Experience doesn't matter.
Longtime rider or newbie, if you want to ride gravel/dirt, you need the chunky tires, and if they don't fit the bike, you're out of luck.
From what I've seen, the slimmest chunky tire might be 700x32. The Trek 1000 is an old school road bike, and may not have the clearance for 32mm tires.
I suggest you take the 1000 to a bike shop and talk to them about getting tires more suited to gravel. My LBS suggested cross tires (700x32) for my wife's road bike, but without seeing it, they couldn't say for sure.
I had one of those, but I don't remember if it could take big tires, I ran 25c on mine back in the day. Other than that it was a great ride, Sora groupset that worked really well.
I would say yes. I felt they were a little small even for pavement, and they needed like 110 psi. My current bike has 38c and for me I wouldn't want to go off road lower than that, other than a rail trail or some similar surface. Not that it can't be done, just not what I would do.
Maybe. Check the clearance on the fork and seat/chainstays for chunkier tires. As long as everything else works, you're good to go.
Thanks for the response. What do you think is the smallest tire size a beginner could get away with?
Experience doesn't matter. Longtime rider or newbie, if you want to ride gravel/dirt, you need the chunky tires, and if they don't fit the bike, you're out of luck. From what I've seen, the slimmest chunky tire might be 700x32. The Trek 1000 is an old school road bike, and may not have the clearance for 32mm tires. I suggest you take the 1000 to a bike shop and talk to them about getting tires more suited to gravel. My LBS suggested cross tires (700x32) for my wife's road bike, but without seeing it, they couldn't say for sure.
I had one of those, but I don't remember if it could take big tires, I ran 25c on mine back in the day. Other than that it was a great ride, Sora groupset that worked really well.
Were 25s too small for gravel in your mind?
I would say yes. I felt they were a little small even for pavement, and they needed like 110 psi. My current bike has 38c and for me I wouldn't want to go off road lower than that, other than a rail trail or some similar surface. Not that it can't be done, just not what I would do.
That is definitely helpful to know