Gatorskins
04-01-09 | 02:38 PM
#2
Have bike, will travel
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,286
Likes: 317
From: Lake Geneva, WI
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
Yes, It's a great all-around road & commuting tire. It's not totally flat-proof, so carry a spare tube, pump and tire changing tools.
Michael
Michael
__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
04-01-09 | 02:40 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,373
Likes: 8
From: Columbus, OH
Bikes: '08 Surly Cross-Check, 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, 2012 Spesh FSR Comp EVO, 2015 Trek Domane 6.2 disc
Yeah, I run 700 x 28 on my commuter/brevet bike and I've had very few issues with them. They're sort of a pain to mount them, but for the fact I get so few flats (2 flats in 6000+ miles of use) they're worth it.
Keep steel tire levers in your kit. That's my advice.
Keep steel tire levers in your kit. That's my advice.
__________________
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
04-01-09 | 03:55 PM
#5
J E R S E Y S B E S T
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,849
Likes: 0
From: DC
The 28s on one bike have been great, not a single flat at around a 1000 miles (knock on wood)
25s and 23s on the other hand... a few (2-3) have had side walls tears, few flats here and there, still better than other tires I've run, but not great.
Funny how I take the 28s on some seriously rough road with lots of sharp rocks and other debris and are fine, but the damn 25s and 23s are so delicate even though I only ride on good roads.
25s and 23s on the other hand... a few (2-3) have had side walls tears, few flats here and there, still better than other tires I've run, but not great.
Funny how I take the 28s on some seriously rough road with lots of sharp rocks and other debris and are fine, but the damn 25s and 23s are so delicate even though I only ride on good roads.
04-01-09 | 04:17 PM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
Bikes: Steelman road bike, '81 Schwinn Le Tour single speed,
Yes, I've got the 28's on my Jake for commuting. They really made a big difference smoothing out the bumps in the road and I've not had a flat since installing them. A pain to install for sure.
04-01-09 | 04:24 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,094
Likes: 4,720
From: Beaverton, OR
Bikes: Yes
How many miles does everyone else get out of their Gatorskins?
I've got 25s on my Jake with about 2500 miles on them. I didn't get a flat for about 1500 miles, and then not another for about 800 more, but the flats seem to be coming closer together these days. Have I just tried to push them too far?
I've got 25s on my Jake with about 2500 miles on them. I didn't get a flat for about 1500 miles, and then not another for about 800 more, but the flats seem to be coming closer together these days. Have I just tried to push them too far?
04-01-09 | 04:33 PM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 1
From: PNW - Victoria, BC
Bikes: 2002 Litespeed Vortex - 2007 Trek Madone 5.9 - 2004 Redline Conquest Pro - Specialized S-Works Festina Team Model - 93 Cannondale M 800 Beast of the East
Sheldon Brown says:
Tire Wear-When should you replace your tires?
Tire Wear-When should you replace your tires?
Many cyclists waste money replacing perfectly functional tires simply because they're old, or may have discolored sidewalls. If you just want new tires because the old ones look grotty, it's your money, but if you are mainly concerned with safety/function, there are only two reasons for replacing old tires:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#wear
- When the tread is worn so thin that you start getting a lot of flats from small pieces of glass and the like, or the fabric shows through the rubber.
- When the tire's fabric has been damaged, so that the tire has a lumpy, irregular appearance somewhere, or the tube bulges through the tire.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#wear
04-01-09 | 04:34 PM
#9
Older I get, faster I was
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 654
Likes: 3
From: santa cruz
I just put the Ultra Gatorskins, 700x23s on my commute wheels. So far I like them a lot in regards to how light they feel and how well they corner in the fast mountain down hills I ride every day. I liked them so much I did not bother to switch to my light aero wheels for my weekend ride on Sunday. Far too early to tell how they will hold up.
04-01-09 | 04:45 PM
#10
Have bike, will travel
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,286
Likes: 317
From: Lake Geneva, WI
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
How many miles does everyone else get out of their Gatorskins?
I've got 25s on my Jake with about 2500 miles on them. I didn't get a flat for about 1500 miles, and then not another for about 800 more, but the flats seem to be coming closer together these days. Have I just tried to push them too far?
I've got 25s on my Jake with about 2500 miles on them. I didn't get a flat for about 1500 miles, and then not another for about 800 more, but the flats seem to be coming closer together these days. Have I just tried to push them too far?
Michael
__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
04-01-09 | 04:59 PM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Boise, ID
Bikes: LeMond Sarthe, Schwinn Voyager 11.8, Specialized Hardrock
I live in puncture weed, goathead country. It's everywhere.
1980 Schwinn Voyager 11.8 - nostalgia - Gatorskin 27x1 1/4
199? Specialized Hardrock - commuter - Crossroads Armadillo 26''
2006 Lemond Sarthe - training, touring - All Condition Armadillo 700 x 25
I had tire liners before I upgraded to Gatorskin/Armadillo and I still use them. I know makes for a heavy tire setup but I hate fixing flats and haven't had one in 3 years.
1980 Schwinn Voyager 11.8 - nostalgia - Gatorskin 27x1 1/4
199? Specialized Hardrock - commuter - Crossroads Armadillo 26''
2006 Lemond Sarthe - training, touring - All Condition Armadillo 700 x 25
I had tire liners before I upgraded to Gatorskin/Armadillo and I still use them. I know makes for a heavy tire setup but I hate fixing flats and haven't had one in 3 years.
04-01-09 | 05:27 PM
#12
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
some good prices
Ordered 28s on sale, $29.88, at modernbike.com after reading good things about them -mainly here. Also bought Forte' thorn resistant tubes (3 for $12) at performance bike. Can't wait for the new tires, appreciate all the advice I've gotten here.
04-01-09 | 07:42 PM
#15
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
I ride with 25's. They were nice tires when I wanted to leave the NW quadrant. The only time I ever got flats with them was when I let them deflate too much. I'm really bad about keeping the proper pressure in them. I would get a lot of snake bites because of potholes and uneven curbs.
04-01-09 | 09:41 PM
#17
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: UT
Bikes: Ibex Xray
04-01-09 | 11:05 PM
#18
ride for a change
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,221
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis, MN
Bikes: Surly Cross-check & Moonlander, Pivot Mach 429, Ted Wojcik Sof-Trac, Ridley Orion. Santa Cruz Stigmata
Love them. Wore my last set down to the threads before I got my first flat....mostly because they were worn down to the threads after about 3000m. Duh. The next day bought another set. I've never had tires wear so well and ride so well. I highly recommend them.
04-01-09 | 11:53 PM
#19
.
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,981
Likes: 0
From: Hillsboro, Oregon
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix Comp, Soma ES
Have the 25 version on my commuter. Ride is fine and have never had a flat with them. I've got a little over 3000 miles on them. Still look pretty good. Not extremely pricey for a good flat resistant tire, but not cheap either. I wouldn't ride anything else on my commuter. Might put some on my road bike when the current tires wear out.
__________________
Demented internet tail wagging imbicile.
Demented internet tail wagging imbicile.
04-02-09 | 05:59 AM
#20
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
I have been riding 28mm gatorskins for about a month now. Previously I was using Conti 4-seasons, which were great tires, never once had a flat in 2000 miles. But riding high pressure 23mm tires through downtown Atlanta was painful, so I thought I would make a switch. I really like the gatorskins so far, and 28mm is a lot more comfortable.
04-02-09 | 07:47 AM
#21
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Bradford Massachusetts
Bikes: C'Dale - R1000, XR7, Rize3, F600 and a couple others...
They ride awesome as far as I'm concerned. Have 28's on my commuter in warm weather mode, and 25's on my fast road bike. Haven't had a flat yet with either pair, I've got probably about 1K on the 25's and am just breaking in the 28's.
