My first mishap of '08
02-17-08, 11:19 PM
#1
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My first mishap of '08
I have to cut short my afternoon ride today due to this 
I don't know what caused it, more likely a broken glass. The tire is Specialized Flack Jacket with less than 100mi.
The tire made a popping noise and cracked open. It didn't lose air and I managed to ride to a nearby LBS. I bought a Panaracer Stradius Sport as a replacement.
Will this one do any better? Or should I just spring for a pair of Armadillo's?
I don't know what caused it, more likely a broken glass. The tire is Specialized Flack Jacket with less than 100mi.
The tire made a popping noise and cracked open. It didn't lose air and I managed to ride to a nearby LBS. I bought a Panaracer Stradius Sport as a replacement.
Will this one do any better? Or should I just spring for a pair of Armadillo's?
02-18-08, 04:19 AM
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Armidillos are very flat resistant but they are also very heavy and slow, and have a rough ride. I'm using one on the back of my Surly LHT now. For me, it's worth the trade off, because having a flat means being late to work. Having a flat in the winter means freezing hands. And I ride at night in the cold... and don't want to deal with flats then, at all, ever. It all depends on what your priorities are. On my racing bike, I use Michellin Pro2Race. Speed is more important than flat protection.
02-18-08, 10:07 AM
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I am running continental grand prix 4 season tires on my fixed gear. Freaking things flat like crazy.
I do not think that armadillos are that heavy.
My continentals are 205g each while armadillos weigh in at 280g. This is for 700X23s.
As soon as I have the cash I am picking up a pair of armadillos for that bike. A small weight penalty is acceptable for the areas I commute in.
I do not think that armadillos are that heavy.
My continentals are 205g each while armadillos weigh in at 280g. This is for 700X23s.
As soon as I have the cash I am picking up a pair of armadillos for that bike. A small weight penalty is acceptable for the areas I commute in.
02-18-08, 11:36 AM
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Armadillos are pretty tough, but I'm not sure they'd withstand whatever it was that got your Flack Jacket. I ride the 700c x 28 'Dillos; they run a bit larger than 28mm and are a ***** to mount, but all in all good tyres.
02-18-08, 11:52 AM
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Bad luck on the cut. Armadillos are almost totally puncture proof for me. The two punctures I had in a slightly more than a years commuting were from small metal skewers (car tyre carcas wire?).
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02-18-08, 01:03 PM
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That's another thing I'm worried about....what if for some reason I get a flat under the Texas sun, installing it would be another battle. I think I'll just pack a folding tire.
02-18-08, 02:01 PM
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If anything they're easier to fit on those rims than any other tyres I've used.
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Recommended reading for all cyclists - Cyclecraft - Effective Cycling
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shameless POWERCRANK plug
Recommended reading for all cyclists - Cyclecraft - Effective Cycling
Condor Cycles - quite possibly the best bike shop in London
Don't run red lights, wear a helmet, use hand signals, get some cycle lights(front and rear) and, FFS, don't run red lights!
02-18-08, 02:10 PM
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I have Armadillo 700x25 which absolutely _barely_ fit my merlin road bike went on really easily onto Mavic CPX30 wheels. By barely I mean <1mm clearance to the brake boss and really easy compared to Marathon Plus tires onto Mavic 319 which my LBS asked me to remove myself when I last brought my wheel in to be trued.
You want a heavy hard to mount tire go with marathon plus tires and pray you never get a flat
You want a heavy hard to mount tire go with marathon plus tires and pray you never get a flat
02-18-08, 02:54 PM
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I'm having good luck with Bontrager Race-Lite Hard Case. My OEM Bonti selects flatted like crazy. I haven't flatted my bike once in the 6 months I've had these.
02-19-08, 10:20 AM
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I run Schwalbe Marathons for the "don't want to deal with a flat on the commute" reasons. They're heavy but almost never flat. In fact, I think glass has yet to give me a flat on them. Sharp pieces of metal? Another story. Two or three nasty flats from those but that's over a the course of 2+ years.
It looks like whatever caused your flat could have done it to a tougher tire. Nasty gash!
It looks like whatever caused your flat could have done it to a tougher tire. Nasty gash!
