At 3:21 PM -0400 3/30/08, Tom Sanders wrote:
>I like the looks of these tires, but have heard cautionary tales of their
>fragility. Can anyone with actual riding experience on them comment?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Tom Sanders Lansing, Michigan USA
I have been riding these tires almost exclusively for more than a year. In Paris-Brest-Paris, I used well-worn tires (which have a thinner tread and are significantly faster), and I had 3 flats over 765 miles of riding in constant rain.
Melinda Lyon used unworn Grand Bois tires, and had one flat.
The Grand Bois tires are not as flat-proof as some other tires, but I think they compare well to other high-performance tires. You gain a lot in speed and comfort, but you lose a bit in puncture-resistance. In a long event, you'll still be faster, even if you have to fix a few flats (I estimate that the worn tires saved me 1 hour in PBP, and fixing a flat takes 5 minutes at most.)
If you tend to have a lot of flats - say, you live in goathead country, or you just have bad luck - I would not recommend these tires. Otherwise, give them a try. I know quite a few people in Seattle who commute on them, and are very happy.
Disclaimer: Vintage Bicycle Press is the North American distributor of Grand Bois tires.
Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
Vintage Bicycle Press
Seattle, WA
http://www.bikequarterly.com