Towpath on my Spesh Sirrus Sport?

[wilko]

I have a hankering to take my Sirrus Sport off road. Nothing too demanding, just down my local canal towpath and tracks, but I am concerned the wheels and tyres wouldn't be up to it. What do you reckon? Should I upgrade the wheels and tyres to something that will better cope, or do you think it would be ok with the stock? If an upgrade is required, any recommendations?

 

[vickster]

I ride through a park and on horrible London roads on my Sirrus 2011 Elite, standard tyres and wheels never had an issue. Just take it easy

Canal towparth isn't really offroad, I would ride through thick mud or through a forest but it's fine on gravelly and grassy stuff

 

[wiggydiggy]

Pish easy! I take my 28c on towpaths no problem, yours is 32c?

 

[wilko]

No, they're 28c same as yours, but it would seem that it's ok to take it down the towpath then. Will have a go and see how it is.

 

[al-fresco]

I regularly ride 23c's down a towpath and have only fallen in the canal once...

 

[sheddy]

if you need to traverse those bumpy brick sections (sometimes built by locks to give canal horses more grip) best to dismout and walk over

 

[wiggydiggy]

No, they're 28c same as yours, but it would seem that it's ok to take it down the towpath then. Will have a go and see how it is.

You'll be fine Just don't hammer it on the bumps, watch for cobbled sections and (as a ahem heavier rider) occasionally a sharp turn can cause my rear to dig a little.

Ps Towpath etiquette > slow down when passing for everyone, even the ignorant!

 

[Norm]

Ps Towpath etiquette > slow down when passing for everyone, even the ignorant!

A very good point. Assume that everyone else has "priority", smile and greet them with a friendly hello. You ride might take a few minutes longer but it will be a whole heck of a lot better for it.

My son has a Sirrus, just the base model which ships with 32mm tyres, and he takes that on towpaths regularly - in fact, the trip home from the bike shop collecting it was along the Thames Path. Depending on the tyres you have, slippery mud will be the only thing I'd countenance against, and you might think about switching to a 32mm CX-style tyre if you are going to hit the canal regularly. CX-style tyres generally have a smooth mid-section, so they won't slow you too much on the tarmac, but they have blocky edges so they can cut into the gloop if they start to sink or if the bike gets away from the vertical.

In the dry, a Sirrus will handle just about anything on a towpath just, maybe, a touch slower than something with suspension and dedicated off-road tyres.

 

[MisterStan]

A very good point. Assume that everyone else has "priority", smile and greet them with a friendly hello. You ride might take a few minutes longer but it will be a whole heck of a lot better for it.

Why do so many cyclists not reply with a cheery hello though? That really grinds my gears.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Why do so many cyclists not reply with a cheery hello though? That really grinds my gears.

Hehe dunno, you can normally tell which ones will not respond as they have the 1000 yard stare, I enjoy shouting "HELLLOOOOOO!" at them even more

 

[wilko]

Would a 35mm tyre do the job,or is that too wide for my wheels?

 

[HLaB]

I've took my sirrus sports a few times on tow paths, its not at home there but it copes.