[CR]Cerf Blue Update

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Ideale)

From: "aldoross4" <aldoross4@siscom.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:28:29 -0500
Subject: [CR]Cerf Blue Update

Well, I've had the Grand Bois 26mm Cerf Blue tires in service for two weeks now, and so far - so good.
     Rather than baby them along, I introduced them almost immediately to the thrilling world of Ohio Roads in Winter, so in two weeks time they've seen a couple hundred miles with temps ranging from 23F to 66F, ice, snow, rain, salt, gravel, mud, silt, carrion, glass, sticks, and pot holes the size of your head. In all cases the tires have behaved admirably.
     The look and feel is very much like the high-end tubulars I remember from the 1980s - very comfortable, not too bouncy and not too abusive, low rolling resistance, good grip on in all conditions so far. They go "blimp" if you tap them just right, same as my old Del Mondo setas. Since installing them on my Assenmacher I've been able to stay with the fast group (at least until the hardest climbs when my advanced weight still holds me back). That's
     something I haven't been able to do for quite some time.
                          I'm guessing the Cerf Blue are worth at least a mile per hour over the similarly-dimensioned Panaracer Pasela Tour Guards they replaced. I haven't done any "scientific testing" yet, but I can most certainly feel an improvement.
                                    No visible wear or cuts yet on either tire - perhaps that's just luck, but time will tell, as there's lots of junk on the roads this time of year...
     Yesterday's ride included a bit of wading - the bike trail was partially flooded about midway to my turn-around point, but I thought I'd try fording, expecting the water to be a few inches deep. About 200 feet later the river was up over the axles, and I opted to stop and turn around rather than risk riding off the invisible trail into
    the mud. Oh, well... it was probably about time to check the grease in the hubs and bb anyway. Would like to say I came out with rainbow trout netted in the spokes, but all I caught was some duck weed a good freezing soak up to the knees. What fun! ;-)
     Another Cerf Blue follow-up in a few weeks.
     Aldo Ross
     Middletown, Ohio, USA