I just read Grant's latest post. It's a really nice introduction to rough riding (or underbiking) and some of the techniques that come in handy, as well as some of the many reasons to approach multi-surface riding in this manner. I think he's being very conservative, though, in suggesting that those used to 2" tyres should try 1.5" as a way to sample rough riding. My feeling is, if you're going to do something, go all the way. I first started rough riding by accident, or at least without planning to do so. (I'm going to write up that experience for the Rough Rider's Guide to the Galaxy which all participants in the Rough Riders Rally will receive this July.) Anyway, I went straight from trail riding a "rigid" mountain bike with 26x2.1" tyres to trail riding a "road bike" with 700Cx23mm tyres and never really looked back.
That said, it all depends on your local trail surface. Down here in La Jolla, some of our local trails are pretty rocky. I found that even more true, sporadically, in the Santa Monica Mountains. I've actually never flatted an inner tube while rough riding, but that's because I don't try to run 23mm tyres in super rocky terrain. So, around La Jolla, and the Santa Monica Mtns, I usually run 30-32mm tyres to protect the tube (and rim). But if your trails are as smooth as those in the SF East Bay (where I discovered rough riding), I found 23mm tyres, or 25mm/28mm at the absolute widest, to be more than adequate. Of course, YMMV; don't forget those skills I bragged about in my original article on the subject, way back in 1993! http://www.xo-1.org/2007/09/mountain-bikes-who-needs-them.html - Chris Kostman La Jolla, CA -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
