05-25-2017, 09:37 PM
(05-25-2017, 03:33 PM)danbrotherston Wrote:(05-25-2017, 02:29 PM)tomh009 Wrote: Me, I would happily take gravel over either one of those. It would reduce costs, too, and should allow us to have more trail for the same budget.
I disagree. For a strictly recreational trail, in a forested area, which provides no through destinations, I can maybe buy it, but in an urban environment, one with snow, rain, and high traffic, definitely not. It's also pretty much necessitates you not ride a road bike. Even my skinny tyred hybrid is pretty unpleasant on gravel trails. As for walking, I get stones in my shoes all the time. It can even pose a safety hazard, gravel being rather more slippery. Worse, gravel migrates onto other surfaces and poses a slipping hazard there too.
Should your bike tires accommodate gravel trails instead of the other way around, there will always be sand, gravel and debris on surfaces at times.
I cannot comment on gravel being a slipping hazard as I don't think I have ever had an encounter like that when walking.