Commuting - 27" tire question.

In May I'll be going to Southern Illinois for 10 days to stay with some friends of mine. I will mostly be riding around the town, but one day I am going for a ride with a friend. It's a gravel trail, and she has an mtb, but I want to ride my Trek 610 which has 27x1 1/4 tires. I've ridden on bits of gravel before, and it seems fine. I just wanted to know if this is bad for my tires. They're pretty cheap Forte GT2s (slicks), which may be replaced by Armadillos by then.

Thanks for your input. If this will trash the tires then I can take the tank instead of the roadie.

I rode a road touring bike across the firetrails up the UP of Michigan with a loaded touring trailer using 27X1 1/4, I just ran a little lower pressure in the soft areas, aired down to 70PSI for the sand sections and had to do a little walking the bike where it wasn't ridable......

This was on Continental Ultrasports. Armadillos should be fine. ;)

I rode a road touring bike across the firetrails up the UP of Michigan with a loaded touring trailer using 27X1 1/4, I just ran a little lower pressure in the soft areas, aired down to 70PSI for the sand sections and had to do a little walking the bike where it wasn't ridable......

This was on Continental Ultrasports. Armadillos should be fine. ;)

Thanks Tom! Will the Fortes be ok if I don't have the cash for Armadillos by then?

Friends of mine ran 27 inch wheels on access roads for powerlines during my high school years... and lived on gravel roads. I wouldn't envision any problem unless you deviate from the trail and do real mountain biking, and even then no issue as long as you take your time.

I rode 26 X 1 & 3/8 road tires through al sorts of stuff in the day. I sometimes used it as a mountain bike before mountain bikes existed. I'm sure the extra 1/8 inch doesn't change the gravel handling much. :)

Well I feel a little better then. We're also taking a lunch out so I want my 610 b/c it has a rack and trunk. Less in the backpack for the 30 mile trip.

I love this forum, you guys are nice (much more than ssfg!)

I've a pair of continental Gatorskins for a little while that seem to be holding up well. Everything I read about them seems to be positive too. They're just something to consider instead of the Armadillos.

I'll check them out!

Should be, gravel isn't as hard on the tires as you think. ;) There might be squirrely moments in the soft areas, so be ready for them. You should have a ball though. :D Carry a spare tube, of course, and if you do have casing damage, there's always a dollar bill boot.....fold a dollar bill and cover the damaged section of casing inside the tire between the tube and tire casing. It'll get you home. ;)


Thanks Tom! Will the Fortes be ok if I don't have the cash for Armadillos by then?

Carry a spare tube, of course, and if you do have casing damage, there's always a dollar bill boot.....fold a dollar bill and cover the damaged section of casing inside the tire between the tube and tire casing. It'll get you home. ;)

Good advice. I've used part of a folded up page from one of my textbooks before too. Is that why I pay so much for them?

I'm sorry, but what's a casing?

Tom is referring to the inner part of the tire that holds the tube when it is inflated. Even the smallest hole in that portion of the tire can prevent you from inflating and riding unless it is covered with something. The tube will herniate and explode at the hole when the pressure inside the tube gets too high.

Ok, I know what that is. Thanks!

As for the Gatorskins vs Armadillos, they're around the same price (~$37) which is a bit much for me. If I can't find some discounted I may go with Forte GT2 Kevlar tires.

I've ordered from this site, and got my tires overnight. Good prices, too.
http://www.bicycletires.com/products/Continental_Ultra_Gatorskin_.asp
Looks like $32.95 per plus s&h for your Gatorskins.

You would have no problem using any tire on some of the really smooth (crushed limestone?) unpaved paths. I've ruined a narrow (lightweight racing sort) 27" tire by riding it on a normal gravel road. The 27" tires that aren't intended as ultra light tires are probably fine on gravel, though.

If you plan ahead, one of the best boots you can have is a tyvek envelope. Go get one from the post office (Priority Mail envelope). Tyvek is the stuff that you can't rip. I cut it into 6x6 inch patches, you can store several in basically zero space and it's even stronger than bills or candy wrappers (two of the favorite boot materials).

This all depends on the gravel too. I ride 8 miles a day on gravel, and "gravel" can run from packed clay-bound stuff that's practically as smooth as pavement to jagged course crushed stone that will cut the hell out of tires. I doubt it's the latter. You probably won't have any problem at all but of course always be prepared.

use Mr Tuffy liners. I got an extra year or 2 out of a pair, using some very old tires.
FWIW I commute everyday 4K+ miles/year. I rode the C&O w/ 27"x1-1/4 tires before. doable but a little harsh.