Which direction should your tyres be installed?

 Which direction should your tyres be installed?  Look at the direction of the knobs in the middle part of your tyres. 

The square-edge side offer resistance under braking while the angled edge maximize rolling speed. The square edges provide the "bite" for traction. When the square edge of the knobs of the rear tyre faces backward, they provide maximum grip for acceleration. When the square edge of the knobs on the front tyre faces forward they provide maximum grip when braking.

This is why some manufacturers provide different directional arrows for tyres that are installed on the front or rear wheels. If the tread on your tyres are symmetrical, like in most slick tyres, it does not matter if you do not follow the rotational arrows marked on them.

They are other factors that affect pedaling power and braking. You should go for tyres with deeper tread and wide spacing for better traction. The wide spacing between knobs helps shed mud and debris, which prevents the tread from packing up with dirt and losing traction As they provide better grip and prevent slippage, they also provide better braking power. However, you will experience greater rolling resistance which means that you will require more energy to maintain your speed.

Avoid choosing tyres with closer and smaller knobs in the centre as it will reduce the traction when you ride on soft or loose terrain like mud, snow, or loose gravel. However, it will be easier for you to pedal, especially, when you are cycling over hard-packed or paved surfaces.

Do you have to make a lot of turns where you often ride? If you need better traction when you make turns, go for tyres with big side knobs. They will provide reliable grip and control when you lean your bicycle into corners on uneven terrain.

Bicycle tyres manufacturer perform research and development (R&D) to enhance the performance of their product. So, shouldn’t we be following their instructions on installation? The question should be what is more important for you when you ride your bicycle. Do you prefer better pedaling power or higher braking power? Test by changing the rotation of your tyres to see what is best for you. There is no right or wrong answer as you can see in this video.

I like the idea of getting a road bike for exercise but skinny tires scare me. Does something like a hybrid bike exist?

Road bikes run on 700x23C slick tyres. Fixed gear bikes on 700x28C slick tyres. 700C indicates the diameter of the rim while the 23C or 28C indicates the width of the tyre. The larger the number is, the wider the width.

Usually customers on the heavier side are concern about its width when they consider buying road bikes. Hybrids also run 700C slick tyres which are wider than 23C and with deeper threads.

They are not installed with drop down handlebar that you see on road bikes. So, cyclists who like riding on larger wheels with slick tyres would prefer to buy a hybrid if they do not like the idea of bending forward to ride. Hybrids are similar to touring bicycles except that the later are installed with heavy duty front and rear carriers for carrying bags or panniers.



Unlike the road bike, for a hybrid you have the option to choose one installed with suspension.



A 700C tyre is there about 28-29” in diameter. Some brands have markings on their 700C tyres and tubes to indicate their size in inches. Example, a Schwalbe 700X35C tube can also be used on a 28X1 5/8-1 3/8” tyre, as indicated on the tube.

While you cannot change a 700C slick tyre to a knobby type as there is none in that size in the market, it is possible to change knobby tyres, usually installed on a MTB, to ones that are slick.



So, if you like the idea of riding a bicycle with a large wheel diameter and slick tyres, you can consider buying a 29” MTB and change both the tyres to slick type for speed, if that is what you are aiming for. This should take away your fears of riding on skinny tyres.

Some customers buy a second wheelset for their MTBs to install slick tyres so that they can use them as and when required by interchanging wheels. But it can be costly as you have to also install another set of freewheel or cassette if it is a geared bike.

You can also change the upright handlebar on your hybrid to the drop down type but you will also have to change your brake levers.

How many miles should I bicycle per day before I start on a world tour?

The best way to test and build up your stamina for long distance ride is to get yourself a bicycle trainer. Mount your bicycle on it and start cycling on it. This will also help you build your muscles for endurance ride.

The gluteal muscles you build up on your buttocks will also act like a cushion so they will not hurt as much during long distance rides.

You must also learn not to cycle against the wind and to change your gears correctly for uphill or downhill rides.

To know how well you are doing on your trainer, you can install a bicycle computer on your bicycle so that you know the distance you have cycled, your average speed and the total distance you could cover in a day considering that you will be called away while training or taking breaks for meals or toilet breaks.


There are meters that can also read if you have high pedal cadence as it tells how fast you can pedal. The higher it is the faster you can go which means that you can cover a longer distance without getting tired at the right gear speed.

Consider installing a butterfly handlebar on your bicycle which you will be touring on.

That way you can “exercise” your hands by moving it along the sponge grip so that it will improve blood circulation and relieve you from hurting due to compression of the nerves of your palms.

As for wheel size, cycling on a 700C wheelset will get you further per revolution vs cycling on a 26″. Most touring bikes are installed with 700C wheelset. Though there are also touring bike with 26″ touring bikes in the market.

700C Touring Bike


However, all 700C tyres are manufactured slick so you will have difficulty cycling your bike over rough terrain. So, you have to decide if you need a bicycle with knobby or slick tyres.

How can you ride a bicycle without getting tired?

Cycling will not be so tiring if you are able to eliminate the issues you faced. I share here some reasons why you will feel more tired than you should while cycling:

1) You are cycling on a bicycle with the wrong frame size for your height.
2) It could also be that the handlebar reach is either too near or too far for you.
3) Or you may have set your seatpost too low.
4) Your tyres are not fully inflated to run efficiently.
5) You are not using your gears right.
6) The gradient of the roads you chose to cycle on are too steep.
7) You are trying to catch up with fellow riders who have better stamina or who are more efficient cyclists.

If you are cycling on a bicycle with the wrong frame size and you do not intend to replace it, here are minor changes you can make to it that will ease the strains of cycling which will make you tired.
Most stems come in length of 32mm right up to 80mm. If the handlebar reach is too far for you, you can use a stem with shorter length as it will bring the handlebar closer to you.



If you would like to remove the strains on your shoulders and arms which can tire you out, you can consider installing an adjustable handlebar stem as it will also allow you to sit in a more upright position.

However, if you are cycling on an old bike that uses quill stem, there are extra long models in the market which will increase the height of the handlebar for easy reach so that you can sit in a more upright position.


Your seatpost height must be adjusted so that when you sit on the saddle, your knee is slightly bent while the ball of your foot is resting on the pedal at its lowest position.

Try to inflate your tyres to the maximum PSI shown on its sidewall for a smoother ride.



Make sure that you use tyres with the correct threads for the right terrain you are cycling on. For urban ride, slick tyres like the one shown in the above photo will be more efficient.

Knobby tyres that are usually installed on MTB will be more suitable for rougher terrain.



Learn how to change your gears efficiently so that you will not have to struggle uphill. Avoid cycling over bridges or through routes that are hilly which can tire you out faster than you should. Routes with lower gradients will also put less strains on your body.

If you plan to cycle in a group, check to see if fellow riders are cycling on MTB or roadbike or Hybrid or Fatbike or folding bikes. Try to match what they are cycling on as different types of bicycles have different wheel sizes and tyre threads for different terrains.

Frankly speaking, whatever exercise you do, unless you are doing it half halfheartedly, you should feel some form of fatigue and tiredness. You should feel tired as some exertions in strength is involved in moving your bicycle.

The weather can also wear you out if you are cycling under the hot sun or under a heavy shower without the proper attire and protection. The stress of keeping yourself safe on the road while cycling can also tire you out. If you don’t want to feel tired at all, stop your bicycle for a rest more often and avoid routes that will stress you.

How much air should I have in my fixie bike tyres?

Try to maintain the correct inflation pressure in your tube to lower the risk of punctures. Look at the inflation recommendations marked on the sidewall of your tyre and pump your tube to the pressure within that range.

If you are aiming for speed, you can inflate your tube right up to the maximum PSI indicated as that will help to reduce the rolling resistance of the tyre.

For better grip, you can let out some air for a more comfortable ride, especially when it is raining. Remember not go below the minimum PSI range recommended as the inner tube can get pinched between the rim and the tyre which can cause punctures.

If you enjoy riding your fixie downhill, during descents, use your brakes in an on-and-off fashion to prevent the rim from been heated up as that could expand the air in your tube and cause a tyre blow-off. That is a good reason not to over inflate your tube.

If you visit Schwalbe’s website, you will find a tyre pressure chart calculated based on body weight.

Some companies supply their pumps with a PSI chart attached. So, for fixie tyre of size 700x28C, if you can’t read the markings on your tyre, it is safe to pump your tube right up to 73 PSI .

What is the difference between slim and broad tyres?

Broader tyres used on MTB tend to be knobby. That means the threads on them are cut deeper which is why they have better grip and are suitable for rough terrain rides.

Cyclists who ride for speed or on paved road will prefer slimmer slick tyres with shallow grooves which can roll faster and smoother.  700C slick tyres like this are usually installed on road, touring, hybrids and fixed gear bikes.


Some broader tyres are also supplied slick but you will not be able to find 700C slim tyres with knobby threads.

The width can be seen imprinted on the side of the tyre with its size. It will read like, 27.5x2.1”, 27.5” indicates its diameter and 2.1” is its width.

When cyclists, who ride on MTB with knobby 27.5” tyres, join racing events on paved road, they will replace those tyres with slick ones of narrower width. So, they may consider getting slick tyre in size of 27.5x1.5” to 1.75” in width. They will also need to replace the tubes if the size of their current tubes does not match.

You will find the information here useful if you want to know more about bicycle tyres and tubes, especially if you are considering changing them yourselves.

Air leaks out of tube faster for cyclists who are overweight. While others may need to pump air into their mountain bike tyre at least every two to three weeks, cyclists who are overweight may find that they need to pump their tubes more often. So, it will be less of a hassle for them to ride bikes with broader tyres. Fatbike can be considered as the tyre size is 26X4”.

How do you protect bicycle tyres from cracking?

If you want to protect your bicycle tyres, avoid doing things to them that will age and dry them out and cause them to crack.

You should:

1) keep bicycle indoor to avoid exposure to the sun's heat or rain.

2) use the proper air pressure (PSI) which is noted on the sidewall of your tyres to prevent overstretching them out.

3) not wash your tyres excessively with chemical cleaners that will remove waxes and other chemical compound the manufacturer used to protect the surface. If you like your tyres looking clean and new, shop around for polish or wax for tyres that will protect or prevent dirt and mud from sticking to them easily.

4) ride on your bicycle regularly so that the tyres are stretched to maintain their flexibility.

5) inflate the tyres at least every 2 weeks even if you are not cycling your bicycle.

6) remove and hang your wheels up if you do not plan to cycle for a long period of time to prevent weight of your bicycle sitting on the tyres. You can also find other ways to store your bicycle, eg, hang it up on the ceiling, like what one of my customers is doing as he rides during the weekends and only when he is free.

Heard of fatbike?

Have you heard of bicycles with fat tyres?

These are your regular 26er expect that it runs on 26x4" tyres.  The idea of fat bikes started in USA as it is great for snow laden roads.  So, no more tying cable ties on the tyres for better traction with fat bikes on the scene.

The fat bike looks bulky and you will think that it will slow you down till you try it.  And if you also think that you could not possibly ride it over rough surfaces, then you have to check this video out.



Fat bikes is also good on sandy places, such as, the beaches along the coast and sand dunes in the desert.  You can definitely ride it on rough surfaces, muddy or grassy patches.  Don't worry that it does not have a suspension fork installed.  Let the air out some and you will feel that you are ridding on a 2 wheeler monster truck.

If you are always complaining that the tyres on your regular bike frequently run flat on you, you obviously have weight issues.  Till you loose some load, you will have to consider ridding a fat bike to avoid the hassle of pumping air into your tyres everytime you are on it.

You can also consider using a fat bike for touring.  The broader base of the tyres makes it easier for you to handle your bike as the load of your panniers are not evenly spread out and can cause your bike to skid on you.

So, what are you waiting for?  Go get a fat bike!

There are also models running on 20x4" tyres.