Forest of Dean family trail - shopper bike suitable?

[davidallenxyz]

My other half has an old 3-speed Dawes Kingpin bike which is fun to ride - but not necessarily built for rough surfaces.

We're planning on going over to the Forest of Dean paths with the kids and I'm slightly concerned that the "shopper" bike might hold her back a bit. It runs on 37-440 tyres which have a road tread.

Does anyone who knows the path well have a view?

And if I was to get a replacement bike, should I look for an MTB or would a big wheeled hybrid be enough?

 

[Cold]

I don't know it well but If it's the trail I think it is then it's like a canal path and is a hard gravel type surface

 

[midliferider]

I have cycled on there. It should be OK. There was cycle hire centre and I think it is still there.

 

[EltonFrog]

Tough as old boots the Dawes Kingpin, it should do those paths ok.

 

[jefmcg]

Ah, what we have here is a very rare phenomenon: n+1 by proxy. He was just looking for an excuse to buy a new bike for his wife.

 

[Mireystock]

It's a pretty good surface all the way around, the very occasional small piece of ever so slightly rougher stuff, but you shouldn't have a problem. Keep an eye out for boar and fallow dear !

 

[summerdays]

I've been around with friends with skinny tyres and kids on 16" bikes when we first used to take them, it's fine. Any accidents that have happened all happen about the same place, either on the downhill Z bend or the big downhill immediately afterwards when kids go slightly faster than their skills allow!

 

[User482]

I did it on a road bike which was Ok with care.