Tandem Cycling - Tires for tandem tour in Northern Patagonia (Chile+Argentina)

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Xanti Andia
11-19-09, 11:50 AM
Wife and I will embark on our first self suppported tandem tour (second really but the the first was only a long weekend) in the lake region of Northern Patagonia (Bariloche - Puerto Montt -Chaiten - futaleufu - Esquel - El Bolson). Some of it fairly remote country, about 400 km of mostly gravel roads.

Bike is a Co-Motion Mocha. I wonder about tires, we are running Shwalbe Marathon Racer 26x1.5, which is not a racing tre at all, it is an excellent slick touring tire, at 120 psi. I wonder if I should go for a wider tire with more tread and lower PSI. I suppose I would pay a road friction penalty, but improve in traction and comfort, particularly for the rear tire. Any thoughts?

For the curious here is the trip:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=109393667875079755642.000478a6920b6772c897c&t=p&ll=-42.130821,-69.202881&spn=4.261303,9.854736&z=7

2frmMI
11-19-09, 01:38 PM
Wow. VERY jealous. Sure hope you report back in great detail. Have traveled the general area of Chile by car/truck, but not bike. Bone-shaking experience. Good luck.
Homeyba
11-19-09, 03:23 PM
... I wonder about tires, we are running Shwalbe Marathon Racer 26x1.5, which is not a racing tre at all, it is an excellent slick touring tire, at 120 psi. I wonder if I should go for a wider tire with more tread and lower PSI. I suppose I would pay a road friction penalty, but improve in traction and comfort, particularly for the rear tire. Any thoughts?..

I wouldn't worry about any friction penalty. If there were it'd be so small as to be pretty insignificant. You're not racing anyway. I'd be looking for a more rugged tire so you don't have to worry about pinch flats from rocks. I don't ride my tandem on gravel roads often but I would guess you might benefit from a treaded tire for better offroad grip.

Looks like an awesome adventure, I'm jealous! :thumb:

zonatandem
11-22-09, 02:33 PM
Having thread on rear tire would improve traction on ' iffy' roads.
Years ago used a cyclocross rear tire for riding a dozen miles on extremely rough moutainous curved road whereby we had lost traction doing it the year before with standard rear tires.
WOrked great!
Just our input/experience.
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
geoffs
11-24-09, 12:40 AM
Have a read of this.
http://www.hrpu.co.uk/karennben/notes.html
I met up with Karen and Ben when they were in Australia and they done some serious kms through south america.
If you have a read on the lonely planets forum you will also find more info on riding in South america.
It looks good and I wish you well. Your from Buenos Aires and I'm sure you'll be ok but I don't like being robbed though and it seems that nearly everyone who cycles there is. Lots of places in Europe and Asia to cycle.
Xanti Andia
12-06-09, 04:21 PM
Thanks, karennben had good detail on tires. I am fine with travel info, I know the northern Patagonia area quite well but never on a bicycle. Geoffs, You should not over gerneralize regarding getting robbed in South America, though not all of it is safe, much of the area is, as long as you stay out of the larger cities. Central America is a different story.

Conclusion, I think I need new tires.