Tires - options, s'moptions
03-05-17 | 09:51 AM
#26
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Joined: Mar 2015
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From: Western MI
Spec sheet? No, I look at the entire construction. If a tire has a thicker casing and 1/3rd of the thread count it ain't gonna ride smoother than what is essentially a high end cotton handmade tubular. It's just not. I don't give much credit to reviews. For instance, on Performance Bike, many reviews of the Conti are positive. But someone says they ride harsh, another says he had multiple punctures, another had a sidewall blowout at 200 miles, ect. The opposite of your comment. At Competitive Cyclist the Open Pave has 27 five star ratings, 5 four stars, 2 three stars and 2 two stars. At Wiggle, the Veloflex has a total 4 1/2 star rating over 52 reviews but LiquorLad here said he threw his away at 100 miles.
See what I'm getting at? I base my purchase on mostly my technical research. I'll check out some reviews but don't pay them much attention because it's all subjective.
See what I'm getting at? I base my purchase on mostly my technical research. I'll check out some reviews but don't pay them much attention because it's all subjective.
03-05-17 | 10:30 AM
#27
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Minas Ithil
And I respect that but my skepticism on reviews and my reasoning for it have been addressed. There's people with the same tire as you that says the Conti is a harsh ride and I doubt you would agree with them.
03-05-17 | 12:29 PM
#28
Thread Starter
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 13,496
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From: Boston-ish, MA
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
When I shop online for tires I try to interpret the hidden meaning behind the text, try to find a correlation between the stated use, the price, the specs, the weight. Mostly I see boilerplate text that says very little. Every model a maker makes is the best they make. Specs tend to be the most believable thing. But they often say little too.
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Real cyclists use toe clips.
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Last edited by jimmuller; 03-05-17 at 04:34 PM.
03-05-17 | 12:33 PM
#29
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,767
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From: Work in Asia, now based in Vienna, VA
Ah, but I love the subjective reports. Of course they are all anecdotal, and, as the saying goes, the plural of anecdote is not data. Nevertheless, so much of the hobby is so heavily skewed to the anecdotal, anyway, that it simply becomes part of the entertainment value of participation.
People become vaguely known and the nature of their perspective is almost understood. Plus, I learn about all sorts of s'moptions that I'd never even considered. Everything with a metaphorical grain of salt.
Only a couple weeks ago, I was certain I'd retired my last set of tubular wheels for some years and had no thought of buying new tubulars. Now I can hardly wait, but I'm still sorting out which tubes to actually buy.
SO. The more comments and subjective comments, the merrier.
Thanks, too.
People become vaguely known and the nature of their perspective is almost understood. Plus, I learn about all sorts of s'moptions that I'd never even considered. Everything with a metaphorical grain of salt.
Only a couple weeks ago, I was certain I'd retired my last set of tubular wheels for some years and had no thought of buying new tubulars. Now I can hardly wait, but I'm still sorting out which tubes to actually buy.
SO. The more comments and subjective comments, the merrier.
Thanks, too.
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1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
03-05-17 | 12:48 PM
#30
I'm hunting hard for reasonable tubulars, as I've a wheel set with fine hubs sitting unused. The "inexpensive" yellow jersey 3-fer-$50 are appealing, and many speak well of them. Some people don't. But, otherwise, you're looking at a minimum of $60/tire. And you need to buy 3 with tubulars. I'm leaning towards the Gatorskins, just 'cause.
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...oad-tire?fltr=
03-05-17 | 03:19 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,767
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From: Work in Asia, now based in Vienna, VA
I'm torn between these (Ribble has 'em for $18.76 for the 24mm, about 1$ more for the 22mm), and the Conti Sprinter Gatorskins @ 25mm for about $50 per.
I'm trying to convince myself that the slightly better tire, improved protection, etc., etc. will be worth the buy.
And, whether to go for the Tufo tape, or traditional glue. I'm leaning to the tape, but some descriptions make it sound almost permanent. . .
Thanks.
I'm trying to convince myself that the slightly better tire, improved protection, etc., etc. will be worth the buy.
And, whether to go for the Tufo tape, or traditional glue. I'm leaning to the tape, but some descriptions make it sound almost permanent. . .
Thanks.
__________________
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
03-05-17 | 04:08 PM
#32
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Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Utah
Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,
Hmmm, like I said earlier I tried the Open Pave's for awhile too. I wouldn't consider them harsher at all. The ride seemed pretty much the same. I was running the 700 x 27 vs my normal Conti 700 x 25. I was hoping for a bit more volume from the "bigger" 27c tires but in most cases that just wasn't the case. I ran the Open Pave's on 3 different bikes trying them out and can't say any of the bikes rode worse with them on. I just flatted a couple of times on them, something that I don't usually have happen with the Conti's. Could have just been the 'luck of the draw". In my case the Open Paves just didn't give me a reason to switch from my dependable Conti's.
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03-05-17 | 04:28 PM
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,176
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From: Minas Ithil
Hmmm, like I said earlier I tried the Open Pave's for awhile too. I wouldn't consider them harsher at all. The ride seemed pretty much the same. I was running the 700 x 27 vs my normal Conti 700 x 25. I was hoping for a bit more volume from the "bigger" 27c tires but in most cases that just wasn't the case. I ran the Open Pave's on 3 different bikes trying them out and can't say any of the bikes rode worse with them on. I just flatted a couple of times on them, something that I don't usually have happen with the Conti's. Could have just been the 'luck of the draw". In my case the Open Paves just didn't give me a reason to switch from my dependable Conti's.
03-06-17 | 07:56 AM
#34
A tire with tape can be peeled off of the rim. The tape stays attached to the base tape. The S33's I just bought have a coating on the base tape that I suspect makes it possible to remove the Tufo tape. I have peeled off the tire and tape and applied them to another rim with success. I'm using an old tire with the tufo tape still attached as a spare.
03-06-17 | 08:14 AM
#35
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,767
Likes: 49
From: Work in Asia, now based in Vienna, VA
Thanks, Grand Bois.
I had read of someone trying to take a tire off a rim while leaving the tape in place. It tore the base tape off the tire. I guess the better approach is to consider the tape "permanent" to the tire, as you suggest.
I've ordered tires, but they were out of tape. So, I'll get my hands on tape before the tires arrive and try this. It's really been many years since I last ran tubulars!
Thanks.
I had read of someone trying to take a tire off a rim while leaving the tape in place. It tore the base tape off the tire. I guess the better approach is to consider the tape "permanent" to the tire, as you suggest.
I've ordered tires, but they were out of tape. So, I'll get my hands on tape before the tires arrive and try this. It's really been many years since I last ran tubulars!
Thanks.
__________________
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
03-06-17 | 08:53 AM
#36
It really helps to mount/dismount them in warm weather or in a heated space. My fingers are sore today from mounting the tires on some spare rims to stretch them out. I plan to mount them permanently today, but I need to decide whether to put them on a Peugeot or a Jeunet.
