700c X 25 tyres

[nfmisso]

(09-06-2013, 09:17 PM)DaveM Wrote:  ..... tires ride horrible and are extremely heavy. (Also a nightmare to install)

Ah; Dave, you've had experience with Armadillos.....

[Robert 7]

Apologies again to Surreypete for posting so much on his thread- wonder how he's getting on?

Woke up to a flat Armadillo. Yep, really. Mustered the nerve to fix things myself. Can change out 26 in tires without breaking a sweat- figured it was time to graduate to real road bike skins. Love the LBS, but heck, we should try to be self reliant for some things like flats.

Was somewhat surprised at how easily the thing came off and went back on. Could almost get the last bit to pop over the rim, but not quite. Finally resorted to 1 tire lever to finish the job. Carefully.

Woke up to another flat. That was a bummer. Figured it was a pinched tube from using the lever. Took the tire off again.. and for some reason, not by design, noticed the rim tape on this brand new bike was not installed correctly. Two recessed spoke holes weren't completely covered by the tape, leaving tiny partial moon shapes. Submerging the partially inflated tube in a basin of water was telling. One big leak from a major hole, one next to it that hadn't blown out. These matched the two partially covered spoke holes in the rim.

The tape was quite pliable being virtually new. Shifted it over to cover the holes, put in a new tube, and in two days it's stayed inflated. Who wants to buy a pair of Armadillos?

[1FJEF]

I just want to reiterate, Surreypete is 1 & done and I love my discontinued Specialized Crossroads, there again, they are big fat 26 x 47mm. Now I know not to buy new ones.

[Robert 7]

Not a thing wrong with the Dillo, it's just a tough beast to pedal-

[1FJEF]

(09-13-2013, 08:49 PM)Robert 7 Wrote:  Not a thing wrong with the Dillo, it's just a tough beast to pedal-

Luckily the discontinued ones I have do not suffer from that malady, they are 26" fatties. Very quiet, quick & puncture resistant. I got what I thought was a rock in the tread which turned out to be a huge goat head thorn. After pulling it out & examining it I couldn't believe I wasn't flat.
Next time, perhaps you could try some continentals.

[Robert 7]

(09-14-2013, 06:12 AM)1FJEF Wrote:  

(09-13-2013, 08:49 PM)Robert 7 Wrote:  Not a thing wrong with the Dillo, it's just a tough beast to pedal-

Luckily the discontinued ones I have do not suffer from that malady, they are 26" fatties. Very quiet, quick & puncture resistant. I got what I thought was a rock in the tread which turned out to be a huge goat head thorn. After pulling it out & examining it I couldn't believe I wasn't flat.
Next time, perhaps you could try some continentals.

Amazing testament to those tires. Everytime I discovered an ugly goathead (on my 26'er equipped with budget tires) and pulled it out I was greeted by an audible hiss!

Finally have dropped my OCD tire thoughts and settled on the Armadillo for the rear, and the OEM Bontrager for the front. So far so good.

[Robert 7]

Has anyone had experience with the Kool Stop tire jack? After reading of it's merits ordered one online. it certainly seems like a knuckle saver.