Bikes: Wheel spins on steep uphill trail: tire or technique?

[Bill Sornson]

whatsup31415@live.com wrote:
> On May 30, 1:02 pm, "Bill Sornson" <so...@noyb.com> wrote:
>> Might even try reversing the Mutano (don't recall if
>> tread pattern is "one way").
>
> Funny you should mention that. I had the same thought. An
> experienced MTB rider at one bike shop said he did. But a person at
> another bike shop said that since the direction of rotation is marked
> on the tire, that's the way it should be installed. WTB did not
> respond to my email inquiry :-(.

Take the palm of your hand and run it over the tread in each direction.
Often you can feel a distinct difference in the "grab" -- although keep in
mind that increased traction forward MAY mean a little less control while
braking (skidding more).

Bill "sweet spot theory of mtb riding" S.

[DirtRoadie]

On May 30, 11:46*am, whatsup31...@live.com wrote:
> My rear wheel spins (slips) on some exceptionally steep uphill trails
> (hardpack). *Is the problem tire pressure, tread design, or my
> technique?

There are probably too many variables to identify any one specific
problem.
Lower tire pressue usually grips better. On hardpack, tread design is
probably less of an issue than elsewhere although less aggressive
treads are probably better (taken to the extreme = slicks on slick
rock)

But here's one element of technique that can help.
Using a higher gear (if you can turn it) may limit wheel slip by
limiting the amount of torque you can apply to the drive wheel,
especially when standing. Standing + low gear is a pretty good formula
for losing traction.

Also, as has been described, smoothness counts and smoothness can
also be easier to achieve in a higher gear. Think of turning slow
circles with your feet - standing or sitting. Try to apply torque all
the way around the pedal stroke not just by mashing down.

One of the advantages of standing is that it is much easier to move
your weight to where you need it - like the rear wheel. Climbing
position should be dynamic not static You have already described that
your weight may be too far forward.

DR

[Chalo]

Michael Press wrote:
>
> *Chalo wrote:
> >
> > mike.a.sch...@********** wrote:
> > >
> > > whatsup31...@live.com wrote:
> > > >
> > > > My rear wheel spins (slips) on some exceptionally steep uphill trails
> > > > (hardpack). *Is the problem tire pressure, tread design, or my
> > > > technique?
> > >
> > > I hear 29 inches do a lot better.
> >
> > I can't believe nobody has taken you up on this yet.
>
> The 29er will have a longer wheelbase.

That's not the only reason a 29er is better-- the longer contact patch
and lower feasible tire pressures could help significantly-- but I am
very surprised that the assertion went uncontested.

Chalo

[someone]

On 31 May, 19:46, "Bill Sornson" <so...@noyb.com> wrote:

> Take the palm of your hand and run it over the tread in each direction.
> Often you can feel a distinct difference in the "grab" -- although keep in
> mind that increased traction forward MAY mean a little less control while
> braking (skidding more).

Which doesn't hurt when t's the rear wheel.

[someone]

On 31 May, 20:07, Chalo <chalo.col...@**********> wrote:
> Michael Press wrote:
>
> > *Chalo wrote:
>
> > > mike.a.sch...@********** wrote:
>
> > > > whatsup31...@live.com wrote:
>
> > > > > My rear wheel spins (slips) on some exceptionally steep uphill trails
> > > > > (hardpack). *Is the problem tire pressure, tread design, or my
> > > > > technique?
>
> > > > I hear 29 inches do a lot better.
>
> > > I can't believe nobody has taken you up on this yet.
>
> > The 29er will have a longer wheelbase.
>
> That's not the only reason a 29er is better-- the longer contact patch
> and lower feasible tire pressures could help significantly-- but I am
> very surprised that the assertion went uncontested.
>
> Chalo

There are some who 'hear' all sorts of things.

[Michael Press]

In article
<cb4d113a-76e3-463e-b152-10b0af6dc173@p4g2000vba.************.com>,
Chalo <chalo.colina@**********> wrote:

> Michael Press wrote:
> >
> > Â*Chalo wrote:
> > >
> > > mike.a.sch...@********** wrote:
> > > >
> > > > whatsup31...@live.com wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > My rear wheel spins (slips) on some exceptionally steep uphill trails
> > > > > (hardpack). Â*Is the problem tire pressure, tread design, or my
> > > > > technique?
> > > >
> > > > I hear 29 inches do a lot better.
> > >
> > > I can't believe nobody has taken you up on this yet.
> >
> > The 29er will have a longer wheelbase.
>
> That's not the only reason a 29er is better-- the longer contact patch
> and lower feasible tire pressures could help significantly-- but I am
> very surprised that the assertion went uncontested.

Got it!

--
Michael Press

[Michael Press]

In article
<22cc92bd-87b0-47ec-8b6b-de9a5a5ed5ca@u10g2000vbd.************.com>,
someone <thirty-six@live.co.uk> wrote:

> On 31 May, 20:07, Chalo <chalo.col...@**********> wrote:
> > Michael Press wrote:
> >
> > > Â*Chalo wrote:
> >
> > > > mike.a.sch...@********** wrote:
> >
> > > > > whatsup31...@live.com wrote:
> >
> > > > > > My rear wheel spins (slips) on some exceptionally steep uphill trails
> > > > > > (hardpack). Â*Is the problem tire pressure, tread design, or my
> > > > > > technique?
> >
> > > > > I hear 29 inches do a lot better.
> >
> > > > I can't believe nobody has taken you up on this yet.
> >
> > > The 29er will have a longer wheelbase.
> >
> > That's not the only reason a 29er is better-- the longer contact patch
> > and lower feasible tire pressures could help significantly-- but I am
> > very surprised that the assertion went uncontested.
> >
> > Chalo
>
> There are some who 'hear' all sorts of things.

What are you talking about?

--
Michael Press

[Bill Sornson]

someone wrote:
> On 31 May, 19:46, "Bill Sornson" <so...@noyb.com> wrote:
>
>> Take the palm of your hand and run it over the tread in each
>> direction. Often you can feel a distinct difference in the "grab" --
>> although keep in mind that increased traction forward MAY mean a
>> little less control while braking (skidding more).
>
> Which doesn't hurt when t's the rear wheel.

Sure it does. Less control, AND tears up the trail.

[RobertH]

On May 31, 12:46 pm, "Bill Sornson" <so...@noyb.com> wrote:
> whatsup31...@live.com wrote:
> > On May 30, 1:02 pm, "Bill Sornson" <so...@noyb.com> wrote:
> >> Might even try reversing the Mutano (don't recall if
> >> tread pattern is "one way").
>
> > Funny you should mention that. I had the same thought. An
> > experienced MTB rider at one bike shop said he did. But a person at
> > another bike shop said that since the direction of rotation is marked
> > on the tire, that's the way it should be installed. WTB did not
> > respond to my email inquiry :-(.
>
> Take the palm of your hand and run it over the tread in each direction.
> Often you can feel a distinct difference in the "grab" -- although keep in
> mind that increased traction forward MAY mean a little less control while
> braking (skidding more).
>
> Bill "sweet spot theory of mtb riding" S.

The more traction provided by the tire, the less likely it will be to
skid under braking.

[Bill Sornson]

RobertH wrote:
> On May 31, 12:46 pm, "Bill Sornson" <so...@noyb.com> wrote:
>> whatsup31...@live.com wrote:
>>> On May 30, 1:02 pm, "Bill Sornson" <so...@noyb.com> wrote:
>>>> Might even try reversing the Mutano (don't recall if
>>>> tread pattern is "one way").
>>
>>> Funny you should mention that. I had the same thought. An
>>> experienced MTB rider at one bike shop said he did. But a person at
>>> another bike shop said that since the direction of rotation is
>>> marked on the tire, that's the way it should be installed. WTB did
>>> not respond to my email inquiry :-(.
>>
>> Take the palm of your hand and run it over the tread in each
>> direction. Often you can feel a distinct difference in the "grab" --
>> although keep in mind that increased traction forward MAY mean a
>> little less control while braking (skidding more).
>>
>> Bill "sweet spot theory of mtb riding" S.
>
>
> The more traction provided by the tire, the less likely it will be to
> skid under braking.

Apparently you missed the part about directional treads and the effect of
reversing them.