Snow Roads - road b...
 

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Snow Roads - road bike with 30mm tyres or gravel bike with 32mm (road) tyres.

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Bit of a pointless question really, it'll be down to how strong my back is feeling whether I want a more stretched position (on a faster, more fun bike, hence my reason for considering road bike) or whether I choose a heavier bike with lower gearing and a more relaxed position. I'd be targetting 12-14hrs.

Who's done it, what bike?

Ta


 
Posted : 13/08/2025 9:19 am
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gravel bikes and endurance road bikes offer pretty similar pedalling positions nowadays do they not? 

typically endurance style bikes can take slightly rougher allroad surfaces under their belt also?

you arent talking about an out and out race bike for 12-14 hours? maybe you are....


 
Posted : 13/08/2025 10:31 am
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You can get 30mm ice spike tyres these days, no idea how effective they are.


 
Posted : 13/08/2025 10:37 am
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Personally, I'd be on the gravel bike with 35mm tubeless at about 35psi for that ride.   But I'd probably be slower than you anyway.


 
Posted : 13/08/2025 10:58 am
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Posted by: alan1977

gravel bikes and endurance road bikes offer pretty similar pedalling positions nowadays do they not? 

typically endurance style bikes can take slightly rougher allroad surfaces under their belt also?

you arent talking about an out and out race bike for 12-14 hours? maybe you are....

No, it's a Basso Venta which is their Endurance model, until recently I almost had handlebars level with saddle although vanity finally got the better of me and I flipped the stem down for a slightly racier position.

You can get 30mm ice spike tyres these days, no idea how effective they are.

Sorry, it's only a name, likelihood of snow at 500m in the Cairngorms mid-August is relatively low I think 😎 Although as an aside the 30mm Schwalbe ice spikes are fine for occasional black ice and winter roads.

 

 

 


 
Posted : 13/08/2025 11:03 am
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Posted by: highlandman

Personally, I'd be on the gravel bike with 35mm tubeless at about 35psi for that ride.   But I'd probably be slower than you anyway.

Yeah... I think the road bike might just encourage 'unsustainable' pacing up the climbs anyway, I think the stolid plodding of the gravel bike is the more sensible option...


 
Posted : 13/08/2025 11:07 am
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Posted by: n0b0dy0ftheg0at
You can get 30mm ice spike tyres these days, no idea how effective they are.

Not as good as the bigger ones, much below 38/40 and they are (IME) a bit shit.

 


 
Posted : 13/08/2025 11:46 am
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the few times I've done it -its been triple chainsets , 25mm tires and aero bars ….. long stretches into the headwinds if your on your own. 

 


 
Posted : 13/08/2025 12:30 pm
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Posted by: trail_rat

the few times I've done it -its been triple chainsets , 25mm tires and aero bars ….. long stretches into the headwinds if your on your own. 

 

'Few'?! I'd figured it would be a 'once and never again' type affair 🤣 

Will maybe leave gravel gearing as is then, I recently went 46/30 and 11-36 at the back, plus the gravel handlebars can take clip-ons, but ironically my new (to me) Easton EC70 aero bars on the road bike can't 🙄 

 


 
Posted : 13/08/2025 12:40 pm
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i live on the route - its a good day out when the suns up and the winds down .

Mostly done when i lived down angus way though - the audax organiser at the time was part of our club. 

 


 
Posted : 13/08/2025 12:43 pm
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Posted by: 13thfloormonk

Posted by: alan1977

gravel bikes and endurance road bikes offer pretty similar pedalling positions nowadays do they not? 

typically endurance style bikes can take slightly rougher allroad surfaces under their belt also?

you arent talking about an out and out race bike for 12-14 hours? maybe you are....

No, it's a Basso Venta which is their Endurance model, until recently I almost had handlebars level with saddle although vanity finally got the better of me and I flipped the stem down for a slightly racier position.

You can get 30mm ice spike tyres these days, no idea how effective they are.

Sorry, it's only a name, likelihood of snow at 500m in the Cairngorms mid-August is relatively low I think 😎 Although as an aside the 30mm Schwalbe ice spikes are fine for occasional black ice and winter roads.

 

 

 

I had horrible feeling I was falling into a trap! 🤣 

 


 
Posted : 13/08/2025 12:59 pm
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Posted by: trail_rat

Mostly done when i lived down angus way though - the audax organiser at the time was part of our club.

C.R.? I think he's part of Trilogy CC now, am sure he also organised the gravel audax out of Dundee...

I had horrible feeling I was falling into a trap!

Sorry, arrogant Scot assuming everyone knew what the 'Snow Roads' was! 😎 


 
Posted : 13/08/2025 1:13 pm
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C.R.? I think he's part of Trilogy CC now, am sure he also organised the gravel audax out of Dundee..

 

no idea who CR is - used to be Angus bike chain member out of kirrie hall  but the organiser retired from organising audaxes.  

 

Kirrie hall was a good as you climbed the COM first thing in the morning , and finished with the descent off glenshee and ripped down the glen isla which if the winds right is a great roller coaster of a quiet road. 


 
Posted : 13/08/2025 1:40 pm
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no idea who CR is - used to be Angus bike chain member out of kirrie hall  but the organiser retired from organising audaxes.

Still available as permanent 300km ride:
https://www.audax.uk/event-details/perm/331-the_snow_roads

 

Relaxed - every time. 


 
Posted : 14/08/2025 6:31 am
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Posted by: trail_rat

no idea who CR is - used to be Angus bike chain member out of kirrie hall  but the organiser retired from organising audaxes.  

Sorry I'm just being excessively GDPR compliant, C.R. is the initials of the Audax organiser, I don't know if it was the same Angus bike chain member you knew. I don't know him either way.

Still available as permanent 300km ride:

Yes I saw, not sure I'd bother recording it as such, especially since I'm intending to detour at Moneymusk and head through 'The Lord's Throat' which is just too enigmatic a name for a road NOT to ride it! 😎 

 


 
Posted : 14/08/2025 7:22 am
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lords throat is a beautiful road. 

Fair detour as official route goes through kemnay and past the business centre and is a bit bland - they ran a control at archeolink (now closed) then gadies (now closed) hence i guess that route  - you heading out the keig road to auchleven then in to rhynie (which was an info control IIRC)  there ? - Theres a whole lot of nothing between monymust and Rhynie in that case be warned. - but if you can - nick through to montgarrie from keig and go over the suie if you want a fun descent and more climbing 😉 

 

 


 
Posted : 14/08/2025 7:54 am
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Ha! Yes I saw the Montgarrie and Suie alternative, tempted although having already added climbing via the Lord's Throat I really don't think I should be adding any more 😀 


 
Posted : 14/08/2025 8:08 am
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I did it on a CAAD12 with a 52/36 front and 11-26 at the back.  

The weather was good that day. The Lecht was hard but the rest of the ride was fine.

I would find those long climbs on a heavy more relaxed bike should destroying as I want to feel every bit of energy is getting me up the hill.

What about easier gearing on your racier bike?


 
Posted : 14/08/2025 9:49 am

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