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Bit of an odd question, but bear with me here, I want to build a bike I can use on a sandy beach. Would studded snow tyres be best, or just fat DH type tyres? Or maybe even narrow slicks?? :shock:
Tyres suitable for riding in sand? As in beach?!
- Thread starter LikeClockwork
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I believe that the way to go is fat tyres and low pressures 
I am also interested in the fattest standard tyres available as I am thinking along these lines too
I am also interested in the fattest standard tyres available as I am thinking along these lines too
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You read my mind.... (both of you) It's just the budget is none existent and I happen to have some Tioga DH 2.1's in the workshop.... And a pair of slicks!
On firm/wet sand slicks actually work ok!, something with a tread will work better on the softer stuff, but if you hit the really dry sand then you may as well get off and walk.
A wider/fatter tyre should work best, it should give a bigger "footprint" and help stop you sinking into the sand.
My advice is stay on the wetter (ie firmer) sand, keep your pedalling action smooth, no sudden turns (unless you want to, just for fun ) and wash your bike down after each ride, the salt water and sand will rapidly wear out drivetrain parts otherwise, and check things like pedals and hubs regularly too, the sand gets everywhere...
A wider/fatter tyre should work best, it should give a bigger "footprint" and help stop you sinking into the sand.
My advice is stay on the wetter (ie firmer) sand, keep your pedalling action smooth, no sudden turns (unless you want to, just for fun
) and wash your bike down after each ride, the salt water and sand will rapidly wear out drivetrain parts otherwise, and check things like pedals and hubs regularly too, the sand gets everywhere...
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Superb....
I was reckoning on using just about OK kit out of the spares box, so it can afford to be wrecked. Just the sandy dust off our local cycle track is bad enough, without the aid of salty water!
I was reckoning on using just about OK kit out of the spares box, so it can afford to be wrecked. Just the sandy dust off our local cycle track is bad enough, without the aid of salty water!
velomaniac
MacRetro Rider
Using an on-one 456 or Inbred you can fit 24 x 3" DH tyres in the frame which equate to just shy of 26" wheels in diameter with wide 3" footprint. Result a pretty reasonable floatation tyred bike for considerably less than a fatbike. Alternatively fit as wide tyres as your frame/forks will take on as wide rims as you can get say 28mm jump bike rims. The wider the rim the lower the psi you'll get away with in your tyres and the bigger the footprint you can create thus increasing float.
TrevorKershaw
Retro Guru
I suppose it depends what type of sand you are riding over.
If it's like Ainsdale beach, rock hard, anything should do.
If the surface is dry or loose, then big tyres on low pressures are the key, as other people have already stated. Look at the type of extra wide rims and tyres that John Stamstad et. al. used on the Iditabike race in Alaska over snow and they should cope with soft sand, but I suppose there is a limit to what they can handle. I wouldn't recommend trying to ride over Morecambe's quicksands, no matter what kit you have!
If it's like Ainsdale beach, rock hard, anything should do.
If the surface is dry or loose, then big tyres on low pressures are the key, as other people have already stated. Look at the type of extra wide rims and tyres that John Stamstad et. al. used on the Iditabike race in Alaska over snow and they should cope with soft sand, but I suppose there is a limit to what they can handle. I wouldn't recommend trying to ride over Morecambe's quicksands, no matter what kit you have!
