I have a hybrid bike that I am upgrading until my wife caves into my pleas for a Chas Roberts.
I have fitted a Vittoria Randonneur 700 x28 tyre to the front and am very pleased with it.
I will be touring with bar bag and rear panniers almost always on minor roads but with occasional detours down bridle paths.
I am wondering if it would be advantageous to fit a slightly wider tyre, say 35mm, to the rear, or another 28mm.
Any experience and thoughts would be most welcome.
cheers
Tyres and touring
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montmorency
- Posts: 271
- Joined: 31 May 2007, 11:00pm
- Location: Oxfordshire
I would have thought it can't do any harm, and of going off-road to any serious extent, might do a lot of good, on the front as well.
However, you might want to check that your clearances are ok.
I think I had problems getting a 35 on my tourer (with mudguards fitted), and am currently riding 28s (and always seem to get punctures off-road, but not often on the road). (Admittedly, I'm a World Tour dinosaur...got some old ones left...).
However, you might want to check that your clearances are ok.
I think I had problems getting a 35 on my tourer (with mudguards fitted), and am currently riding 28s (and always seem to get punctures off-road, but not often on the road). (Admittedly, I'm a World Tour dinosaur...got some old ones left...).
My other car is a bicycle; my other bicycle is two other bicycles.
28s are fine for knocking around on but if you're loading panniers I'd go wider. You don't say what your rims are but hybrids typically take wider covers and 28mm sounds at the lower end of acceptable width. 35mm+ is where I'd be heading given the type of use you describe.
When I had a long distance tourer built I went for MTB sized wheels not because I preferred them but because I was fed up topping up 32mm x 700 tyres to high psi for heavy loads and mountain bike slicks were readily available.
Do your wheels and backside a favour and fit something wider so you can wander the byways with an easy mind.
When I had a long distance tourer built I went for MTB sized wheels not because I preferred them but because I was fed up topping up 32mm x 700 tyres to high psi for heavy loads and mountain bike slicks were readily available.
Do your wheels and backside a favour and fit something wider so you can wander the byways with an easy mind.
Thanks for the replies.
I am ok for clearance because the original tyres were very wide with a studded tread. I didn't like the ride on the B road tarmac or the squidgy noise on a damp road. The tread on the new front Vittoria makes a pleasing sssssss on damp roads.
The 28mm fits the rim ok, although it was difficult to get on what with it being so stiff in the walls.
I'll go for a 35mm on the rear and see about changing the front to a 35 later on, or sooner if the wife leaves her purse out.
Cheers
I am ok for clearance because the original tyres were very wide with a studded tread. I didn't like the ride on the B road tarmac or the squidgy noise on a damp road. The tread on the new front Vittoria makes a pleasing sssssss on damp roads.
The 28mm fits the rim ok, although it was difficult to get on what with it being so stiff in the walls.
I'll go for a 35mm on the rear and see about changing the front to a 35 later on, or sooner if the wife leaves her purse out.
Cheers
If you are (also) wondering about what it is like to have different tyre sizes.... I rode 2 tours with this set up and it was fine. I had 26" Marathon HS308s 1.5 on the front and 1.75 on the rear. 2½ months in Thai Malaysia and 3 in Oz. No problem at all in the riding and reckon it gave me a bit more cushion on th rear end (rear panniers only).
simonhill wrote:If you are (also) wondering about what it is like to have different tyre sizes.... I rode 2 tours with this set up and it was fine. I had 26" Marathon HS308s 1.5 on the front and 1.75 on the rear. 2½ months in Thai Malaysia and 3 in Oz. No problem at all in the riding and reckon it gave me a bit more cushion on th rear end (rear panniers only).
I'm not expecting to go anywhere more exotic than Shropshire and Wales, but that is exactly what I was after knowing.
I thought that a bit of extra cushion where the weight is maybe good. I'll leave the 32mm on the front in that case and put a 35mm on the rear.
I've just ordered one and it will be in Monday.
Cheers
I'm not expecting to go anywhere more exotic than Shropshire and Wales, but that is exactly what I was after knowing.
My last ride in exotic Shropshire ended up with a fair amount of blood spillage due to using 25mm tyres, gravel, a sharp bend and a 1 in 7 down hill. Think I'll revert to the 1.5 marathons next time
I'm running the marathons on my 26 inched wheel tourer and it's much much more comfy than either the 25mm race bike or 28mm SS bike, but doesn't feel much slower when rolling on the flat.
Alas, Conti Top Touring 2000 700 * 32 are not available via the CTC shop ( it the time of posting ). Only 37s - which appear to be in the process of being sold off at a bargain price, as an end of line (?).
http://www.ctcshop.com/product.jsp?style=10055
These are my long-standing, bread-and-butter, touring tyres. So what has happened ? Have they become untrendy or sum'int ? Have they become the "World Tours" of the bicycle tyre techno revolution ?
PS. I notice that Spa Cycles & Bike Plus can provide them though.
Edited : Not available on the Spa website
. . . . the world is beginning to fall out of my bottom 
Cheers
Graham
http://www.ctcshop.com/product.jsp?style=10055
These are my long-standing, bread-and-butter, touring tyres. So what has happened ? Have they become untrendy or sum'int ? Have they become the "World Tours" of the bicycle tyre techno revolution ?
PS. I notice that Spa Cycles & Bike Plus can provide them though.
Edited : Not available on the Spa website
. . . . the world is beginning to fall out of my bottom
Cheers
Graham
Last edited by Graham on 6 Jun 2007, 11:20am, edited 1 time in total.