Having experienced Challenge open tubulars in the form of Parigi Roubaix
I have to decry Paul's understatement of the extent of the problem.
Literally the worst tires to mount I've ever used. Fabulous ride, but
at best when brand new and at full thickness I got 1 flat every 300
miles, and it went downhill from there as they wore. To be fair, after
they'd been mounted for a couple of weeks, it became easier to get them
on and off, but the initial experience was suitable for Ripley's Believe
it or Not.
On 6/24/20 5:01 PM, Tom Goodmann wrote:
Just so well written, so well told, Paul; sorry for your tire agonies
but grateful fhe shared experience.
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 4:58 PM Paul Brodek <pcb.ha...@gmail.com
<mailto:pcb.ha...@gmail.com>> wrote:
Gee, thanks guys! Always happy when my pain and suffering provide
some yucks.
Paul Brodek
Hillsdale, NJ USA
On Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 2:29:45 PM UTC-4, Tom Goodmann wrote:
+1 on praise for Paul's post--it was the best read, the best
laugh, I have enjoyed this week. And thanks to all of you for
sharing your views and information . . . I never /tire /of
reading them. --Tom
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 1:31 PM Jock Dewey
<bikej...@gmail.com> wrote:
Hey, Paul:
Your posts are always/the best/, enjoy reading every one
of them...and some of our conversations, too.
Especially your tire ovations.
I say this, because it is *important & necessary* that
tires look good and make proper sounds on good pavement.
It's the only music I listen to out on the road.
BEST / Jock Dewey / Athens, GA
On Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at 8:35:52 PM UTC-4, Paul Brodek
wrote:
You can order from Scott in Mpls, as already
mentioned, or buy from him on ebay. He's always got
listings for tires there, makes it handy to see what
he may have in stock.
Ordering direct from Grand Bois has been mostly smooth
for me. Recent covid-related shipping issues have
cropped up, they switched from EMS to DHL when delays
kicked in, not sure what they're doing now, but Japan
seems to be getting back to a quasi-normal.
Nobody's mentioned the Soma Supple Vitesse tires,
which are another high-zoot Panaracer OE product for a
US-based brand/company. I use 'em a lot, like 'em a
lot. They have std and extralight versions, and are
generally less expensive than Rene Herse. You can buy
direct, might help to wait for one of their
occasional/seasonal sales if you're not in a rush.
ModernBike seems to have the lowest everyday price on
them.
The Challenge tires are also very nice. Just be aware
they are "open tubular" design, not vulcanized, so
they lay flat against the rim out of the package, with
no natural upward curve whatsoever. I don't use
tubeless tires, so I can't compare mounting a
Challenge open tubular to those, but I can say that
Challenge open tubulars are the most difficult tires
to mount of any tires I've used over the past 10yrs+.
I'm cranky and stubborn, and only when death is the
only other alternative (yes, I'm exaggerating) will I
use tire irons to mount a tire, but I've come close
with Challenge. I recently got some fat, puffy Strada
Bianca Pros, and they look just beautiful, but every
time I look at them I can almost feel palm and thumb
pain again. Once they've gone on, and had some time
inflated, subsequent mounting isn't inordinately
difficult, but the first time is a real bear. I
recently got a Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack to spare my
palms and thumbs next time around.
49837732981_ce1b8c5de4_c.jpg
I'll also say that tire mounting experience is akin to
flatting experience, in that it is a certainty that
someone else thinks mounting Challenge tires is
easey-peasey, they never have a problem. ("Tire X is a
flat magnet!" "I ride mine thousands of miles and
never get a flat." Like that...) One man's death fit
is another's no sweat. But Challenge does see the need
to have a video on their website showing their
preferred mounting technique. And boy howdy the dude
in the video doesn't seem to struggle like I do. I've
bought more than one pair near-new from somebody on a
forum who gave up trying to install them. So it ain't
just me.
But they are dead sexy.
Paul Brodek
Hillsdale, NJ USA
On Sunday, June 21, 2020 at 11:07:49 AM UTC-4, Tom
Goodmann wrote:
I've long enjoyed the suppleness of these tires,
but they seem not to have been available in the
U.S. now for some years; I think they can still be
obtained outside the U.S.. Any recommendations
for near-equivalents? (Labeled as 700 x 30, but
seem to measure out closer to 32). Thanks in
advance for any recommendations. Tom, Miami
Sam Hillborne
Legolas
Goodrich-built 650b prototype
'94 RBT
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