khorpulent

I'm planning a summer tour and I'm looking for a good set of 26" tires for my LHT that aren't 26x1.5! Anyone know of any good, sturdy tires that are around 26x1.25?

Also, does anyone have a suggestion for a good set of fenders that will fit well on a LHT with 26" wheels?

EmmCeeBee

I assume you'll be on pavement -- otherwise I'd be sticking to 1.5" or wider.

I've toured for thousands of miles on Specialized Fatboys (26x1.25"). I might be the only one here that does.... but they've served me (and my wife) well. They're slicks, lightweight and fast. Rarely get flats (e.g., only two flats between us on a 3000 mile tour). They're not a hefty tire, so they don't wear as long as, say, Schwalbe Marathons. I get about 2500-3000 miles on the rear, depending on conditions. (Rotating front/rear after 2000 miles would be a good idea to extend the life.)

For these narrow tires, you'll need a good pump because they expect 85-100 psi. Not only does this make 'em fast and quiet, but the high pressure keeps the sidewall supported -- important for loaded touring.

Search this board for previous threads -- especially to see others' recommendations (search for "Fatboy", there were similar discussions).

For 1.25" tires, just make sure your rim isn't too wide. If you already have 1.5" on there, they're probably OK. Seldon Brown's website has a table (near the bottom) that might help.

-- Mark

SweetLou

I like the Continental Ultra Gatorskins. I think they are long wearing, good grip and good rolling resistance. I haven't tried the Serfas Barristas yet, but my co-worker uses them and likes them.

Dellphinus

Panaracer PAsela Tourguards- 26x1.25

valygrl

My first tour was on a mountain bike, the Specialized Fatboys (might have been 1") lasted 3500 miles.