mev

For what it is worth, need for a spare may also correlate with weight (both rider and bike) and also where you go. I am heavier and have had sidewalls tear a few times. I also ran over a nail/spike once that completely went in/out of the same tire. I expect probability of both to be low on C&O and GAP, because of the terrain and because it isn't that far - and even less if the tires are fairly new. I did carry two spares riding in South America and across Asia on trips where I didn't expect to find easily high quality tires in my size.

With that said, it has been a while for sudden failure without any warning, knock on wood.

Tourist in MSN

I have not had a tire completely fail since ... I think I had not reached teenager status, and I am 69 years young now. So, we pretty much have the same experience. (I am not including tubular tires in this discussion, have not ridden those for decades.)

But, bad stuff happens.

The 290 grams I carried on my last tour is not an important amount of weight to me, but you have described your touring style enough that I can see where that is like dragging an anchor to you.

imi

I too am an old codger who has never had a catastrophic tire failure in all my years of touring, but thanks mainly to the Eurovelo routes, I find myself more and more on gravel and rocky paths where there is greater danger to my skinny 32mm Gator Hardshells. This has caused me to wonder if I should carry a spare… I‘m not there yet, so it‘ll probably take a ripped sidewall to change my mind

frogshawn

The last time I did the GAP & CO I used 40mm Schwalbe Marathons and they fine, however when I ride it again I will something in the 48-50mm range for that bit of extra cushion.

str

of course no problems with that tire, super save tire. just that it rides hard like concrete.

jpescatore

I finally wore out the rear Donnelly MSO 40MM knobby rear on my Jamis Renegade I use on C&O/GAP, North Central Rail Trail. I replaced them with Schwalbe Marathon 35MMs that I used on that bike for some multi-day road tours. I definitely echo the "rides hard like concrete."

They are wide enough and tough enough for the Towpath and perfectly fine for the GAP. But for the C&O Towpath and even the NCR trail, the ride is so much rougher that I'm going to buy another Donnelly 40MM to replace the worn rear (I saved the front) and go back to those.

str

The Donnelly MSO is a great tire, very comforting rolling.

djb

Hey lionheart dude, how wide are your present tires- you answered"700" but no widths.
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just realized you haven't been back here.

cequip

I was near Myersdale, Pa. in late September and got a day in on the GAP. I was riding Specialized Pathfinder Pros in 42 wide. Everything I saw and rode would of probably been good on 32 and up with little bit of tread. It was all kind of crush and run, maybe cinders surface. My only concern on narrow road tires would be if I had to swerve suddenly and lost the front wheel in the slightly loose stuff. Seems like a mighty slim chance of that happening though. I think about any kind of bike or tire will do okay there. Great trail system for sure. Cannot wait to get back and do the whole thing. The C and O part appears prone to wetness at least on Youtube so might appreciate a little more grip on that part.

Small cog

I did the C&O earlier this year on 40mm Schwalbe Marathons which were fine, I have put them through much worse than the towpath has to offer without a problem although not as comfortable as something wider.

jkinner

Did it on 26 x 1.5 Schwalbe Marathons. No problems. Good to have fenders...