Will Challenge Eroica tire suffice for mix terrain ride?

[Mike Gao]

Hi:

I am interested in trying out some mix-terrain ride. Since I don't have enough fund for a new bike, I will have to make do with my bridgestone rb-1. I have 25mm tire on my bike right now, and it seems to have ample tire clearance, but I don't know what is the biggest tire I can fit on my bike. So my question is:

1) Will the challenge Eroica tire fit for my rb-1? 2) Will the tire good enough for gravel road?

Thanks in advance for any response.

[Rick Gordon]

If you want to be sure of clearance use some calipers to measure the clearance on the bike (measure all around the frame and the brakes) and add a couple of mm's and then you can determine if the tire might fit. I got some Grand Bois Cerf Green 700C x 29 mm and they would not work on my Specialized mk3 road bike so I went with 26 instead. As to the Eroica if it a 30mm I know it would not work on my bike but might on yours.

A lot of tires can work on packed dirt/gravel roads reasonably well. I am pedaling (for mixed terrain) an older Breezer Thunder 26 incher and 1.75 tires work great - the ones Compass Bikes carries - Grand Bois 26x1.75 - good tires but I did get two flats recently in quick succession - user error probably on the second but coming down Eldridge Grade does put some stress on the back wheel when you are unsuspended.

Rick

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[Metin Uz]

Mike,

We rode Carlos's Traditional Mixed Terrain route last Sunday. One rider was on a Colnago road bike with 25mm Gatorskin's, everyone else had at least 35mm cross or hybrid tires. The rider on the Colnago easily outclimbed and outdescended me on the dirt sections. So technique goes a long way and equipment can only do so much to compensate.

As for the Eroica, they are probably larger than their advertised size. I use their smaller version Parigi-Roubaix, which is advertised as 27mm but measures 29mm wide on Open Pro's. As Rick said, you should measure the smallest clearance on your RB-1 with your current tires. It could be under the fork crown, at the chainstay bridge or under the rear brakes. Also measure the width of your current tires. You probably want at least 3mm clearance. It's possible that you can use a larger tire in the front or in the rear.

--Metin