gomango

Go for it on the Almanzos or Grifos if you are doing 80% gravel/off road.

Both of these roll quite well on a variety of surfaces, yet can certainly handle some sand and loose gravel if you lower the tire pressure into the 40s.

I think they excel on hard pack gravel/graded fill and I always ride to the gravel, so both tires see some light paved road use as well.

Both of the tires have worn well and I haven't had issues with sidewall cuts.

I have heard some shop buzz about durability of the Almanzo, but haven't personally experienced negative performance issues.

I haven't seen the Chicane out on races this fall, but it looks like a great racing tire.

Price is a bit of a jaw dropper though.

I don't have personal experience with the other two, but I have heard good things about the LAS.

Prices really vary on the Almanzo and the Grifo, but careful shopping can save you 35 to 40% off msrp.

I've noticed Velomine's ebay prices occasionally go way down on the Challenge tires, so it's worth watching if you decide to go that route.

Here's a thought CM, why don't you just swing by and take one of my bikes with these tires on it for a day or two and see what you think for yourself?

wintermute

I like using my Bianchi Volpe with Continental TravelContact tires - smooth running on pavement, gravel and hardpack. I kicked butt on some trails that had been recently heavily mulched the other day. I've aired down to about 50 psi and been able to handle rather sandy conditions, but not too easily. I don't like riding over roots on this one. I'm currently building up a 1986 Kuwahara ATB into the Cadillac (as in cushy) of gravel grinders/trail riders. 26"x2.15" Schwalbe Big Ben Tires (anyone have an opinion on ride & wear characteristics/puncture protection of the Performance line vs economy line?) and a Brooks Champion Flyer for good measure.

Italuminium

See how quickly this thread turned to tires?

I think tires and associated stuff makes up 90% of what makes a bike a suitable GG.

30 mm and up, 40 psi (give or take a few depending on your weight, terrain and what you pack). After that just don't fuss about having the correct doodads and just enjoy the time on the (unpaved) road.

Barrettscv 

+1

A well made tire with a higher thread count and some protection from sharper flint-like stones is ideal. This includes some of the more durable Cyclocross tires and some of the performance oriented touring tires. Moderate sized tires in the 30 to 38 range will do the job. Large-block knobby tires are overkill. Slicks work very well on dry gravel and can be finessed on wet gravel with a little bike handling skill. Semi-slicks are a good option for wetter climates.

Vittoria Cross XN Pro: https://www.vittoria.com/en/product/c...s/#product-118
150tpi, file tread

Vittoria Voyager Hyper: https://www.vittoria.com/product/touring/
120tpi, high performance flat protection, Slick tread

Panaracer Pasela: https://www.panaracer.com/urban.php
66 TPI, touring tread with tan sidewalls

Kenda Happy Medium: https://www.kendausa.com/en/home/bicy...py-medium.aspx
120 TPI, diamond center section with knobby shoulder

Kenda Small Block 8: https://www.kendausa.com/en/home/bicy...ock-eight.aspx
120 TPI, small block tread

Clement LAX clincer: https://clementcycling.com/88/las-clincher
120 TPI, file tread

Challenge Grifo XS 32 Open: https://www.challengetech.it/products...xs-open-020/en
260 TPI, file tread

Challenge L'Eroica: https://www.challengetech.it/products/road/eroica-027/en
260 TPI, textured tread

Challenge Paris-Roubaix: https://www.challengetech.it/products...roubaix-016/en
300 TPI, Slick tread, comes in a 700x27 (29mm wide actual size) for road bikes with limited clearance

Grand Bois Cyprès https://www.compasscycle.com/tires_gb_700_32.html
Unknown TPI, textured tread

Ritchey Speedmax Cross Comp https://www.cxmagazine.com/ritchey-sp...ss-tire-review
60 TPI, small block tread

Schwalbe CX Comp: https://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_ti...s/%252Fcx_comp
Unknown TPI, flat protection. semi-slick tread, comes in a 700x30 size for sports bikes with limited clearance

Chrome Molly

Now that's an offer that can't really be refused

I'll have to leave my Kona for you to have a fall trip around the river bottoms. Might PM you soon.

Thx.

Are your challenge tires that you've used successfully the open tubulars or standard tubulars?

Chrome Molly

I'm thinking this will be a great build to re-use some downtube shifters and keep the overall "gravel and better conditions" bike very light. Seems like the perfect way to keep a mid level C&Vish bike with DT's on line for a few more years.

Grand Bois

Interrupter levers, 48X40 rings and cyclocross tubulars so I don't get pinch flats works for me.

goldfinch

For those of you who converted from 700 to 650b set ups, what did you do about brakes?

Bikegeek1968

I just did this litte ride in Italy that has some gravel roads in it. I rode a 1972 Schwinn Paramount with 28mm Vittoria Rubino Pro III's holding 80psi. (Iweigh in at 180) I had plenty of clearance between the frame and tires, and the control on the downhills was fantastic. The ride was very comfortable.

Barrettscv 

"...this litte ride in Italy..." LOL

I hear the Strade Bianche can get soft in some spots. How was it?

bibliobob

That bottle of wine in your bottle cage is proof that it was no little ride You rock!

bibliobob

Well, some sections would more accurately be referred to as the, "strade diarrhea." There were some sections that were a bit muddy (thanks to the previous day's torrential downpour), and a lot of dirt sections.

Unfortunately, the area is REALLY under water at the moment, apparently:

gabriel1

1992 kona explosif with albas and kenda kwest 559-38 tires as I dont ride soft stuff, just packed dirt/pea gravel trails and asphalt.

dddd

I ended up really liking DT shifters on my Miyata Six-Ten for tons of off-road riding, a couple of centuries and even one CX race.

I did end up using indexed 6sp Shimano levers though, on an old Huret clamp. I needed the indexing when picking my way through challenging uphill singletrak, so I ditched the Huret friction levers (that oddly enough came on the bike from Goodwill).

Glennfordx4

yes it's the stock stem and set to the max height limit, I like a more up right position on my off road bikes ( as I did on my off road Motorcycles ). The bike is a Swiss Army Bike ( the knife company) made by Condor who did make the bicycles & motorcycles for the Swiss Army. I can load it down with everything I need for a day out fishing either fresh or salt water plus bring my RC boat for trolling deeper ponds.

Glenn

Italuminium

What do you guys think about tubulars for gravel grinding? How hard are they to change on the road, and is it possible to finish a ride on a spare?

Bikegeek1968

Tubulars are great for gravel, but there are two main considerations.

First, use only high quality tubulars. I regularly race on Vitoria CX and the top end tubular by Kenda. There is one Norcal race in particular that has sections of road worse that some of the pave I raced on in Belgium. There are often sections deep gravel. Cheap tubulars don't stand a chance against this kind of stuff. Look to spend at least $90 a tire unless you can find them on sale.

Second, if you do flat, it can be a real pain. I put my tubies on the old way, and practically have to pry them off with a plastic tire lever. Plus, a field replaced tire won't hold very well, and you will be left riding home quit gingerly.

I only race on tubulars nowadays. While the ride is great, I don't like the cost and risk factors.

american psycho 

Any older road bike pre 1978 should give you enough spacing for fat tires, and should be robust enough.

Tubulars are the best option - at the Cino Heroica in 2013 I rode 34mm Wolber cross tubulars on my friend's 1973 Lygie. Hammering on rutted and washboard gravel backroads in Montana was no problem (I'm 86 Kilos), but 30 year old tubulars don't hold up under high pressure (bam!), but since changing a tubular is fairly easy, I was able to put the replacement 24mm Vittoria Pavé CG on and gingerly hammer it home, slowly around curves.

gomango

Sure, why not.

I have an extra wheelset of Record/GL330s that have Grifo tubs.

They ride great.

I roll them on my Croll and way back, used them on my Pinarello cross bike.

Last time I looked they were over $100 per, so I bought the set I am using from a friend after last year's cross season for $30.

gomango

Great list!

Thanks.

The Eroicas have been discontinued but live on in the Strada Biancas.

https://www.challengetech.it/products...-bianca-040/en

gomango

Open tubulars.

All three sets.

I also have extra sets of Small Block 8s, Michelin Cyclocross Muds (green) or even some Resist Nomads.

You could take a set of tires for a week if you'd like.

Let me know when you get a chance.

thenomad

Awesome! I love those old Kona steel bikes. If I ever run across another in my size with the project two fork it'll be a keeper.
Just posted about the Hahana I rode around for a bit:
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blo...0;src=postname

thenomad

Love the look. I hope to have something similar on a touring frame but I have to go with aero levers (so much more comfortable to me).
Modify to 700c and max the tire size out. Won't be as vintage as 70s but will try my best to do it justice.

https://ridesgoneby.blogspot.com/2013...ismo-part.html

koolerb

I just did my first real ride of any distance to speak of on a drop bar MTB I built in the spring; 26"X2.2 knobby mountain bike tires. It's bombproof, heavy bike, fat tires, I expended a ton of energy pedaling that thing for 44 miles on gravel trail. I'm currently puttung some fatter tires (700X32C) on an old chromo road bike to see how that will ride in comparison.

gomango

I hear you.

I did 71 miles this spring at the Almanzo 100 on my Fargo.

Every other distance ride/event I have done this summer has been on the much lighter Merckx or Salsa La Cruz.

A heavy mtb on gravel roads is total overkill unless the roads are really rocky or very muddy/snow filled.