The C2C And Northern Cycle Routes Forum

cheeky monkey · Joined: 10 May 2008 Posts: 5

Hello all, this is my first post!

Doing the c2c in June, and have been agonising over tyre choice for weeks (may well be the least of my problems!).
I'm assuming the weather will be reasonable over the route in early June. I have also managed to pick up from this forum that's it's possible to do the whole route, if not on road, on a firm surface?

I have a choice of mountain bike, or hybrid. Okay, then a tyre choice on the hybrid of semi-slicks (Maxxis Detonator) or something more substantial (Schwalbe Marathon Plus).

Apologies if this sounds a bit geeky, but does anyone have any advice please?
Would like to think the hybrid with Maxxis will be fine?

johnonthetyne · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 9:20 am Post subject:

hi there,you dont say what type of mountain bike it is, i dont think a full susser is really needed for the ride and a hardtail would be adequate, also do you intend to ride the off-road sections such as the coach road?overall i think id be tempted with the hybrid,as for tyres a good thickness of rubbers handy as some places do have a bit broken glass etc.
johnb

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cheeky monkey · Joined: 10 May 2008 Posts: 5

johnonthetyne wrote:

hi there,you dont say what type of mountain bike it is, i dont think a full susser is really needed for the ride and a hardtail would be adequate, also do you intend to ride the off-road sections such as the coach road?overall i think id be tempted with the hybrid,as for tyres a good thickness of rubbers handy as some places do have a bit broken glass etc.
johnb

It's a hardtail mountain bike, but still a little on the lardy side.

I'm favouring the hybrid with the thinner tyes and plan on sticking to the on road sections if possible.

More interested in completing the route, rather than having thrills and spills off road.

I've more or less decided on the bike, but it's the tyre choice that's bugging me.....

johnonthetyne · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 9:38 pm Post subject:

with the smartguard puncture protection id go for the Schwalbe , maybe a little extra weight but i think itd be worth it.

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camping out on the edge of reality

chriso · Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Posts: 33

If you are planning on sticking to the road I would opt for the hybrid, it will be a lott less effort. Take a couple of spare tubes just in case.

themcdonnells · Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 2

Hi - just done it "On road" on a hybrid with Schwalbe Marathon Plus - they gave me the extra confidence needed in Witehaven and Consett areas where there was a lot of broken glass on the "Traffic-free" sections and even though we avoided the "steep and rough" ordinary sections some of the otheres were a bit bumpy. My wife had ordinary hybrid tyres and happy to say neither of us sustained any punctures. The hybrid seemed ideal.
Hope this helps,

have fun,

Martin

cheeky monkey · Joined: 10 May 2008 Posts: 5

themcdonnells wrote:

Hi - just done it "On road" on a hybrid with Schwalbe Marathon Plus - they gave me the extra confidence needed in Witehaven and Consett areas where there was a lot of broken glass on the "Traffic-free" sections and even though we avoided the "steep and rough" ordinary sections some of the otheres were a bit bumpy. My wife had ordinary hybrid tyres and happy to say neither of us sustained any punctures. The hybrid seemed ideal.
Hope this helps,

have fun,

Martin

Cheers.
Just one week to go now.

Had the hybrid a couple of weeks now, and racked up a few urban/tow- path miles (on Maxxis Detonator tyres).
Touch wood, no problems so far, so going to go for it on those tyres.

We'll have plenty of spare tubes, just in case.

Hopefully the thinner tyres and no front suspension will be more than compensated for by the faster running on the smooth bits.

Thanks for the recommendation anyway.