BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Your road bike will do fine, but personally I would prefer something with bigger tires.

mydrrin It has either 28s or 32s

Like Rsprake says, you probably want to go wtih the bigger tires.

If you had to, 23's are doable. But you would have more fun with 32's.

The extra zest from the road bike would be lost on the crushed limestone trail.

IMO, I'd bring the hybrid.

If you have to ask use the bigger tires.

I've done most of that section of the GAP on my track bike with 25c tires and it is just fine for me, but I'm fairly confident taking skinny tires where they shouldn't go.

+1 on the use of the word "zest".

brad, that's one of my favorite hobbies. who needs a cross bike when you can just ride your fixie/ss commuter on singletrack?

Ok Colin, let's take our single speeds/fixed bikes down to ohiopyle

i'd add that traction isn't the issue with skinny tires on the GAP, it's durability.

doodz down at Thick suggested some 25mm thickslicks, as i've been tearing up a few sets of 25's on urban and suburban trails - no pinch flats just sharp gravel ripping open the tire. so far, so good on the district.

so to add another option, if you wish to travel on skinny tires try to fine a set that are durable against rough roads and rougher trails.

@sloaps: I just upgraded my rims and tires to a more durable models. I was having a devil of a time keeping the wheels true, and after some consultation upgraded to a sturdier (but slightly heavier) model.

Done a couple hundred rough miles (I swear there are ninja potholes in PGH! Or my wife is right and I'm unobservant... ninjas, gotta be ninjas.), and so far so good...

stef, i'm totally willing to do that. we will make this ride sometime in the fall to check out the purdy leaves. in fact that sounds like an excellent ride anyone else want to do that sometime in late september/early october?

I'm actually thinking about doing this next weekend. I've never ridden beyond the Waterfront on that trail, is it obvious where you're supposed to go from there? I have 700x25 Forte pro tires on my road bike and since putting them on I went from getting a flat at least once a week to not having a flat in 6 weeks. *knock on wood*

They appear to be tires that are more durable than the slicks I had on before, there's just an extra strip of rubber on the tire that seems to help: http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1085636_-1_1590008_20000_400235

@stefb Ok Colin, let's take our single speeds/fixed bikes down to ohiopyle e/em>

If you got a lift up there, it would be a nice cruise coming down the hill for a fixie.

The hill is never steep, but going up from Conellesville to Ohiopyole is a bit relentless. Coming down is fun.

Fall Foliage Fixie Flock.

Fantastic

For what it's worth, I think the trail near Ohiopyle is perfect for a fixie. Long, flat, straight, with little or no required stops... just glide right along in a zen-like trance. Pretty ideal.

But afternoons on the weekends near the bigger stops can be filled w/ squirreley newb riders (not to be confused with squirrely old riders like me), but that just takes a little more care.

My tires say they're 28. 23 seems skinny. Especially if the trail has been rained on in the last couple days.

++1 edmonds and Mick. You just don't see "zest" used all that often, outside of cook books. Well played.

grab some cycle cross wheels IMO.

This is going to happen. Stef and I will start planning it next week. Look for announcements in a couple weeks.

Sweet

I would do this

I would flip to fixed for a Fall Foliage Fixie Flock, for sure.

Same!

I've ridden a lot of rail trail miles on 23mm tires and it's usually no big deal. But I would not want to sit on a hybrid for four or five hours.

i have done the trail many time on all of the above (fixed/SS/geared) and honestly I think that scott is right on... other than the track a trail like this is the most appropriate use for fixed bikes. the ability to modulate speed without using brakes really simplifies a lot of the thought that goes on and lets you zone out a little more. The times I've taken a fixed bike on the tours to DC have been some of the most relaxing tours I've done with people because I didn't have to think about my own bike.

never underestimate coasting though. SS is a nice middle ground

I might be in for this, too. I've had the trusty Raleigh on lots of different trips, but never a really long trail like the GAP.

So lacking a fixie, this ride would be out for me.

But, following up on my original question, this Sunday I cycled out past Cedar Creek Park (to the 40 mile mark) on the Gap on my road bike.

Other than some sketchy bits getting to the Waterfront (because I'm an idiot and took Duck Hollow -> Brownsvile Rd), it was actually pretty good. I did notice a lack of zest, however I'd rate the overall ride as being comfortable.

the ride i am planning will NOT be a fixie only ride. or even a singlespeed only ride. it will be in mid october when the leaves should be at their peak in the laurel highlands and i am working on shuttle options and sponsors and such. it may or may not be a flock sanctioned event. i have to talk to nick about my plans and see if it will mesh well.

honestly its going to be a big promotional thing for me as it will (hopefully) coincide with my launching of my design and illustration studio full-time. or as my mother-in-law says "being an unemployed artist" i am starting work on the posters and flyers and such next week while lying on the beach in hawaii.

I did Little Boston to Ohiopyle on an old road bike, with 23's, in Oct 2008. When finished, I said that I would ride it again, but with 25's or 28's. Now I have both road bike and a cross bike, and would take the cross in a heartbeat. I have 28's on it, and I love them. Vittoria Randonneur Cross. So, if you can fit 28s on your road bike, that would be my recommendation. If not, try 25s, I think you'll be fine.

"...it will (hopefully) coincide with my launching of my design and illustration studio full-time. or as my mother-in-law says "being an unemployed artist"..."

Right there with you buddy. I'll gladly ride in support of a fellow artist.

This thread has been helpful to me while trying to build up a bike that is decent for road and touring alike. But just to get it straight, what tire size do you think is the best compromise? I can't really afford to switch from zesty skinnies to trail-friendly fatties every time I go from city riding to trail tours. Winter weather is also a consideration. One tire to rule them all.

So, are 28s are a good in-between? 25? 32?

28s are a great all-rounder size. put ribmos or randoneurs or the like on them and you should be good to go year-round.

28.

If you have air in them and know how to handle yourself you can ride almost anything on 28c tires. In terms of the GAP/C&O trail I did the length of it on 28c tires and was fine given it was dry. If it had rained I would have been wishing for 32c or more.

Personally I would go for a 32.

I run my 28s on my cross bike year round. I use that bike for commuting on some crappy roads, and for any trail riding that I do. I've had the Vittoria Randonneurs on the bike for more than 1500 miles and they still look new.

28!

@alnilam

I use 38c, but would probably be equally happy with 35's. You're considerably skinnier than me.

I'd say go with the 32's.

If you have little tolerance for pumping tires when they are a little low, 35's. My 38's are best at 65 psi pressure, but as long as they are over 20 psi, I can go out the door with only slight caution.

A sign that you are a great bike rider: Even though we've ridden together a few times, I have no idea whether you are faster than me or not.

28s are great.

That said, I'm swapping my commuter over to 35s for a while, to see if I like 'em.

32! 28s are for losers.

I am stuck with 25 max, so 25 it is.

cburch, you're not "unemployed", you're an "entrepreneur", which is french for having an awesome boss.

I would do this ride in first gear while constantly pedaling, would that count?

I thought it wasn't the size that matters, but how you use them...

@ejwme I think so... Does it count that 25 is a really tight fit?

My 2c- I just did Pgh to ohiopyle a couple weeks ago. I switched my kevlar 28s to some cheap 32s and really wished I hadn't. I ended up with a bunch of flats and even blowing the sidewall of one tire off completely, but I was also really loaded down. The trail was a lot less gravelly than I thought it would be (it's more like a hard packed dirt road), and I don't think tread is so important on it except for a in muddy spots perhaps. My tire recommendation? Specialized armadillos. Pricey but bulletproof. My 28s miraculously carried my 190 lb ass over that ~mile long stretch of gigantic tire-popping crags on the north side trail next to the railroad tracks.

Also, we got absolutely soaked by rain every day, which made for a pretty unpleasant trip. Besides the wetness and chaffing, the wet sand was like a fine cinder that has made a permanent home in almost every nook and cranny of my bike and that ruined my friend's disc brakes, chain, and cassette. So next time I go, weather will be top priority.

heh, orionz, as long as you're happy with the fit, that's all that counts

granto, this may be a stupid question, but did you guys have fenders? I've never particularly taxed my fenders and inspected the results (I'm the idiot that rides until it stops working then tries to figure out what happened, though I'm ok with general maintenance), but aside from looking awesome and being a great place to put shiny rainbow stickers, I thought fenders were supposed to protect the bike as well as the rider? It may have been weather that precluded all protection, I wasn't there. Sounds pretty miserable!

fenders can only do so much... you're still going to get plenty of crud on parts of your bike you'd rather not get it on.

Thanks for all the tire advice, though it seems to be a hot-button issue

Mick, thanks for the complement! I'm not sure which of us is faster either, but I know which of us has done more trail riding (you!).

I'm thinking either 28 or 32, then. I've been using cheap 27" tires for a long time on my old bike. I was always wearing and tearing trouble spots in them within a year and having to replace them soon after. So I think I'll also spring for some of these real sturdy guys that yinz are recommending. Now that I have 700c wheels instead of 27", I can choose from more than two tires, imagine that!

Last time I was on the trail I was on 28c Forte Strada K's. They were fine except on the patch before Rockwood (after Ohiopyle)--I would have loved something a little wider there.

Anything going on a fall foliage ride? Them leaves aren't getting any greener. I know stefb is having some knee issues.

If nothing has been planned, it might be cool to start at the Homestead pump house and just do an outnback on the GAP.

I wound up signing a pretty big account and haven't had time to deal with it. Too many irons in the fire right now. I thunk just setting a day and time to meet at the waterfront and letting the people who show up decide how fast and far to ride is a great idea. That said, I'm out of town the 8-10th. Do with that what you will.