Road Cycling - 1st $%^#(*& Goathead of season, Armadillos in future

Went out riding on my new road bike which does NOT have Armadillos, and, while riding right in the middle of the cement bike path, yes, around here the thorns blow right onto the trail - picked up one of those awful goatheads/puncture vines (http://www.naturesongs.com/vvplants/puncturevine.html). I stopped to check my tires and THERE IT WAS. Hoping against hope that it had not penetrated the tube, I pulled it out, and pssstt, out came the air.

SO, changed the tube and got underway. Cheap new tube, I guess, as it had no external threads on the Presta stem, and I had a heck of a time getting the pump to grab the stem and form a seal.

I have resisted getting the Armadillos on this bike as the tires were brand new (but factory model), and the Arnadillos are noticeably slower. BUt, I definitely do not enjoy changing tubes in the middle of a ride, so will spend the $$$ to get the ARmadillos. Darn!

i just got an armadillo for my rear wheel the other day. i had that serfas seca, which is supposed to be the same concept as the armadillos, namely flatproofness. it came w/ a month long warranty. any flats, get your money back. i figured i'd give it a try. well, the first month it was fine. a little while after that, i started getting flats often. little bits of glass would work their way through the tire and puncture my tube. it got very annoying, so i decided to buy the armadillo tire. i hope i have better results w/ it.

btw, it rides like a decent tire, and it really doesn't feel that bad weight wise. i feel a little bit slower sprinting, but i don't know if it's psychological or b/c of the tire. i'd bet psychological.

dan

i just got an armadillo for my rear wheel the other day. i had that serfas seca, which is supposed to be the same concept as the armadillos, namely flatproofness. it came w/ a month long warranty. any flats, get your money back. i figured i'd give it a try. well, the first month it was fine. a little while after that, i started getting flats often. little bits of glass would work their way through the tire and puncture my tube. it got very annoying, so i decided to buy the armadillo tire. i hope i have better results w/ it.

btw, it rides like a decent tire, and it really doesn't feel that bad weight wise. i feel a little bit slower sprinting, but i don't know if it's psychological or b/c of the tire. i'd bet psychological.

dan

I have Armadillos on my other road bike and have not had a flat since I put them on - probably about 2,000 miles or more.

They are definitely slower. I will be ordering the newest model, which perhaps will be a bit faster. I notice they are no longer offering as a current product the Armadillo "light" tire - it is on closeout for $19.99 for 700x20 only.

Those were hard to get anyway as i looked forever to get the light's when i got some in 2001. Next to those heavy tires,which would be lighter but just as good at flat protection?