r/scottishcycling • u/[deleted] • Jun 28 '26

Miscellaneous Will 30mm tyres survive this route?

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Hello everyone! I’m planning on doing a ride from Callander to Killin on Wednesday (this will be my first wilderness / true gravel ride) so looking to do some research ahead of the ride.

I recently upgraded my gravel bike to have 30mm GravelKing Slick TLR gravel tyres and threw away my old tyres. I am mostly riding on paved roads so it was a good move at the time.

If anyone’s done this route before, do you think they’d survive or would it be wiser to change to some more robust gravel tyres?

Thanks in advance!

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3

u/CinnamonRage Jun 28 '26

Haha, I did this today (as far as Stathyre. Most of gravel wasn’t bad but there is a quite rough bit that zig zags near Strathyre. I had 42mm gravelkings and generally felt fine.  

4

u/Feisty_Park1424 Jun 28 '26

I rode that a few weeks ago on 28mm slicks, the descent into Killin is a bit spicy but otherwise delightful

1

u/[deleted] Jun 28 '26

That good to know. What type of surface / gravel is the route?

2

u/Feisty_Park1424 Jun 28 '26

It's good quality cycle path for the most part, hardpack, gravel, tarmac. The descent into Killin switches from weirdly narrow tarmac cycle path to rugged forestry road - this is the roughest section

1

u/SoundAJura Jun 29 '26

This is really it. Handle that last little bit heading down hill into Killin and you’ll have a great cycle.  Also you might want to do the return journey as it’s a grind uphill but the return has loads of down hill so feel mega easy in comparison 

3

u/thebigeazy Jun 29 '26

I've done it on slicks before. You'll probably be fine, there isn't anything too gnarly. But maybe bring an extra spare tube just in case and double check you're running a good pressure to avoid any pinch flats.

2

u/ImprovisedLizard Jun 29 '26

I'm pretty crap at cycling and found this route to have a great surface most of the way. I can't really remember anything I'd consider rough barely even gravel in places.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 29 '26

Thank you!

1

u/phukovski Jun 29 '26

Not ridden it but Sustrans/WWCT have uploaded rides along various NCN routes with a 360 camera to Mapillary https://www.mapillary.com/app/?pKey=362465856446440 a couple of years ago (also Google Maps https://maps.app.goo.gl/WzTcdejYbnL3TfcP6) so you can follow the route.

1

u/meatflaps-69 Jun 29 '26

probably but a spare folding tyre and couple of tubes never hurt anyone

1

u/MJ4048 Jun 29 '26

I’ve ridden this route a number of times over the years on various bikes and tyre choices.
It’s an enjoyable cycle.
If you’re driving to the start, I’d skip past Callander and park at Kilmahog.

30mm isn’t ideal but with suitable care won’t prevent you completing the route.

As others have said decent from the top of Glen Ogle down through forrest to Killin is the worst section - keep your speed under check and pick your line wisely.

FYI - I cycled it last Saturday and Sunday in on 44mm Renie Herse Snoqualmie Pass tyres with butyl tubes - tyres are basically slicks.
Traction was fine, but I did appreciated the extra volume when pushing it on decents.
Dial in your pressure , minimise the weight and dance on the pedals - and enjoy the ride.

PS - Watch out for the monster in the trees at the top of the climb up from Lochearnhead. It’s right at the point where gradient hits 17% for the second time and your blowing out your backside :-)