Adventure Cycling Association Forum
Bicycle Travel => Gear Talk => Topic started by: TwoWheeledExplorer on September 16, 2013, 12:27:31 am
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Planning on crossing the Chippewa National Forest here in MN using almost completely dirt and gravel roads. Backroads in Minnesota are almost universally semi-sandy, but the area has had sufficient rain so it's not powdery, and terrain is fairly level. Carrying me (250 lbs.) and my gear in rear panniers (30-35 lbs.) Do you think the 35mm Schwalbe Marathon Plus on my Volpe would cut it, or should I take my mountain bike?
Ride safe,
Hans
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The question implies you believe your Volpe bike can actually perform the task. I've never seen your bike but, generally, trail riding is best on a trail-specific bike for reasons you already understand.
Find a similar set of trails within practical distance from your home and give yourself time to test this theory under real world conditions including a full load in rain.
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Thanks; that was what I was thinking too. We have plenty of dirt roads around here I can test it on. As for the bike itself, the Volpe was first introduced as a cyclocross bike, so it can handle the abuse. Of course, my MTB, a Volcanic Vx7 APB (basically a heavy-duty hard-tail, built specifically for police/EMS use) can definitely do it with ease. I just like the drops and the suspension seatpost on the Volpe for touring.
Thanks again!
Hans
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It can be done. See http://www.rsf.org.uk/. If you do it on a road bike I recommend for your sandy conditions the widest tires your bike will mount.
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Here's some food for thought http://www.xo-1.org/2007/09/mountain-bikes-who-needs-them.html (http://www.xo-1.org/2007/09/mountain-bikes-who-needs-them.html)
And here's what one person can do with a road bike http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZmJtYaUTa0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZmJtYaUTa0) Though I wouldn't suggest a Pinarello for touring.
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Thank you all for the input. I did it and it worked great; better than I expected. The campgrounds on the Chippewa were closed due to the federal shutdown, so I did the Rum River State Forest near Milaca, MN. and had a great time. From the looks I got from loggers, hunters, a fire crew and a state forester, you'd think they'd never seen a bicycle before. In fact they haven't, at least on the forest. Both a hunter and the forester told me they didn't get bicyclists there. Going to go back with my MTB before the snow flies and check out some of the side trails and fire lanes.
Picture is the Volpe, on the dirt, fully loaded. That's my Dr. Livingstone helmet. I wore it for my oldest grandson who thinks it's pretty cool; so do I!
(https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1379520_578717248830330_88671170_n.jpg)
Ride safe,
Hans