New Tyres Big difference :-)

[Banjo]

My Trek Valencia came with Bontrager Racelite hardcase 32 tyres.

I immediately swapped them for my nearly new Michelin City Pilots off the old bike which were better for the gravel tracks etc i was riding on at the time plus back lanes with usual broken glass .

Despite over a thousand miles of harsh use riding through broken glass a few times nothing managed to penetrate the Michelins.I felt very confident on them.

Decided today to try out the Racelites weighed both tyres on kitchen scales Michelins were 830 grams Racelites 420 so a big weight saving.Ran the Michelins on 80 psi Racelites on 100psi.

The difference is immediately noticeable,not as comfortable but much quicker,surprisingly the Michelins seem to make more noise on the tarmac .Im putting that down to the higher pressureas they are completely smooth slicks.

Will try to avoid gravel paths and backlanes with these.

I just hope the easier rolling isnt offset by visits from the p!"£$%^e fairy.

 

[longers]

Different tyres can make a big difference.
I like the Hardcases, got them in twentyfive on three bikes. Done quite a few dryish bridlepaths/towpaths with them too.

 

[rh100]

I replaced my knobbly tyres with panaracer semi slicks, it felt like a new bike after but they are swines to refit after taking off for a p*nct*re repair. Now I'm riding on roads they really let me get the speed up (downhill )

As soon as I changed, I had a visit from the fairy every other bloomin' ride, pressure up at max but kept getting em - then on one I could hear the air coming out before I took the wheel off - so traced it from the outside and found a piece of glass - previously i'd been checking the inside for anything sticking through - but I reckon it was the same bit of glass all the time and when hitting the edge of a paving slab or something it was just enough to poke the inner tube. I've since put one of those slime tube protector strips in, and has been ok so far (fingers crossed).

 

[Banjo]

I replaced my knobbly tyres with panaracer semi slicks, it felt like a new bike after but they are swines to refit after taking off for a p*nct*re repair. Now I'm riding on roads they really let me get the speed up (downhill )

As soon as I changed, I had a visit from the fairy every other bloomin' ride, pressure up at max but kept getting em - then on one I could hear the air coming out before I took the wheel off - so traced it from the outside and found a piece of glass - previously i'd been checking the inside for anything sticking through - but I reckon it was the same bit of glass all the time and when hitting the edge of a paving slab or something it was just enough to poke the inner tube. I've since put one of those slime tube protector strips in, and has been ok so far (fingers crossed).

Good luck .I hope the p....... fairy finds another victim. I had a series of unintentional deflations caused by a blow out near the valve stem each time. I think now that cheap rim tape on my old bike was jamming the valve stem in the hole leaving the tube unsupported away from the rim(part of the reason for checking the valve stem is free to move before fully reinflating.) Got my best ever average speed around a 13 mile ring I do now and then this afternoon so wont be going back to the bomb proof but very heavy Michelin City Pilots unless I have to.

 

[rh100]

I think now that cheap rim tape on my old bike was jamming the valve stem in the hole leaving the tube unsupported away from the rim(part of the reason for checking the valve stem is free to move before fully reinflating.) .

I suppose it's good experience and practice changing tubes, if it's peeing down next time it happens should be able to do a change a bit quicker

 

[Banjo]

I suppose it's good experience and practice changing tubes, if it's peeing down next time it happens should be able to do a change a bit quicker

didnt quite see it like that at the time.Last one was in peeing down rain 10 mile from home when I had other things to do /places to be.

Nearly threw the bike into a hedge and got the bus home. Got new rim tapes tubes and tyres for it then gave it to one of my sons when I got the Valencia. Touch wood he hasnt had any problem,s so far but he only does about 5 miles per week.

 

[rh100]

Nearly threw the bike into a hedge and got the bus home.

I know exactly how you feel