Originally Posted by
walksomemore
I am doing the Florida Loop (Augustine to Lauderdale to Ft Myers and back to Augustine) in two weeks. I have Gatorskin 28c tires front and back on my Trek 520, and have been riding them for a few weeks while I dial in my bike. They seem very adequate for the job -- robust on rocks and bumps, not too hard, and good rolling. But I also have a B17 seat which is a pretty great ride.
This is a pavement ride but will go through several coastal cities and some smaller towns (and across the Everglades). So, I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with these on a long ride and who can advise me as well!
My wife and I rode across the U.S. on 28 mm Continental Gatorskins. A few years later we rode across British Columbia and part of Alberta on 32 mm Gatorskins. Both worked well; however, I think the 32 mm are a good compromise for weight and comfort.
We did use Schwalbe 32mm Marathons for a 3 month tour, and were happy with them. However, they are heavier. I tried the Schwalbe Marathon Racer 35 mm on a tour this summer, and was a lot happier with them than the 32 mm Marathon. I just had shoulder surgery, and wanted something with a little more cushion. Besides, I had a brand new pair in the shop that I took off a bike when I replaced them with Gatorskins! The 35 mm Racer is right between the 32 mm Marathon and 32 mm Gatorskin in weight . All our tours have been fully loaded.
Changing a tube is not a big thing; and I'll trade the weight and better ride for an occasional flat tire.
My wife is getting ready to tackle the 5 mile downhill as part of a long constriction zone. This is very course gravel, and she is running 28 mm Gatorskins.
You don't need wide tires for unsurfaced areas. A portion of this tour included over 400 miles on unsurfaced roads and trails, ridden on 32 mm tires.
Bottom line of all this BS is the 28 mm Gatorskins will work just fine. Enjoy the ride.