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26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 8 Feb 2024, 3:18pm
by landseer
Hi and thanks for admitting me to this excelent forum. My first post.
I am planning a 125 mile ride from Hook of Holland to Wesel ( germany ) in late May.
Reckon it'll take 3 days with smallish panniers on the back and a small bag up front.
My current bike is my trusted rigid Carrera Subway with 26 inch wheels and V brakes. I was looking to buy some skinnier tyres as an upgrade as the trip will be all on tarmac.
Was looking at Continental Sport Contacts. Narrowest I can find.
-but im on a tight budget and those tyres will almost cost more than the Subway is worth.
Was thinking I could equally buy a cheap secondhand hybrid with 700c wheels and have more choice of tyre.
But I'm also thinking: skinny tyres = hard ride!
So my question is:
Should I buy another second hand bike for around £150 with 700c wheels? or best stick with the Subway and buy some decent tyres??
Any advice much welcomed!
Re: 26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 8 Feb 2024, 4:31pm
by Brucey
I think the sweet spot for road tyres on a subway is around 40-45mm width. The contis are good, but you may be able to find wired kojaks cheaper.. If you get a different bike there could be anything wrong with it, so maybe 'better the devil you know' applies here.
Re: 26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 8 Feb 2024, 5:45pm
by djnotts
Conti City Jets in 1.5" are I think still relatively cheap. Not hugely P-proof, but when they do succumb I have never known a rim on which they are a difficult fit.
Re: 26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 8 Feb 2024, 6:34pm
by landseer
Re kojaks I read a very scientific test or rolling resistance which found them to be surprisingly poor. The contis performed way better.
Re: 26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 8 Feb 2024, 6:42pm
by hamster
My tourer has 26" wheels, with Schwalbe Marathon Greenguards (1.5"/40mm) it rolls well and yet can also cope comfortably with towpaths, Voies Vertes etc. It's a little slower than my road bike but by the time it's loaded up it's a different story. Maybe a day's riding will take 15-20 mins longer. So what, it's a tour not a race.
Re: 26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 8 Feb 2024, 6:55pm
by Nearholmer
If I had a bike I knew was reliable, and I was familiar with, no way would I replace it with a £150 bike in order to ride 125 miles. Just make sure it’s all nicely maintained,
Tyres? Continental Contact Plus, which I think you can get in a suitable size, They’re exceedingly durable and puncture-resistant, but if you get the pressure right they’re also fast, and comfortable.
Re: 26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 8 Feb 2024, 7:15pm
by ossie
On a budget ? keep the same bike and tyres just buy a decent puncture repair kit / pump if the tyres are in good nick. I've done that route via Nijmegan, Kleve / Xanten on several occasions on 700c and 26" wheels, various tyres, fully loaded with 4 panniers and a tent. Its completely flat with excellent surfaces everywhere and you could do it in a couple of days without much effort. If you have a westerly behind you won't even have to pedal
Re: 26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 8 Feb 2024, 7:19pm
by cycle tramp
Deleted
Re: 26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 8 Feb 2024, 7:35pm
by PH
landseer wrote: ↑8 Feb 2024, 6:34pm
Re kojaks I read a very scientific test or rolling resistance which found them to be surprisingly poor. The contis performed way better.
Have a great trip, it sound like you will.
You might be overthinking the equipment, three 40 miles days isn't going to push it, any differences in RR is going to be counted in minutes a day. As money is tight, unless there was something seriously wrong with the current tyres I'd use them and spend the savings on treats along the way. If they really can't be used, anything suitable for commuting would be fine, my choice would be Vittoria Randonneurs, available in1.5" and often found for a tenner each. In 26" they were my commuting tyre of choice for a few years and in 700c I've toured on them. I'd have no qualms about using them for that trip, though I don't know the others that have been recommended, so can't compare.
Re: 26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 8 Feb 2024, 9:51pm
by gregoryoftours
A Subway is very suitable for touring, I've toured on 26" more than 700C, the difference is there but it's not huge. Personally I'd go for 1.75" for comfort, and again there is very little difference to speed/effort. There will be a greater variety of tyres available in that width too. You'd have to be pretty lucky to spend £150 and get a better bike than what you have.
I quite like Panaracer Paselas -
https://fawkes-cycles.co.uk/panaracer-p ... 5wQAvD_BwE
Re: 26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 8 Feb 2024, 10:24pm
by landseer
Great advice. Many thanks to all.
Re: 26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 8 Feb 2024, 10:43pm
by toontra
A word for Continental Travel Contact 26 x 1.75. I've been using these for touring and commuting for many years. They have a smooth centre for roads and tread on the sides so you can reduce pressure a little for grip on loose surfaces. I can count the punctures on one hand over the last 16 years and that includes some pretty extreme off-road stuff (e.g. lava screed on Mt Etna ).
EDIT: On sale at SJS Cycles ATM for £17 (plus p&p).
Re: 26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 9 Feb 2024, 8:26am
by geocycle
Nearholmer wrote: ↑8 Feb 2024, 6:55pm
If I had a bike I knew was reliable, and I was familiar with, no way would I replace it with a £150 bike in order to ride 125 miles. Just make sure it’s all nicely maintained,
Completely agree. The wheel size is irrelevant in this situation. If I was on the market for a new bike I’d go for a 700 c just because they are the most available now, functionally the differences are small. If you had a much bigger budget then upgrading your current machine might be worthwhile although not essential for a short tour.
Re: 26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 9 Feb 2024, 8:55am
by pwa
landseer wrote: ↑8 Feb 2024, 3:18pm
Hi and thanks for admitting me to this excelent forum. My first post.
I am planning a 125 mile ride from Hook of Holland to Wesel ( germany ) in late May.
Reckon it'll take 3 days with smallish panniers on the back and a small bag up front.
My current bike is my trusted rigid Carrera Subway with 26 inch wheels and V brakes. I was looking to buy some skinnier tyres as an upgrade as the trip will be all on tarmac.
Was looking at Continental Sport Contacts. Narrowest I can find.
-but im on a tight budget and those tyres will almost cost more than the Subway is worth.
Was thinking I could equally buy a cheap secondhand hybrid with 700c wheels and have more choice of tyre.
But I'm also thinking: skinny tyres = hard ride!
So my question is:
Should I buy another second hand bike for around £150 with 700c wheels? or best stick with the Subway and buy some decent tyres??
Any advice much welcomed!
If you fancy a new bike and can afford it, great. But if you want to keep the budget down, just make your existing bike a bit better. Nice tyres are worth spending money on. And you don't need to go narrow. Wider tyres will allow lower pressures and more comfort. I don't know the best tyres for you, but it is often worth spending quite a bit on them because very good tyres make a big difference to the way the bike feels. So I'd say, keep the bike, splash out on some nice tyres, and don't try to go too narrow.
Re: 26" or 700c for short europe tour - and what tyres?
Posted: 9 Feb 2024, 9:08am
by TrevA
I use Vittoria Randonneurs on my touring bike - they are available in 26” x 1.75 for £14.99 each. They roll reasonably well and are pretty puncture proof, in my experience.