Choice of bike/tyres for Gaelforce (Cyclists opinions)

2 Wheels Good

Know there's a (long) thread in Athletics on Gaelforce but just want to get a
cyclists perspective on this so posting here, general consensus is road bike but...
there's an extended bit of offroad dirt track this year, about 4k in all i think.
Added to about 2/3s of the roads being your typical country boreens I'm tempted to bring an mtb running slicks instead of my roadie running tourers so
I can give it a good run on the offroad part without losing loads on the road.
The roads aren't great so I can't see myself losing a load of time and it'll be more fun on the offroad on my mtb. I did it on my road bike last year and while I was able to cycle the shorter offroad section fine I'd prefer not to put the road bike through that.
(I'm not trying to win it, just complete in an ok time so enjoyment is a big part of the day)
Any opinions?

blorg

What are the largest tyres you can get on the road bike? Could you fit 28s? I've never seen a road in Ireland that wasn't cyclable on a road bike on 23s to be honest. If you had the option a cross bike or tourer with wide tyres (say 700x35c) would seem optimal but I wouldn't discount the road bike with as wide a tyre as will fit on it.

2 Wheels Good

I ran 28s on it last year, just there's the extra section this year as well.
Managed fine, grew up on this stuff so passed mtbs on it without too much drama
Photo below from the GF thread of some of the new section

blorg

I'd say you would get over that fine on 28s. Wider would be better obviously, but the MTB would be worse for the road section. You can't go wider than 28 on the road bike, right?

2 Wheels Good

No, that's pushing it as it is, I'll keep an eye on the weather, if it stays dry will go road, wet mtb

polariz

Thanks for the photo! Was gonna go with my roadie with gator skins but am seriously reconsidering now. I reckon my rims could get wrecked doing 4km of that..

blorg

You just need to stay light on the bike; I wouldn't be sitting for any of it and I wouldn't do it on 23s. 28s should be possible although if you could find something similar and give it a go you would have a better idea. The main problem doing that sort of thing with thin tyres is your wheel tends to get caught and jump around a lot causing you to come off... going faster can make it easier to ride over but potentially hurts more when you fall off. My 2c anyway.

ROK ON

On the basis that people race on cobbles and stade bianchi on road bikes with thicker tyres at lower pressure I'd say you ll be fine.

ronanmac

Did this recently as a dry run on 23 Rubinos. No problems, but could have been just a lucky day. So that you know, Pat, the next bike section after Croagh Patrick is considerably rougher than the bit photographed. It's a rut rather than a road.

2 Wheels Good

Keeping the knees and elbows bent can take a lot of the pressure off but if a spoke has enough it's all the good of the previous miles gone... The cobbles are consistent this stuff is a lottery of surfaces, I'd bet a cyclocrosser would love this route.
The last downhill section on the route last year had sections on bare rock, and was dug up from the rain, I think a lot of people ran that section
Think below is part of it. Photos from this thread

c montgomery

pat_hurley@yaho wrote: »

I ran 28s on it last year, just there's the extra section this year as well.
Managed fine, grew up on this stuff so passed mtbs on it without too much drama
Photo below from the GF thread of some of the new section

WTF

How the hell am i going to do 4 km of that without puncturing?

Is all this 4km section like this?

toomuchdetail

c montgomery wrote: »

WTF

How the hell am i going to do 4 km of that without puncturing?

Is all this 4km section like this?

No , some of it is worse:D
Its rough in places but hopefully if its dry its navigation should be fine., 1-2 tricky pieces particularly the last km , rough bend just off a small piece of tarmac and lastly just as you leave the forest before the reek as its a sharp uphill on lose stone.
Im no good on a bike and heavy at 17st and I have cycled it twice (not above 12km) and didnt puncture, probably just lucky

smithwicks

It's gonna lash all week and be wet for the weekend. I'm gonna jog with my road bike on the shoulder for the 4k

healthygirl

smithwicks wrote: »

It's gonna lash all week and be wet for the weekend. I'm gonna jog with my road bike on the shoulder for the 4k

I think I'll be doing the same! Didnt realise how bad the road would be, at least its after Croagh Patrick section (I hope....)

snailsong

healthygirl wrote: »

I think I'll be doing the same! Didnt realise how bad the road would be, at least its after Croagh Patrick section (I hope....)

'fraid that's the 4k before CP. By the way I'll be using a Schwalbe marathon plus on the rear (has a bit of grip) and Michelin Erilium on the front (kevlar). Both puncture resistant. I've done the route twice on the Kenda Criterium slicks that came with my Giant road bike and no punctures yet. Cycled once on the Schwalbe and found it useful for the extra traction on the gravel. Went over skelp each time, slowly.