Weight?

I'm moving from a hybrid to a road bike and wondering what size tire will suit me best for the riding I do: 25 to 50 mile rides on mostly paved roads (maybe 8 to 10% hard packed dirt roads), with a wide range of quality (typical for rural upstate NY). I'd like to keep up on club rides, but I also want adequate stability on the poorer surfaces. I'd really appreciate your advice.

The key question is how much you weigh. If you're a lightweight, then 23s will be fine. If you weigh over 200, then you might want 28s or whatever will fit in your frame. Your riding style will determine this as well - some people are careful and therefore can ride narrower tires.

 

Thanks, Kerry. I'm 135 lbs. My main concern is how I'll do on those hardpacked dirt roads, or roads with no shoulder. Does the width of the tire make a significant difference to stability?...enough to sacrifice in road resistance?