Tour Divide/GDMBR - tires

[DocTrike]

Ah sheldon saves us all (RIP). Well according to his article it is same outside diameter as a 700x19. That is the size of my road tubies, I can't go any wider than 34mm because the diameter increases with width, so it hits the chainstay brace.  I actually have about 3 inches of width it's the increase in diameter that comes with the large width that this frame won't accommodate.

So if it is only that diameter but larger width it may fit, although with such an oddball antiquated size I would be concerned with having to hunt down a tube or tire in the backwoods of the Continental Divide. I can get a 24x3 Gazzaloddi in there.

[BobM]

Ah sheldon saves us all (RIP). Well according to his article it is same outside diameter as a 700x19. That is the size of my road tubies, I can't go any wider than 34mm because the diameter increases with width, so it hits the chainstay brace.  I actually have about 3 inches of width it's the increase in diameter that comes with the large width that this frame won't accommodate.

So if it is only that diameter but larger width it may fit, although with such an oddball antiquated size I would be concerned with having to hunt down a tube or tire in the backwoods of the Continental Divide. I can get a 24x3 Gazzaloddi in there.

If you use a tire that "just fits" you will have no mud clearance - could be an issue.

[phil_rad]

My favorite tire right now is the Geax Sagauro, it's available in 26". Rolls great, wears like iron and has good traction in all but the worst of mud. Should be a perfect tire for the GDMBR. I use the folding bead and set it up tubeless. the TNT version is too tight a fit on Stan's rims.

[DenisVTT]

I second the Saguaro. If I ride the TD again this year or next, that's what I'll have front and back.

The Nano is great on pavement and smooth dirt and OK on gravel (doesn't grip much when the gravel is a bit loose,) but as soon as there are rocks it's not so great.

Case in point: I was NoBo last year. 2nd day, you gotta take what are pretty much the only 11 miles of singletrack on the route, the CDT alternate north of Pinos Altos. Not even 3 miles in it, I ripped my rear Nano on a rock. Had to put a boot and a tube in it and ride the next 600+ miles that way until I got a new tire (a Saguaro) in Del Norte.

[Roland Sturm]

In contrast to Denis, my Nano held up almost until the end. But just a few hours before  finishing, I sliced my Nano front tire (sidewall) on the single track (like Denis, I was going north). Sure, the tires had 4500 km on them by then. Cut was small and I made it to Banff after fixing the flat.

[Cheyou]

Depends a bit on how well suspended you are. I rode on a fully rigid bike and was very glad to be running reasonably fat tyres at very low pressures.

I run a 1100km event down under called the Kiwi Brevet and the general consensus is that cyclocross tyres don't make for an enjoyable experience overall.

Could you run 2.1 by 650B tyres?

How low was your tire preasure .

[DocTrike]

Starting the tire research all over as it will now likely be on different bike.

[DocTrike]

Does anyone have any experience with the Conti race kings and the similar offerings from Conti?

After talking with several people who have done the route it makes me want to consider semi slicks.

[phil_rad]

Geax Saguaro in 26" 2,2. Perfect tire for the divide route.

[fifeandy]

Does anyone have any experience with the Conti race kings and the similar offerings from Conti?

After talking with several people who have done the route it makes me want to consider semi slicks or: Big Apple/Supermoto, hookworm type tire as well.

Any thoughts?

FYI: I can go up to about a 26x2.3" tire I believe. If I have to use an existing bike from my stable 26x2.0" or 622x34mm is about as wide as they can handle unless I go down to a 24", but I will be walking on the steep slippery climbs.

There are a couple of TD blogs which mention Race Kings.
Generally the impression I got from reading them was that they were a suitable choice.
Similar in speed to a Nano, but with a bit less grip - the grip issue for 29'ers should be addressed with the introduction of the black chili compound this year.

From personal experience on 26" Race Kings, only consider the black chili versions.
The standard compound is really only fit for dry hardpack - they don't grip anything damp/loose/off camber.

[DocTrike]

@fifeandy Thx, I was looking at the RaceKing supersonics as well in both 26" and 29er. 

[Newfydog]

The Saguaro has been good to me.  My wife and I just spent three weeks in thorn country, rode some of the incredibly rough AZT, did the Antelope Wells to Silver City leg, and did some rides around Bluff, Utah.  Four well used Saguaros with Stan's, no flats.

We ride Racing Ralphs at home, but Saguaros on trips.

[DocTrike]

@newfydog what do you think of the Schwalbe RR's is there a reason you don't run them on trips?

[Newfydog]

@newfydog what do you think of the Schwalbe RR's is there a reason you don't run them on trips?

I love those tires, but I fear the sidewalls are too light for loaded extended travel.  Also, all my trips seem to involve some extended pices of road, and a slightly worn Geax Saguaro has essentially a continuous center bead so the tire can be pumped up hard and you just ride the ridge without much buzzing on the road.

We'll be riding hiking trails from Nice to Rome in a few bikes and the bike I'll be on has a Racing Ralph----maybe I'll try it and see how it goes.  It is easier to find a shop in Italy than Montana!

[Beardog]

I have finished two TDR's on small block eights - first year no flats - last year about 8 and a sidewall blow out hitting the black top into Del Norte--this year riding either cross marks or Maxxis Aspens---fast rolling rammed and a bit stiffer side wall then small blocks--BTY the nano raptors are not the same now that they are made elsewhere than a few years ago--most folks comlain that they too blow side walls too easy. You need something that rolls fast and holds up-nothing bigger than 2.2 --nothing techncal enough to lug a heavy tire for 2700 miles

[phil_rad]

Dave, were you running tubeless or tubes?

[woody]

I've been running a new Nano TCS (tubeless compatible system) on Stan Flow rim on the rear and have about 800 - 1000 miles on it and it is holding up very well. Most of the miles have been dirt and paved roads.

Woody

[Beardog]

I always run tubes--get too frustrated with tubeless and on Mavic 719 rims is a bit iffy sometimes-for AZT I set them up a couple rocky rides ago with cross marks, thin skins and slime tubes- a bit heavy but the cactus are thick in AZ-- on Divide race I have been switching to slime in Salida at Absolute to avoid the goatheads in NM--works pretty well except for a run in with glass last year-had to grab an old patched tire at the hostel in Del Norte (yes there is a biker's hostel there - they are awesome and I donated earlier this year a few used 29er and 26er tires for the next people in my situation (hopefully not me again) heading into Del Norte) Check the map for phone number---

[DocTrike]

I am liking the Conti Race King supersonics so far, but running with tubes.

Any opinions about Hookworms, BigApples, SuperMotos, K-Rads and other urban/inverted knob tires?

[Endurance Junkie]

Thats

I have one of those racing ralph snakeskin tires, looks like a great tire, but I think you want a bit tighter tread pattern thus faster rolling, look at the WTB Nano, it has all those tightly spaced and almost continuous center knobs thus fast and long lasting. This is what I looked for tires. I have chosen a Geax Saguaro front, and a Maxxis crossmark.

thats the same tire set up im using as well!