Tire size and type

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Martin from Chesapeake on 7/23/2022 6:42:59 PM:

What would you recommend for tire size and type for the canal trail...riding the full distance.

Bill in Houston from Houston on 7/29/2022 10:18:14 AM:

We have ridden all of our trail miles on 2.0 or 2.2 inch tires, with no flats.

Many people would recommend narrower tires, but then end up with flats.

tom from Toronto on 8/14/2022 8:30:00 AM:

We cycled 3 days on 28mm road tires (90 pounds pressure) with paniers on our bikes..no problem on gravel, stones, etc. Our bikes have Armadillo/Gatorskin / kevlar tires (you can still get a flat if you run over a nail or sharp glass).

Ed Marrone from SPRINGFIELD on 8/14/2022 10:17:48 AM:

Rode 2x with Schwalb Marathons 700/35. No flats both trips

Gordon in WA from Vancouver,WA on 1/13/2023 12:22:06 PM:

Hi! Will be doing the Erie Canal this June. Previously, road the GAP (Twice) and C&O. We use our hybrids with 700c wheels. For the GAP, I upsized the tires to 36mm, but that was mainly for the C&O (which in parts was a mess).
Honestly, it's mainly the Tire - not the width. Schwalbe Marthons are awesome - and 32mm widths should be more than adequate, even with full panniers.

Bop from Rochester on 1/14/2023 9:45:53 AM:

While I don't tour the canal, I ride it numerous times a week from spring thru fall, thousands of miles, on 700x25. Of course a wider tire may be more comfortable.

Yankee John from Vermont on 1/14/2023 1:04:01 PM:

Have ridden various sections of the trail several times on Schwalbe 32x700 without any major issues. Riding the sections of hard pack during or just after rain gets a little squirrely.

Bop from Rochester on 1/14/2023 2:17:30 PM:

The sections east of Brockport between Sweden Walker road bridge and Henpeck park in Greece can be bad after a rain, as mentioned by Yankee John.

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