Cyclocross - Slicks for my Cross-Check

I am looking to ride it in the Tour De Cure and I want some slicks for it. Anyone have any suggestions? Is hardcase always the way to go?

Three tires come to mind. 700x28 Continental Gatorskins, Schwalbe Marathon Suprimes or 700x32 Specialized Borough CX Armadillo Elite Tire

http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/de/en/continental/bicycle/themes/race/recetyres/ultra_gatorskin/ultragatorskin_en.html

http://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires/road_tires

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqSection.jsp?sid=EquipTires700_Flat&eid=355

Ive only ridden (commuted on) hardcase so I couldnt comment on any of the others. No flats in 3 yrs, same set of tires.

On tour - Pasela tourguard - 3 flats in 3 weeks : (

~Steve

I too can vouch for the harcase. I've tried others, including tires with rim strips and keep going back to the hardcase tires.

This is for a century ride? I'd get something that rides nicely. You can get Continental GP4000s in 25c or 28c, and those would be very nice. As a budget option, you could also try Panaracer Pasela or UrbanMax tyres. I find those ride pretty well. I commute on the UrbanMax, and I also do the odd longer ride with them. I'm pretty keen on them.

Otherwise, Schwalbe Marathon or whatever 23/25c slick your LBS carries.

Another vote for 28mm Gatorskins.

You can get 28mm Conti GP 4 SEasons from PBK for like $35 each.

I've got 28mm Conti Gatorskins and I've flatted on them, mostly in the rain. They're pretty nice tires but puncture resistance is limited.

I just ordered a set of the Green Jack Brown tires:

http://www.rivbike.com/products/list/tires_tubes_pumps_patches#product=10-092


I'm looking forward to getting them! I'll put up a review once I ride them for a bit.

GP 4 Season 28c or Pro 3 Race 25c. Both measure about the same.

I haven't compared the width of my 700x28 and 700x25 gatorskins but the 28's sure are greater in cirumference, look more balloon-like and give more cushion than the 25's at the same pressure, 110psi.

So, width aside, the 700x28 contis should ride better and require more vertical clearance.

For moderate to good pavement, I'd skip the 700x32 specialized borough tires. They're great for bad roads and dirt trails but on pavement, even at 100psi they feel slower than 700x28 gatorskins at the same pressure.

50mm Schwalbe Big Apples. I love them! and they are pretty fast rolling too. Bumps are barely there. There is no tire rub as well when riding with the fenders

I ride 700x32 Panaracer Ribmos on my Cross Check, and I am pretty much in love with them.

Tires! (http://www.rei.com/product/784481)

I put 25mm Conti GP 4 Seasons from PBK on my cross bike. They're super fast and I've ridden through all kinds of crap [plenty of broken glass] and haven't had a flat yet. You would be happy with 28s too, but these 25s are noticeably faster than lower TPI 28c tires I've ridden. The ride doesn't seem rougher to me.

50mm Schwalbe Big Apples. I love them! and they are pretty fast rolling too. Bumps are barely there. There is no tire rub as well when riding with the fenders


Gotta agree here. It's a CrossCheck, stuff the biggest things you can in there and enjoy the ride. I use to run 42 IRC Mythos CX tires



This spring I put some Specialized Nimbus 38's underneath

Those are 38's? They look a lot bigger than that.

The only thing that's really keeping me from running huge tires is the weight, although I guess I shouldn't care that much anymore now that I have 20 pounds of miscellaneous stuff hanging off of the frame.

i have the specialized nimbus 35c on a beer rack bike and while they are puncture proof, they are slow and noticeably heavy. i think even schwalbe marathons are faster rolling than the nimbus.

I use 28c Serfas SECA slicks for pavement on my Conquest. They feel pretty good at 100psi, but you can take them up to 125psi. Dual-compound, puncture resistance, fairly light, and they can be had for under $20 for the wire bead.

I love those Big Apples. I run them on my commuter bike. Unfortunately, my frame doesn't have enough clearance for fitting fenders comfortable. That's why I had to cut the fenders in half. Not an ideal solution, IMO. But the ride is excellent.

If you're using the stock Alex rims on a Cross Check Complete, I would recommend AGAINST Schwalbe tires. They're too lose and prone to blowing off the rim.

Otherwise, just choose some larger slicks (32+) and roll. Take advantage of those chainstays and put on bigger tires that roll better over imperfect terrain..

I've used Bontrager Hardcase, Conti Gatorskins, Panaracer Urban Max and T-Serv and the best one for road rides is the Bontrager Hardcase. It feels and rides like a Vredestein race tire, with a touch more stiffness, and has what I think is better puncture protection even than the Conti Gatorskin.

I don't know if you're looking to be competitive or just ride the ride, but I'd put a 28 or even a 30 on...not sure if the Hardcase comes that big, so be open to the Contis...they also ride VERY well and I know they come in a 30. No reason to go super skinny like a 25, and the Conti and Hardcase have such stiff beads that you can put a few extra psi in to keep the rolling resistance just as low as a skinnier tire anyways.

i have used the panaracer palsea tourguard- love the tire. had it on since feb of last year on my commuter- and only one flat- due to a bad valvestem. i just top off the tires once a week and ride. i can still average 17-18mph with the 32's.

Hey guys, sorry to bump this old thread, but I'm wondering what sized tires you're using to extract more 'speed' from a Cross Check? 700x28? And also which Hardcases? There seems to be a few models of the Hardcases out there. Thanks for the help. I just want to pull a little more speed on my commute.