Next weekend is the Tour of the Battenkill here in upstate NY. The course is 65 miles, about 30% dirt roads, and has just shy of 5k feet of gain. Ouch! Just wondering if anybody has recommendations for wheels and tires for such a race? Right now I’m thinking training aluminum rims, 25 gatorskins, and about 110 psi. Another option is a set of zipp 202s, great climbing wheels, but the roads are in worse condition than usual this year and I would hate to crack some carbon on a huge pothole. Any feedback appreciated, thanks!
Leave your Zipps at home. Aluminum with 25/28 Gatorskins should be fine.
Why run the gatorskins? I know you are playing the safe side of the durability vs speed tradeoff, but I’ve raced similar (shorter) races and rides with 4000s rubber with no problem. I also run lower pressures though on a wide-ish (Hed Belgium) rim.
I just rode the course yesterday. 99% of the dirt roads are great, very smooth and packed dirt. There are a few potholes that could be an issue, but it’s risk/reward. 23s are fine on the course, I run 25s with wide aluminum rims. I’d ride 303s if I had em. Also - if you’re getting new tires, go for something less awful than gatorskins. I use vittoria rubino pros.
Next weekend is the Tour of the Battenkill here in upstate NY. The course is 65 miles, about 30% dirt roads, and has just shy of 5k feet of gain. Ouch! Just wondering if anybody has recommendations for wheels and tires for such a race? Right now I’m thinking training aluminum rims, 25 gatorskins, and about 110 psi. Another option is a set of zipp 202s, great climbing wheels, but the roads are in worse condition than usual this year and I would hate to crack some carbon on a huge pothole. Any feedback appreciated, thanks!
Why so high on the pressure? 110psi in a 25 seems excessive, especially on a rough parcours.
I’m assuming you’re heavier than me (most are), but I don’t even run 110 in a 23mm tire (maybe, just maybe on a 21mm).
Conti 4-seasons are my heavyweight go-to tire for days where I really don’t want to risk a flat. They’re worlds apart from the Gatorskin in performance but still good on protection. I run those in a 25mm at about 90psi, which is still higher pressure than I probably need at my weight (135lbs).
Personally I’d run the 202s with 4-seasons (25mm, 90-100psi depending on your weight). Put your box rims with gatorskins in the follow car and hope you don’t need them. 202s are a fairly robust rim and you’re far more likely to pinch flat on a pothole than crack a rim (so watch out for potholes - bunnyhop them if you need to).
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Next weekend is the Tour of the Battenkill here in upstate NY. The course is 65 miles, about 30% dirt roads, and has just shy of 5k feet of gain. Ouch! Just wondering if anybody has recommendations for wheels and tires for such a race? Right now I’m thinking training aluminum rims, 25 gatorskins, and about 110 psi. Another option is a set of zipp 202s, great climbing wheels, but the roads are in worse condition than usual this year and I would hate to crack some carbon on a huge pothole. Any feedback appreciated, thanks!
Why so high on the pressure? 110psi in a 25 seems excessive, especially on a rough parcours.
I’m assuming you’re heavier than me (most are), but I don’t even run 110 in a 23mm tire (maybe, just maybe on a 21mm).
Conti 4-seasons are my heavyweight go-to tire for days where I really don’t want to risk a flat. They’re worlds apart from the Gatorskin in performance but still good on protection. I run those in a 25mm at about 90psi, which is still higher pressure than I probably need at my weight (135lbs).
Personally I’d run the 202s with 4-seasons (25mm, 90-100psi depending on your weight). Put your box rims with gatorskins in the follow car and hope you don’t need them. 202s are a fairly robust rim and you’re far more likely to pinch flat on a pothole than crack a rim (so watch out for potholes - bunnyhop them if you need to).
I was going to say the same thing.
I run 110psi in my track tires for San Diego and Encino
I typically have 95/100 for road races and crits
For the rain and when I raced the gravel Cone-Azalia classic I’d run 80/85.
To the OP, good luck! Hope the weather holds.
-SD
I’ll be running my same setup as the last 4 years except for the front tire… Ultegra Tubeless with Hutchinson Intensive rear (25mm) @95psi and Sector front 28mm @ 90psi. Which field are you folks in?
I agree with others – aluminum rims (Open Pro if you’re old school; HED Belgium/Ardennes or similar wide aluminum would be my ideal choice) and regular tires are fine, or “Roubaix” inspired tires. I love Vittoria Open Paves, but the other recs are great here.
Have fun – it’s an epic race!
Lots of good advice from other posters.
I did BK last year. Used my Eurus 2-Way fits with Hutchinson Atom road tubeless. No problems. Epic day. Will go back, just not this year.
Knowing what Tom A. posted about the Crr of road tubeless tires, I’d use the same wheels, but with either the IRC or Schwalbe tires.
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Ditto on rims and tire pressure . I would definitely use 25s…Michelin pro race service courses would be a great option.
Rode the course three weeks ago with my Zipps on and I agree…as much as I like tubulars/light wheels (and in my case, a powertap hub) I swapped some decent alloy hoop onto my bike for the race next weekend.
Just too much mud and grime on course. Add in that it’s supposed to rain on race day and several times in the days leading up to it…I think we can expect a pretty wet course. IMO alloy wheels just perform better in the all important braking while wet and gritty department.
Not sure what I’ll run for tires…probably conti 4 seasons or perhaps just some fat vittorias. I did my test run on 23s, 25s should be plenty.
A few years ago Lennard Zinn recommended Schwalbe Ultremos in 25c for Battenkill clinchers.
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Anyone here ride the Battenkill course this past weekend? Curious about the current state of the dirt. FWIW the last two years I rode b’kill w/23c GP4000s…no issues.
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I agree with others on the use of a more appropriate tire like the 4000 and running a pressure of maybe 90psi. Use your plain old wheels, there are a lot of crashes in the race, so sense banging up your nice stuff
Mr. URBANTRIATHLETE up above said the following on 3/28:
"I just rode the course yesterday. 99% of the dirt roads are great, very smooth and packed dirt. There are a few potholes that could be an issue, but it’s risk/reward. 23s are fine on the course, I run 25s with wide aluminum rims. I’d ride 303s if I had em. Also - if you’re getting new tires, go for something less awful than gatorskins. I use vittoria rubino pros. "
I am 200 lbs, going with 303’s and 4000s @ 90 PSI
After improving all week, the weather forecast is taking a slight turn for the worse, but still not bad - Saturday looks like a high of 49 degrees and 30% chance of rain. 60% chance of rain on Friday, so it could be a little mushy come Saturday. Early fields will be treated to low 30 degree temps at the start. makes me glad I am Cat 5 pack fodder, at least I’ll be a little warmer while I am riding alone towards the finish!
Good luck out there fellas.