Hi All,
I posted here a little while back and got some great advice (thank you!) but I still have worries… I'm on a Topstone 4 and with my weight (110kg) plus pack weight (about 15kg) the bike just feels scarily heavy!
I am trying to lose weight and I have stripped my packed gear back as far as I dare – but with water, camera, food all still to add – I genuinely don't think the bike will take it! I have invested in new custom built wheels (Rims Halo Drove, Hubs – Hope Pro 5 and Sapim Strong Spokes 32h) but my new worry and reason for asking for advice is tyres…
I want to stay tubeless as I worry about 'pinch flats' but I can only find 'load' specifications for Schwalbe tyres? I like the look of the G-One RX Pro's (though they say rated at 100kg – I assume that is per tyre with a theoretical load capacity of 200kg???) but I also see a lot of people running heavier setups with Vittoria Mezcals?
Can you recommend any tubeless tyres that might ease some of my weight concerns? Do any have particularly strong sidewalls that would handle the pressure better? I will add I think I can only go to 45mm on this bike and the rims I believe are 21mm internally, so I'm not sure if that affects my choices…
As usual, any help is really appreciated… Thanks
by CameraGeekery
17 Comments
The Cannondale Topstone 4 has a total maximum weight limit of 305 lbs (138 kg). This includes the rider, the bike itself, and any gear. Still more than most other bikes though.
Edit: tires are 100kg/tire
You won’t save much weight on the bike or gear. Easier and cheaper to lose weight off the rider. You’re a far bigger % of the total weight.
Keep in mind that those weight limits are for dynamic loading and not static. So the tires can safely hold 100kg rolling down rough terrain. Tubeless is a great idea so that you can run lower pressure, not because you’re too heavy for tubes.
Also, you’re not fat bud. 110kg means you’re a big guy but you’re definitely not the heaviest rider out there. I’m 115kg and my bike weighs in at 23kg wet. I ride with 650B Gravelking SK+ tires at 40-50 psi. These are great tires but they don’t have reinforced sidewalls, such as Schwalbe Marathons.
First time I’ve heard someone concerned about weight on their tires, buy the widest your frame will fit, profile for the surface you plan to ride and lower the pressure till it feels too squishy then add some more back 😂
I ran the mezcals on a heavy setup, they worked like a champ. Between me, my gear, and my bike, was approximately 260lbs/117kg. Did a good 1000 or so hard miles before I had to replace them.
Not an expert here, but i just came back from a 12 days trip around netherlands. I am 100KG and my bags were around 15KG, and i punctured my inner tubes 3 times on the 1000KM i did. 2 times it was not a visible spike or other sharp element in the tire, so i suspect it was just a pinch due to my weight on a brutal part of the road. Not sure about it, but so you know my recent experience !
Even though I’ve toured a lot, each time I get ready to ride on my fully loaded bike , it seems way too heavy. Then I start riding and it is fine.
Go have an adventure!
Don’t worry too much about the weight. Its mostly the wheels that wil give in first and the “max weight” is just an insurance policy for the manufacturer. As long as you’re not sending it down drops it’ll be fine.
For the tires: just go as wide as you can and whatever tire you prefer/suits your riding best. They can handle a lot more than you and your bike ;).
You’re good.
Some fast rolling protection tires. Peruse the Conti, Schwalbe and Vittoria sites and study up.
The frame looks a size too small for you.
If you’re really worried about it, go steel. Genesis croix de fer are bulletproof. Heavy enough but absolutely bulletproof.
I’m not an experienced bikepacker by any means but am building on it. I’m 110kg, bike is 14kg and I carry around 15 to 20kg of gear. No issues whatsoever… Not interested in tubeless. So far done about 2500km with even mix of gravel to bitumen. Initially bike felt too heavy as I’m used to my Giant TCR (weight and geometry). Now I average around 17kmph to 20kmph on tourer and feel comfortable.
I run Halo Drove wheels with 43mm tan-wall Panaracer Gravel King Semi Slick TLC set up tubeless. I’m 85kg, bike+gear on my last trip was 30kg. So, not quite as heavy as your total but honestly, I doubt you’ll have any problems.
On those Halo Drove rims, the 43mm tires are a tad balloony, but hey, we’re not racing, right? Not sure I would want to go much wider on these rims, though.
Make sure to use [the SILCA tire pressure calculator](https://silca.cc/en-gb/pages/pro-tire-pressure-calculator?srsltid=AfmBOorcWrGZoV6MOKz9y2g2MltDZxame6otax7KEtl8AhJKPNzN6eou).
Also, looks like you could possibly benefit from some professional advice on your bike fit.
I’m 290lbs, I swear by Teravail Washburns or Cannonballs depending on how chonky you wanna get.
The first thing to fail under load will be your rear spokes. Go ask your bike mechanic or wheel builder for a quick lesson on replacing a rear spoke, buy the tools you need, and pack a few extra spokes of the correct size. Or if it’s a short trip get a fiberfix spoke or two. When you know how to fix stuff on the road, touring is a lot less intimidating.
When calculating load, 60% goes on the rear wheel. So out of 200kg, you calculate 80 kg on the front wheel and 120 on the rear.
It seems to be very heavy in the beginning, because you’re too weak. After a while you’ll become stronger (in my case it takes some days), and the load seems alright. Just start riding!
Beard too short. Come on, man!
/s