eddyz

My friends who all have mountain bikes only want to do a 20k ride along our local **** trial this weekend, being the only fixie biker on the group i really want to join them for the ride. the road is 80% gravel road and 20 % flat road... I know my current tires won't be able to handle all the gravel * so i was wondering, what tires should i pick? my only source probably would be at www.mec.ca since is really close to my area...

and would swapping the rear tire out help prevent tire pucture?

thanks

willypilgrim

and you have a road bike? i don't even understand the drive to want to ride in those conditions in that case, even with a replaced tire.

subsistbmx@hotm

Knobby tires would definitely improve your ride. I ride a several mile trail ( all gravel ) near my house on road tires and never really had any problems but sometimes it can get annoying, slipping and etc..Now comapring road tires vs. knobby tires for punctures, I don't think it matters much at all.

doofo

unless you are riding up low traction hills id guess the front tire would be the better of the two to swap

but the best would be both

Blue Jays

I don't know if I would swap tires for a 12-mile/20-kilometer ride. Out of that whole distance, only 9.6 miles / 16 kilometers are on gravel. It seems like lots of hassle and expense for a somewhat brief ride.

rmwun54

Change both tires.

mander

Id say forget it, why drop $30-60 on new tires for that?

doofo

yeah

for that kind of dough id just get new friends

mascher

I don't know how bad the gravel is, but I ride my bike up and down a gravel trail on Mt-Royal all the time. I got more flats with cheap MEC Conti Ultrasports (cue rant from mcatano), but have no problem with my "nice" tires (Vittoria Tecnos and Hutchison Fusions). I'd say just ride it and bring a patch kit, pump and levers if you don't carry them already.

doofo

lower your tire pressure

mascher

Do that, unless you ride standard road tires, in which case you'll get lots of pinch flats. I ride my gravel at ~110-120, off the commute and right up the trail.

eddyz

ah i just plan on replacing my rear tire since is almost gone. also, is wouldn't hurt if i got some better tires for gravel road since my area has lots of gravel paths.