Riding (actual) road bikes on dirt/gravel
08-18-18, 06:59 AM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Center of Central CA
Posts: 1,582
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 897 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
True, especially when riding a fixed gear off-road. Don't ask how I learned this. 
I just now recalled the logging roads in Oregon I used to ride 20 years ago, were made of this really loose gravel called "Madacam", which was difficult or nearly impossible to ride through if your tires were not wide enough, and even then, it wasn't that fun to ride in because it slowed your down so much when you sunk down into it almost an inch while riding a long. Man, I hated that stuff. Practical for logging trucks, but pretty much hell for bicycles, especially when it had just recently been poured.
So when I talk about riding in gravel, I often forget about that stuff. You absolutely need wide tires to make it through that crap, but for me, I find that 28's are fine for almost everything else short of deep mud, deep sand, singletrack, or that cursed Madacam.
I just now recalled the logging roads in Oregon I used to ride 20 years ago, were made of this really loose gravel called "Madacam", which was difficult or nearly impossible to ride through if your tires were not wide enough, and even then, it wasn't that fun to ride in because it slowed your down so much when you sunk down into it almost an inch while riding a long. Man, I hated that stuff. Practical for logging trucks, but pretty much hell for bicycles, especially when it had just recently been poured.
So when I talk about riding in gravel, I often forget about that stuff. You absolutely need wide tires to make it through that crap, but for me, I find that 28's are fine for almost everything else short of deep mud, deep sand, singletrack, or that cursed Madacam.
08-18-18, 07:13 AM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,286
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1096 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Not exactly, I don't think. People with road bikes are just willing to take them off road if the opportunity arises. Sure, some may appreciate the perverse nature of taking a road racing bike on a dirt trail (it's instagrammable) but I don't think there's a trend of going out of ones way to do so. Well, maybe there IS a trend to go out of ones way to do instagrammable things....
08-18-18, 09:20 AM
#28
Senior Member
I think it's so cute that you think "street cred" is a thing. And it's great that you are riding, regardless of the surface you ride. If it's fun, you're doing it right. "Street Cred". Hmmmm.
08-18-18, 10:28 AM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Center of Central CA
Posts: 1,582
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 897 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
The point being ...?
I agree with the "if it's fun" part. The best part is not dealing with cars, I'll deal with goatheads, debris, and fist-sized rocks gladly, if it means there's no impatient cars behind me.
I agree with the "if it's fun" part. The best part is not dealing with cars, I'll deal with goatheads, debris, and fist-sized rocks gladly, if it means there's no impatient cars behind me.
08-19-18, 12:41 PM
#30
Senior Member
I like the idea of having a bike that can do both. My new Synapse Disc Di2 came with Mavic Aksium wheels which I have swapped out for Campy Bora 35 tubulars, leaving me with the Aksiums with 28’s. I can put 32’s on and get a 11-34 cassette which will get me anywhere. The question is how much abuse I want to subject my new bike to! There are sone outstanding rosds on Spruce Knob in WVA which would be sublime....
08-19-18, 12:54 PM
#31
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
Forget about road bikes and 28's. Go full gravel.
Just do it. You won't regret it.
-Tim-
Just do it. You won't regret it.
-Tim-
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Inpd
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
44
07-21-16 08:19 PM
