TMonk

Recently I just purchased some new tires for a used/(slightly dented TT) basic stock track frame that I am building up. Most of the components are coming directly from and old converted fixed with 27" tires, but I did splurge and buy some new parts, namely tires.

I bought a Continental Ultra Sport matching my frame color for the front, and a Maxxis Courchevel for the rear.
In my mind, the Courchevel was a smart buy because I would reduce maintanance from puncture flats in the rear and giving me a good, smooth grip for the often wet conditions where I live.
I've since realized that this was a stupid choice, because I make small skids on my bike on most rides. I also enjoy the occasional spontaneous long-skid by myself for kicks.
It seems to me to be a stupid Idea to shorten the life of a kevlar-belted road-tire with skids here and there and render the puncture resistance useless.

I realized this 20 min ago upon opening my tires from the mail.

Enough rambling:
I bought these tires like a dumbass, so now im gonna use them until they're beat.
Given the way that I ride, would it be a smarter for me to run the Courchevel in the front and the Conti Ultra in the rear?
I hate the idea of beating up that nice Maxxis and making that $$$$pricetag even dumber for myself.

Opinions appreciated.





BTW i'm new around here.
I've been commuting/joyriding on a fixed conversion heavily everyday since the beginning of this summer, and reading this forums since not too long after.
LIke I just said i've aquired a nice-ish entry level frame, so I am stoked at building it up with new wheels/tires. It has a good-sized dent on the TT, but that doesn't bother me, because it has been ridden plenty and will ride fine for me (we'll see?).
The other components are coming largely from the conversion, which will get re-converted back to a 12 speed using cables, deraillers and random **** I've salved from a couple summer projects with friends/family.
The new ride will be done within a week.

I love my bike, fitness/form/transportation/connection/aesthetic blah blah you know the story.

Some one tell me what to do with my stupid tire $$$choice.

THanks,
David G.

cc700

if you skid every ride, get a 15 dollar tire that lasts forever and make sure you rotate your skid patches.

both of those tires are too good to skid through if you're on a budget. you sound like your'e in my boat, cept i stupidly spent a hell of a lot of money on the conversion frame buying a new seat, wheelset, cog, chainring, and bars and now i'm buying a brand new track frame and having to buy a bunch of stuff to make it what i want. from my perspective, tires are the least of your worrys if you're building up a frame.

blickblocks

Though most of your weight is on the rear wheel, it's more important to keep the front wheel from going flat. It's too easy to lose control over a deflating front wheel.

Chrysiptera

truth

TMonk

Thanks for the insightful pointer. I had never thought about the amount of control you lose when you get a blowout/instant flat front vs rear.
BTW I havn't had one flat in the ~700-800 or so miles i've put in since I started riding early in June. Maybe I shouldn't jynx myself though.
Courchevel in front.


In regards to the other posts, yeah the tires are the least of my worries, but they came in today so i'm dealin' with what I got.
I ordered a new DA cog/lockring and a 1/8" track chainring with a road-crank bcd (to fit my DA road cranks) from Ben's cycle. I measured the distance between holes for chainring bolts on the ring and looked at a few tables on the internet to determine that.
I had the LBS order me new wheels, and measure my headtube/steerer size + order me the correct size chromo road fork with little rake. I also purchased a new BB with the same spindle dimensions to maintain the good chainline I have now.
The stem/headset/bars/cranks/pedal stuff/seat/seatpost are coming from the current ride.
I also need a new chain i just realized (3/32" ---> 1/8"). Anyone have any recommendations/ experience with quality chains?

filtersweep

If you don't skid with your front , why don't you move the Maxis up there- provided you haven't trashed it already. The Ultra Sports are dirt cheap- like $12 each @SAC (for foldables). You might as well consider them completely disposable wear items. They ride like garden hoses, but at that price, who really cares?

Secondly, the front is the business end of the bike- I would rather have a good handling tire there than in the rear.

Beware of the dent in the TT- you might just want to have the tube replaced if it is big enough. A friend found a great deal on a frameset in similar condition--- ended up folding it up while he was riding it. If it is lugged, it can easily be repaired.

::velolove::

i used to go through tires really fast. every other week at times (at least to a sketchy point of wear)
i don't skid as much for fun anymore cos it wastes money but i do skid and skip and stuff frequently so i've been searching for a rear tire to hold up for a while
i tried a handful of vittoria 30-40 dollar tires and such. they didn't last very long
i tried the whole cheap tire thing and it saved money but didn't comfort me to be blowing through tires more than i should

solution:

****in gator skin pros

i have been riding on my friends used (long term front wheel use before i got it) gator skin for nearly 2 months now and skid as much or as little as i like and there is not a trace of threads showing or anything

this **** rocks it

i'll admit its kinda fat and sticky and **** but if you get used to/like it it rocks it fo sho

TMonk

THx.
Ill check out gatorskin pros perhaps once these ultra sports are done.
Tyx.