Recumbent - Back to my wide roots

This or may not be of interest to anyone. But I had been riding some thin tires since last October. They worked okay. But I finally decided on a loaded tour that they were not for me. So I replaced them with Schwalbe Marathons. I am talking about the ones with tread (the originals) not the slicks.

The Marathons are more sluggish. But then again, I am getting bounds in durability or so I'm told. I suppose that as a commuter and a frequent self-contained tourer, I would rather have a tire that can take anything you can throw at it.

Anyone else feel this way too?

I had Comp Pools on my Greenspeed. Nice tires but seem to puncture too often. I replaced them with Schwalbe Marathons. No flats in 2000+ miles. I am just one data point.

I have no formal basis upon which to compare, but I suspect that the Marathons are a bit slower, if you do not add the time to repair an inner tube.

Ian Sims of Greenspeed says that Kelvar Primo Comets are a pretty good mix of flat resistance and lower rolling resistance. I may try them or the new Greenspeed Scorchers later this year.

Regards,

Gary McCarty

Although I'm not on the road as yet this season-we are getting nuther 6-20 inches of the white fluffy as I write, depending on which channel you wish to ignore-but every since last Oct, my last ride, I've been looking for new fatter tires. The roads here in Vermont are not all that easy on skinny tires. On suggestion from Mike at Easystreets in Austin, I'm going to be fitting a "chin shin"(phonetic spelling)1.75 on the front and a marathorn 1.5 on the rear. Hoping for the best. If I get outside before the MS150 I'll find out if they are gonna work, other wise I'm gambl'n they will be what I'm looki'n for..

Ian Sims of Greenspeed says that Kelvar Primo Comets are a pretty good mix of flat resistance and lower rolling resistance. I may try them or the new Greenspeed Scorchers later this year.

I have heard several people say that the Primo Comets Kevlar are only marginally better than the originals.

I have use the Marathon before as a front tire only but never both. But for my riding on extremely imperfect roads littered with glass and stuff, the Marathons will be a good choice.

. . .but every since last Oct, my last ride, I've been looking for new fatter tires. The roads here in Vermont are not all that easy on skinny tires. On suggestion from Mike at Easystreets in Austin, I'm going to be fitting a "chin shin"(phonetic spelling)1.75 on the front and a marathorn 1.5 on the rear. . .

The roads here in Oklahoma are far from perfect either. Plus every year, I go on Freewheel (http://www.okfreewheel.com). It goes on less traveled roads so that sometimes mean somewhat rough and/or shoddy. I knew when I bought the Marathons that there would be more drag. But it is an acceptable trade off to me.

I am not out for speed. I commute, do club rides and ride self-contained. So I need a tough tire. The Marathon is it.

Incidentally, as an update, I have ridden two club rides since I got my new tires. They do not have all that much riding resistance imho. :eek:

Another good compromise is Schwalbe Marathon slicks. Not quite as wide, still tough, and they roll a little better

Another good compromise is Schwalbe Marathon slicks. Not quite as wide, still tough, and they roll a little better

I had these. They lasted less than 300 miles before belt damage. I think it was a manufacturing flaw.

I got some tires that the LBS was going to throw in the dumpster. Big knobby MTB tires. Very heavy but I can stick a nail into the tread and they don't flat.

Who cares about rolling resistance or whatever. Cheap is good and if it rolls it will work on a bike.


Check with the local LBS to see what they are getting rid of. You just might find your favorite tire at a good price. CHEAP or free.

Spuds

Another good compromise is Schwalbe Marathon slicks. Not quite as wide, still tough, and they roll a little better

i had one and got two flats in 100 miles. I went with a ammidillo. same 1.5" width. but I just ordered specialized 1" wide tire for the rear.