Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board What Kind Of Bike Tires for White Mountain?

I'm looking at doing a hike and bike up White in late July as a conditioning hike. I have a cheap little K-mart bike with heavy knobby tires. The area between the observatory and the "overlook" to the last grind to the summit is so long I'd prefer to ride over that section. The road is very well travelled by vehicles but there are still some sharp rocks after the snow run-off. Has anyone ridden a regular-not mountain- bike on that trail? Any flats? Any help appreciated.

WMRS Open House is Aug 7th, but be warned of traffic jams. No water, no bathrooms, no privacy,no big weeds to go behind (some big rocks yeah though.)I counted 141 cars last year, then quit counting. Also watched a van burn its clutch out on that steep first quarter mile up after the Barcroft Lab gate.Check brakes and clutches before you go. Regular weekends are quieter, but that's just my preference.

Sherry,
I didn't make it to the gate last week because the road was still snowed over a few miles below, but based on your description of the road I would recommend using your knobby tires pumped up to the maximum pressure they will safely tolerate (molded on the sidewall of your tire, probably around 50 psi on a 24 inch knobby tire). In the rocks the biggest danger will be pinch flats where the tire/tube get folded between the rim and a rock and get a double-cut that looks like a snakebite. Unfortunately pinch flats can't usually be patched, so bring extra tubes and a pump and practice changing them before you go. You might also try running pre-slime-filled tubes available at Walmart, although they are better at sealing little holes from thorns than pinch-flats. If you find yourself spinning the rear tire on loose soil you can let a little air out to gain traction, but you'll increase your risk of flatting.
Good luck, I hope to get up there on my bike sometime later this summer...

I took an un-sprung Specialized mountain bike up that road a number of years ago, and came back with a flat -- on the sidewall.

That long flat section of jeep trail above WMRS is strewn with lots of fist-sized rocks and are impossible to avoid sometimes.

Went back a few years later with a much better mountain bike, and the ride was better.

It is questionable whether taking the bike is worth it -- fast walkers can do as well or better than the bicycle.

<a href="http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~stevec/" target=_new>Steve C</a>