Originally Posted by specializedspokesman
You must be like 50 and forgot how to have fun.
It's like you're a fixed-gear fun Nazi.
"Don't try to enjoy yourself, because riding fixed gear is a mannerly pastime meant for the mature and sophisticated middle-aged rider."
"Do not attempt to pull anything that can, in any way may induce any risk...damn whippersnappers!"
haha
Wheee! Look at meee! I can skiiiid!
In the meantime, I ride brakeless and I don't skid because skidding doesn't work (for stopping) as well as the other methods of stopping and it shortens the life of expensive tires.
I get about 2000 miles out of a rear tire, and I get a lot more out of front tires.
I started out with Panaracer Tserv's (a good tire), moved on to Specialized Armadillos, then to Gatorskins, then to 4 Seasons, then to Ultremos, and then back to 4 Seasons.
The Armadillos weigh the most, offer no additional flat protection, and may not handle and grip to everyone's taste.
The Panaracers weigh a lot, but they grip and handle beautifully.
Gatorskins weigh less than the above and handle and grip well enough, with good flat protection (never had a flat with Gatorskins but did have slow leaks).
The Ultremos never had a flat, handle
EXQUISITELY, but get cut up easily.
I found myself changing my rear Ultremo too frequently because of the cuts and its appearance; whereas, on the front, the Ultremo goes forever and beautifully so.
The 4 Seasons have almost the lightness of the Ultremos, and almost the handling, with no flats and no cuts.
I go through two rear 4 Seasons tires for every front 4 Seasons tire.
I prefer the handling of the Ultremos by far, and I find the tread pattern on the 4 Seasons silly, but in the end, the 4 Seasons give me the best of everything for the money.
Continental 4 Seasons.