"Nom De Plume" (unlistedusername)
04/15/2020 at 17:05 • Filed to: wrenching
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"Nom De Plume" (unlistedusername)
04/15/2020 at 17:05 • Filed to: wrenching | 0
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This is what thecouple of years old already once retired, before being pressed back into use, road bike tires suffering from effects of hard use, UV, as well as the double whammy of road chemicals and Winter weather tires I’m replacing today look like.
And I could still go out and do a century on them, highly aware of their state and behaving accordingly, without undue concern. These are mostly wonderful times we live in.
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> Nom De Plume
04/15/2020 at 17:12 |
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I had some pro-race 3's in storage for summer use. Forgot about them and found about 5 years later. I pumped them up and promptly pitched them as they were actively delaminating as they approached 95 psi.
Chariotoflove
> Nom De Plume
04/15/2020 at 17:33 |
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Without concern, eh? Brave soul.
I just snagged a Continental Gator skin tire to check out. I need something that can stand up to the mild off roading I’m having to do to get around the bridge on my route that has been under construction since Obama was in office.
Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
> Nom De Plume
04/15/2020 at 17:36 |
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I’m just here because our screen names are similar.
Also, tires.
HammerheadFistpunch
> Nom De Plume
04/15/2020 at 17:36 |
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Yeah, I would have concerns about those tires.
PyramidHat
> Chariotoflove
04/15/2020 at 17:47 |
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Had gatorskins on my road bike - very happy with them.
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Nom De Plume
> Chariotoflove
04/15/2020 at 17:52 |
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Clickbait title, I’ll admit. Faced with adamant need to ride 100 miles on local terrain (pan flat dead straight roads that are wide and have wide shoulders) it does stand true. Descending a couple mile 12% grade with exposed curves, not a chance.
In previous iterations of the PROx series that was their one weakness, offroad use. Offroad as shorthand for the tiny fractured slivers of graded gravel put in place for heavy equipment to roll over during months of road construction so widespread you just have to ride through it. If you can fit a 28c and want to never worry about a flat, the ONLY answer is these. Not sure what your current bike looks like or if they would slow you down too much. Great for slow steady commuting. I really truly like the reflective sidewalls which have probably saved my bacon a few times.
SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
> Nom De Plume
04/15/2020 at 17:53 |
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Around here...the catheads (burrs) would eat them for breakfast in that condition.
Hate to think what my tyres will be like after this period... haven’t ridden in weeks and am unlikely to for weeks to come as home schooling and the usual property management role take precedence in these crazy times.
Certainly won’t be doing centuries for a while...
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Nom De Plume
> Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/15/2020 at 18:00 |
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Endurance version of the PRO (now POWER) series are the only ones I’d even consider. Composition of the local pavement works very well with the rubber compound Michelin uses. That may not apply other places where the roads are pristine and temps don’t hit -40F buckling them.
5 years is longer than any modern tire I have lasts. Got a few from the 80's still kicking around. Much higher raw material quality than the scientific compounds used nowadays.
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Nom De Plume
> PyramidHat
04/15/2020 at 18:02 |
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Never actually tried any of the Gatorskin variants. The tubular is apparently good in the mountains as a training tire.
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Nom De Plume
> HammerheadFistpunch
04/15/2020 at 18:07 |
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See my response to Chariotoflove.
They are so toast it isn’t even funny. Of the [rough guess] 15 of these I’ve mounted this pair is the only one that didn’t ride right down to the cords or just get sliced straight through. Knowing that, I’m pretty sure reduced pressure and treating them gently would be enough to nurse them into home.
RallyWrench
> Nom De Plume
04/15/2020 at 18:45 |
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I just replaced a set of Armadillos in much the same condition, they rode fine and the reinforced carcass is untouched, but the outer layer was coming up and making noise at higher speeds, downhill . I simply didn’t trust them to handle properly in corners that way. Still good spares in a pinch though, as with these I believe they’d do a century or more easily in that state.
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Nom De Plume
> RallyWrench
04/15/2020 at 19:02 |
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I should retract my title before someone with less experience takes it seriously.
C onstruction underneath that we never see or think about it is truly a wonder. There is no bulging or broken sections of sidewall despite the outer layer rotting off and tread delaminating.
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Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> Chariotoflove
04/15/2020 at 19:27 |
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What is the largest tire you can put on your chair wheels? There is a whole new slew of “gravel” tires that are pretty good road tires but much better at puncture resistance and have a bit of tread. If you can go to 30 mm or wider that would be better.
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Chariotoflove
> PyramidHat
04/15/2020 at 19:45 |
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Did you? Thanks for weighing in. The reviews I read from roadies said it has a little more rolling resistance and so may slow you a tiny bit, but that the durability on daily rides more than makes up for it. I like that it seems to extend more protection to the side walls, too. That’s been a problem for me in some situations before.
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Chariotoflove
> Nom De Plume
04/15/2020 at 19:52 |
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Descending a couple mile 12% grade with exposed curves...
Hehe, yeah I would hope someone would love you enough to commit you before letting you do such on those tires. :)
Those tires do indeed look beefy. I have to jump curbs and sometimes go down gravel alleyways to get out of the neighborhood before I can get to the good roads. My front wheel is out of true again. I don’t want to go to cyclocross rubber or anything, but I’m hoping I can give my tubes a little more of a break than they’ve been getting. I like to go fast, but I’m willing to give up a little speed for not getting stranded.
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PyramidHat
> Chariotoflove
04/15/2020 at 19:57 |
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Well, roadies are a different breed. So, I’m >200 lbs (more like >235 these days, but still) so a few ounces and a bit more rolling resistance is hardly noticed. But yeah - good tires, I think.
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Chariotoflove
> Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/15/2020 at 20:37 |
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I have 24x1" on my chair. I’m running some Schwalb Marathons on it right now, and I’ve been really happy with the durability. They have decent tread for light terrain, but I would certainly upgrade to something burlier if I spent a lot of time on gravel.
But here I was talking about my cycling tires. I have 650cx18mm rims, so not much room for anything knobby, although I could do with a little more tread when I’m going through wet grass, for example. These Gatorskins don’t have much in the tread department, unfortunately, but they do have extra puncture resistance.
It turns out to be pretty difficult to find a good selection of tires and tubes in 650c for a narrow rim, but I found this place online, and Amazon of all places had them.
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Nom De Plume
> Chariotoflove
04/15/2020 at 22:04 |
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650c rims does limit the choices. I’m sure the Gatorskins will be a good choice.