchy of groupsets with levels offering different weights, number of gears and – of course – prices! Whilst Shimano and Campagnolo have been producing bike components since the 1920s and 30s, SRAM was only founded in 1987. However, although much younder it has become know for pioneering innovations such as … Read more What’s the difference between SRAM road groupsets?
Counter-intuitive though it is, the answer is almost always: No! At least this is the case on any surface where the tyre can make impression. Unlike car tyres, the rounded profile of a bike tyre makes it almost impossible to hydroplane at cycling speeds. This means that the presence of a tread pattern can actually … Read more Does tyre tread give better grip in the wet?