cs1

Has anyone used an Escape on any kind of off road use? I’m not talking about serious single track, just light off road. I grew up with Eighties MTBs which were all rigid and didn’t have particularly wide tires. So I thought an Escape might make a good beater dual purpose rigid bike.

Jim from Boston

Giant Escape Off RoadI don't read the Hybrid Bicycles Forum but I saw this as New Post, nor do I ride off-road unless necessary. Nonetheless, I have a Giant Escape and have posted:I think my aluminum Specialized Diverge road bike, with 30C tires, would also be suitable for "light" off road.

EGBigelo

I've used my Trek FX off road when I had it, as is not maintained rails to trails. I too grew up with rigid mountain bikes too back in the 80's (and 20" BMX bikes). Of course those were steel, but I had no issues with my FX. The only thing I would have changed on it if I still had it were tires better suited for bumpy dirt and gravel trails.

hokiefyd 

The biggest liability is the tire size. I think the Escape will fit up to about 38mm tires (perhaps a few mm larger or smaller), and you'll probably want to fit the largest tires you can on it for best results. Our old rigid mountain bikes have 559mm wheels (26"), with 50mm or larger tires (2"), which provided more flotation and comfort than a narrower tire does. Other than that, it should do fine. My daughter has used her Raleigh Alysa (same concept as a Giant Escape) on light single track, and it makes it through. We do have to air the tires up to fight against pinch flats, reducing comfort, but it does work.

xroadcharlie

I bought my Giant Sedona last year for it's 1.95" (50 mm) wide tires I thought I needed to do some off-roading. I ride with a friend on his Garry Fisher hybrid bike with 35 mm lightly treaded tires and was surprised how well the narrow tires handled some average gravel paths. A rather challenging trail I ride, With loose stone, soft gravel, Ruts and roots required a much more aggressive tire than you can get in a 35mm,tire, And he had to walk his bike up. But we came down another trail that was perhaps average, And the narrow tire worked for him. Just not very comfortable.

If you are buying a new bike, I would not go less them 38mm for light trail riding, Like Giants Roam 3. BTY, It is a misconception that wide tires of the same design, At least up to 2" slow you down much on pavement. Giant's Sedona won't be as quick as their Escape, Even using the same tire because the rider sits more upright increasing wind resistance, Not because of the 1.95" tire width.

I think the Giant Roam I also looked at might have been a good all rounder balancing speed on paved roads thanks to a semi-tucked riding position, And reasonable stability on gravel and average trails.

HerrKaLeun

The Giant Toughroad seems exactly what you are looking for. I have 2.15" front and 2"rear. Rolls perfectly on pavement, and on gravel / off road.

hokiefyd 

I've converted my Roam to 584mm wheels (often called 27.5" or 650b) and 47mm tires, though they actually measure out to about 49mm, or basically 2". I've also had 50-622 tires on it (2" on the stock wheels). Both of these combinations are at least as fast as the stock 38mm tires. Many people like narrower tires, and that's terrific, but wider tires aren't the speed liability that most believe them to be, and they offer a ton of advantages in many areas. My MTB uses 52-584 tires (Vittoria Mezcals) and those babies are fast.

If you already have the Escape, and it's a disc brake model, you could consider swapping to 584mm wheels. I bet you could easily get a 42-45mm tire in there, and your overall diameter would be 668mm (with 42mm tires) or 678mm (with 45mm tires), which is darn close to the stock 35-622 tires (692mm).

rumrunn6

one can choose a bike that suits a trail, or choose a trail that suits a bike