Touring - Are Big Apples over kill for the C&O

I have a LHT Complete and have been contemplating going with some Big Apples For a C&O trip in June . I am sure the Stock tires will be fine but can anybody who has them on A LHT chime in and let me know if they like them or not


thanks

I think that BA's would be nice and give cushy ride but still reasonably fast on the surface you are likely to find on the C&O, but... I can't imagine making a tire choice based on one 180 mile ride. Do they suit the other riding you plan to do?

Personally I would go with the stock tires until I wore them out or really needed something different.

In the interest of full disclosure: I have only ridden on BA's briefly and only on a 20" folding bike.

I love BAs on my LHT, commute on them year-round, 15-20 miles/day. They would be very nice on the stretches of C&O that I know (Jeff Co WV mostly). You can feel railroad gravel (like the 2" stuff that is right under the ties and tracks, not the gravel trail stuff) under them but not much else. I'm thinking of putting 20" BAs on my kid's trailer when those tires wear out (unless she outgrows it first, it's looking like a race right now...)

Thanks for the info Guys . I just went ahead and ordered a set . Like I said I really did not need them but I am trying to get a nice cushy ride on the LHT .

Cool. I keep mine around 50 psi. Actually I pump them up to 50 and then let them sag to 40 for a while before topping them up again. No need to max them out at 70 psi.

I rode the trail on WTB nanoraptors (700x52) on my Karate Monkey. Large tires like the big apples or the nanos are probably overkill for the trail, but since they roll quite well, you're not giving up all that much speed. Larger tires also give you that much more cushion, which you'll appreciate after riding all day on a rigid bike.

I rode the c&o on my lht recently, using the stock WTB slickasaurus tires. I felt they were almost too wide and that the weight and rolling resistance were noticable. the width was nice for the cushion at lower pressures, but i felt them dragging on pavement and nicely packed sections. 50c seems like way too much.

I have a LHT Complete and have been contemplating going with some Big Apples For a C&O trip in June . I am sure the Stock tires will be fine but can anybody who has them on A LHT chime in and let me know if they like them or not
thanks

When in June? NeilFein and I are leaving from Pittsburgh on the 31st of May, arriving in DC on the 7th or 8th.

I ride a 46cm LHT and toying with the idea of putting BA tires. What size are you guys using? Would the 2.0 or even fatter 2.15 or 2.35 fit? I know the sticker says "fatties fit fine" but.....

When in June? NeilFein and I are leaving from Pittsburgh on the 31st of May, arriving in DC on the 7th or 8th.

We are riding the C&O from June 26-29 starting at Cumberland. I am actually leaving on Wednesday to drop my truck off in DC and take Amtrak to Cumberland and the rest of my group is leaving early earlyThursday morning with a UHaul loaded with a few bikes. I was reading some of your posts and I might also do a test run to either Green Lane or maybe Bulls Island on the LHT fully loaded to see how it handles. Right now I have just been filling my rear panniers with junk and doing a 25 mile loop I have It is like driving a tank compared to my Serotta but a super fun tank.


I went with 2 inch BA’s I am not really too concerned about the rolling resistance especially for this trip the trail is pretty much flat and since I am starting in Cumberland I will technically be going down hill through the locks . My only concern is if it rains and the whole trail turns to mud hopefully the BA’s will be ok

I rode the c&o on my lht recently, using the stock WTB slickasaurus tires. I felt they were almost too wide and that the weight and rolling resistance were noticable. the width was nice for the cushion at lower pressures, but i felt them dragging on pavement and nicely packed sections.

On the C&O? You must have left the canal for a bit....