The tyre thing.......again :0)

[reohn2]

On another thread I mentioned that I've fitted 700x32 Gatorskins on my Thorn Audax Mk3.They fit with about 8or9mm clearance at the tightest point,the bike has Bluemels 35mm m/guards but to be perfect would benefit from 42or45's as the extra width/flare would help.I have a pair of 45mm m/guards that'll be fitted in due course.
The RX100 57mm DP calipers have to be adjusted 'just right' to enable removal of the wheels this needs the quick release flicking off and a couple of turns of the cable adjuster backing off which is a compromise I'm willing to live with.

Regular forum members will be aware of my Osteo Arthritis issues so I won't bore you with the details though they're very relevant.
I've come to the conclusion over the past few years that big supple tyres are a)more comfortable and b)no slower,for my type of cycling and help with my health issues.
I'm convinced that it has a lot do with fatigue later in the ride ie;over 50miles,where the comfort of the first 40or50 makes the last 10/20/30miles more efficient(I rarely ride centuries these days),where my energies are spent in forward propulsion and not feeling so beat up as to have to concentrate on trying to just relieve pain in either my back or shoulders(yes my riding position is spot on) rather than enjoying the ride.
I spent Wednesday and Thursday at my daughters laying laminate flooring and and tiling a bathroom floor,fitting skirting boards and architraves and fitting three bladdy heavy oak doors.What's that got to do with tyres?
On Thursday night I could barely move and on Friday morning I felt as stiff as a crutch!
So I wasn't feeling exactly on top of the world as I wheeled out the Thorn on Friday morning,for a test ride on it's new tyres,in fact I spent the first 7to10 miles loosening up of sorts,and deliberately chose a flat ride.
To cut an already long story short,59miles in four hours with a 20minute coffee stop,I thought wasn't bad for a knackered old man .
But the most surprising thing was that about 11/2miles from home a chap passed me on a full on TT Cervelo complete with pointy helmet and skinsuit,he looked fit!
I felt a bit bolshie and jumped on his wheel,I don't know what speed we were doing but I was in top(48x14) and spinning it out
I was glad after about 600m the TL was on red and he was turning left with me going straight on
Anyway enough of the boasting of an old fart,the 32mm Gators are fine and I've shelved plans to sell the Thorn(this was it's last chance).
Now if there's an even more supple 32mm tyre than the Gatorskins(which should be possible,as thy're not that supple)that measures an actual 30x30 and doesn't cost the earth I'd be pleased to hear about it.
BTW tyre pressures were 55f 75r which on some damp patches of road revealed that there was a 10 to 12mm contact width of tyre on the road,so I'm thinking I've got them about right though I could maybe drop a few psi's out of the front one
Edited

[meic]

Now if there's an even more supple 32mm tyre than the Gatorskins(which should be possible,as thy're not that supple)that measures an actual 30x30 and doesn't cost the earth I'd be pleased to hear about it.

Didnt you, yourself point out the Marathon Racer 32mm is really 30x30 and an excellent lightweight supple tyre?

Edit: No memory misled me, it was a 30mm which measures 28x28. Though in practice I can not detect 2mm difference in a tyre on my bike.

[reohn2]

Now if there's an even more supple 32mm tyre than the Gatorskins(which should be possible,as thy're not that supple)that measures an actual 30x30 and doesn't cost the earth I'd be pleased to hear about it.

Didnt you, yourself point out the Marathon Racer 32mm is really 30x30 and an excellent lightweight supple tyre?

No it's the 35mm ones, but the Gators are supplyier

BTW I've just sold a pair of 700x30 M/Racers(28x28 actual) which I tried for a couple of rides on the same bike and didn't give the desired comfort for my artisan tastes

PS,I'm a finicky old fart aren't I?

[robc02]

Now if there's an even more supple 32mm tyre than the Gatorskins(which should be possible,as thy're not that supple)that measures an actual 30x30 and doesn't cost the earth I'd be pleased to hear about it.

How do Panaracer Paselas compare to Marathon Racers? A lot of people swear by them, saying they roll really well and are comfortable, but I haven't heard anyone directly comparing them to MRs.

Schwalbe Durano are supposed to be available in 32mm but I haven't seen any advertised for sale. I gather they are as or more supple than Gatorskins, at least in the narrower sizes.

I

[Vantage]

Never tried a gatorskin so no I'm bugger all use for a comparison and they're not quite slicks, but, the Schwalbe Roadcruisers I've been using lately seem very supple and don't appear to have anywhere near the amounts of drag that my old Randonneurs (sp?) seemed to suffer from. I do feel faster on the bike and my average speed has increased a whole 1mph! Although to be fair, this could well be a result of nicer weather and the latest bout of angioplasty actually working this time
Available in gumwall too for that retro look that everyone seems to be into
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schwalbe-Cruise ... oadcruiser

[reohn2]

How do Panaracer Paselas compare to Marathon Racers? A lot of people swear by them, saying they roll really well and are comfortable, but I haven't heard anyone directly comparing them to MRs.

Paselas are more supple than MR's,but the last Paselas I had suffered from sidewall failure,IMO the amberwall versions seem to be susceptible to UV light rotting away the sidewall,causing the problem.
I wasn't too sure about the sizing issue either as Panaracer Ribmos are correctly sized so if 32mm Paselas were the same, they'de be too big.Also they seem to have gone a bit scarce of late.
BTW I have Deliquium of this parish to thank for taking the time to acurately measure his 32mm Gators for me ,which confirmed what I'd suspected,that they'de fit with enough clearance.

Schwalbe Durano are supposed to be available in 32mm but I haven't seen any advertised for sale. I gather they are as or more supple than Gatorskins, at least in the narrower sizes.

On Schwalbe's site:- http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/road-race/durano/
there's conflicting sizes(bottom of the list)claiming a 28 or 32 tyre weighing 405g
I've never tried Duranos though

[reohn2]

Never tried a gatorskin so no I'm bugger all use for a comparison and they're not quite slicks, but, the Schwalbe Roadcruisers I've been using lately seem very supple and don't appear to have anywhere near the amounts of drag that my old Randonneurs (sp?) seemed to suffer from. I do feel faster on the bike and my average speed has increased a whole 1mph! Although to be fair, this could well be a result of nicer weather and the latest bout of angioplasty actually working this time
Available in gumwall too for that retro look that everyone seems to be into
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schwalbe-Cruise ... oadcruiser

Road Cruisers are a bit heavy for my taste,they're about 200g heavier than Gators in the same size so will probably be a bit stiff by comparison.

[dlv13]

i am on my second set of continental sport contact 700 by 37 , bit bigger than you use , the best tyres ive ever had for easy rolling and could not believe how they iron out the bumps ! not sure how heavy though , think they come in 32 s

[fausto copy]

No it's the 35mm ones, but the Gators are supplyier

PS,I'm a finicky old fart aren't I?

Lovely word but hard to pronounce.....how about supperlier?

And yes!

[reohn2]

Lovely word but hard to pronounce.....how about supperlier?

nice try

And yes!

[Kenn]

Useful thread since I am looking for a steel light tourer that will take 32mm tyres plus guards and the Thorn audax is one possible solution. Thorn say that 32mm marathon supremes actually measure 30mm and will just fit the audax with guards if partly deflated to clear brakes when changing wheels.

[JohnW]

[quote="robc02............How do Panaracer Paselas compare to Marathon Racers? A lot of people swear by them, saying they roll really well and are comfortable, but ...............[/quote]

They do roll well - very well - and they're very comfortable, more so than most others - at least that's my experience. For years they were all that I bought.

However, there's another side to them........trawl through the threads on the Forum and make your own decision.........reohn2 has alluded to the downside in a post above, and that has also happened in my experience...........read it all, and make your own decision.