bobzeller wrote: ↑8 May 2021, 7:01am
i don't think the Marathons would fit. Even the treadless Duranos have just enough clearance. I do like Marathons and have used them on my shopping bike for years. My touring bike is a road bike that was made for me in 1978 and designed for 700 x 23 tyres, a very common size at the time. Anything larger won't fit. When touring (always using hotels and B&Bs), I use Arkel T28 panniers on the rear and a bar bag. The combination of tyres, bike and touring luggage works really well. I am not off road too much so being treadless isn't a problem. The only problem might be the lack of availability of Schwalbe Durano Pluses and that was why I was asking for suggestions. But if I am the only one who has heard that the Duranos are being discontinued, then the problem might be incorrect information. Nothing else.
Many thanks again for everyones replies.
Bob
morning Bob,
Some views from a Canadian here a bit younger than you, but not by a huge amount.
I get that your bike has its limitations of tire width, but if you ever do consider getting a different bike, as we get older the ride feel and really no speed difference from even slightly wider tires that are still nice riding tires, is very much appreciated, so perhaps one day take this into consideration for a new bike.
I've toured a lot on 28 slicks in the past, but with a lot more baggage than you carry, so it probably evens out to a ride feel experience.
One big difference is the road quality that you folks over in the UK , or riding in France or whatever, experience vs us in Canada--it always struck me the huge improvement in road conditions--really comes down to climate (here its -35c to +35c so hard on roads), so I do realize that you have a different reality from us.
It's interesting how over the decades I've really abandoned the "narrower is faster" thing, and ride and tour on all kinds of bikes with varying widths of tires.
The last bunch of years I've become a real fan of Schwalbe Supremes also, like at least one other person here, and can attest to how nice a ride feel they have due to the flexible sidewall (again, appreciated as I get older and older) yet in my touring experience still have very very good flat protection and wear life.
I have one tire on my heavier touring bike that must be getting close to 10,000kms on it, and as been on my bike through many many countries and all kinds of riding conditions and surfaces, with hardly any flats (a couple of weird ones, but actually none while on a tour).
anyway, just a blurb to perhaps consider wider at some point, it may "feel" slow, especially to a longtime 23 buzz guy, but you'd be surprised by the payoff of comfort--but I realize you would really have to experience it first hand to really believe it.
cheers