Reddit reviews Rubena V99 City Hopper Bicycle Tire with Anti-Puncture System and Reflective Sidewall (Black, 28x2.0-Inch)

I noted the use of the word 'paved' in reference to the American River bike trail (which I am unfamiliar with but it sounds more like a skinny paved road than backwoods dirt & rocks with you rolling over debris, downed branches and gravel pits).

If this is correct, and you plan on doing the vast majority of your riding ON pavement, you may find swapping knobbies for slicks does improve your ride quality to a significant degree. (read: it's night and fucking day)

Less rolling resistance = faster bike. Slicks or road friendly tread = better handling characteristics because :more contact with road = better grip, especially in the corners.

All the things that make knobbies great when romping in the dirt and rocks make them dogs on smooth pavement. I was very wary of taking any 90 degree turns at any speed above a brisk walk on knobbies - especially in the wet, you tend to pull on the brake when you get nervous and that's a great way to slip and slide out.

I went with Rubena City Hopper myself after I put 100 miles on my stock MTB knobbies that just sucked on pavement. Seemed like a good bang for buck 50 bucks delivered for 2. (via Amazon)


PS - if you get the 'used -good' ones (likely returns), you get 2 for $42.50 shipped free. They have decent flat protection and reflective strips built into the sidewalls, ride great and wear well.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B008VQ6YSM/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all


Hope this helps.