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Tire Testing Battle



What’s up party people. Check out this week’s episode of the Bonk Bros.

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In this conversation, the hosts discuss various aspects of cycling, including training hours, the comparison between endurance sports and ball sports, training plans, bike maintenance issues like flat tires, and the pros and cons of road tubeless tires. They also share tire recommendations and engage in light-hearted banter about their experiences and preferences in cycling. In this segment, the conversation revolves around various cycling topics, including tire choices for gravel and road biking, insights into YouTube video performance, and the complexities of testing methodologies for tire rolling resistance. The discussion also touches on the challenges of time trials in cycling, emphasizing how external factors like wind can significantly impact results. In this segment, the conversation delves into the dynamics of e-racing, discussing its appeal and the strategies teams employ. The discussion shifts to the practicality of minivans for cyclists, exploring vehicle modifications and their benefits. Listener questions lead to a focused dialogue on tire selection for upcoming races, particularly in varying weather conditions. The segment concludes with insights on heat training and preparation strategies for cyclists gearing up for competitive events. In this segment, the conversation revolves around the latest cycling technology, particularly a new device for monitoring core temperature during rides. The hosts share their experiences with the device, discussing its features and limitations. They then transition into a discussion about tire recommendations for gravel riding, specifically for the Eastern Divide Trail, exploring the challenges and terrain of the route. The conversation also touches on the future of tire testing and potential collaborations, before concluding with a debate on regulating feed zone times in gravel races. The conversation delves into various aspects of racing dynamics, particularly focusing on feed zones, the comparison of gravel racing to F1 strategies, and the implications of speed limits in racing. The discussion also touches on the unique quirks of speed walking, the evolving aspirations within gravel racing, and the prestige associated with different gravel events. The participants share insights on the global landscape of gravel racing and the growing interest among juniors in pursuing gravel as a legitimate racing discipline.

49 Comments

  1. I ride a black/silver 2013 CAAD10. With latex tubes in the GP5000s, no less. This one is not for sale , but it shouldn't be too hard to find these online, if Adam really wants one.

  2. It's a shame that the coverage for the big races is so poor. It might kill the sport a little. You may be doing gravel time trials soon per the Leadville issue. People beat up on BWR last week, but they haven't had to cancel races like Lifetime has. Gravel organizers need to wise up and improve community relations is some places along with less focus on "pros." That arc is unsustainable in the long run.

  3. Wide tire cult member will always shit on anyone that says skinny tires are faster. The thing about confirmation bias, you don't know you have it.

  4. Farmwatts just spent a couple of weeks in spain riding with Jason Osborne the current esports world champ. I believe he is doing unbound as well. Hes coming for you DJ 😆

  5. Sorry DJ, the lab tests are only good for lab testing. The tyres will not deform the same way outside.
    I trust Drew's tests more since they're outside, even with the wind variation.
    However, I admit it's really tough to do perfect tests with all the variables you have to consider.

  6. hmm, forget training, it's too hard….just listen to Bonk Bros and podium! + fit the biggest tire that'll fit

  7. Dizzle, If you want a 35mm slick, check out either pirelli pzero or the gp5000 All season, they are both thicker than the panaracer slick and test well. The gp5000 TR tires are tight to fit on, need some soap and good levers.

  8. The king glazing is getting out of hand.

    Pathfinder 45 is better and wide ass frames like the able are gay

  9. F1 has a speed limit in the pit lane, this is for safety and makes sense. In some cases, I think a speed limit in a feed zone could make sense. I hate seeing people crash in the feed zone, like what happened to Payson and Cole at Sea Otter

  10. Hey Drew your on a podcast pay attention and get off your phone and get some sleep so you can stop yawning , maybe if you get some rest you'll get a better result as well

  11. Usually the max speed zones in tris are safety concerns for the amatuers more than being for the pro field, Like sharp turns/descents

  12. 1:23:10 At NCAAs one of the women's 4×50 freestyle relays had a girl swim butterfly because it is faster than her freestyle, that is probably the only situation where that would happen, cause backstroke you have to roll over under water to do it in a freestyle race. I'm pretty sure it is Free-Fly-Back and breast is by far the slowest stroke

  13. if you're changing road tires, you HAVE to use the center groove on the inner rim, where it is lower diameter. Like the center groove on your inner rim where the valve stem fits. That is specifically what that groove is there for. If you don't have BOTH of the tire beads lined up in the middle of that groove, ALL the way around the wheel, it is infinitely harder to get get the lever under the bead and over the rim. I've watched dozens of mechanics repeatedly make this mistake, people will kind of just half ass pinch the tire around really quick and hold it tight, then as soon as they go to put the lever in and start cranking, they let go of the tire tension and it springs back to the hooks and out of the groove, and it just won't work

    It also helps to use multiple levers at the same time next to each other. I'll slide like 3 under the bead to put tension on it, and the repinch the tire all the way around make sure it's lined up in the groove, then pull it over. If you're taking a tire off, you want to do the levers near the valve stem so the tire can fully sit in center of the groove on the opposite side of the wheel from the lever. If you do it any other way, the tire will sit on the valve stem and make the diameter bigger, making it harder. The tire wants to spring back to the edges of the rim if you don't hold it tight, it's easy to do it wrong. I knew one mechanic that would use those big metal paper clips, or tiny c-clamps to hold the tire beads pinched together all the way around the tire with difficult cases. Even like a 2" section of tire stuck near the edge of the wheel, on either side of tire, can make it borderline impossible

  14. "Most of the comments were positive" … no Drew, most of the comments were pointing out how poor the testing parameters were. When Dylan makes a video discussing the technical aspects of racing – tires, training, whatever…he actually spends time to properly test and presents his data in only the context that it was tested in.

  15. wtf. 6,000mi bike packer asking dudes that race 100 miles for tire advice makes no sense. Ask Lachlan or the other cdt bike packers.

  16. "It got 23K views, I don't give a rip how good or bad it is, I just care it got 23K views, that's ad dollars"… ah, yes, the hallmarks of a quality content producer.

  17. Tubeless or or not tubeless that is the question😅….. It’s just so much quicker and easier with a tubeless setup!! Yea it’s messy when u puncture because the sealant goes everywhere but you realize when you get home that you had a puncture(unless the whole is big or it’s a cut in that case just plug it!)

  18. I disagree with the "people that just didn't make the cut". It doesn't work like this. When you're young, you're trying a lot of things. When running you might realize that you have predisposition to fast walking, and start doing this. You can force yourself to train and train and be very good in running, but ignoring the thing you're already talented in it's just stupid. I guess that Pogacar could switch to MTB or gravel and beat the entire field if he just train for a while, but he has natural predisposition for the road. On the other hand a lot of road racers when switching to gravel wouldn't be able to win races at all, just because they "didn't make the cut". There are probably some, that would benefit from switching and they just don't know about it.

  19. Dylan gives the example of F1 pits and then proceeds to say that no race should be speed limited. Presumably forgetting or not knowing that F1 pits are speed limited. Would be a bad idea to remove speed limits in the pits

  20. Isn't proven that belief can change physiology and even DNA. And we all know the body never stops adapting to stimulus. I think drew just isn't training right and his equipment choice is questionable too.

  21. I feel like Drew would hate me if I ever met him out and about. I love how Dylan always nerds out on all these different bike related topics. I would love having a podcast to discuss all the ‘boring stuff’ he brings up. 😅

  22. You HAVE to wear extra clothes if you want to reach heat zone 3 with the Core sensor even if it’s already hot out. A jacket is enough and will get you there eventually.

  23. The new continental GP ASTR is practically a tubeless gator skin. Little bit slower than the gp5000 but much longer life

  24. The Ironman triathlon with the speed limit Scott was referring to was on a downhill section due to safety concerns because Tri bikes have bad handling and triathletes are bad bike handlers.

  25. Love my latex tubes for the road, almost as good RR as tubeless without the extra hassle and lightweight. Barely get punctures as well. YMMV Currently building up a gravel setup and for that Ill probably run tubeless. To me a big enough puncture will ruin a tubeless setup and youll end up putting a tube in it so what's the benefit for road? TR tires also cost more and youll need the supporting accessories to run the system. I run GP5k clinchers for that reason also over the TR tires which cost more. Tubes for the road, tubeless for offroad, for me atleast.

  26. Road tubeless IS bs. And no Scott is it NOT faster. The bike tire rolling resistance numbers typically showed tubed tires tested with butyl. Replace that with latexand there is no speed difference, at least for road tubeless tires that are not solely race-day TT tires.

  27. I can't decide whether this or the nero comments are meaner.

    You guys should do a pod where you exclusively compliment one another and sip tea. I would enjoy this.

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