Time for new tires on the gravel bike
Last Post 04/03/2018 01:41 PM by Orange Crush. 6 Replies.
Author Messages
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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04/02/2018 10:25 PM
I'm behind the times. Looking for reasonably sturdy, reasonably good rolling, reasonably light 700c 32, 37 or larger folding clinchers for my go-to go anywhere bike as I enter full geezerhood. Any and all suggestions appreciated. I hope OC in particular has some suggestions, as his epic rides cover the same sort of terrain I am riding, albeit a lot slower on my part.
DonnaMobile

Posts:71

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04/03/2018 12:21 AM
I am running Panaracer Gravel King 32's on my "new" all-road bike (new frame with components from my cx bike), and I love them! They feel so plush on pavement that I savor the sensation of just rolling along, but they feel lively and fast also. They are just fine for the rocky unpaved roads and dirt paths that I do.

Speaking of gravel, well there's gravel and then there's this: https://www.mtb-mag.com/video-pasubio-gravel/ (I know that Spud and OC are familiar with Monte Pasubio).
79pmooney

Posts:3178

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04/03/2018 12:55 AM
I rode Paselas in 38c front/35c rear last summer for the 60 miles and 30 of gravel over the Oregon Coast Range last summer. At the ends, the gravel was just gravel but in the middle (very steep) stuff, the "gravel" consisted of 1 1/2 to 2" rock. My tires were new and came through with flying colors. Planting the front tire and just trusting it when I came to tight turns at the bottom of 18% pitches became fun. (Very scary the first time. It was the only option that wasn't catastrophe and I had no idea what to expect.)

lsd, "... reasonably sturdy, reasonably good rolling, reasonably light 700c 32, 37 or larger folding clinchers" describes Paselas very well. They aren't great at anything but they live up to those requirements exactly. Plus reasonably good for glass and cut and reasonably good in the wet. Last reasonably long. And ~$40 for folding.

Paselas have been my go to tire for years now in all the sizes for rain/city/non-snow,ice riding except when I am going for a ride on one of my best bikes and am going to do big-time wet descents. For that, the Vittoria Open Paves are just plain better - at twice the cost.

Question - are the Gravel Kings the same tire as the Paselas but with more aggressive tread or are there casing or other differences?

Ben
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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04/03/2018 08:23 AM
Ordered Challenge Strada Bianchi 38 width. Could not resist the name. I'll report back after a few hundred miles.
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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04/03/2018 08:32 AM
Whoops: strada bianca.
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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04/03/2018 11:55 AM
My tire choice is neither reasonably good rolling, reasonably light or folding. It's sturdy (bomb proof), period. Took the gravel bike well out of bounds on Saturday on something that could have used a full suspension MTB. One steep rocky ride, not quite as extreme as the Pasubio video (remember that hike well), but bike and rider survived.

The bomb-proof setup did beat the dude on TT rig the other week, so it must not be holding me back too much. You can train to get used to just about anything LOL.
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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04/03/2018 01:41 PM
BTW - May 5 be here, "Our 155km route boasts nearly 2400m of climbing over 60% gravel and 30% lush doubletrack/singletrack.":

https://www.datocms-assets.com/2334/1521151716-rideforwater-148k-longcourse.jpg

https://www.runforwater.ca/ride

And for next year, let's meet here for the Gorge supergrinder course:
http://www.oregongravelgrinder.com/


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