Finding the Perfect Tire Width and Pressure For Your Cycling Adventures

The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast by CTS

OVERVIEW

Wheels and Tires and Tire Pressure. These are the subjects of endless debates among road, gravel, and mountain bike racers. Wheel and tire technologies continue to change. Internal rim widths allow for wider tires, as do modern frames. In Episode 247 of "The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast", Coach Adam Pulford and Velosmith's Tony Bustamante discuss how cyclists can narrow in on the wheel + tire + pressure combination that works best in specific situation, like SBT GRVL vs. Big Sugar.

TOPICS COVERED

• Why are tires so important to cycling performance?
• Why you should be testing multiple tire choices
• Sourcing course-specific info on tire selection
• How tire pressure affects wheel system performance
• Tinkering with tire pressure to find your preferred setup
• Sweet spots for rire size and handling characteristics
  

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LINKS/RESOURCES

Velosmith Bicycle Studio

- SRAM/ZIPP tire pressure guide
- Schwalbe tire width guide
- WTB Tire/Rim fit chart

GUEST

Tony Bustamante of Velosmith Bicycle Studio. A second-generation bike shop owner, Tony Began working for his father in 1986 and over time worked in shops from L.A. to D.C. In the late 90s - early 00s. He worked at Seven Cycles in production/manufacturing and design before starting Velosmith in 2011 with a focus on building custom bicycles and delivering an exceptional level of mechanical service and hospitality. One last bit about Tony: he was an athlete Adam Pulford worked with for a handful of years and Adam has utilized Tony's skills and guidance on equipment choices, bike fit, and more.

HOST
Adam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.
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Chapters

1. Introduction to Tire & Wheel Technology (00:00:00)

2. The Evolution of Wider Tires (00:03:25)

3. Race Day Tire Selection Strategies (00:07:12)

4. Finding Optimal Tire Pressure (00:09:06)

5. The Art of Tire Tinkering (00:14:45)

6. Mountain Bike's Influence on Cycling Innovation (00:18:40)

7. Buying a New Bike: The VeloSmith Approach (00:20:54)

8. Closing Thoughts and Call to Action (00:24:57)