Commuting - Armadillo Reflect Tires

Does anyone have these tires? How do they look at night? It sounds like a great idea to me.

LINK : http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=13236

You just HAD to ask, didn't you????????? I got some Shwalbe Marathon Slicks today for my portable easy chair, and they have a reflective stripe on each side. It's about 1/4" wide. I just took it into the back yard and leaned it up against something with the yard spotlights on. I saw a nice silver/white circle lit up fairly well. I like Armadillos for puncture resistance, so having the stripe would only be a plus. I'll be leaving my spoke reflectors on the commuter, though.

The ones with the reflective sidewalls have the flak jacket construction in them. I don't know if this is on par with something like the all-weather Armadillos construction for flat resistance.

It says this is armadillo. New for 2006. Only 700*25 though :( I want 700*28 atleast.

I have reflective side stripes on the commuter tires. I don't know if it really makes a difference, but it makes me feel safer. I also have two lights at the back and one at the front, and reflective stripes on courier bag and wind jacket. I nearly bought a bright yellow reflective vest at a street market in Britain last week, but it was so truly hideous that I thought I would probably do without.

See if you can find a local store selling the Armadillos. The 700X25's I had were bigger than some 700X28's.

im still looking for 1 inch or lower MTB tires with a MAX PSI of over 120.

Anyone/

schwalbe already done did that.... the big apple's have them. they kick ass yo!

I'll be leaving my spoke reflectors on the commuter, though.
Too much added weight for minimal gain in my opinion. I've been advocating a system like this:
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/8489/reflectorstrategycombined8hy.jpg
It utilizes commonly available reflective tape, is visible from multiple angles and provides a LOT more reflective surface than a common CSPC reflector.
I've been pushing this system more in the dual purpose MTB / Commuter crowd as you're not going to shatter a piece of tape creating trail litter.

Raiyn - I really like that. I've been trying to figure out a better way to make myself more visible. Thanks for the suggestion.

Only thing I hate about Armadillos is that they're super hard to put on...

Schwalbe MARATHON

http://Patch29.smugmug.com/photos/9193396-M.jpg

Hey the zebra handlebars are a cool touch. Very nice job.

Only thing I hate about Armadillos is that they're super hard to put on...

With the flat resistance, you won't have to go through this often, though.

Too much added weight for minimal gain in my opinion. I've been advocating a system like this:
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/8489/reflectorstrategycombined8hy.jpg
It utilizes commonly available reflective tape, is visible from multiple angles and provides a LOT more reflective surface than a common CSPC reflector.
I've been pushing this system more in the dual purpose MTB / Commuter crowd as you're not going to shatter a piece of tape creating trail litter.

I forgot about that. That's excellent. The problem on the commuter is that the only surface facing sideways is the brake surface. I'll have to chack the other wheels surfaces to see if I have any side surfaces. Less rotating weight.

With the flat resistance, you won't have to go through this often, though.

Ah but what would happen if in the rare occation you might have to replace em?...

Too much added weight for minimal gain in my opinion. I've been advocating a system like this:
<pic of shiny wheels>
It utilizes commonly available reflective tape, is visible from multiple angles and provides a LOT more reflective surface than a common CSPC reflector.
I've been pushing this system more in the dual purpose MTB / Commuter crowd as you're not going to shatter a piece of tape creating trail litter.

Does that tape come in black? Something that would be reflective at night, but virtually invisible on black rims in daylight?

That'd be just the thing for the "stealth" fixie I'm building. It's going to be all flat-black, with the exception of some parts I already have that I don't want to spend money for new black ones (seatpost, stem).

Would still like to be visible at night though.

-Trevor

Raiyn, I love that idea. I'm totally going to try that. It's subtle enough in daylight, but at dark, with headlights or something shining at it, it's brilliant!

I'm planning to barber-pole the seatstays on my old Schwinn one of these days. Visibility and funktacular styling! How could I go wrong?

Does that tape come in black? Something that would be reflective at night, but virtually invisible on black rims in daylight?


yeah (http://www.identi-tape.com/hi-intensity.htm)

bk

I put some black reflective on the black fenders of my Jamis, in addition to a portion of my carbon fork. Photos show the result during the light and during the dark.

The all condition with flack jacket are really easy to put on compared to regular armadillo's. I can get them on and seated and pumped up in about 10 minutes. I have the real armadillos on my hybrid and they are a s.o.b. to put on.

It took around 45 minutes to put them on because I would get them on and one side of the bead wasnt in right and the tire was out of shape like an egg. Then I would take them back off and the other side was screwed up. :mad:

The Flack jackets are nowhere near as thick on the sidewalls or stiff as the armadillos so I imagine that they are a good bit less flat resistant than the pure armadillos. We have around a 1000 miles and counting on the armadillos and have had 1 flat from a piece of glass.

We got a pair of road bikes and I was gonna get another set of all conditions for my wifes but I saw the reflective ones and was gonna get her a set of them instead of the non-reflective.

Patch29 the Schwalbes look nice! I might have to look into a set of them instead or else go with rim reflective tape like Raiyn showed. Or maybe both since every bit helps when riding at night.

Patch29 the Schwalbes look nice! I might have to look into a set of them instead or else go with rim reflective tape like Raiyn showed. Or maybe both since every bit helps when riding at night.


Thanks, I have a bunch of DOT reflective tape, red, white and yellow. I might add a few pieces and mix the colors just to add some variety, maybe then drivers won't miss me. I hope.

Good for you all to realize that reflective stripes on bicycle tyres are compulsary by law in the Netherlands.

Indeed the armadillos are MAJOR pain in the ass to put on. Takes me atleast 25 mins for 1 freaking tire. Not to mention I broke a tire lever the last time I changed it. But I havent had a flat in like 4 months so its all good now.

I put some black reflective on the black fenders of my Jamis, in addition to a portion of my carbon fork. Photos show the result during the light and during the dark.

Woah! That black tape is amazing. I was considering that for my road bike, because the wheels, seat post and handlebars are black, and I will definitely get some now that I've seen your bike's pictures. That is some wondrous stuff. It doesn't look like it should work, but it most certainly does.

they have black tape for motorcycle helmets, but i'd just get a some lights.

Good for you all to realize that reflective stripes on bicycle tyres are compulsary by law in the Netherlands.

Similarly, I believe spoke reflectors are required on new bikes sold in the US.

My commuterbike in autumn- and winter trim

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/levensnevel/Snapshots/2Cycle/051010A1659R2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/levensnevel/Snapshots/2Cycle/051010A1651R2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/levensnevel/Snapshots/2Cycle/051010A1656R2.jpg

My shoulderbag 'wrapped' in a reflective safety vest
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/levensnevel/Snapshots/2Cycle/050916A1425R2.jpg

im still looking for 1 inch or lower MTB tires with a MAX PSI of over 120.

Anyone/
http://www.schwalbetires.com/racing.php?Nickname=STELVIO&Image=TireImages/stelvio.jpg#
Schwalbe Stelvio 28-559 26x1.0 - Not exactly a commuter tire but pressure is rated 85-145 psi. Ofcourse they are not cheap nor puncture proof but they are probably the fastest 559 (MTB 26") tire available.
Craig

Raiyn - I really like that. I've been trying to figure out a better way to make myself more visible. Thanks for the suggestion.
No problem

Does that tape come in black? Something that would be reflective at night, but virtually invisible on black rims in daylight?
Sure does. It comes in many different colors. I've found tape that blends perfectly with the frame color of our bikes for the ultimate in "stealth".
Like so:
http://img415.imageshack.us/img415/7500/stealthreflector5ry.gif

I forgot about that. That's excellent. The problem on the commuter is that the only surface facing sideways is the brake surface. I'll have to chack the other wheels surfaces to see if I have any side surfaces. Less rotating weight.
If you have any kind of angle at all it will work with a good tape. Add in the fact that you're only exactly perpendicular for an instant..... (I know "that one instant" yadda yadda...... You get the point)

That is some wondrous stuff. It doesn't look like it should work, but it most certainly does.The Air Force has been using it for years on their Aerospace Ground Equipment (machines that they use to service planes) It works with the O.D. paint to reduce daytime visability, but at night you can certainly see it in the headlights.

I'm planning to barber-pole the seatstays on my old Schwinn one of these days. Visibility and funktacular styling! How could I go wrong?You could also color match (or find something that comes close) and got that route as well.