Choosing only from the Specialized range of tyres (because they're pretty good and half the price of the other brands) what tyres would you use for bikepacking (credit card touring) the Great North Trail please?
I'm prevaricating between Ground Control with the Grid casing, or Fastrak with the Grid Lite casing.
I used butcher front and slaughter rear, both grid casing, for most of the GNT a couple of years ago. The butcher was overkill TBH. The Pennine bridleway part is the hardest going, after that it's faster rolling in the most part. I'd say ground control, grid casing would be fine.
For the same type of riding I'm now on Vittorio agarros.
I'd prioritise puncture proofing against pure speed. But you could almost certainly get away with Fast Trak rear and GC front for the PBW bit of it, unless it's particularly wet and slippy.
I'm only really familiar with the bit that's in the Peak District (but I know that bit pretty well).
I've recently switched to Ground Control Grids, and they're fine - much faster rolling than the Butcher/Purgatory combination that they replaced. I've been riding them for everything though; the Peak section of the Great North Trail doesn't look too technical, if that's representative of the rest of it, I'd be tempted by something even lighter/faster rolling - especially at lower bikepacking speeds.
They're not Specialized but:
I've just come back from a 3 day bikepacking trip in the Cairngorms & Rannoch Moor using Vittoria Syerra's on my FS.
They coped with everything needed and were very fast rolling (on gravel & tarmac).
Ran them tubeless at 20psi, no issues with rocks etc.
OP, where are you getting them at 'half the price of every thing else'?
OP, where are you getting them at 'half the price of every thing else'?
Good point. Back when Maxxis were selling at full retail they were half the price. A quick check now suggests that’s no longer the case.
Probably dual Renegades. I did it on 40mm Bontrager GR1s and it was fine. Well, as fine as that bloody horrible route can be.
Probably dual Renegades. I did it on 40mm Bontrager GR1s and it was fine. Well, as fine as that bloody horrible route can be.
Why do you say it’s horrible?
I ran GCF and FTR all winter and the fastrak gets amazing grip if you run it tubeless at 20ish psi. Only sketchy when it was really muddy. No experience of GNT, but if you're after fast rolling I'd go fastrak rear and the tougher casing if it's a bit lumpier going.
Gc T7 front and Ft T7 rear you'll be fine
