Hey folks -- this is probably a dumb question, but can I take a road bike (700x23 tires) on the Great Allegheny Passage? Is it an "off-road" thing that requires a mountain bike?
I'm dying to walk away from my job and disappear for several days, and this seems like just the ticket. I don't have any other bike options other than my road bike, though...
The GAP is super well-maintained (except for a few small stretches around Ohiopyle), and the crushed limestone surface is hard-packed enough that road tires will usually do just fine. I know some folks on the CTC ride used 25mm tires, so you'll probably be okay.
i've ridden on a chunk of it with 700 x 23. i just wouldn't carry a huge load
How far are you planning on riding? I'd say you can ride all the way to Cumberland on 23s...though if the trail is wet it'll be slow going. Like Erok said, though, try to ride without much extra weight.
If you want to go all the way to DC, I wouldn't do the C&O on less than 28s probably. It can get pretty bumpy in spots. It's more a smooth dirt road than anything.
put some ruffy tuffy inserts in your tires if running anything less than 28mm width.
also, if carrying a load of more than even 15-20 lbs, i was on a ride where a guys' slightly "racy" 700c wheels absolutely disentegrated (blew over 10 spokes in a morning) on the rear wheel. he was carrying about 20+ lbs of gear.
this was after doing the whole PA section and the disasters started to happen around harpers ferry.
we ended up buying a whole new wheel for him at a LBS
I rode the passage with 700 X 32's. I'm going again this year with 700 X 38's.
Even on the limestone, I think big, fairly smooth tires work best.
If you are going for a few days, it would probably make you happy to have invested in 25's, 28's or whatever is the biggest you can fit with good clearance.
But then, you want fenders, too. Homemade cardboard/duct tape if you have to. Trust me on this.
Mick
If you are riding on the c & o toepath fully loaded I would recommend 35mm tires minimum (and some tread would be nice if it is muddy).
Oh, last year I road the c + o with 35mm smooth tires in muddy conditions. I was wishing I was on a mountain bike.
The gap never really gets really muddy like the c + o.
edit: Is the gap the name for the whole thing? or just up to cumberland?
I rode it on 700X28's with a full load of like 30lbs.
That said, once you hit the c&o you will want something wider with less pressure. it is gnarly.
also, some bike rental place new ohiopyle was selling lots of "trail bikes" w hich seemed to be lots of hybrids. it was on craigslist
Thanks for all the input...
I'm on the large side (6'3", 200lb), so I figure I'm like a fully-loaded regular person on the trail already, without any gear. I'm going to leave the Bianchi at home and go find something "cushier" if I do the ride. It sounds like the road bike just isn't the tool for this job.
i made it from d.c. to pittsburgh on 23's fully loaded, no flats. my friends had mtb's and got flats a few times. luck of the draw i guess. 23's should do fine on the GAP. the trail is smoother than most of pittsburghs gnarled streets
the trail is smoother than most of pittsburghs gnarled streets
ha ha so sad but true
