Basic advice gratefully received!

JonathanH

Hi folks,

I am new to road cycling and cycling properly to be fair! I bought a Trek 1.2C a couple of months ago.

A few answers to some basic questions would be awesome please!

1. I have a pair of bontrager road tyres now, but think I may need some more robust tyres to cope with surfaces that are not ideal for road tyres (fine gravel etc) which may present themselves on cycle paths etc. I was thinking even some cyclo-cross tyres? Does this sound reasonable? Or does anyone have any suggestions?

2. What is the minimum kit you would take with you on a day trip (e.g. pump, levers) - a list would be ideal!

Many thanks in advance,

Jon

velvetytoast

Jon,

Not sure about the tyres, but I always take

Credit card phone twenty quid - in plastic bag in shorts pocket
Mini pump + 2 gas
2 tubes
Tyre levers
Multi tool
Puncture repair kit
Dextrose tablets (just in case the shops are closed)

I figure if I need a new tyre/wheel/chain I'll have to call for backup!!!

Gizmodo

Take a look at this thread:
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12797509

JonathanH

Thanks for the day kit advice - feel covered now! Good thread link too.

Any tyre experts out there?!

Duffer65

I'm not a tyre expert...but I have 23" road tyres on my bike and frequently ride along a path/trail without suffering any p*nctures. I'd rather run road tyres and risk light trails than run cross tyres and be even slower on the road.

skyd0g

...you may potentially struggle for tyre clearance if you try to put CX tyres on your Trek (I'm not sure how close it will be on your particular bike, but CX bikes generally have greater tyre clearance than road bikes).

Scrappaman

Jon,

My Trek came with Bonty R1 tyres also and I have changed them out this week for tougher Continental Gatorskins. The R1s wore out pretty quickly so I am hoping the Gatorskins will be an improvement.

You might want to consider something along the same lines that is tougher than the Bontys?

Monty Dog

The biggest tyre you're likely to fit is a 25mm or maybe 28mm whereas CX tyres are generally 30mm and up. For a tougher road tyre theres the Bontranger Hardcase or if you want something really tough there's Schwalbe Marathons

Duffer65

Duffer65 wrote:

I'm not a tyre expert...but I have 23" road tyres on my bike and frequently ride along a path/trail without suffering any p*nctures. I'd rather run road tyres and risk light trails than run cross tyres and be even slower on the road.

I can't beleive it! I very stupidly put that I have 23" tyres on my bike :oops: and nobody flamed me for it :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: What's happening to this forum?No sarcastic comments? Or has somebody started another BE WARNED thread and that's diverted everyone's attention?

esspeebee

You're not likely to fit cyclo-cross tyres under road bike brakes. Your best bet if you ride on unforgiving surfaces is probably 25mm puncture-resistant tyres -- most manufacturers make them, and everyone has their own opinion on which is the best.

As for what I take on a ride: phone, cards, cash, spare inner tube, puncture repair kit, CO2 pump with two canisters, tyre levers, multitool, and a spare set of batteries for lights.

JonathanH

Thanks folks.

I had thought that non road or CX tyres would be too chunky for my bike, so it seems some harder wearing tyres or gator skins, which I was thinking about.

If anyone has any particular tyres they could recommend (other than already recommended!) that would be great.

Thanks again everyone - very useful forum!

desweller

Duffer65 wrote:

Duffer65 wrote:

I'm not a tyre expert...but I have 23" road tyres on my bike and frequently ride along a path/trail without suffering any p*nctures. I'd rather run road tyres and risk light trails than run cross tyres and be even slower on the road.

I can't beleive it! I very stupidly put that I have 23" tyres on my bike :oops: and nobody flamed me for it :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: What's happening to this forum?No sarcastic comments? Or has somebody started another BE WARNED thread and that's diverted everyone's attention?

Couldn't be bothered when I read it yesterday, but since you ask...what are you riding, a 2-wheeled tractor?

As for the OP...for light gravel I stick with my road tyres (23mm Conti GP4000S), but they're a bit skittish at road pressures. Might be better with something like 28mm Gatorskins or GP4Seasons.

esspeebee

My brother's been using 25mm Gator Hardshells for the last year or so, with I think one puncture in that time. He seems to rate them fairly highly, though I've not got any real first-hand experience of them.

KnightOfTheLongTights

JonathanH wrote:

If anyone has any particular tyres they could recommend (other than already recommended!) that would be great.

I just put on Michelin Krylion Carbon for a tour of France (1,400km, no punctures); and for winter use - long rides urban and rural, but probably not much in the way of cycle paths / gravel etc. They're great, still a fastish road tyre.

It's always going to be a trade-off how robust you go: but if the main thing you do is ride on roads, there's no point struggling along with something draggy for the sake of the odd bit of towpath or gravel ...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=20460

Oceanblue

I recently put Michelin Krylion Carbon on my Trek 1.5 & loving them!

mikeyboy12345

I've used 23mm Vittoria Rubino Pros last year, and Diamante Pros this year, with virtually no probs. Three punctures in approx 5,000 miles on the Rubinos with none for the Diamantes in approx 5000 miles (except a snake bite when I hit a bl00dy rock, but that was my fault)!!

Can't fault Vittoria really. The Diamantes are a nice fast tyre and, according to my scales, come in at just under 200g. They wear a wee bit quicker than the Rubinos (but the tread cuts less) and for about £2 more are an absolute bargain. Grip in the wet isn't bad, but could probably be better. Having said that I take things easier in the wet anyway so it's no prob.

More than half my mileage is during the commute and the Vittorias have no problem with all the gravel and cut glass on Southampton's cacky roads.

surreyxc

Kenda 8 blocks, very good go anywhere.

Now running Marathon Supremes, pricey at £40 each but I got some at £27. Excellent tyre, saved 10% (5min) on journey time over 8 blocks, and good enough for dirty roads, parks etc, but reckon be crap on offroad paths at anything but a snails pace, not enough volume or grip.

cyberknight

mikeyboy12345 wrote:

I've used 23mm Vittoria Rubino Pros last year, and Diamante Pros this year, with virtually no probs. Three punctures in approx 5,000 miles on the Rubinos with none for the Diamantes in approx 5000 miles (except a snake bite when I hit a bl00dy rock, but that was my fault)!!

Can't fault Vittoria really. The Diamantes are a nice fast tyre and, according to my scales, come in at just under 200g. They wear a wee bit quicker than the Rubinos (but the tread cuts less) and for about £2 more are an absolute bargain. Grip in the wet isn't bad, but could probably be better. Having said that I take things easier in the wet anyway so it's no prob.

More than half my mileage is during the commute and the Vittorias have no problem with all the gravel and cut glass on Southampton's cacky roads.

How are the rubionos in the wet? i have a used pair given to me i am thinking of putting on my weekender as the conti ultra sports are useless in the wet.