Howdy folks!

Next week I'm finally heading down (mum not well earlier in the year so missed the mass start) into the Italy to do my annual Tuscany Trail pilgrimage.

And.....I'm in fairly crap shape.

Not horrifically poor form and to be fair my back is currently as good as it's been in a decade so

But I'm not anywhere near actually fit enough to do what I'm planning to do and so I'm now investigating suffering management scenarios and could do with some advice.....

My options are:

- Skinny tired gravel bike (40c Nanos)

- Monster Cross (2.4" Rangers)

- The Rooster (29+ with 3" XR2's)

I'll likely be riding +/-85km per day of mixed gravel roads, roads and a smattering of single-track for 5 days straight.

So do I.....

A) minimise rolling resistance and go skinny tyres?

B) take a sofa of a bike to minimise rattle fatigue?

C) take the middle ground with the reasonably ok rolling, mostly comfy Monster Cross bike?

Based on your experiences which option is most likely to result in the happiest broken person by the end?

Answers, thoughts and opinions on a postcard please.....

Cheers, Gairy.

You appear to have missed out - 'hire an e-bike'

Monster Cross. I reckon take your time and enjoy it. The other two options sound like hard work!

Specialist Hoprocker wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 5:08 pm Monster Cross. I reckon take your time and enjoy it. The other two options sound like hard work!

I know!!! But.....I literally, actually and genuinely built the monster cross bike with the tuscany trail in mind and so have done it the last three years in a row on that bike.

I've previously done it on the 29+ bike (my second logical choice) but I've yet to do it on an actual gravel bike (also done it on a Fatbike, rigid carbon 29er and steel hardtail).

It's (the skinny gravel) the only bike I've not tried and it's the most similar to what most folk ride it on.

I'm conflicted!!!

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Sun Sep 04, 2022 3:20 pm You appear to have missed out - 'hire an e-bike'

No.

I'd say the monster cross please Gairy. I'm slowly coming back down from 3 inch tires and now on 3 up front with 2.6 at the back for full mtb duties (rigid obviously) on the Pinnacle Ramin 3+

Taking the thin tires on too much gravel. I'm sure you'll suffer to the point of minimal enjoyment. Full fat is (IMO) overkill for a gravelly type route (though in my opinion theres still only 2 types of bike - road or off) with I assume a decent coverage of broken tarmac.

C

Dales 300 had me in bits from riding a rigid mtb on 2.2's, sore right wrist for 2 weeks and still suffering from what I think is hotfoot (not pleasant at all) so I'd be thinking pure comfort and use the fitness you have to ride and not getting rattled about

Comfort is king. That is all

Put 29x2.6 mezcals on the rooster, failing that, put the 2.4s on it.

Plus one for 'hire an e-bike'.

Mariner wrote: ↑Mon Sep 05, 2022 8:37 am Plus one for 'hire an e-bike'.

Still no.

Precisely zero interest in riding a motorbike* instead of my actual bikes**.

(*bike + motor = motorbike)

(**other opinions are available and I'm not for a second judging those who need to use an eBike to keep riding nor am I criticising those who simply like playing on eBikes for fun but it certainly ain't for me)

You'll all be (quite rightly) disinterested to know that I chose the sensible middle ground and am taking the Monster Cross bike (again).

Up and at 'em at 05:30 hours.....

gairym wrote: ↑Wed Sep 07, 2022 3:02 pm You'll all be (quite rightly) disinterested to know that I chose the sensible middle ground and am taking the Monster Cross bike (again).

Up and at 'em at 05:30 hours.....

Have fun mate, I know you will