What a Difference a Tire Makes!!
 

I used to have 1.75 x 26 slicks on my mtn bike, and when the rear wore out, I put on a semi-knobby. Man were they slow.

Three days ago, I put on front and rear the Specialized Nimbus Armadillos 1.5 x 26 (but really a bit smaller), which indicate a max pressure of 100 lbs, which is where I pumped them to, and loaded them in the car for a trip to Tucson with my wife.

Today, we biked the excruciatingly beautiful paved loop at Saguaro National Park East outside of Tucson (the old mtn bike trail is now closed). A wonderful short ( 10 mile) very up and down ride.

http://www.nps.gov/sagu/

Man - what an amazing difference. As close to my road bike as I have been able to ever get the mtn bike - and almost thorn-proof as well!! And I even saw a fox - but not a DnvrFox!!

Since I have been delighted with my Specialized Armadillo 700Cx28 road tyres, I believe you, DF. I still need to find a mountain bike tyre which provides reasonable traction offroad and reasonable efficiency on-road.

Check out Specialized - I believe they may have some new offerings in the Armadillo line???

You aren't kidding. I got the same tires on my commuter bike. They so much better than the old tires I had. And no more flats. I was getting a flat almost once a month... had one week where I got a flat 3 times. And the run is so much faster. Unforunately, I recently found out how they do on packed snow and ice... about the same as a road tire does... NOT good. LOL. So, I broke down and bought some back up wheels so I can have knobby tires and these slicks... I'm gonna use them as backups on my new bike... this old beater is just going to last til this spring/summer.

It's amazing how long it takes packed snow/ice to melt on the bike path.... especially in those places that doesn't get any sun. It's been over a week since we got snow.. and still there are some pretty long patchs of snow/ice on the paths. And we've had several 45 to 50F degree days.

PBW

I use Tioga city slickers on my MTB an absolutely love them. I usually run about 90PSI in them. When the Mrs. has me tune her bike up I can't believe the difference between riding her bike and mine.... I can't convince her though that the slick tires won't "slip out" from underneath her LOL
:rolleyes:
Doug

I use the specialized Hemisphere (26x1.95) onmy old clunker Peugeot MTB, and find them to be really good for packed dirt trails, as well as for pavememnt riding. They are part of the Armadillo line, but have softer sidewalls.

All i use and they r bullit proff.U can add 5-10 more psi without hurting them to.

Do u have a problem?

Um, Shokhead,
What Raiyn is so delicately trying to say is...

Generally, "AOLese" like you were using there is frowned upon in this forum. We all prefer to read plain English. Thank you.

ChipR

I'm new here so maybe it's jsut me but I too am some what confused...
"All i use and they r bullit proff.U can add 5-10 more psi without hurting them to."
What exactly DO you use... that is bullit proff.... and can add 5-10 more psi to without hurting them ?
:p
Doug

READ THE FIRST THREAD. (IS THIS OK WITH EVERYBODY.I DONT WANT TO UPSET ANYONE.) LOL

okay guys, take it easy, we don't want another shooting war here in this forum:D :D

I know. Riding on the rims alone was really dificult. Especially when it was wet out.:p

Just to tempting.:beer: :D

Oh!!

I was riding on the tube alone.

So, you recommend forgetting the tube and using just the rim?:D

I understood u fine shokhead

Speaking of tires,anybody had a bad set that flated all the time?I just got a new pump thats small enough to fit in my small seat pack so i dont need to put it on the frame,way better looking.

That's just a part of it shok, partly depends on where you ride too. There's one trail I ride alot that has thorn trees in places, no matter hard I try to avoid them seems that I have at least one flat every time I go there. We used to ride that trail before race season a few times just to get fast at changing, got to where we could have a flat and fix it in about 1 1/2 minutes. Not fun though. I like carrying my pump in my pack too. You should look at thosed CO2 inflators, very fast and small in the pack.

Ill tell you i got the nimbus ex 700x28 armadillo tires on my cannondale and ride in the park with all kinds of thorns and stickers and with 2000 miles on these,not only have i not had anything stick in them,zero flats.I would rather have a little a few more grams and a little worst rolling tire for not getting a flat,it worth it to me. I will go with the 700x23s on my new bike when the stocks were out or a few flats piss me off.