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Tires vs fenders
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Tom M from Raleigh NC on 5/3/2014 8:19:25 PM:
What's more important for riding on the C&O trail -- tires with treads or fenders? I've been running Vittoria Rando Hyper 32s on my bike and they clear my fenders fine but have no treads. However, I felt more tread was important for the C&O, so picked up some Clement LAS 33s, but they are much wider than billed (36 mm) and won't clear my fenders, not even close. My fenders are 45mm Planet Bike Cascadias, but I also tried some SKS Raceblade 45s and they didn't fit either. So if you had to choose one tire or the other, which would you use, knowing that you could use fenders with Clements.
 
Anonymous on 5/3/2014 8:24:10 PM:
BTW, we aren't planning to leave on our trip until June 15, riding from Pittsburgh to DC, so hopefully the trail will dry out by then.
 
Anonymous on 5/4/2014 6:09:13 AM:
If its dry you wont miss fenders. If it rains you will wish you had them on the C&O. I didnt have them and it rained. The bike got pretty muddy but I managed ok.I have fenders for the next time.
 
lenny on 5/4/2014 9:03:03 AM:
If it rains and you on the C&O it doesnt matter if you have fenders or not, you will be covered with mud.I've gone both ways and fenders are a waste of weight and trouble.
 
Anonymous on 5/5/2014 8:59:25 AM:
I might just pick up some inexpensive clip-on fenders, in case it rains. They only cost about $20, so it's no big loss if they don't work as well as regular fenders.
 
Greg K from Chicago on 5/6/2014 1:38:39 PM:
I had rain all three days on the C&O. Your bike will get muddy, your stuff will get muddy, but the important thing with fenders is you won't get muddy. You'll just be soaked.

Even on the C&O you won't need treads. There's nothing loose enough that treads will make a difference. If it does rain be very careful after passing through the Paw Paw tunnel. The other side is bare rock and slippy as ice when it's wet.
 
JJB from Fairmont, WV on 5/6/2014 3:55:13 PM:
Just to add my two cents, on our last trip we were held up by an early morning rain storm. That day we had to stop and clean our cassettes because they were so packed with mud the chain started skipping! It is funny, when we start out each day, dry and clean, we try to miss all of the mud puddles but after a short time you end up hitting one or two. After that you miss what you can but just go through the rest...lol.
 
Anonymous on 5/6/2014 3:58:38 PM:
Gear is always a very subjective topic whether its hiking,biking,rock climbing, etc. Nobody is totally right or wrong.Just take in the info and decide for yourself. Its all good.
 
Scott from Powhatan, Va on 5/7/2014 6:23:47 AM:
Just finished the GAP Monday, I'm glad I had fenders and tread. The fenders more so. Personal opinion. Good luck.
 
Dave D from Chapel Hill, NC on 6/5/2014 7:35:29 PM:
Tom - we're heading to Cumberland Tuesday (the 17th) to begin the Towpath to DC on Wednesday. 5 guys - first time on the Path. Wave as you ride by!
 
Tom M from Raleigh NC on 6/6/2014 8:09:29 AM:
Dave - I'll be looking for you. There are 3 of us from Raleigh, all riding touring bikes with rear panniers. We are taking the Amtrak from DC to Pittsburgh, and leaving there on Sunday 6/15. We are planning to stay in Cumberland on Tuesday night as well, at the Inn on Decatur, and heading to Hancock on Wednesday.
 
Dave D from Chapel Hill on 6/6/2014 11:31:40 AM:
We'd be very interested in your GAP experience. We were going to start there but couldn't work out the logistics. We're at the Fairfield Inn Tuesday night. Based on the Hancock stay I'm guessing you're going to finish Saturday. Have a great ride. If you get slowed down look for us at Bill's Place Wednesday night. My junk email is devojr at gmail dot com if you want to communicate off this forum.
 
DAP from Fairfax on 6/9/2014 7:21:00 AM:
Some boy scouts are riding from White's Ferry to Brunswick June 21. Any advice is appreciated.
 
Tom M from Raleigh NC on 6/23/2014 9:41:43 PM:
Well, I ended up using Panaracer Pasela PT 32s on my bike, and they worked just fine. They easily cleared my fenders, and I was glad my bike had them. We had nice weather all week with only one rainfall of any significance, but there was a lot of residual mud puddles from heavy rains the previous week. Wider, knobbier tires would have been better if they fit my bike with fenders, but that wasn't the case. So the Paselas were a reasonable compromise.
 
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