Folding Bikes - Bike Friday NWT Tire choice

I have a BF NWT on order. Looks like this is the stock tire: IRC Metro 20 x 1.25 (406) blackwall street 100psi. Is this suitable for a weeklong tour on a Rails To Trails trail with a surface of crushed limestone? I'm not familiar with those tires. My only experience has been with Marathon Racers (on a Swift that my GF will be riding). I would like to hear any suitability comments on those as well.

I have a BF NWT on order. Looks like this is the stock tire: IRC Metro 20 x 1.25 (406) blackwall street 100psi. Is this suitable for a weeklong tour on a Rails To Trails trail with a surface of crushed limestone? I'm not familiar with those tires. My only experience has been with Marathon Racers (on a Swift that my GF will be riding). I would like to hear any suitability comments on those as well.

I just spent the weekend in Vermont on a BF NWT with those tires. Most of the route was paved, but there were several sections of packed dirt, and some gravel. I wasn't happy on the gravel, but the packed dirt was okay. I bought a pair of Schwalbe Marathons to replace the IRCs, expecting to do it right away. But I've been pleased with the IRCs, and haven't swapped them out yet.

I would expect that since a rail trail will be relatively flat, as long as the surface is reasonably well packed, the IRCs will be fine.

Speedo

I have done 25 miles (50 total) up and down the C&O Canal on Marathon Racers with my NWT. I lowered the pressure to 60 front and 70 rear and everything worked out well. Generally the towpath is packed direct with gravel: some holes, roots, and ruts ... but nothing terrible. I also had an SQR bag on the back making it even more rear heavy.

I have no experience with the IRC tire.

I do have a set of Primo V-Monsters (1.75") that performed well in Pennsylvania on some trails. If the boss and I follow through on a Pitt-DC bicycle tour, we will use the V-Monsters instead of the Racers.

-G

I have done 25 miles (50 total) up and down the C&O Canal on Marathon Racers with my NWT. I lowered the pressure to 60 front and 70 rear and everything worked out well. Generally the towpath is packed direct with gravel: some holes, roots, and ruts ... but nothing terrible. I also had an SQR bag on the back making it even more rear heavy.

I have no experience with the IRC tire.

I do have a set of Primo V-Monsters (1.75") that performed well in Pennsylvania on some trails. If the boss and I follow through on a Pitt-DC bicycle tour, we will use the V-Monsters instead of the Racers.

-G

What did your NWT come stock with? My "boss" and I are considering doing the whole Pitt-DC tour, is the C&O the same surface as the GAP trail?

James_Swift posted a review of these tyres in the Swift thread, near the current end.

James_Swift posted a review of these tyres in the Swift thread, near the current end.

Thanks, Jur! Very enlightening.

What did your NWT come stock with? My "boss" and I are considering doing the whole Pitt-DC tour, is the C&O the same surface as the GAP trail?

I don't know what the GAP trail surface is made of. But the C&O is generally packed dirt, gravel, and grass. There are places where the trail also has somewhat deep ruts. At some places there are some exposed roots and rocks.

I don't know what the GAP trail surface is made of. But the C&O is generally packed dirt, gravel, and grass. There are places where the trail also has somewhat deep ruts. At some places there are some exposed roots and rocks.

I answered my own question by doing a little research:
The rail-trails on the Pittsburgh side of the mountains are mostly firmly-packed crushed limestone, with a few paved sections. The southern 15 miles of the C&O Canal Towpath, between Great Falls and Georgetown, are also crushed limestone. Most of the other 170 miles of the C&O Canal Towpath is closer to packed gravel – mostly double-track (two packed tracks with a hump between them, like a one-lane dirt road)

This site looks to be a good resource for anyone considering a Pittsburgh to DC rail trail bike tour:


The Yockatomac Trek ™

Resources for planning your bicycle trip between Pittsburgh PA and Washington DC

http://www.yockatomac.org