Btw, I added three bikeys to the fleet in the last few weeks, and I’m looking for advice. My smarter half and college daughter got nice town bikes with 35-40 width tires. I wasn’t shopping for me, but got a sweet deal on a used flat bar road bike. Everything on it is pristine except the 28mm Gatorskins that are bald. I love Continentals. I’ve got 23s and 25 Gatorskins on my other rigs. What recommend y’all for nice “riding to the farmers” market tires? Thanks mucho.
If they hate flats, I mean if they really HATE flats, then the Schwable Marathon Pluses are the way to go. No thorn proof tubes or sealant required which makes them easier to mount. Gatorskins, which I used to love, are tighter than a gnat’s ass stretched over a rain barrel on most rims, especially Mavics, which makes on the road flat reparis a real challenge for me.
As far as N+1 guitar requirements, this one came in to the inventory, but the Taylor A12e left at the same time.
It’s hard to go wrong with Contis. I have Gatorskins in 28 (DBR Prevail TT) and 32 (awaiting a bike). I’m finding them a little hard to mount these days, perhaps due to changing rim tolerances, or maybe old age and the accompanying general physical decline.
Anything Panaracer is good, too. I rode a set of their Paselas all over the place for a very long time. And they make Soma’s Shikoro, the successor to the New Xpress, which apparently is invulnerable. I’ve had the New Xpress on the Nobilette for years.
“Ridin’ to the Farmer’s Market” to me means something that won’t go flat. I’d think of Panaracer Gravel King in one of the smooth versions for a reasonable balance between ride quality and durability.
I’ve never liked anything Continental (including their auto and moto tires) since the old Sprinter tubulars and their awful nylon casing that seemed to bounce all over the road. Their more recent clinchers seem a real pain to mount, making me worry about changing a tube on the road.
• Editor’s note:Excel Sports carries various sizes and configurations of the Gravel King starting at $32. That’s a damn good price. — O’G
My current go-to is the Schwalbe Little Big Ben in 700×38. That’s on three bikes, I think. It’s reasonably priced, durable, easy to mount, and with inner tubes full of sealant, almost flatproof. I generally run it around 65 psi.
Thanks you all for the input. I’ve been considering the Schwalbe Little Big Bens, but a quick perusal of your other suggestions might give me TOO MANY CHOICES (ha!). Lotta nice stuff there.
Sincerely, though, it’s always nice to know that there’s some great cycling knowledge out there that’s only a click away. Thanks again.
Interesting too the consistency of everyone’s input on the Conti’s. I’ve been finding them a serious bitch to mount of late. I’ve not seen the Gatorskin in anything bigger than 28, at least that’s what my IBD said when I asked last week.
I have a set of Conti GatorSkins in 700×32. I tried mounting them to a review bike when I wasn’t happy with the stock rubber. But I gave up after pinch-flatting two tubes while using tire irons to lever the sonofabitch onto the rim. You really shouldn’t need tire irons to mount a tire. Only to take it off.
Mad Blog Media 
April 17, 2019 at 3:25 pm |
You think they could re-energize some cells in my brain? Perhaps they could reprogram them to avoid guitar shops?
April 17, 2019 at 3:35 pm |
Uh oh. Whatchoo gone an’ done, boy? Boughten y’self a new gee-tar?
April 17, 2019 at 5:42 pm |
C’mon- you know the rule. What’s the proper number of guit-fiddles? N+1, of course.
April 17, 2019 at 5:50 pm |
Just like with them whadjacallem bicycle thingamjigs.
April 17, 2019 at 6:56 pm |
Btw, I added three bikeys to the fleet in the last few weeks, and I’m looking for advice. My smarter half and college daughter got nice town bikes with 35-40 width tires. I wasn’t shopping for me, but got a sweet deal on a used flat bar road bike. Everything on it is pristine except the 28mm Gatorskins that are bald. I love Continentals. I’ve got 23s and 25 Gatorskins on my other rigs. What recommend y’all for nice “riding to the farmers” market tires? Thanks mucho.
April 18, 2019 at 6:29 am
If they hate flats, I mean if they really HATE flats, then the Schwable Marathon Pluses are the way to go. No thorn proof tubes or sealant required which makes them easier to mount. Gatorskins, which I used to love, are tighter than a gnat’s ass stretched over a rain barrel on most rims, especially Mavics, which makes on the road flat reparis a real challenge for me.
As far as N+1 guitar requirements, this one came in to the inventory, but the Taylor A12e left at the same time.
https://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/15-series/000-15m/
April 17, 2019 at 7:32 pm |
Congrats on the new rigs. N+1, baybeeeeeee!
It’s hard to go wrong with Contis. I have Gatorskins in 28 (DBR Prevail TT) and 32 (awaiting a bike). I’m finding them a little hard to mount these days, perhaps due to changing rim tolerances, or maybe old age and the accompanying general physical decline.
Anything Panaracer is good, too. I rode a set of their Paselas all over the place for a very long time. And they make Soma’s Shikoro, the successor to the New Xpress, which apparently is invulnerable. I’ve had the New Xpress on the Nobilette for years.
April 18, 2019 at 12:52 am
“Ridin’ to the Farmer’s Market” to me means something that won’t go flat. I’d think of Panaracer Gravel King in one of the smooth versions for a reasonable balance between ride quality and durability.
I’ve never liked anything Continental (including their auto and moto tires) since the old Sprinter tubulars and their awful nylon casing that seemed to bounce all over the road. Their more recent clinchers seem a real pain to mount, making me worry about changing a tube on the road.
• Editor’s note: Excel Sports carries various sizes and configurations of the Gravel King starting at $32. That’s a damn good price. — O’G
April 18, 2019 at 1:53 am
Agreed on the Continental motorcycle tyres, I hated the only pair I tried, I was a confirmed Avon user.
However my road tyre of choice on all my road bikes is the Continental GP4000S, I’ve yet to try the 5000 version but I will.
April 18, 2019 at 6:02 am |
My current go-to is the Schwalbe Little Big Ben in 700×38. That’s on three bikes, I think. It’s reasonably priced, durable, easy to mount, and with inner tubes full of sealant, almost flatproof. I generally run it around 65 psi.
April 18, 2019 at 12:12 pm
Thanks you all for the input. I’ve been considering the Schwalbe Little Big Bens, but a quick perusal of your other suggestions might give me TOO MANY CHOICES (ha!). Lotta nice stuff there.
Sincerely, though, it’s always nice to know that there’s some great cycling knowledge out there that’s only a click away. Thanks again.
Cheers, mates!
April 18, 2019 at 12:16 pm
Interesting too the consistency of everyone’s input on the Conti’s. I’ve been finding them a serious bitch to mount of late. I’ve not seen the Gatorskin in anything bigger than 28, at least that’s what my IBD said when I asked last week.
April 18, 2019 at 12:20 pm
I have a set of Conti GatorSkins in 700×32. I tried mounting them to a review bike when I wasn’t happy with the stock rubber. But I gave up after pinch-flatting two tubes while using tire irons to lever the sonofabitch onto the rim. You really shouldn’t need tire irons to mount a tire. Only to take it off.