CrossChain

I'm putting 32's (maybe 35's) on my urban street/dirt road/curb jumping run around bike-- an RB-T. I'm considering Pasela TG with Speedblend sidewalls. Tire pictured below. Will rough and ready reverse rim pick-up types single me out as a flittery twit, will OCP's gun by me with contempt, etc.?

In other words, does anybody use them and are they a pain to have on your bike? Maybe this is only an issue to me and I won't get the attention I fear and desire.

George

Wow

Digital Gee

I hope you're planning to do a great deal of night riding.

Just sayin.

guybierhaus

Can you get streamers to match them?

Wildwood 

So if you are riding your "urban street/dirt road/curb jumping run around bike", then OCPs will treat you with contempt no matter your tire selection. MTBers will ignore such a bike, so ride what you will.

I bought a pair of the Speedblend 700X27s from Rivendell on a close-out special. They just barely fit one of my road bikes, but I thought 2 such tires on a decent road bike was a bit too much color. Now I only have one on the rear wheel, that way I don't have to look at it too much. Forget the color, the tire has been great and has outlived my expectations.

PS - Betcha didn't think you'd get a response from another Speedblend user.

RoMad

I think they look just fine. I saw a couple of "guys" that had them when I was on vacation in San Francisco.

cruzMOKS

Looks like fun. Do they glow in the dark?

europa

I'm assuming you're planning on fitting them to a bike owned by someone you secretly don't like

Richard

Wildwood 

They do not glow in the dark. No positive impact on visibility, at least none that I have observed.

Wildwood 

I believe this idea was patented by Grant Petersen at Rivendell, at least he was attempting to get a patent. He told me the idea was to combine colors/pattern so that on an automobile you would be able to visually tell if the vehicle was exceeding a certain speed limit by the "blended" color, ie. speed-blend. So he got Pasela to try it on a bike tire as a preliminary prototype. This was a few years back, never got an update.

Louis

I was gonna buy a pair of those tires, but used the money for some LSD instead. Now all my tires look like that.

Terrierman

Those are way cool tires. You WILL get the attention you fear and desire.

George

Louis, that was great.

Wildwood 

When you start reading about LSD on the 50+ forum it reminds you there are still a lot of old hippies out there. Right on, brother.

BluesDawg

Personally, I think Grant Petersen came up with those tires just for me. I was a little concerned that I was too easily influenced by some of his Bobish philosophies. Now I can clearly point out one of his ideas that I have absolutely no desire to try.

BluesDawg

You're either on the bus or off the bus.

Digital Gee

If you can remember the 60's, you weren't there.

Louis

It's been a long time since then but I still try to remember the good stuff.

Louis

Yep, when I first saw those tires a few years ago, I thought "what have they done with Grant and who is this new guy?"

Big Paulie

Speedblends are the only Rivendell idea that I really hate.

CrossChain

So you exclude wrapping your bars in shellacked string like those hardened French touristes of the 30's?

I've enjoyed the responses to this thread. I'm now tending away from the 'blends back towards nice gumwall brown. Tires as God, not Grant, meant them to be. (Maybe I could shellac my shorts.)

Big Paulie

Well, that falls under ideas I "sort of hate."

The Speedblends are completely out of step with Rivendell's aesthetic, in my opinion.

CrossChain

I like Rivendell's offerings mostly. I ride one of their bikes and sometimes use beeswax. But, I doubt I would want a bike in coleman green, nor would I feel comfy riding in poplin button up shirts or that panama hat that Grant sometimes favors. When function over form becomes almost American gothic then, for me, it also becomes just another affectation...another niche in the marketplace trying for uniqueness. I do admire Riv, Heron, Surley, Kogswell as they depart from the Big Makers.

Big Paulie

Seriously, I would agree with everything you just said, CC.

My wife Gloria and I spent the afternoon with Grant about a month ago, and it sure is a kick to see him in person and feel first hand how sincere he is about his beliefs. And, I go along with about 80% of what he says.

The Weak Link

They're tires, dude, they're tires. This ain't an issue of life and death. Just get them.

They look gay.

There's nothing wrong with that.