Touring - Allegheny Passage/ C&O tire width question

OK tire gurus, if you had a choice, which 26" tire width would you run for this trip, 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" or neither. (Mind you the third choice will probably keep me from sampling as many crabcakes as I would have hoped) As always, thank you for your input.

also best tire size for a 700 size tire? would a 700x28 work well or should it be wider? thanks

OK tire gurus, if you had a choice, which 26" tire width would you run for this trip, 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" or neither. (Mind you the third choice will probably keep me from sampling as many crabcakes as I would have hoped) As always, thank you for your input.

Well, after talking with some folks, it appears that the C&O is the tricky place because its dirt. If there's no rain, tires are not an issue. However, I decided to swap out my 26 x 1.5 WTB Slickasaurus tires for some WTB All Terrainasaurus. Got them at Nashabar on sale a few weeks ago for $13/ea (they are still on sale). I haven't mounted them let, but they look like they'll proved the traction required if its wet/muddy.

Brian

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_227649_-1_200327_200276_200518

I rode the entire trail on 700x32s with no problems. I was pulling a trailer as well. 26x11/4 would work but w/ a muddy trail one might go wider....and it is muddy right now!

OK tire gurus, if you had a choice, which 26" tire width would you run for this trip, 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" or neither. (Mind you the third choice will probably keep me from sampling as many crabcakes as I would have hoped) As always, thank you for your input.
Depends on the weather. The wetter the more you need a tire with some width and tread. If it is dry you could easily ride it with pretty skinny tires. If unsure about the weather go with the wider ones.

After this weeks rain, 26x2.1's :) Between the mud on the C&O and the soft crushed limestone on the GAP

Normal days I wouldn't ride it on less than 32mm's. I'm running there this weekend, I'll be on a MTB with 2.0's.

also best tire size for a 700 size tire? would a 700x28 work well or should it be wider? thanks

I used 700x32 successfully twice, although during the first 'wet' trip I would have preferred a wider tire with some tread. When I ride in June, I'll be using wider cyclecross tires instead of my hardcase commuting set.

I'm with The Historian on this one - 700x32 will work, but barely. I found myself wishing for wider tires - and fenders!

...and I was quite happy with 700x32. But I did wish I had fenders...

Judy

I did the whole C&O last weekend on mostly slick 700x35 Vittoria Randonneurs. We had rain one of the days, and I didn't have any problems related to the tires.

Chris

Done it twice on 700X35's (Schwalbe Marathon Supremes) and never a bit of trouble. One trip was dry, the other pretty wet and I was glad to have fenders. Personally wouldn't have wanted a skinnier tire.

About any non-slick tire will work. I'd tend towards the wider tires as you will have areas with sketchy traction. The Schwalbe Marathons are excellent more for the puncture resistance than for the tread.

There are bike shops at pretty regular intervals so you may not need to carry a spare tire, just a couple tubes and a patch kit. The roughest portion of the journey (except for the Pinkerton Tunnel bypass) is near DC actually. I had to let air out to get past that area with my wristbones in tact due to the washboards and many small rocks.

I've done the length on 700x40c marathons. These were pretty good though it was early in the year and the GAP section was soggy which made going slower and might have been better with wider rubber. I ended up breaking a spoke about 50miles out from DC (only had 32 spoke wheels) and I agree with the others that this section is the roughest.

I have done some small sections of the C&O canal near DC on 700x28 gators and that was brutal. I was unloaded at the time.

I'm doing a ride down the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route this summer and have gone for 700x50c marathon XRs (they just fit my bike). So I'd go for the largest tires you can fit on the bike.

I've done only a short bit with 32's. my hands were feeling the shocks. I'm not sure if gloves would have prevented this, but next time I am using larger tires.

About any non-slick tire will work. I'd tend towards the wider tires as you will have areas with sketchy traction. The Schwalbe Marathons are excellent more for the puncture resistance than for the tread.

There are bike shops at pretty regular intervals so you may not need to carry a spare tire, just a couple tubes and a patch kit. The roughest portion of the journey (except for the Pinkerton Tunnel bypass) is near DC actually. I had to let air out to get past that area with my wristbones in tact due to the washboards and many small rocks.

Yes, that stretch from mile 25 to Great Falls was the rockiest on the C & O, aside from a short stretch near Harper's Ferry.

Pinkerton Horn wasn't a problem on either of my trips last year, but Ohiopyle is pretty rough in spots.

I've done only a short bit with 32's. my hands were feeling the shocks. I'm not sure if gloves would have prevented this, but next time I am using larger tires.

Both times I did this trip I was very happy to have gel gloves.

50mm big apples at about 35 psi

Ok, I think I get it. In general, bigger is better so it's 1 1/2- 1 3/4", but it's going to be tough keeping up with that speedster Spinnaker.

Pinkerton Horn wasn't a problem on either of my trips last year, but Ohiopyle is pretty rough in spots.

I hit Pinkerton after it rained the night before. Although limestone it was riding in quicksand it was so soft.

Ok, I think I get it. In general, bigger is better so it's 1 1/2- 1 3/4", but it's going to be tough keeping up with that speedster Spinnaker.

It is not me you need to worry about. My buddy Dave is older than all of us, I am sure and we will be just getting started on the Montour and he will be sipping a beer down in DC. OK a bit of an exaggeration but not much. :)

Wow now you guys have me thinking I should go wider. I have 32s right now.

Anyone try the WTBs (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_228274_-1_200327_200276_200524)

Or the Kendra's (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_158605_-1_200327_200276_200524)

Wow now you guys have me thinking I should go wider. I have 32s right now.

Anyone try the WTBs (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_228274_-1_200327_200276_200524)

Or the Kendra's (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_158605_-1_200327_200276_200524)

You running 700c's Spinnaker? I have a set of the WTB Interwolf's sitting here you can have. They were pulled with 20 miles on them in favor of Conti tourings. Decent tires they seem, I pulled them because they're a bit cyclocross'ish and subsequently had some buzz on pavement (They came new on my 09 Gary Fisher)

You running 700c's Spinnaker? I have a set of the WTB Interwolf's sitting here you can have. They were pulled with 20 miles on them in favor of Conti tourings. Decent tires they seem, I pulled them because they're a bit cyclocross'ish and subsequently had some buzz on pavement (They came new on my 09 Gary Fisher)

Wow that is really generous. Yes I am running 700c.

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth but what width are they? (They might as well go to someone else if they are no wider than 32s.)

How would you get them to me? I could reimburse you for shipping. Or maybe you could just bring them with you when you join us for the tour???? (hint hint hint) :thumb:

Wow that is really generous. Yes I am running 700c.

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth but what width are they? (They might as well go to someone else if they are no wider than 32s.)

How would you get them to me? I could reimburse you for shipping. Or maybe you could just bring them with you when you join us for the tour???? (hint hint hint) :thumb:

They're 38mm's. I could box and ship, or I'm sure I'll be up that way even before the tour. Was going to run this weekend, but was taking the bike off the car yesterday, picked it up and turned, and the old man part of my back decided to make itself known :P

They'll prolly make a decent trail tire. The bike they came with was converted to a fendered road commuter and I just opted with a smoother tire that had built in flat protection (Continental Touring Plus's)

Ok, I think I get it. In general, bigger is better so it's 1 1/2- 1 3/4", but it's going to be tough keeping up with that speedster Spinnaker.

As long as you are faster than me, you still win. :)

You running 700c's Spinnaker? I have a set of the WTB Interwolf's sitting here you can have. They were pulled with 20 miles on them in favor of Conti tourings. Decent tires they seem, I pulled them because they're a bit cyclocross'ish and subsequently had some buzz on pavement (They came new on my 09 Gary Fisher)

If Spin passes on this generous gift, I can give them a good home. :)

They're 38mm's. I could box and ship, or I'm sure I'll be up that way even before the tour. Was going to run this weekend, but was taking the bike off the car yesterday, picked it up and turned, and the old man part of my back decided to make itself known :P

They'll prolly make a decent trail tire. The bike they came with was converted to a fendered road commuter and I just opted with a smoother tire that had built in flat protection (Continental Touring Plus's)

Spinnaker, if you use these tires, check clearances. IIRC, you use a Trek 7.something fx. You can only go so wide with a tire before you begin to have problems. 38s might be pushing it.

Im doing the C and O in two weeks and picked up 700x35 panaracer xcinders and some SKS fenders. the panaracers were a bit expensive at $30 each but they have plenty of thread and are folding.

the SKs fenders were so fiddly, i had to cut and bend the stays to fit the fenders along with disc brakes, rack, and the knobby 35c tires. Its still a little crooked so i can hear some rubbing.

Im still worried about the first 30miles of rocks. my bike is all aluminum no suspension

what about with 27s"? I'm thinking the Club Roost 27"x 1 3/8 that are cyclocross tires...

I've done the whole C&O on 26x2.0 on my mountain bike (Kenda, smooth center and knobs on edge) and parts of the GAP and C&O on 26x1.5 WTB Allterrainasaurus on my LHT.

It was muddy on the first day of the C&O and those tires did fine. The C&O is mostly gravel but there are some mud puddles, washouts and ruts in some places as you get closer to DC. With the 1.5 tires, they sink into the gravel a little more.

The GAP, as far as I've been on it, is in pretty good shape. The 1.5 tires did well there, but it was mostly dry.