Can anyone justify the cost of Continental GP 4000's vs say rubinos? Are they that much better? They're nearly double the price of the rubinos for a single tire.

I have the 3000s which are nice. Never used rubinos so I can't compare, but I have held both in my hand and the contis seem better put together and they have a kevlar belt and what seems like thicker rubber. I think they look better, but its up for debate whether they are worth the price or not... I'd probably just go with the rubinos if you are happy with them as you'll feel guilty skidding on Conti GP tires.

I have Vittoria Rubinos on almost all of my bikes and I like them a lot. However, I think that a better tire is the Michelin Pro Race 2. I have only one bike with it but it is a great tire and I am ordering more in the spring. Are you getting your tires from Probikekit? I haven't found any tire cheaper than them except when Urbane had all their Rubinos for 20bucks and that was only on the 20mm ones.

The GP4000s are 42.38$CDN: http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y1338
The Michelin Pro Race 2s are 31.98$CDN: http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y2070

Another props for Rubino Pros. Romas, on the other hand.... I'm pitching mine after the third flat in a week after running flat free on Rubino pros for nearly six months.

Yeah, the Rubinos for 20$CDN at Urbane was a great deal, I bought 4 of them. I don't think I've had a flat on them yet.

On the roller front i got a set for X-Mas. I like them a lot, takes a little getting used to but i'm now a pro (not) great work out helps with balance, holding a line & pedal stroke or so i'm told. I just love jumping on at any given moment.

So if you found some on C/L cheap snap em up.

Pro race 2 >>>> Rubinos for me. I've yet to be dissapointed with a michelin tire.

Rubinos are OK, but the michelin is better. I've also tried the high end vittorias (evo corsa CX) and was very dissapointed with them. Fast tire, but delicate as hell.

I've got 3700kms so far on my pro2's on my road bike and they're still going strong

Vittoria tires. Roma and Zaffiro...26 TPI casing. Rubino and Zaffiro Pro...60 TPI casing. Rubino Pro....120 TPI casing. Diamante Pro....220 TPI casing. Open Corsa EVO...290 TPI casing. The higher the # the more puncture resistant the tire will be...regardless of flat proof belting etc. High TPI tires also have a much more supple ride.

I got a pair of continental Ultra Gatorskins from PBK that i can’t wait to try. The Vittoria Rubino’s i now had for about a year still going strong.

I think the pro2's are 127tpi and I find them to be a nicer ride. Maybe I had a bad run but I put on a set of evo corsas and destroyed one within 200kms, and the replacement lasted for a while but it was looking pretty terrible by the time I finally retired it. They seem to be very cut-prone. the thin sidewall makes me nervous if I have to cut across gravel too.

Since I just looked it up, FYI:
Conti GP3000's 430TPI 5 ply
Conti GP4000's 330TPI 3 ply

I still use 2 ply at home. 1 ply is for public restrooms and 3 ply is for capitalist fatcats.

Nobody mentioned the weather yet. Warm today! That is all.

And I'm $250 poorer. That is all

The one thing i'm really tired of when tire shopping is the fact that every manufacturer seems to want treads on their ****ing road tires. Really. What the hell.

GP4000s have treads the pro race 2's have tread, even the rubinos...! Argh

Coolio, you bought that Pini? Pics?

I did. I'll clean it up a bit and post some pics. Pretty much like the CL post, though.

Damn, that was a great deal Cavit8.

Nice, what are you going to build it up with, Campy? There are some nice Ultegra brifters on CL that are from someone's CX bike; beat up but apparently they work and they are cheap at 65$. Ultegra is noice. I am in the middle of upgrading my Ciocc to the new 105 black brifters:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...z/Ciocc002.jpg

Keith the rollers are Egila Stabil-Roller
Jet, ....nice lookin' ride man. yummy

Nice! Kitchen Workshop. Classic. My girlfriend would kill me. In a good way.

I haven't really thought that far ahead as yet. Campy preferably, but I'm not above mixin' and matchin'. There's a nice campy wheelset on CL too, C-record 6/7 speed which would make a nice set of classic's (better suited for a classif frame though) or a nice set of Cane creek Cronos' for ShimaNO 9 speed. This was what I was afraid of. Buy a frame and now I'll drop a pile building it up. I'll probably do the slow build thing, now that CL seems to be getting more active...

Or I'll just bite the bullet and order a mirage groupo from PBK.

Do it!

Actually, it's in really good shape apart from some paint dings and friction rubs where the cable housing was. I guess I'm just not a very good capitalist. If I sell one of my kayaks, it's paid for.

boo yea!

Went to Urbane today and picked up:
650c Ambrosio Montreal TUBULARS in 36h for $20.

And got 650c blue velocity aerohead clinchers in 32h / tubes & tires for free. Even threw in spokes cut to the length of low flange chris king hubs. Btw, useless spokes are good for soldering.

Time to build a funny bike :)

Lastly, anyone have any thoughts on the 30 day VIA rail all Canada pass? Its about $500 + tax (student/economy). I'm thinking of going with my bike possibly this summer or next.