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Anonymous from Geneva Illinois on 4/4/2022 2:16:38 PM:
Bigger is better, but can I ride a rode bike with 28mm tires on the Katy?

 
Jack from Ohio on 4/4/2022 3:52:24 PM:
If it is dry. My son rode 32's and was fine on a dry Katy. Absolutely miserable on a wet Rock Island. The Katy is in better shape than the RI but I suspect you'd have trouble if it is really wet.

 
Anonymous on 4/4/2022 8:48:14 PM:
Bigger is not always better. We’ve ridden the Katy with 28 slicks on the tandem several times. Stay in the track out of the loose chat and you’ll be fine.

 
Jerry Whittle from Belleville on 4/5/2022 10:49:10 AM:
I've ridden parts of the Katy on 700x25 road tires and didn't like it. I've ridden the entire Katy 8 times on 700x32 tires and they were adequate.

A couple of years ago did the same thing on 26x2.125 tires with some knobby tread on a tandem and it was OK. Did the GAP and muddy C&O last year on the same bike.

However last October I rode between Clinton and Boonville on 650b x 47 tires and it didn't work out too well even though those tires are pretty fat. The tires were slicks and it was extremely mushy from lots of rain. Lots of slipping and sliding. The next time I'll have some more aggressive tread on that bike.

 
brad wilson from st louis on 4/5/2022 2:59:52 PM:
I agree with Jack and Jerry.

A little more width with a little tread will help you through the possible trail conditions you might encounter. Muddy, rocky, loose, cracked, etc.

Also, if your bike has no suspension, a larger tire will give you a little more cushioning. Sometimes the trail is broken and rutted due to runoff, heavy equipment traffic, rock slides, fallen branches, etc.