Is it ok to ride a road bike on cut limestone gravel?

Question

Am I in danger of getting a flat?

Answer 1

I used to ride my road bike on all kinds of gravel and dirt roads, including some motorcross trails.   :o)

For sure, gravel roads will wear out your tires much faster and put some small nicks in the rubber, but I never once got a flat or any rim damage/scratches.  I suppose that depends on the rock they use and how the surface is, however.  

The greater concern is safe handling of your bike.  It can be really....challenging....to negotiate some gravel roads that have patches of worn/packed rock along with patches of loose gravel and changes in rock size.  Speed helps, but you don't want to overdo it because braking and steering can be sketchy at times.  Going too slow is almost as bad, though.

If you need to do a lot of this kind of riding, invest in some slightly larger tires (in the 32c to 45c range, or whatever your frame will handle) and make sure you get some durable rubber, not super grippy racing rubber (wears out much faster).  A tire with a kevlar/aramid flat protection belt is a great idea, too.  

Hope this helps...have fun and be careful.   :o)

Answer 2

Forget the flat tyre issue !!!!

A road bike with 23c tyres cannot negotiate this, you will come a cropper!!!    -  I avoid this stuff like the plague!

Turning and braking are almost certain doom on gravel and grit, - Give it a wide birth and ride with extreme caution if you encounter it.

Answer 3

It is okay to ride on cut limestone gravel, but you do risk flats with standard 700c-23 tires.  Now, if you have 27x1 1/4, you probably won't have a problem.  Those tires are pretty tough.

Take your bike to the shop and find some wider tires, either for a hybrid or a cyclocross bike.  Make sure the tires will fit in your fork.  You might also buy some tubes that are called "thorn-resistant".  I put some of them in a bike-path bike, and they worked well.  A little heavier, but so are larger tires.

Answer 4

I wouldn't ride it on cut limestone... road bike tires are smaller, thinner, and under more pressure, so it would be much easier for a sharp rock to pierce it. Also, you could easily damage the rim if the gravel is so loose that you sink slightly into it.