about those tires....

[RoadRaven]

LOL, Oakleaf... over here, the surface seems to called (interchangeably) metal, gravel and shingle... and that is small but often rough stones collected from naturally occuring shingle pits, from river beds (but often smashed up afterwards to a uniform size) or from commercially pulverised rock.

ROFL - there's no way our "gravel" would go in gardens... not if you wanted the purty smooth 'river' look.

[sundial]

If they are skinny road tires, stay of the grass etc. I follow this rule to the extent on my road race bike, or my time trial bike, (which both have very smooth tires) get carried /lifted to the road, and not wheeled on grass verges or curbsides.

I carry my bike across the grass too. I know it seems silly since grass is softer than the road but I feel like I'm not tempting fate.

Tried the Kenda C2C on 2 rides and I think it reduces my speed by 1-1.5 mph. I guess this is the price to pay for hardy tires.

[OakLeaf]

Just how much gravel (aka crushed stone ) can my frame and wheels take!

I dropped my car at the dealer for service today, which meant I had to either walk my 1/2 mile lane in cycling shoes or ride the SOB. The whole way (besides being terrified of crashing especially on the steep descents, bouncing up and down so hard I could barely see and trying to use just enough rear brake) I was listening to rocks pinging off my bottom bracket, spokes and who knows what. I haven't even looked how many chips I put in the paint I don't really want to know.

(didn't crash though - although I did half-paddle my bike down the initial, 200 ft., 10% grade)

[sundial]

I'd say you're a cyclocrosser in the making.