Reply to What tires for Katy Trail

I'm flying in to do the Katy Trail, and other local rides (everything else will be paved). Here I commute on a Specialized Sirrus and ride a Felt F75 on the weekends. I'm looking at picking up a mid-level bike, like the Marin Kentfield or the Trek 7.2 FX or SU100. The big question is, will 700c x35 road tires handle the crushed limestone, or would I be better off with 26x1.5"s? Given that the rest of my riding in the area will be street or pave trail, and I'm used to riding road tires here, I'm inclined to go 700c, but if the Katy Trail will murder that rubber, I'll have to rethink... Thanks!

A few friends and I rode it with our road bikes with 700x25's and they worked fine. It even rained for half a day and that wasn't a problem for the tires.

chris, i have a raleigh bike with standard knobby tire bouts 1"--1 1/2" inch wide. have rode the katy when it is dry as a bone, and the day after a toad strangler of a rain storm, NO problems at all.

There are no shortage of opinions on tires on the trail. I'm fine on a tandem with 700x28s. Regardless of what you choose to ride, I have 3 rules:
1) You must carry a patch kit, spare tubes, and tire tools.
2) You must know how to use the items listed in number 1.
I'd like an Amen from everyone on what I consider a third thing we should all agree on.
3) Your tires should have a Kevlar belt. The weight penalty is neglibile for riding on the KATY trail. It won't save you from all flats, but if only saves you from a fraction of the flats, it's worth it.
You'll find plenty of opinions at:
http://www.bikekatytrail.com/talk.aspx?thid=682¬efmt=1&sortby=0&pg=4

I'm doing the DNR Katy Trail Ride next week and I've got Bontrager Invert 700 X 35 tires on my Gary Fisher hybred. Everyone I've talked with at bike stores and on group rides assures me I won't have any trouble with these tires......I'll be able to give first hand information in a week and a half......

Don

I rode from Sediala to McKittrick last week on a Specialized Sirrus and didn't have any problems. I changed to tires to 700x32 Specialized Bourough CX. They have a Kevlar belt and I had no flats.

Skinny or fat, slicks or knobby, 26" or 700, kevlar or not. The answer is tuffy liners, they will help prevent 90% of flats caused by the sharp limestone and locust thorns, except on the sidewalls there you are sol . I have seen picture nails peirce a kevlar tire, just the tiniest tip of the nail came through, it was enough to cause a puncture. Don't forget the weight of the rider plus packs, low tire presure and scrubbed (well used) tires will raised your percentage for flats. This will also affect your pocket book if repairs are needed. Make sure if you have a heavy load that you wheels are up to the weight, last thing you want is to replace spokes, anverage wheel will handle about 250 pounds.

I have a Amen for Nails but my Amen is for his first and second line on rules. I can not tell you how many times I have seen people out who do not know how to change a tire, carry spare tubes or even simply know how to use a pump or what size tire or type of valve they have. They wear all the coolest clothing and have cool gear but please...

The trail will chew up soft compound road tires causing slicing and chunking. Might I suggest a slightly harder compound like the PanaRacer T-Serve Messanger which come in a variety of widths, for both 26 and 700. This tire holds up very well on the trail and is a very competent road tire. Another one would be the Hutchinson Acrobat which also comes in a range of sizes.

Hope this helps.

Hartsburg Cycle Depot fixed me up with a set of Panaracer messenger tires and they are
great on the Trail. I have them on my mountain bike and they have served me well with no
problems. Even though I live in KC, I do my best to support the businesses along the Trail
because I want them to stay in business.