Originally Posted by
jrjwoodsman
Man, looks like we kinda have the same idea! Mine rides great and so far I love it. I used mostly shimano deore components from a specialized rockhopper that I pickup real cheap. Planet bike fenders, Topeak mtx rack and EXP trunk bag, Schwalbe marathon tires, ergon grips, Avid BB7 disc brakes. I've been enjoying all of your pics as well. Happy trails!
Nice pics, jrjwoodsman, and nice build.
I had to work Saturday in downtown DC, and rode 30 miles roundtrip, 22 of which were on the C&O Canal towpath from Old Anglers Inn. There was no fatigue from the terrain, and it was like riding on the road as far as comfort goes. I've spent alot of time on the towpath over the years, and can usually cruise at around 16 mph unless it's a really smooth section. The Big Apples allowed me to maintain a steady 18 mph, gliding over the rocks and gravel. This will definitely be my tire of choice for a planned 180 mile ride along the C&O this summer.
I need to play around with the tire pressure a bit and find what works best. Started out at 50 psi, and then lowered to 45 psi toward the end of the ride. Speed seemed about the same, but it was a more cushy ride at 45 psi. However, riding on the road at 45 psi would probably be a bit slower. Definitely need to get a pump for the bike, as the volume of the tires is huge, and even a couple CO2 cartridges probably aren't enough.