Buenas a todos, espero que el veranito haya ido bien, lleno de buenas rutas "ciclomontañeras" y sin mucho calor....


A ver, me preguntan unos compañeros cicloturistas sobre la posibilidad de cruzar desde los Albergues hasta Capileira con bicis de montaña (suspensión delantera) y cargados con alforjas y demás material, pero llevando cubiertas tipo "slick", es decir, lisas, sin tacos... Para carretera, vaya....


En principio yo creo que yendo con cuidado y despacito, no deben tener problemas de pinchazos ni de agarre en las subidas y bajadas, ¿no...? ¿Alguno de vosotros lo ha hecho con cubiertas de carretera...? ¿Qué opinais...?


Gracias por las respuestas...

Con mucho, mucho, muchísimo cuidado y muy despacio.......... tal vez. Pero yo llevaría un par de cubiertas de montaña de repuesto. La pista hasta el Chorillo está muy mal y con unas piedras que cortan muchísimo. Es con cubiertas de montaña y para hacer esa ruta siempre llevo una cubierta de repuesto.

Fernando, el sabado pasamos nosotros. Solo hay un nevero en la Cariuhela, que se puede rodear con la bici a cuestas
Ibamos 8, bajamos a plato y dando pedales hacia el Chorrillo y solo hubo un pinchazo, vimos a docenas de ciclistas y ninguna averia.
Yo creo que con cubiertas Slick y con buena presión se puede bajar sin ningun problema, teniendo en cuenta que al llevar alforjas de por si vas despacio y si ves alguna lasca la evitas.
Lo que comenta Antonio Castillo, lo respeto, pero yo he pasado esa zona algunas cuantas veces y con bastante gente y nadie lleva cubierta de repuesto y nunca la hemos necesitado.
Finalizando, yo llevaria un trozo de cubierta por si se raja alguna meterle un "Corzolete" y lo dicho, buena presión para evitar llantazos y "palante como los de Alicante"
Saludos

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Hi everyone ! :-)

Sorry if I'm writing in English -- I'm one of the cyclotourist who contacted Fernando.

Just to be sure ...
when you recommend "Be careful to inflate the tires at the RIGHT pressure for that road" you mean:
1. Be careful not to inflate them TOO MUCH (since when the tires become too hard the grip is low and it's difficult to control the bike in that downhill)
2. Be careful not to inflate them TOO LITTLE (since in that downhill it's very easy to puncture and the tires might loosen from the wheel)
3. ... Both of the reasons, the same way! ;-) (that is what you have to be careful to in the 99% of MTB tracks..!)


Thanks, regards
Enrico (Italy)

P.S. We're a bit worried by "piedras que cortan muchisimo" -- we'll try not to cut our tires after the first 50 metres ..!

Cita
Enrico
Hi everyone ! :-)

Sorry if I'm writing in English -- I'm one of the cyclotourist who contacted Fernando.

Just to be sure ...
when you recommend "Be careful to inflate the tires at the RIGHT pressure for that road" you mean:
1. Be careful not to inflate them TOO MUCH (since when the tires become too hard the grip is low and it's difficult to control the bike in that downhill)
2. Be careful not to inflate them TOO LITTLE (since in that downhill it's very easy to puncture and the tires might loosen from the wheel)
3. ... Both of the reasons, the same way! ;-) (that is what you have to be careful to in the 99% of MTB tracks..!)


Thanks, regards
Enrico (Italy)

P.S. We're a bit worried by "piedras que cortan muchisimo" -- we'll try not to cut our tires after the first 50 metres ..!

I believe Tonis means be careful not to inflate them too little. The risk of a puncture is high with low pressure.

If you are on slick tyres and carrying panniers you won't be going too fast, so you´ll be able to handle that little over-pressure easily.

Again, if you're not going too fast, you´ll see the "piedras que cortan muchísimo" well in advance. Just don't go for them

We know that you are using slick tyres, however, there are different types, are they road racing tyres or are they more cross type, still slicks but thicker and slightly wider? If you're riding with road racing tyres it won't be fun, you have to pay attention and prepare for a bumpy ride. If you're with cross tyres I think you'll be ok..

Good luck

With this you'll find:

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Cita
Santiago.
We know that you are using slick tyres, however, there are different types, are they road racing tyres or are they more cross type, still slicks but thicker and slightly wider? If you're riding with road racing tyres it won't be fun, you have to pay attention and prepare for a bumpy ride. If you're with cross tyres I think you'll be ok..

Schwalbe Marathon: touring tires, german quality, 26x2.00 :
[www.schwalbetires.com]

They are excellent for asphalt even very ruined (and easy off-road, like dirt roads) -- of course they are not suitable for tough MTB tracks ! :-(

Enrico

Cita
Tonis
With this you'll find:
(Photo)

Excellent "description" -- thank you !
How many kilometers ?

Enr.

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To Capileira 42 km. Moving up to Veleta 47 Km.
¡Suerte Compaé!

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Cita
Tonis
To Capileira 42 km. Moving up to Veleta 47 Km.
¡Suerte Compaé!

Tengo problemas de conexión, o es que el foro se ha joio, o es que ahora Tonis se nos ha convertio en guia turístico de la sierra para los guiris
Coño Tonis, eres todo una fuente de sorpresas, que desenvuelto te veo con el inglés.jajjajajajaj

road conditions

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Hi there.

To give a conclusion to this thread, we shortly report you that we verified it:
SI, SE PUEDE ATRAVERSAR LA SIERRA NEVADA CON CUBIERTAS SLICK (sin demasiado equipaje).
On september the 12th and the 13th we cycled from Granada to Capileira, crossing the Sierra Nevada !

Our bikes: front-suspended MTB, with alluminium racks (approx 13 Kg each)

Our tires: touring slick tires. Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 26x2.00 --
excellent, we will continue to use them in the future ...!! (no piedras que cortan mucho)

Our luggage:
Just one bag, with a few clothes for 2 people, extra water, some food, a compact Topeak
tool and a puncture-repairing kit. Approx 5 Kg.

Our logbook:
- Sep. 12, 09:15 : Granada, Albayzin district
- 09:45 : Granada, Carrettera de la Sierra Nevada
- 12:30 : Hotel El Guerra
- 15:30 : Pradollano intersection
- 17:45 : Albergue Universitario

- Sep. 13, 9:30 : Albergue Universitario
- 12:30 : End of asphalt (Carihuela)
- 13:30 : finally bypassed the snow just after the Carihuela ...!
- 15:30 : Alto del Chorrillo / Mirador de Trevelez
- 17:15 : Capileira, Hotel Poqueira

We want to thank everyone in this forum who gave us lots of good advice (the muchissimo cuidado, the pressure of tires, the weather, the pictures of the track...) and in particular Fernando W., who kindly replied to all our emails and explained
perfectly all the issues -- thanks to him we decided to bring only lightweight baggage, an
excellent idea! We mailed our 2 other Ortliebs via Correos de Espana, ... 20 Euros well spent! -- Muchas Gracias, Fernando !

We enjoyed our trip throughout Andalucia, particularly the Alpujarras, but these 2 days were the best part.


Gracias y adios !
Enrico & Mary (Italy)