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Best gear for gravel? Tire Size? Rim Diameter?
I'm in the process of trying to get a large portion of my commute
home off of the roads. So far I've found quite a bit of abandoned RR tracks and such that go pretty much my way. However, I find that in some areas with very loose gravel or sand I get slowed to a near walking pace. I'm thinking lower tire pressure and maybe wider tires would help me float over this stuff. Am I on the right track? Clearly there would be a penalty on the road portion of my ride, but if it's the difference between walking speeds and the middle ring for the slop and gravel portion of my ride it should be a worthwhile trade. Since the last large leg of my ride will be on the road, I'm considering trying very low tire pressure next time, with a couple extra CO2 cartridges to bring me back up to pressure once I get stuck back on the pavement. Lastly, those that love the 29ers sing praise of them "rolling over anything". In the past I have not put much stock in this since I'm more the type to come out of the saddle and lift the bike over obstacles than I am the type to try to roll over them. I'm wondering though, would the larger diameter tire allow more contact area, and therefore make it easier to ride through the gravel? If so, how much easier? I may have to take one of these for a demo @ the next big NEMBA gathering. Thanks, Dan |
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#2
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Best gear for gravel? Tire Size? Rim Diameter?
On Mar 19, 11:15 am, " wrote:
I'm in the process of trying to get a large portion of my commute home off of the roads. So far I've found quite a bit of abandoned RR tracks and such that go pretty much my way. However, I find that in some areas with very loose gravel or sand I get slowed to a near walking pace. I'm thinking lower tire pressure and maybe wider tires would help me float over this stuff. Am I on the right track? Clearly there would be a penalty on the road portion of my ride, but if it's the difference between walking speeds and the middle ring for the slop and gravel portion of my ride it should be a worthwhile trade. Since the last large leg of my ride will be on the road, I'm considering trying very low tire pressure next time, with a couple extra CO2 cartridges to bring me back up to pressure once I get stuck back on the pavement. Lastly, those that love the 29ers sing praise of them "rolling over anything". In the past I have not put much stock in this since I'm more the type to come out of the saddle and lift the bike over obstacles than I am the type to try to roll over them. I'm wondering though, would the larger diameter tire allow more contact area, and therefore make it easier to ride through the gravel? If so, how much easier? I may have to take one of these for a demo @ the next big NEMBA gathering. Thanks, Dan After discussing this over @ RBT I realized I left out a few important details. I'm currently running 26x2.1 on front and 26x1.9 on the back. I've tried it on a 20" BMX with 2.125 and it was even harder, almost impossible. Also, the gravel in question is really just crushed stone, easily 2" pieces and larger. It's not the typical gravel you encounter on roads or paths intended for foot/bicycle traffic, it's way bigger and deeper. |
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Best gear for gravel? Tire Size? Rim Diameter?
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#4
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Best gear for gravel? Tire Size? Rim Diameter?
On Mar 19, 4:00*pm, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
Per : Also, the gravel in question is really just crushed stone, easily 2" pieces and larger. *It's not the typical gravel you encounter on roads or paths intended for foot/bicycle traffic, it's way bigger and deeper. How much doe the stones more around as you go over them? I've ridden my WTB Mutano Raptors (55/55 size) on what I call "railroad ballast" a good bit with decent results. My sense is the bigger the tire and the lower the pressure, the better. 215# rider, tires at 35-40 psi. But the stuff I ride on pretty much stays put as I'm going over it. * If the stones shifted around too much it might be a different story. -- PeteCresswell The stone moves quite a bit. Looking back it looks more like someone was dragging a spade shovel or riding a dirt bike than it does like someone was riding a bicycle through. I'm ~200 lbs myself. My next attempt, unless someone convinces me otherwise, will be at 35lbs pressure. I know I have not ridden gravel with pressure that low, so it'll be interesting to compare against. I'll post back with results once I get a chance to try it, which may be a few days with this weather. |
#5
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Best gear for gravel? Tire Size? Rim Diameter?
Per :
My next attempt, unless someone convinces me otherwise, will be at 35lbs pressure. I know I have not ridden gravel with pressure that low, so it'll be interesting to compare against. I'll post back with results once I get a chance to try it, which may be a few days with this weather. Next stop: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmeiser2/61141473/ ? -) -- PeteCresswell |
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Best gear for gravel? Tire Size? Rim Diameter?
On Mar 19, 8:43*pm, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
Per : My next attempt, unless someone convinces me otherwise, will be at 35lbs pressure. *I know I have not ridden gravel with pressure that low, so it'll be interesting to compare against. *I'll post back with results once I get a chance to try it, which may be a few days with this weather. Next stop:http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmeiser2/61141473/*? -) -- PeteCresswell You know, I'd really like a beach bike too. Somehow I think the salt air, bits of salt water and the sand would be hell on the bike though. 20mph on loose sand? That's awesome! I'm sure it'd float over that gravel. I think that's a bike i'd have to try before I buy, however. |
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Best gear for gravel? Tire Size? Rim Diameter?
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#8
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Best gear for gravel? Tire Size? Rim Diameter?
On Mar 20, 9:55*am, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
Per : *I think that's a bike i'd have to try before I buy, however. You and me. -- PeteCresswell I'd love to see some of them for demo at the big NEMBA events. The big guys usually have a bunch of bikes out, but I don't think I've seen a Surly tent at all, much less a Surly Demo tent. |
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