need some advice here

Gadget285

in a few months i'm going on a 100 mile bike ride for a gym class in college... now i've done a few 100 mile treks in my giant 980c road bike with no problem... but this ride is gonna be on a rails to trail path. Some parts are paved, some are gravel, and the rest is somewhere inbetween....

I own a giant 980c road bike, and a trek 820 hartail (both old-school models)

which bike would you guys recommend to use on the trail? I figure either one will work, but whcih one will work better will be the question....

I was looking at either getting some slicks/semi slicks for my mtn bike, or some trail tires for my road bike...

Baby Arm

I ride rails-to-trails in the Chicago area on a road bike with 23c slicks with relative ease. I was paranoid at first, but the trails are crushed limestone and packed pretty hard. There are very few loose sections. If I ever had to do some evasive maneuvering I know I would wish I had some tread, but for going in a straight line and pumping the pedals the road bike is fine.

I personally wouldn't look forward to going 100 miles on a mountain bike. I've only done 55 on my road bike and I can't imagine that trip on a knobbied mtn bike.

steevo

either should work fine, i agree. I have done a 150 mile day on a rail trail on 700x23 tires. I put thornproof tubes in it just to be safe. If it is crushed liime, dont worry too mucha bout flats. HOWEVER: some rail trails (the c and o townpath around washington dc) is NOT rideable on a road bike. it is hell on most anything narrower than 32cm. i dont know, preride the course!