Mr. Beanz

So is this what is considered a bad luck weekend or what? After thinking about it, I'm chalking it up to a good luck weekend. A front flat on GMR yesterday and my rear tire falling apart on me today. The good luck, I figure my tires could have failed me on GMR yesterday, a descent resulting in something not so good. I'll look at the bright side. My favorite inexpensive tire Serfas Secas haven't done so well lately. Used to use them with confidence but the last tires split down the center. It was worn but this tire, 2 months 800 miles and it split the same way the last tired split. Heck with it, I'm going with another Armadillo. Many riders don't care for them or the slow feel of the ride but last one I used, 5,000 miles without a single flat. That included plenty of rides on GMR back when I was training for Ride Around the Bear. But like I say, it isn't the tire that makes me feel slow! Maybe I'm just tough on tires at my weight but I'm thinking more about the security and tire durability in my old age.

at the start of our ride EricAnderson rides by while we water up at the leaky fountain. He rolls by and we shout but no idea he heard us. Next thing we know he rolls up and we have a little chat about his long rides. Gee, what ears you got Eric ha ha! We roll out and head to Imperial. Gina's pretty happy to be off GMR and she is smiling while Abec rolls on down the road. We hit Imperial turn around to head back into a headwind. Still smiling we run across PainFreak for a shout.

Abec is somewhere ahead when I feel a thump thump somewhere on my bike. I'm thinking flat but tires are pumped. I roll the rear around only to find another big knot like the last tire. That's it, I've had good luck with these budget tires for a couple of years but the last two? Ain't worth breaking my face!

So we roll slowly back from Katella to the leaky fountain. Good, no blow out! Bummer but the good side is that Louie rolls on by and gives us the latest on his trip to the Philippines. His visit allowed him to visit the children receiving the aid raised by his Sikad Ng Bayan fun bike ride. Nice story and a good look at his touring bike.

I had sent a text to Abec telling him that we were out of the ride so that he wouldn't wonder about our no show at the coast. Arriving at he truck we see Alan and Tammy. A little chat and a short clip of Alan's story. Sure, Alan, stills only, I won't post the video! ~whistle~

A while later, Abec sends a self portrait of himself at the coast saying he made it for us ha ha! Sucker! Well, we missed out but really, it turned out to be a nice pleasure cruise and some visits with friends.

Photos:

Eric Anderson chillin' on his bent. Then Gina was admiring his jersey so I asked him to stick out his chest super hero style to display the design. Abec's text pic and Alan and Tammy trying to escape my lens ha ha!

Mr. Beanz

No more Seca, I'm going with these!

Buck_O

Good grief Beanz, looks like those tires were in need of replacement a couple hundred miles ago. Yikes!

If you would like to try something a little different tire wise, i recommend the Schwalbe Durano Plus. Put about 1200 miles on my set (23mmF/25mmR), havent had a single puncture, and the tires hardly have any show of wear on them. They are no black chili Contis in grip level, but i have more confidence on them then i have on any beaded tire, and there is a noticeable weight savings going to a folder.

socalrider

Give the Vittoria Rubino's a try, make sure they are the wire bead version not the Rubino Pro which is a lightweight folding tire..

The reg Rubinos come in at 300g weight and are good overall performers. They are also spec's to go to 145psi.. Best price and lots of colors are found here: https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I bought one wire bead seca at REI and was not happy with how out of round the tire was, I ended up giving it away. I use to use the Seca RS folding tires and had good success with them.

Mr. Beanz

Only 800 miles and before the separation, the tire looked fairly new, no sign of wear. Heck, the silver letters on the side are stick nice and shiny. Still plenty of rubber left. Thanks for the tire rec.

Mr. Beanz

Thanks! I did get the Serfas tires at REI. I did have good luck in the past before the last two. I was thinking maybe the folding would be a better choice. Thanks for the tire recs. I do see the Specialized below for $50. Good deal, the LBS wanted $65 for that model.

Buck_O

Wow, only 800, thats pretty pathetic.

I now see that its has a banded color on the tire, through me off when i was looking at the wear. Cause it made the center of the tire look flat.


On a personal level, i wont go back to beaded tires again.

Mr. Beanz

Yeah, I see how that can give the illusion, guess you gotta be there.

freighttraininguphill

Do let us know how those work out for you. My Sirrus and Dolce have the "All Condition" tires with the same tread pattern, but they're not Armadillos like yours.

Mr. Beanz

Well, actually I am returning to the Armadillo. I used them before the Seca. It was the tire that gave me 5,000 flat free miles. Never flatted, tire wore out before 1st flat. One tough tire.

motobecane69

Armadillos are just as you describe them, bullet proof but like rolling on bricks. the ride quality sucks ass. in my opinon gatorskins are nearly every bit as tough and ride much better. I've flatted twice on gatorskins in 9 months and flatted once on armadillos that I rode for 6 months. they both sell for around the same around here.

rideorglide

Dang sad to hear that, I ride Serfas Secas, too, and have loved them thus far. Now I'm a wee bit neervous. But I think my mileage is still down thanks to other injury, so hope to get a few hundred more silky miles out of them before replacing.

Mr. Beanz

I've had terrible luck with Gatorskins. I've flatted more with those tires than with any other over the last 15 years.

It's really strange because the way I describe the tire in my OP is the way others view the tires, not me (my post may be slightly misleading by the wording). I myself have done thousands of miles on various models and don't notice the suck ass quality you mention.

Mr. Beanz

As mentioned by anotehr poster, may be the beaded version that I use. If you use the folding, might be a different story. I just know that I had really good luck with them before the last two tires....one of which actually had decent mileage on it. Just that it separated in the same way rather than wearing thin on the tread area..