One for the cyclists/mountain bikers.

[Beezerk]

I could search Google but I'd rather get an answer from the horses mouth if you will.
The missus and I are moving house in a few weeks, I've found out there's a great forest trail/cycle track less than 1/2 mile from the new house.
I've got a Giant Escape hybrid bike in my lockup which has those skinny wheels you usually get on racers, will those tyres be ok for off road stuff? Nothing crazy, just forest paths I imagine.
On their website it says you can change the wheels to meaty ones for proper mountain biking but it will be slowly slowly at first so I won't be doing anything daft.

Waddaya think?

 

[GreiginFife]

Personally would not use road tyres for any offroad, they lack grip and the ability to absorb shocks from uneven surfaces.
I just recently got back in to doing a bit of offroad and downhill after a 15 year break and got a bike made by a US company called Whistle. The tyres are proper off road and about 3" wide.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

The wheels will be plenty strong enough, the only thing to consider is possible grip issues if you plan on riding in the mud. It might be worth slipping on some semi slicks and they'll do an ok job. If you're planning on flying down the trails then invest in some proper tyres.

 

[MrBrightside]

Typically the thinner the tyre the higher pressure you need to run to prevent pinch flats, also the higher the pressure the less comfort - with the popularity of cyclo- cross however road style bike are used more off road and as such more off road tyres are available. you tube cyclo-cross and then look at the clearance between the tyre and the frame. Generally near the rear brake or where the bottom bracket is will be the narrowest point and it's this what will limit the tyre size you can use.

road bikes have generally gone from 23mm to 25mm tyres and there is a big difference in feel if you can get to 32mm you'll be fine.

also tyres are one the best and cheapest upgrades you can make to a bike so choose wisely and you will be sure to be making a good investment.

i rode my £5k road bike down numerous Forrest trails in France whilst exploring routes so with so with some mods you'll be fine.

once you've seen a cyclo-cross bike in action you fears will be put to rest.

 

[Beezerk]

Thanks for all the replies, so just some tyres with more tread should suffice then? I've read on their website you can swap to wider MTB wheels but that sounds like an expensive option.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

Unless you're doing extreme stuff.... A skinny tyre with some tread will be fine. Quicker too.

 

[Khamelion]

I was up at Stanhope moors, on the Wascally Way, a group of cyclists went past on hybrid bikes with skinny tyres, Wascally Way is an old railway line, so is all cinder and stones. As long as you're not doing to steep a climb on loose stone or mud then road tyres will be fne.

 

[Beezerk]

I was up at Stanhope moors, on the Wascally Way, a group of cyclists went past on hybrid bikes with skinny tyres, Wascally Way is an old railway line, so is all cinder and stones. As long as you're not doing to steep a climb on loose stone or mud then road tyres will be fne.

Do you know the tracks at Chopwell Woods mate? That's where I'll be going, I know there's an extreme course there but also lots of tracks around the woods from what I gather.

 

[Khamelion]

Never ridden it, but walked it a few times, seem to remember a mix of loose bark chippings in places, mud, roots and stone. Hamsterly is good for mountain biking, had a few good laugh riding round there, came off a few times too, broke my thumb and head butted a very large rock, had it not been for my helmet, I dare say I wouldn't be here now.

 

[Paul77]

Used to do a lot of downhill mountain biking and BMX riding years ago. I always went back to my trusty hardtail for everything in between. A Specialised Hardrock. A cracking mountain bike for the money and it was sturdy enough for you to whip it about abit on a trail. A cheap bike will come with really cheap front forks on it that could do more damage than good with little or no dampening. Go over a series of bumps and it's loss of control all over the place on the front end.

It won't be too long before your confident and start taking the pathways at speed. You're going to want front suspension that can go with the flow rather than one that bounces you off the bike. That's why I think that Hardrock does a good job of being a good entry level rider. Before you know it, you'll be full full sus cross country bikes like I did.