tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post6751591258579343301..comments2024-03-27T11:44:15.723-04:00Comments on The Retrogrouch: Again With The Solid Tires? Really?Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-10437888254363063412017-01-01T13:49:28.006-05:002017-01-01T13:49:28.006-05:00My experience with the really "bullet proof&q...My experience with the really "bullet proof" reinforced tires is that they ride hardly better than solid tires. OTOH, there are decent-riding tires like the Schwalbe Kojak and Schwalbe Big Apple (and doubtless others, but I've used these extensively) with more modest protective belts that still roll pretty well. I live in Goathead Land, and the ~32 mm wide Kojak was noticeably more resistant to flats than, say, the similar Pasela, while I could ride the "Liteskin" model of the Big Apples into goathead patches and come out, often if not always, unscathed.<br /><br />In my experience, flats from things other than thorns are quite rare unless you ride on downtown streets scattered with glass shards and other sharp debris; and modern sealants, particularly Orange Seal, make thorns no more than an occasional problem, even with the lightest of most supple of tires like the Compass Extra Light models.Bertin753https://www.blogger.com/profile/02860648732848589740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-83107272693417525402017-01-01T10:19:36.495-05:002017-01-01T10:19:36.495-05:00I laughed too when looking the Kickstarter video. ...I laughed too when looking the Kickstarter video. Just look at those holes in the sides! No mudguard will protect the rider when riding over a puddle, and they will be full of dirt and mud. Do they think someone who doesn't want to fill air in their tires will be OK with cleaning all those holes?<br /><br />I would like to post a question to the readers: what about those reinforced tires? I understand the Schwalbe Marathon and Continental Gatorskin have a built-in barrier that reduces foreign-object punctures by a wide margin. I think that is a better option that these new solid-but-full-of-holes tires.Alexander Lópezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517986861000324855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-87633506493801189552016-11-22T19:22:30.650-05:002016-11-22T19:22:30.650-05:00I purchased Tannus tires for the Brompton, which w...I purchased Tannus tires for the Brompton, which were impossible to install despite following video/written directions and consulting with the vendor. I found that the rubber between the pins and rim was so thin that it teared in several during my attempts, which is something that wouldn't have beeen observable had installation been successful. I returned them despite a 'no return' policy, received a refund and then filed a detailed complaint with the CPSC. They aren't suitable for any bicycle intended to be operated safely. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-29309899983852000222016-11-21T21:17:58.161-05:002016-11-21T21:17:58.161-05:00Bought two solids and I love them. They were absol...Bought two solids and I love them. They were absolute hell to fit, thought they had sent two sizes too small but hey an hours workout in the dry... I also get a good workout running them 'cos pushing a wheelchair is hard work. I am never tipping my passenger out to fix a flat...Colinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01667939789517989280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-79785615641850700502016-11-21T18:04:19.962-05:002016-11-21T18:04:19.962-05:00@Le Belge: no, they cannot puncture, but they do h...@Le Belge: no, they cannot puncture, but they do have a failure mode that is specific to solid tires. Things that would puncture and deflate a pneumatic tire will still go through a foam tire; they just won't collapse on the spot. The puncture does form a gap in the foam which allows for dirt, small rocks, glass, etc. to get lodged into the tire. After many miles and the accumulation of much road debris, the tries tires start to break down. Chunks of foam tend to fall out. I remember once that so much foam had come off of one of my airless tires that the wheel was now out-of-round and it made a horrible thumping sound as I rode along (to the bike shop for new tires).Morlamwebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17799436150549217033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-68824729356970947922016-11-21T11:41:43.463-05:002016-11-21T11:41:43.463-05:00Might be less apparent inside a tube.
Formerly d...Might be less apparent inside a tube. <br /><br />Formerly dry tires now weep clear fluid constantly at the sidewalls. Had total sidewall break down on a Schwalbe Ice Spiker that had run Stans for two years without a hitch. <br /><br />Surly, Conti, Specialized, Schwalbe, etc. Not brand specific. I was told when I asked (and mentioned my Ice Spikers) that "yeah, we have heard of Schwalbes having issues". <br /><br />Mute when I mentioned at least 5 other brands though. <br /><br />Fluid no longer has chunks either. The "Race" formula does though, but it 30% more $. <br /><br />Someone posited that the Race, is actually, the original, and the "original" of now, is in fact a new, low viscosity, high consumption designed, imposter. <br /><br />Yeah, screw it, shop is now going to stock OS....<br /><br />MendonCycleSmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213406716238931069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-77076770314174581812016-11-19T17:13:02.699-05:002016-11-19T17:13:02.699-05:00I've been gradually replacing Stans-ified tube...I've been gradually replacing Stans-ified tubes with Orange-Seal-ified ones, thanks to our record breaking crop of goatheads this year. I just came home via a dirt shortcut on my gofast road bike and picked up a thorn in the front tire that wouldn't seal quickly: stopped and pumped, rode: it continued to leak. Got home, pumped it up again and spun it: it finally sealed. This tube has Stan's. Orange Seal would probably have caught the leak before the tire noticeably deflated. One more tube to swap out.<br /><br />My Stan's is all at least a year old, so perhaps I missed the formula change.Bertin753https://www.blogger.com/profile/02860648732848589740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-23633753106777313822016-11-19T15:37:40.922-05:002016-11-19T15:37:40.922-05:00I've had really good luck with tubeless. I'...I've had really good luck with tubeless. I'm running Schwalbe G-1's 700x35c on Velocity A23's with Caffe Latex sealant. I Can't say how well Caffe Latex works because I haven't had a puncture since I put them on in June. The whole wheelset weighs exactly to the ounce the same as the Pasela 28c/cxp22 set they replaced (admittedly not a lightweight combo). They're faster and more comfortable too, probably owing to the 127tpi threadcount and the fact that I can run them at 40 psi with no fear of snakebite flats. I think this is what Jan Heine et al have been shouting about for the last few years. These things may cause me to have to turn in my retrogrouch card.Phillip Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553979458131339924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-11958407989095683122016-11-19T14:26:29.716-05:002016-11-19T14:26:29.716-05:00Haven't used OS, but am thinking of switching,...Haven't used OS, but am thinking of switching, actually. <br /><br />Sold and used Stans for years. They recently made some sort of change, which they won't admit to (the seriously annoying part of this) that has impacted all sorts of aspects of bike tiredom. <br /><br />This testimonial only furthers that thought....MendonCycleSmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213406716238931069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-59389266657534173032016-11-18T17:37:33.124-05:002016-11-18T17:37:33.124-05:00Modern sealants make things possible that were imp...Modern sealants make things possible that were impossible before, at least with goatheads. But they don't prevent all flats. BTW, Orange Seal is the new Stan's -- in my experience, it's better than the already good Stan's. It dries up slightly slower; when it dries it creates a film on the casing instead of boogers; and it seems to seal bigger holes more easily.<br /><br />I run paper thin (360 grams!) 700C X 50 Furious Freds tubeless on my dirt bike here in Goatheadland, ABQ, NM, with Orange Seal, but even Orange Seal doesn't prevent all flats; occasionally you'll have to stop and pump and spin, and you do have to replace the sealant at regular and shortish (2 or 3 months, depending on weather and leakage, through thorn holes -- you can see the many shiny spots on the tread where the sealant has leaked out and done its job). Sealant won't cure all thorn woes, as will solid tires.<br /><br />FWIW, you don't need tubeless to benefit from good sealants. I use OS in tubes under Compass Elk Passes, 175 grams each (559 X labeled 32/actual 28); these would be absolutely impossible around here without sealant. And they are the best road tires I've ever used; better than Michelin Pro Races and Conti GPs and even the old 559 X 1" Turbo. Thank God for modern sealants!<br /><br />But as good as these sealants are, they doesn't banish all flats, and I can see a use for solid tires (ugh!) for the very casual rider who doesn't want to get his hands dirty.Bertin753https://www.blogger.com/profile/02860648732848589740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-89237292637792208042016-11-18T13:50:28.236-05:002016-11-18T13:50:28.236-05:00I have a bunch of friends on goathead country, tra...I have a bunch of friends on goathead country, traditional MTB tubeless, with Stans (or fill in the blank sealant) seems to make it a non issue. Far better than Slime tubes in terms of speed of sealing, lack of a greater mess later, etc. <br /><br />Or am I missing something?<br /><br />Is the neophyte cyclist descriptor imply a lack of exposure to tubeless as an option?<br /><br />I'd say the same for roadies, who are sick of changing tubes though, your wheelbarrow has been tubeless for 40+ years! =:D<br /><br />MendonCycleSmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213406716238931069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-38010701421859638892016-11-18T11:39:05.793-05:002016-11-18T11:39:05.793-05:00when in doubt - make a Wonka meme.when in doubt - make a Wonka meme.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-63191295293463109172016-11-18T11:38:10.526-05:002016-11-18T11:38:10.526-05:00"The suspense is terrible. I hope it will las..."The suspense is terrible. I hope it will last"!-Willy WonkaPhillip Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553979458131339924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-35267489784091357552016-11-18T09:25:20.101-05:002016-11-18T09:25:20.101-05:00Well they cannot puncture, they do have that for t...Well they cannot puncture, they do have that for them. Having punctured 5 times in the last month, it is appealing. Until i remember those i tried a few year back were absolute dogs***.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00518909092982637229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-88176223134593896832016-11-18T05:08:57.530-05:002016-11-18T05:08:57.530-05:00I suppose I should consider myself lucky I don'...I suppose I should consider myself lucky I don't live in goathead country. Those things must be awful!Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-49674797229440442512016-11-17T23:34:27.097-05:002016-11-17T23:34:27.097-05:00I too scoff at the breathless wonderfulness of suc...I too scoff at the breathless wonderfulness of such "new" inventions, but let me tell you, if you live in Goat Head Land, and if you are a neophyte rider, and if you yet are determined to get out and ride a bike now and again, or if despite the odds, you like to commute a few miles to work and back, let me tell you that there certainly are worse alternatives. Try riding a cheap, thick, stiff mtb tire, with a thick liner, and with a 1/2" thick "thorn proof" tube filled with 4 oz of Slime -- believe me, a decent solid tire will actually feel -- well, it will feel better than that hellish combination.<br /><br />I rode a friend's bike with aftermarket solids, and let me tell you, it wasn't as bad as a pneumatic dressed up desperately with all the thorn proofing available!<br />Bertin753https://www.blogger.com/profile/02860648732848589740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-52360897435769126942016-11-17T20:49:03.553-05:002016-11-17T20:49:03.553-05:00Snake oil salesmen are alive and well, give us you...Snake oil salesmen are alive and well, give us your money. Kickstarter is a goldmine for dubious inventions and inventors.llewellynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07135629791010166661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-5397481689725410012016-11-17T17:55:02.343-05:002016-11-17T17:55:02.343-05:00Heavy, dead, solid tires with higher rolling resis...Heavy, dead, solid tires with higher rolling resistance are a big step down from nice supple-casing pneumatic tires. While the HiLo hubs don't actually improve on "normal" hubs, they also aren't any worse -- but they do at least have that aesthetic benefit going for them.<br />Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-21765275462504673582016-11-17T17:45:31.864-05:002016-11-17T17:45:31.864-05:00"As a cat, I am highly offended by the remark..."As a cat, I am highly offended by the remarks in the Ever Tire ad."<br /><br />I didn't type that. My beloved housepet did. She knows that only silly humans like me wear lipstick. ;-)<br /><br />Seriously, though: I find it ironic that you posted this the day after your article about Hi-Lo hubs. Both are ideas that seem to get resurrected after the previous generation of cyclists is "over" them. <br /><br /><br />Even though there is no practical benefit to hi-lo hubs, I just might buy a pair and build them for fun. They would look cool, and be no better, but no worse, than my standard high- and low-flange hubs. On the other hand, I wouldn't spend my money on any solid tire.Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-72685988325701289012016-11-17T17:25:38.145-05:002016-11-17T17:25:38.145-05:00They really ARE getting a lot of press, despite th...They really ARE getting a lot of press, despite the obvious and well-known issues with "airless" tires, which these don't really seem to address any better than all the others.<br />Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-67936037615303946052016-11-17T14:35:28.838-05:002016-11-17T14:35:28.838-05:00Hoo boy, not a single line of their spiel is worth...Hoo boy, not a single line of their spiel is worth a nickel.<br /><br />For some reason, these have really gotten a lot of press, it seems like I see their Kickstarter link everywhere I turn. <br />Actual quality aside, it seems particularly wasteful to have to throw away an entire wheelset at ~5000 miles. Though one has to believe, as you note, that the type of person that would use these are probably never going to see 5k miles in their life.<br /><br /><br />Wolf.N/Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14710395292374599493noreply@blogger.com