Friday, July 31, 2020

Cycle tyres, history and nomenclature

Why is there different wheel sizes, what are their usages purposes, how they have historically evolved in cycling, why so many confusing dimensions for tyres!......

Like all beginners I have also gone through these questions and have eventually come to understand the following:.

26" wheel cycle: since the center of gravity is low and resultant control, they are better suited for trail riding, stunts, City bikes which can turn easily in the small bylanes etc, due to low turning radius.

Moreover 26" was the standard size in all MTBs when mountain biking started off initially. So we can easily get cost effective tyres and wheels in this size. ആദ്യ കാലങ്ങളിൽ ഈ size Tyre ധാരാളം മാർക്കറ്റിൽ വന്നിരുന്ന കാരണം ഇപ്പോഴും ഏറ്റവും വില കുറച്ച് കിട്ടുന്ന tyres and wheels ഈ സൈസിൽ ആണ്.

29" is for Downhill etc where rolling is the key while being off-road capable

27.5" is the midway option where more rolling is needed along with having maneuverability

 That is to say that 27.5 inch sized tyre is an in between option when maneuverability(26 wheel is more maneuverable than 27.5 due to its smaller diameter and hence smaller turning radius) is needed as well as good rolling speed (29 inches diameter wheel has more rolling speed due to its  higher diameter).

Selection of the wheel size depends upon the nature of ride planned, whether it's off road trail involving twists and turns where control, stability and precision turning is important (smaller diameter wheel is needed in these type of rides, 26" would be preferred if speed is not that important but control is, 27.5 would be preferred if speed is important but the trail involves not much of curves and turns at high speeds, 29" will be preferred if it's just Downhill and speed is important, not involving any serious curves).

Also 29" MTB is not meant for long rides on tarmac, for that a hybrid or road bike (depending on the condition of the road and speed required) with a 700mm diameter Tyre would be better.

See the explanation of Tyre sizes below, basically different places(for example the 700c nomenclature is due to the French standards)  different ways/standards of mentioning Tyre sizes, some mention in inches some mention in inches (in India we have both!
 The more accurate way of noting Tyre sizes are using the ISO standards or the ETRTO (European Tire and Rim Technical Organization) standards as explained in this video:


Excerpt from the link above: 700C is used to refer to any tire, rim, or wheel with a 622mm BSD (Bead Seat Diameter) , but it could be on a skinny-tired road bike where the wheel has an actual diameter of only 660mm (which is actually a little LESS than 26 inches!), or a mountain bike with a wheel diameter of over 29 inches.

Want to know the pros and cons of each wheel size and what might work best for you? Read all about them here.


The origins and cycling back then

I have been cycling since 1st of August 2012, with a target of reaching the fitness level which is needed to do 600 kms in 6 days(100 km per day), for the rally starting on 10th November 2012 from Thrissur to Chennai.

I started with 5-6 kms per day, which I did in 3 sessions, morning, afternoon and night after dinner, since I had left cycling since 1990(22 years) and didn't want to over strain muscles and result in injury, etc.,. by Septmeber mid I was doing 15 kms in one session(morning only). All this was done on my 23 year old BSA SLR(no gears).

On 14th September, 2012, I bought a Bianchi Spillo Rubino, with lock out Suspension, 21 speed (geared) cycle and on the very next day was a hartal (15th Septmeber). My co-rider in the planned chennai rally, Cycle Francis called me up on 14th evening and proposed a ride on 15th on the Hartal day with the messages of "Save Indian Family", "Save Energy" and "Stay healthy". We and Dr.Krishnakumar, RMO(Ortho) of Thrissur Medical College set out on 15th morning to Thrissur Press Club to meet with Asianet News Channel reporter and cameraman to explain our ride with messages.

We rode to medical college where Dr.Krishnakumar joined duty and we continued on our planned ride further to chittilappally

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/188205167

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Maharally: Help us reach out to the world

Subject: Maharally: Help us reach out to the world

Can you guys also search out international cycling groups/associations and cycling event organisers/participants across the globe and write to them similar short enticing messages, which will make them come and ride with us!(it would be a publicity blitzkrieg, even if 1 foreigner joins us!, besides the pull it will exert on the international media!).
You should especially write to the Dutch cycling embassy, they would then link us and support us everywhere they have a reach to, pls find the relevant emailids at: http://www.dutchcycling.nl/ ,  https://twitter.com/Cycling_Embassy (pls tweet tagging them, etc), http://www.youtube.com/user/DutchCyclingEmbassy and http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Dutch-Cycling-Embassy-3881134?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr

Also contact: http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2013/us/ (Tour De france the most coveted cycling event, for the Time being!, till Maha Rally picks up pace and popularity, not really joking, it should be our dream... and if we dream right and act meticulously.... it will materialise, it's just a question of when, no whether!). Tour of Nilgiris is our own event : http://www.tourofnilgiris.com/ .

 Ccing to some who are closely associated with cycling for their info and references. Pradeep, Vimal, and other cycling pals, please do send us emails/weblinks of organisations and individuals who could be interested in associating with the Maha Rally.
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Guys, "Maha Rally for Change" is all about positive changes and reforms around each of us, which concerns everyone. Check out MR website: www.maharally.in

Hence we need to reach out to everyone across the globe, to get international support(they could use this new social-movement model, in their own countries, mixing sport with social responsibility, through solution & result-oriented patriotism and positive activism) network with all possible cycling groups nationally and internationally.

We also should inform cycling events worldwide about the Maha Rally and what it stands for, this actually deserves to be made bigger than the Tour de France, though it cannot be compared to any cycling event per se directly, since it's more of a socially responsible yatra, a  journey involving exploration of self and our country, in which one gets a chance to be a real "change-agent", touching various parts of India, trying to tie up the problems across  India, to those(voluntary groups, govt. agencies or individuals) who can work on suitable solutions.

The Maha Rally, is not just sports, it's Karma Yoga: www.maharally.in 

Videos on Maha Rally
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d4rowJkVEU : Maha Rally is coming to you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqX0JgI849U : Maha Rally Starts on 28th July from Thrissur  and ends at Khardungla

Sunday, September 9, 2012

What's Cyperbole...

We felt the need for this "Cyperbole Blog" since a blog with multiple contributors can be much more effective in various levels, like a better manner of presentation and indexing, visibility on web searches, etc.,. than a forum or a website like bikezone, which too has multiple contributors but which is more general in nature topic-wise.

This blog is to document all our preparations, routes and such trivia related to cycling. For instance we all can record our practice regimes with respect to any specific events, trips, regular rides or whatever which could inspire more people to take up cycling for good as better lifestyle option, to help them avoid re-inventing the wheel.

Will be adding more contents soon, content contributors and cycling enthusiasts are being invited as we post, see you soon with more updates.

Till we meet again.... Keep riding ... enjoy the Journey :)