Cycling UK Forum

I'm off to the New Forest in a couple of weeks. Given the number of cattle grids, is it folly to ride 700x23s when I could change to 28s? I will not be going off road, at least, not intentionally! NB, I'm not the lightest meringue in the pack.

most of us seem to think 28 to be a sensible minimum

see here also

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5340&highlight=

I often cross four cattle grids as I leave and return to town, I've never had any tyre trouble on any of these with 23mm tyres, just hit them at a right angle to the slots and bend ze knees.

i live in N/F and ride 25mm tyres all year round just be carefull when wet enjoy the forest hope the roads are not to busy

I live there and use 23Cs all year round. I've never had a pinch flat, but I wouldn't advise sitting in the saddle as you go over the grid...my 26x1.25" on my tourer are a lot more comfortable

Thanks for your responses - I'll push my luck and try the 23s. If anyone is riding the New Forest Day Out 100k Audax on the Sunday after next, do say hello - I'll be on a pale gold & white Mercian.

I live on the edge of the forest and have done the Bolderwood Ornamental Ride down into Brockenhurst a number of times on my mountain bike and the cattle grids have never been a problem.

However, I took my new road bike for a spin down the same route and really wish I hadn't! The cattle grids were awful, they are the cylinder type rather than the flat sort and the impact through the bike (on 25's) was almost enough to loosen fillings....

Won't be doing that again in a hurry....

So, take care out there.

Cattle grids have been re-named 'pleasure grids' by several females of my aquaintance - they may appreciate hard thin tyres.

Just thought you should know. Every problem is an opportunity if looked at from a different angle.

Kentish Man wrote:I'm off to the New Forest in a couple of weeks. Given the number of cattle grids, is it folly to ride 700x23s when I could change to 28s? I will not be going off road, at least, not intentionally! NB, I'm not the lightest meringue in the pack.

I ride 25s in the forest all the time. The grids are no problem at all. in fact I quite enjoy them.

The new forest day out on Sunday will be ace. I did it a couple of years ago. Does anyone have the official route sheet? I've found a route here http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/25082472/#from a previous year but I'd prefer the official route sheet.

I rode all over the New Forest back in the 80's and early 90's.

Can't remember the tyre size, but I'm willing to bet it was about 23mm.
Maybe it was Imperial in those days, but my wheels were Mavic MA40 700c.

Never had a problem!

Never had any problems with 700 x 23, provided that I hit them out of the saddle at 90 degrees to the rails. FWIW, tyre pressure is always 92psi and I'm 15 stone.

Funny old world, I've missed this post because I've had a few days cycling around the New Forest!

Cattle grids were no problem on 28s - on a Mercian Audax with Mavic 719 rims, and (whilst I normally read MickFs allegences to 23s from a distance - so to speak) I'm sure 23s would be fine as well. Having said that, having started cycling in Devon and on Dartmoor, cattle grids don't particularly worry me! Just dont brake or steer on them, and hit at 90degs!

New Forest was excellent cycling. Recommend (amongst many) the lanes from Lynmouth to Buckler's Hard past Sowley Pond. Lovely. Loads of lanes/roads where cars have to wait to overtake and I didn't get one case of impatience. Even had an oncoming White Van (man) pleasantly shout out a warning about sand on the bend ahead (following a fuel spill apparently).

Plenty of pubs and tea rooms.

If you want to see some big houses, check out the lanes around Burley. "Bisterne Close"

Happy cycling.