I have been riding the Gommitalia Challenge tubulars this year, with very good results. The pair I am riding now have been glued on since early summer and are still going strong. I have not found them to be lumpy--certainly a lot better than the Italian tires I used to ride in the 70s. But, hey, this is from a guy who used to import Barum sewups, so you know how low my standards are. I was a bit surprised to find no protective strip between the stitching and the tube when I repaired a glass cut on one of the Challenges, but it hasn't resulted in any problems with dependability for me.
I am getting to like butyl tubes. They may not give the nice ride of latex, but I don't think I can tell the difference and it is nice to only have to pump the tires up every week or so.
Steve Barner, "even at double-duty we got those iron curtain tires in for under $8 apiece," Bolton, Vermont
> From: "Sean Smith" <wanderingwheel@adelphia.net>
\r?\n> To: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
\r?\n> Date: Sun, 15 Sep 2002 23:34:45 -0700
\r?\n> Subject: [CR]Challenge Tubulars
\r?\n>
\r?\n> I noticed that the online QBP catalogs are now listing tubulars by
\r?\n> Challenge. Supposedly, these are made form the old Clement molds. The
\r?\n> Paris-Roubaix sounds particularly interesting at 28mm and nearly half
\r?\n> the price of a Vittoria Pave. My LBS had one of the Volcano models and
\r?\n> it seemed like a decent tire, especially for $15.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> The tires can be seen at
\r?\n> http://aebike.com/
\r?\n> http://aebike.com/
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Does anybody have any experience with or comments about these tires?
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Thanks
\r?\n> Sean Smith
\r?\n> Balboa Island, CA