Touring - What 700-series tire for Chesapeake & Ohio Canal / GAP ride?

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frankgg
04-24-11, 05:59 PM
Hello all, I just purchased a Windsor Tourist and am going to ride the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal / GAP trail later on this summer around July 4th.

I'm curious if anyone has some recommendations for tire to use? I'm guessing I'll want to use a 700x35 or wider, just wondering if there's a recommended touring tire for road & trail use around here?

Thanks!

QueueCT
04-24-11, 06:27 PM
You'll be fine with a 32mm although I prefer a 35mm. I'll be riding a Vittoria Randonneur Pro 35mm for my trip in 3 weeks. The tread pattern might be an issue if it gets muddy but shouldn't be a big problem.
CCrew
04-24-11, 09:32 PM
I would consider 32mm to be the minimum, but I usually will pick one of the bikes running 35's or 38's. I've run it at speed/unloaded on my cross bike on 32's, and probably could have done it on 28's but it sucked a lot of fun out of it 100 or so miles in.

Had a pair of guys two years back that swore a road bike on 25's was perfect. Running north to south I ran into them at Paw Paw where they had stopped to buy foam pipe insulation for their handlebars and said they'd had a dozen flats between them.

You don't need agressive tread for the C&O, a road hybrid style tread design is perfect.

skilsaw
04-25-11, 12:23 AM
My personal view is to use the stock tires until they are worn out.
Kenda Eurotrek, 700 x 32c, presta valve tubes

The Schwalbe marathon racer 700x32 rear tire that came on my tour bike is about 1/2 used up so I've rotated the front and rear tires and will get another year, maybe two out of them. I start on a 700 mile (1150 km) trip in two weeks and feel confident about not getting flats. Now I've jinxed myself!!! See what you made me do!!!