Marin riders - gravel tire reco, please

[grnrcr]

Tapping into the Marin hive mind here again since you all have been amazingly helpful.

My bike: Open WIDE w/ 650b wheelset

My routes: Up and down Miwok, Bobcat, ORRG, Deer Park, Bolinas ridge, San Geronimo. The most rowdy I've done is down Coastal View. I am terrible at anything technical.

My current tires: 2.1" Thunder Burt. They have been flawless. But the back tire is bald at ~1,300 miles.

Considering: RH Juniper Ridge, Conti Race King 2.2, TB again?

I am slightly hesitant to go "down" to the 48mm Juniper Ridges since I feel like I do need my tires to bail me out from time to time.

Thoughts?

[zacstanley]

IMHO, I think a 2.1 is overkill for most of those roads/trails with the exception of Bolinas Ridge. A 38-42c tire is more than enough as Miwok/Bobcat etc. are very well graded and maintained. I've done Bolinas Ridge a few times with 2.1" TB's and found the really rutted section towards the terminus on Olema Hill very unpleasant. I would recommend something even bigger and probably 700c wheels.

[weisan]

Originally Posted by grnrcr

My current tires: 2.1" Thunder Burt. They have been flawless. But the back tire is bald at ~1,300 miles.

I am not a technical rider, don't take risk, brake a lot.

And so, my tire wears faster... because of me dragging them through some gnarly sections, not because they are "no good" or didn't do what they were supposed to do.

[EB]

XC 29er mountain bike.

[Likes2ridefar]

Specialized pathfinder pro 650bx47mm. Tubeless. This tire never lets me down. Rolls fast on the road, has no issues with technical trails, and is very durable.

[philhan89]

Vittoria Mezcal.

[John H.]

I have been using these on my 650b wheels on Mt Tam.
https://ultradynamico.com/products/rose-jff

[dem]

Originally Posted by Eli Bingham

XC 29er mountain bike.

Seconded.. the trend of turning gravel bikes into bad mountain bikes is confusing to me. If you aren't riding at least 25% pavement (in which case, who wants to drag around a tire bigger than about 35-38c?) an XC 29er will be safer, more fun and way less miserable.

I'd stick to the Thunderburts, they're decent XC mountain bike tires. Short tire life is just the price you pay for fast/sticky/good.

[MarinRider]

I am running RH Fleecer Ridge 700c at 23-24 psi. They really help toward the end Bolinas and Jewell, and few small sections on SG Ridge and Pine Mountain. Not too much of drag everywhere else.

[XXtwindad]

Originally Posted by dem

Seconded.. the trend of turning gravel bikes into bad mountain bikes is confusing to me. If you aren't riding at least 25% pavement (in which case, who wants to drag around a tire bigger than about 35-38c?) an XC 29er will be safer, more fun and way less miserable.

I'd stick to the Thunderburts, they're decent XC mountain bike tires. Short tire life is just the price you pay for fast/sticky/good.

Well, if this topic isn’t in the rim/disc realm, it’s pretty damn close. FWIW, I don’t think there’s any of the areas mentioned by the OP that warrants a MTB. (I don’t know what ORRG stands for)

I’d get the Panaracer GravelKing SK Plus in 650x48 or 650x53, depending on clearance capability. I have the 700c version (42c) and absolutely LOVE them.

[muz]

Originally Posted by XXtwindad

FWIW, I don’t think there’s any of the areas mentioned by the OP that warrants a MTB. (I don’t know what ORRG stands for)

Agreed. Many of those roads/trails are used in SFR mixed terrain brevets. I use a cross bike with 40mm tires, but some ride them on 28mm slicks.

ORRG is Old Railroad Grade. OK uphill, but quite bumpy downhill on road tires.

[Duende]

I recommend something with knobbies. As there are areas where you get sand on top of bedrock. Knobbies have worked well in these areas for me... more so in the Wildcat areas but fine for Marin too. I personally use the RH Steilacomm.

[XXtwindad]

Originally Posted by muz

Agreed. Many of those roads/trails are used in SFR mixed terrain brevets. I use a cross bike with 40mm tires, but some ride them on 28mm slicks.

ORRG is Old Railroad Grade. OK uphill, but quite bumpy downhill on road tires.

Oops. Duh. Easy peasy with some knobby gravel tires in both directions.

[livesadventure]

Originally Posted by philhan89

Vittoria Mezcal.

Seconded