d-klumpp

Hi! Pardon me if this has been addressed previously, as I never find what I need with the BF search...

I'm more of a recreational roadie but want to go on a 2-week credit card tour somewhere in the South/West in March. I intend to use my all-around road bike: Seven Alaris with a rear rack. I currently use 23C Conti GP4000s on Mavic Aksiums.

My previous "touring" experience is limited to a 100-mi round trip overnighter, and the tires were fine with a single, small, stuffed panier. If I pack lightly, can I stick with 23C, or do I need to go wider? How much? (FYI, 6-4, 200lbs)

Thanks for any thoughts,

Dave

PS: Any recommended routes? I'm in Chicago and looking more for relaxation after a brutal several mos at work, so routes near beaches and/or brew pubs is what I seek!

brotherdan

I would go with a bigger tire. 700/28 might be overkill if you're packing really light. But 700/23 isn't going to get the job done unless you are carrying almost nothing. I'd look for something in between.

You can't beat the Oregon coast for beaches and brewpubs. But the weather is too iffy in March. It's much better enjoyed in July.

late

If your bike can take it, I like the Rivendell Ruffy Tuffy 27c. Remember you only need 75-85 psi with them.

If it can't, find a good 25c tire with a kevlar belt.

robow

Gatorskins 28's if you can get them on your bike, if not then gator 25's. The larger the better IMO. You very well may get by with what you have but I experienced problems years ago when I went with all the weight on the back and didn't step up in tire size.

tajsss

I use Specialized Armadillo's on my bike. The sidewall is pretty stiff and I think handles the weight a bit better. I use 700x23 because that's all that will fit. They are slow though. I've only had one flat in them and that was commuting work without a load. My wife also has 23c on her bike and we have not had any problems. They are't great for rough roads obviously but have handled 35lbs or so on her bike and mine without a problem. Just keep the pressure up and be prepared for a rough ride if you encounter not so great roads. If you can go up in size, it might be more comfortable but 23c aren't going to prevent you from doing light touring at all. Just go have fun.

RadioFlyer

eek!

I don't think I'd go with 23c for an entire tour. What if you run into a gravel road that you weren't expecting and it's a few miles long?

I have Vredestein Fortezza 23c on my roadie and did the same 55 mile ride I often do with my Surly LHT on Schwalbe Stelvio 28c tires. I did it just as fast as I normally did, but was noticeably less tired with the 28c.

I really think skinny tires are way over-rated.

Depending where you go in the SW in March, you could very well have snow/ice on the roads at higher elevation. The Vredestein Carraterras are great tire when you don't know what to expect. There's knobby tread on the side, but the center is slick. You only engage the knobbs/tread when you go slightly off center, like from snow/ice.

staehpj1

I am more inclined to tour on fatter tires (32), but 23's can work. I saw more than a few this Summer on the TA. For a lighter tire I like the Ultra Gatorskins. For bomb proof the Schwalbe Marathon Plus (very heavy) seem to be the ticket.

acantor

I toured for years with 23 and 25 mm tires, and had no major problems. I am a credit card tourist, and carry 20 lbs/10 kg, plus or minus a little.

Travelling on paved roads is great on skinny tires, but I did not enjoy riding on gravel or bad roads. On one trip, I took a very long, rough and hilly logging road. I rode slowly, and emerged in good shape.

During the last few years I have opted for fatter and fatter tires. I am up to 32 mm now, and I much prefer them. I feel safer and more secure.

P.S. I don't think I ride any slower on 32 mm than I did on 23 mm tires. I can't tell the difference. Perhaps my 20 lbs/10 kg load cancels out any small differences that may exist between the two size of tires.

cachehiker

Been there. Done that. Easier than it looks but you have to go slow to avoid pinch flatting.

I'm inclined to agree. There are definitely diminishing returns as your tire size drops below about 32c. It I recall correctly, rolling resistance on the typical paved surface hits its minimum at the 23c and 25c tire sizes and actually goes up slightly at 20c. The slight aerodynamic advantages the 20c and 23c tires offer are also something that few tourers will truly take advantage of.

The difference between my steel 23 lb. cross bike on 32c Randonneur Pros and my 17 lb. race bike with 23c Michelin Carbons on the training wheels (same weight as the cross wheels) adds up to all of about 1.0 mph. Half of that is the extra six pounds associated with a stronger cross-capable steel frame and rack. In a touring scenario that amounts to arriving at your destination 10-15 minutes later or about 3 minutes on my 18 mile RT commute. Meanwhile, the comfort difference is striking.

Even the difference between 23c and 25c tires is very noticeable. I did my last semi-supported tour on 700x25c Michelin Carbons and absolutely loved them. They're bigger than most 25's and at 95 PSI, they simply ate up the bad chip and seal everybody else was whining about on their 115 PSI 23's. I carried about 25 lbs. They are now my designated supported touring tire for the race bike and credit card touring tire for the cross bike.

MrPolak

If you love absolute minimalism and must go with a narrow tire, try Tufo clincher-tubulars. My road-weenie friends swear by them. They say those tires are tough, but, I always found it difficult to take that ridiculously clad bunch seriously. ;-)

robow

This of course is all a moot point depending on what your seat stay support, seat tube, and front fork will allow for clearance, but I can't believe you're going to get a 32 tire on that bike, you're choices are going to be limited.

Motorad

Late, I'm confused about the long distance riding pressure for the Ruffy Tuffy 27c. Advertisements for this tire show recommended tire pressures of 90-120 PSI. I know you can ride well below the maximum recommended PSI, but I thought you were supposed to stay within the recommended PSI that is stamped on the tire.
< https://www.bikeparts.com/productinfo...657-23086.html >

I weigh 160 lbs, the bike weighs 20 lbs, and I could see me carrying 15 lbs on credit card tours. Even though Panaracer recommends 90-120 PSI for their R.T. 27c, it would be okay for my total weight of 200 lbs to ride on R.T. 27c with 75-80 PSI?

foamy

+1

The Ultra Gatorskin 28's are not much wider than a 25 (a millimeter, maybe), but they are taller and take about 95 lbs. of pressure. Still roll very well.

DukeArcher 

My favourite fast touring tyre is the Bontrager Hard case.

theranman

.Another Chicagoan here.

I've got 23's on my vintage Raleigh Competition bike, switch between 32's and 27's Contis on my Jamis Coda, and will have 29's on my new Jamis Aurora. These are all TRUE sizes, not the sizes written on the sidewalls. While the 32's (Conti Top Touring 37c) are fantastic all-arounders, and I could never envision riding anything fatter, I think I'm gonna prefer the Vittoria Randonneur 29's on the Aurora. They're a little fatter than the skinny 27's (Conti Top Contact 32c), and a little thinner than the chubby 32's....ahhhh, just right. Too bad they don't have the reflective sidewall like the 27c Top Contacts. If I was riding on bad roads (Chicago potholes??) a lot, I'd definitely want the 32's, and I really would never want anything thinner than 27's for fear of flats....which tend to happen in Chicago.
Hey, if anybody is looking for some 32C Top Contacts (with reflective strip), lemme know. They're brand new and I paid $70 plus shipping for them. theranman@webtv.net

late

Of course

I weigh 250 by myself and run them under 100 with a typical pressure of 90 in the back and 80's in the front.

There is a formula you can use to get the precise pressure, but try them around 70 psi. A little less up front would prob be fine, too. If you need more, then add some, they are a tall tire and you'll never pinch flat them.A little bit of bulge is fine, if you get a lot there is significant sidewall flexing which eats up some of your energy.

Motorad

Thanks Late, I'll try those pressures.

I've only seen one tire pressure formula, using rider wt in pounds, as follows:
Rear PSI:
20mm = (0.33 * rider wt) + 63.33
23mm = (0.33 * rider wt) + 53.33
25mm = (0.33 * rider wt) + 43.33
28mm = (0.33 * rider wt) + 33.33
32mm = (0.17 * rider wt) + 41.67
37mm = (0.17 * rider wt) + 26.67
Front PSI:
(Rear PSI)(0.9)

Is the above formula the one you talk about, and is it only good if your body wt is in a certain range? For example, your rider wt of 250 lbs on a 28mm rear tire equates to 116 PSI. If this is the formula, does it only tell you the maximum pressure not to exceed ... or is it supposed to be telling you the recommended pressure to ride on?

Cyclist0383

+1

They are an excellent tire.

ricohman

Higher pressures help carry the load and prevent punctures.
Lower pressures give a comfy ride. I use both depending on the road and location.

Sigurdd50

+1 for Conti Gatorskins
I had a set with over 3500 miles, mixed commuting and touring, with maybe one flat
nice rolling semi-slick, good price