[CR]Re: new fat tubulars follow-up

(Example: Framebuilders:Jack Taylor)

From: "swampmtn" <swampmtn@siscom.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 20:00:34 -0500
Subject: [CR]Re: new fat tubulars follow-up

Well, after first good impressions of the new Challenge "Paris-Roubaix" tubulars, I'm afraid I have some bad news. I built new wheels so I could check the tires sans glue, and discovered that the treads are indeed very bumpy, at least as bad as the worst Clements from the mid-1980s... bad enough that I'll probably send them back as unusable.

What a shame... otherwise they look and feel quite good, but I'm afraid they'd leave me bouncing down the road if I glued them up.

I only have two tires to check, but they're both very lumpy. At nearly $60 each, I expected better quality.

I cannot recommend the new Challenge tubulars.

Sorry for the bad news. Maybe Gommitalia will get the idea to start making some fatter, high quality tubies.

Aldo Ross Monroe, Ohio ----- Original Message ----- From: swampmtn

I just received two of the new Challenger (Thailand) "Paris-Roubaix" hand-made tubulars. My first impression is pretty good. They look evenly made, no bumps or waviness. Latex on the sidewall looks thin, but the base tape seems pretty secure... I can't pull it away with my fingernail, at least.

Label says "PPS". I wonder if that means "punture protection system" or something like that. Does that mean there's a piece of kevlar under the tread?

They're fat, so they seemed to be a little loose when I pulled them onto a new rim to strectch. I'm anxious to see how they lay when glued to a wheel. First, however, I'm gonna let them cure for awhile, as the tread seems awfully fresh and soft.

Non-removeable valve stem :-(

Inflated they're about 27.5mm wide. There are other models, but these are the fattest road tires. Herringbone tread like our old Clement friends.

I'll check the weight at work tomorrow. List price at the LBS is $59.95 each.

Aldo Ross
Monroe, Ohio