Originally Posted by Oldairhead

I take it from this statement that you are not actually thinking of doing L'Eroica but just want some versatility in performance from your choice of tire on rougher roads. First, let me say that none of the US brevets or other events that I have done come close to replicating the conditions that I encountered at L'Eroica this year.

At L'Eroica this year I used 32c Panaracer Pasela Tourguards with a Kevlar bead. At the event I witnessed many hundreds of other riders who had flatted during the day. In fact it appeared that most riders were using narrow tubulars, probably 23c or so. I talked to riders who had flatted 4 or 5 times during the day with these racing tires! I found that with these 32c Panaracers, not only did I not flat even once during the ride, but that I was much faster in the rougher dirt road sections (100 km of dirt) than those riders who sported a narrower tubular. I ran 75 and 85 psi in my tires and weigh 190 lbs. My conclusion is that fatter is faster on this type of ride. If I ever return to do L'Eroica again I would probably go to a 35c tire size. My bike (a 1974 Legnano) will easily fit a tire this size or perhaps larger.

After having done the event and having seen the result of other riders choices in tires, I can say with full confidence that a 28c tire is too narrow for "true L'Eroica" type conditions. If the rides you want to do are less rough than L'Eroica then perhaps a different tire could work for you. If however you are truly talking about an "heroic" type route then anything less than a 32c tire will probably slow you down.

Just my 2 cents!