What kind of bike is best for the trail.

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Vinnie from Long Island from Long Island NY on 8/6/2021 7:55:02 AM:

I'm just trying to decide what kind of bike would be best suited to ride? My options riy ght now are a road bike, a mountain bike or a fat tire. My plan is to ride 40 to 50 miles a day. Thanks for any advice.

Vinnie

AnotherTuba from Rochester on 8/6/2021 8:27:56 AM:

A lot of the trail around here is 'crushed stone' (gravel) so I ride my mountain bike with skinny (1.5) tires. Have a great ride!

Bill in Houston from Houston on 8/6/2021 9:24:46 AM:

Whichever one you like the most for 50 miles per day.

You're more likely to get a flat on the roadie, of course.

I'm not in a race, so I ride my MTB. Handles every surface, never got a flat.

Vinnie from Long Island from Long Island NY on 8/6/2021 11:06:22 AM:

Thanks for the help, I'll go with the mountain bike, should be a fun trip!

Wandering soul from St. Mary's City, MD on 8/6/2021 3:05:39 PM:

Vinnie, MTB is definitely the right bike for the Erie canal trail. I completed my through ride from Buffalo in early June on a road bike borrowed from my daughter. After the first day I realized it was the wrong bike for the trail: skinny tires (700×32), racing handle bar, no front or rear shock etc. I should have stayed with my trusty and reliable hybrid bike: beefier rides (26×2.10), front suspension, seat post suspension, flat bar with risers etc. As others had noted, most of the trail is composed of crushed stones. Fatter tires will not sink as easy especially when it rains. BTW, I have biked the GAP + C&O (one trip), as well as large chunks of the Moselle, Rhine and Danube using my hybrid bike and that worked out well.

Have fun with your upcoming ride.

Wandering soul from St. Mary's City, MD on 8/6/2021 3:32:08 PM:

Wrigs on 8/6/2021 9:54:29 PM:

I used my old 80’s steel touring bike that I turned into my long distance camping machine. It is 27x1 1/4 (with schwalbe marathons) and I did just fine. I didn’t have anything as bad as it gets on the C&O. Don’t let this scare you off if you have skinnier tires.

Vinnie from Long Island from Long Island NY on 8/22/2021 8:56:56 AM:

Thank you again for all your input. I've decided to go with the mountain bike. I'm starting my trip on 9/11 and I plan on riding 40 to 50 miles per day. If all goes well I'll be looking into trying some other long distance rides. Thanks again for sharing your experiences, I'll let you know how it goes.

Bill in Houston from Houston on 8/23/2021 8:49:56 AM:

Good luck and best wishes! Come back if you have more questions!

Anonymous on 8/26/2021 8:59:42 PM:

I'm on the trail now and my bike has 700x25's and my brothers has 700x32's. We have both done fine. No flats so far and mine rolls faster than bike with 32's.

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