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My Girlfriend has a Scott Sub 10 urban bike with Alfine 8 speed hub gear which she loves.
I have been tempting her into doing a bit of easy bike packing and she seems keen.
But I don't want to get her a bike for this just yet until we have tried it out.
I will carry the majority of the gear and I thought we might try Peddars way in Norfolk - a trail she knows well being a Norfolk girl. That flat nature of the terrain should offset the lack of gears issue but the tyres will definitely need changing.
The Scott bike has 32mm 700C slick tyres on it. There seems to be a reasonable amount of clearance in the frame and forks but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions regarding what I can put on - how big I can go etc?
I don't have much of an idea when it comes to 700c as I'm more of a mountain biker.
Am I looking at cyclocross tyres? Gravel bike tyres?
Any advice welcome - or just tell me its a terrible idea!
Isn't a hybrid a sort of off roader by definition?
Don't know that route but unless its big drop offs and boulders ( I know it isn't) then the bike will be fine. Just bung in the some slightly tougher tyres maybe. I wouldn't bother. 32's are fine for gravel as long as not run too low. Remember gravel doesn't need tyre tread, just a slightly tougher carcass at most.
Bang some schwalbe land cruisers on and unless you come across mud you'll be fine
Another thing to note, is that the number of gears isn't necessarily an issue - the gear range is what matters and, if I remember correctly, the Alfine 8 speed gas a decent range
Thanks yeah the alfine has a good range but is geared for the road in terms of the chainring and sprocket....its wont cope with steep offroad climbs. I need a chunkier tyre we can run at lower pressure and that isnt slick. Iv measured the clearance...a 40mm tyre looks like it will fit no problem.
Go to a bike shop and get them to fit different tyres to find out how wide you can go. lots of different styles of hybrid / cx tyres now.
Landcruisers are a good bet if you just want to experiment without spending loads of cash. 35mm or 40mm (the latter are properly heavy!) Search around and you can get 2 tyres for £20.
If the bike can take slightly larger, I'd recommend the Continental AT Ride (700x42) which are light, fast rolling and reasonably puncture proof. Last time I looked they were £16 ea from one of the German sites.
ndthornton
...the alfine has a good range but is geared for the road in terms of the chainring and sprocket….its wont cope with steep offroad climbs...
Unless you can fit 2"+ tyres, I wouldn't worry about the gearing just yet. The range is probably ok as it is.
I've found when riding on steep offroad that it's not the gearing that's the problem but tyre slip. It's rare to find a steep surface that's hard and free of loose stuff all the way up. (That's using 40mm tyres and a 3 speed hub.)
I think the ability to use lower pressure for conformation with the surface is more benefit that the dinky little lugs you get on narrow tyres.
I think the ability to use lower pressure for conformation with the surface is more benefit that the dinky little lugs you get on narrow tyres.
Agree, and also as pointed out the toughness of the tyre is what matters of rtes gravel where I live as it is very flinty so only very tough touring type tyres cut it (or of course just go tubeless). i.e a road tyre in a decent size would be great but would probably be punctured within the first 10 minutes.
The range is probably ok as it is.
Yes - certainly for the flattish route we are planning.
I’d recommend the Continental AT Ride (700×42
Right Iv just ordered some of these - look like just what Im after - cheers!
I am now thinking of fitting a rack as it has the mounts for it - Any recommendations on something cheap and practical?
So am I the only one that is disappointed that this is not about molgrips turning his Toyota Prius into a rock crawler 🙁
its wont cope with steep offroad climbs.
certainly for the flattish route we are planning.
???
I was referring to future rides we might do if this practice one goes well....which will be hilly and require different gearing
Ah, I see!
A change of sprocket should sort out the switch to steeper territory. A friend of mine has an Alfine 8, and rides it all over the South Downs, so I can't see it being a barrier.
A change of sprocket should sort out the switch to steeper territory. A friend of mine has an Alfine 8, and rides it all over the South Downs, so I can’t see it being a barrier
Yes - I have one also on my On one Inbred rigid winter bike - 32T / 22T gets me up and down the Malvern hills
Fantastic things!!