rbent Forum - A tale of tires and a tailbox

mleuck

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A tale of tires and a tailbox
Jul 14^th, 2009, 7:49pm

Okay so over a month ago I ordered an Optima tailbox shown here...

http://www.rbr.info/images/stories/lowracersale/optima-baron-tb-1.jpg

It mounts to the back of the seat and after some minor adjustments and noise-proofing it worked well in fact it added around 1 to 1.5 mph average and on top of that NOBODY COULD DRAFT ME! Only problem was it allowed very little clearance between the tailbox and tire so I removed the fatter rear Kojak and replaced it with a thinner Stelvio. This worked well for about 2 weeks until Saturdays Peach Pedal where apparently the rear tire rubbed against the tailbox and ruined the tire....Tailbox is now off the bike but if you can get one GET ONE!

This leads me to the 2nd issue tires. the Schwalbe Kojaks were getting a bit worn so I though I'd try the Stelvios again and order the new Duranos for later. Here is my take on them

Stelvio = Decent tires however due to the higher pressure they have a rough ride, I always worried about pinch flats on some of the bridge joints at White Rock. Okay speed but no idea how durable they are as far as mileage. I put on maybe 500 miles on them.

Durano = Supposedly the Stelvio with a slightly different tread pattern, I had them on 2 days and got a pinch flat, seemed to be not quite as rough as the Stelvio. Speed was okay and supposedly they will last about 6,000 miles although I put on maybe 60.

Kojak = Bigger tire than the Durano and Stelvio (1.35") however is it really faster? Who knows but it sure does feel like it. As an example Sunday morning on the Duranos I managed 19.6 mph after 4 laps around White Rock lake, Sunday evening on the front Kojak (Durano still on the back) I managed 20.3. No worry about pinch flats, much smoother ride and the last pair lasted over 4,000 miles with plenty of tread left.

So if you are in the market for new tires give the Kojaks a try, I like em almost as much as the old Vredestein S-Licks.

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FlyingLaZBoy Moderator '16 ICE SprintX fs, '16 Rocket, '12 KHS Mocha Posts: 5803	Re: A tale of tires and a tailbox Reply #1 - Jul 14^th, 2009, 9:50pm The Kojaks are listed as 1.35", but the ones I have actually measure 1.25" width, and I've heard the same thing from other users... Cool data on the tailbox effect!!! I guess I should use my Aerotrunk whenever I do time trials...
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Hurricane Dan Boom chika wow wow... Posts: 296	Re: A tale of tires and a tailbox Reply #2 - Jul 14^th, 2009, 9:52pm Nice tailbox. I'm glad to hear your results 'cause I've been hoping to pick up this one... http://www.angletechcycles.com/accessories/aerotrunk.htm
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evblazer Five Star Member Restricted from Riding Long Distance or Hills Posts: 908	Re: A tale of tires and a tailbox Reply #3 - Jul 14^th, 2009, 11:56pm Is there no way to shim that tailbox up 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch to give more clearance for the kojaks? I really do miss my kojaks the vittoria randonuers I have on the hurricanes are tough and look like they'll last forever but are really slow.
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mleuck

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Re: A tale of tires and a tailbox
Reply #4 - Jul 15^th, 2009, 1:16pm

Quote from FlyingLaZBoy on Jul 14^th, 2009, 9:50pm:

The Kojaks are listed as 1.35", but the ones I have actually measure 1.25" width, and I've heard the same thing from other users...

Cool data on the tailbox effect!!! I guess I should use my Aerotrunk whenever I do time trials...

I use White Rock as my reference, the funny thing was that with the tailbox even when I felt I was loafing I was doing +20 average. I don't know who makes it (NovawhatevertheyareintheNeatherlands) but if they would just make the wheel well slightly wider I wouldn't have been a problem.

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mleuck

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Re: A tale of tires and a tailbox
Reply #5 - Jul 15^th, 2009, 1:19pm

Quote from evblazer on Jul 14^th, 2009, 11:56pm:

Is there no way to shim that tailbox up 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch to give more clearance for the kojaks? I really do miss my kojaks the vittoria randonuers I have on the hurricanes are tough and look like they'll last forever but are really slow.

Nope, The problem with the tailbox is it rubs on the side of the tire not the top. I think part of the problem is since it mounts to the back of the seat you get some rubbing from the seat flex.

I'm going to miss that thing....<sniff>

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mleuck

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Re: A tale of tires and a tailbox
Reply #6 - Jul 15^th, 2009, 1:21pm

Quote from Hurricane Dan on Jul 14^th, 2009, 9:52pm:

Nice tailbox. I'm glad to hear your results 'cause I've been hoping to pick up this one...

http://www.angletechcycles.com/accessories/aerotrunk.htm

I can't say if you will get the same results, truthfully the one I had was more of a luggage box than a racing fairing, it wasn't "supposed" to improve the speed that I know of

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evblazer

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Re: A tale of tires and a tailbox
Reply #7 - Jul 15^th, 2009, 2:28pm

Quote from mleuck on Jul 15^th, 2009, 1:19pm:

Quote from evblazer on Jul 14^th, 2009, 11:56pm:

Is there no way to shim that tailbox up 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch to give more clearance for the kojaks? I really do miss my kojaks the vittoria randonuers I have on the hurricanes are tough and look like they'll last forever but are really slow.

Nope, The problem with the tailbox is it rubs on the side of the tire not the top. I think part of the problem is since it mounts to the back of the seat you get some rubbing from the seat flex.

I'm going to miss that thing....<sniff>

Well yeah but isn't the cutout like an inverted v ^ in the bottom of the tailbox.. If you got it higher you'd have more side to side room. Of course laying down all that power you might have too much seat flex to matter Smiley

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Mark Hastings
Hurricane & Oregon - Need to lose weight to ride, I hate my new meds Sad

Merlin Road - Short distance speed bike
Fuji Touring Xtracycle Shopping Hauler Bike

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aikigreg Moderator recumbent ninja Posts: 3685	Re: A tale of tires and a tailbox Reply #8 - Jul 16^th, 2009, 2:30am Why not cut the tailbox a little wider?
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mleuck

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Posts: 1105

Re: A tale of tires and a tailbox
Reply #9 - Jul 17^th, 2009, 3:57pm

Quote from evblazer on Jul 15^th, 2009, 2:28pm:

Quote from mleuck on Jul 15^th, 2009, 1:19pm:

Quote from evblazer on Jul 14^th, 2009, 11:56pm:

Is there no way to shim that tailbox up 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch to give more clearance for the kojaks? I really do miss my kojaks the vittoria randonuers I have on the hurricanes are tough and look like they'll last forever but are really slow.

Nope, The problem with the tailbox is it rubs on the side of the tire not the top. I think part of the problem is since it mounts to the back of the seat you get some rubbing from the seat flex.

I'm going to miss that thing....<sniff>

Well yeah but isn't the cutout like an inverted v ^ in the bottom of the tailbox.. If you got it higher you'd have more side to side room. Of course laying down all that power you might have too much seat flex to matter Smiley

Tried that, it's not as much of a V as you might think, it's pretty straight down from the top

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mleuck Five Star Member rbent member Posts: 1105	Re: A tale of tires and a tailbox Reply #10 - Jul 17^th, 2009, 3:58pm Quote from aikigreg on Jul 16^th, 2009, 2:30am: Why not cut the tailbox a little wider? Not possible, it would destroy it
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mleuck

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A tale of tires and a tailbox update
Reply #11 - Jul 20^th, 2009, 3:24pm

I now have Kojaks front and back so to any of you on the Paris ride last Saturday I didn't feel much of that chipseal and still did a 19.5 average

Also I just ordered the full Optima Baron Race fairing that should be at my door in a few weeks, should give an even bigger boost in speed without the wheel clearance issues. It'll give all the roadies at White Rock another reason to hate my guts.

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Hull 697 rbent member Posts: 28	Re: A tale of tires and a tailbox Reply #12 - Aug 12^th, 2009, 2:16pm Quote from Hurricane Dan on Jul 14^th, 2009, 9:52pm: Nice tailbox. I'm glad to hear your results 'cause I've been hoping to pick up this one... http://www.angletechcycles.com/accessories/aerotrunk.htm Emailed you. I have a used Aerotrunk I'll part with cheap.
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Kwijybow Five Star Member mostly a commuter Posts: 1026	Re: A tale of tires and a tailbox Reply #13 - Aug 12^th, 2009, 2:32pm I'm sorta thinking about an Aerotrunk, so if you have one I'd be interested. Take Care, Nelson.
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