This is a shameless attempt to save the the most advanced civilization in
history from imminent self destruction by eliminating carbon emission,
dependence on foreign sources of fuel,obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
Cycling accomplishes all those things at once and helps us develop a better
understanding of ourselves, each other and our relationship to the cosmos.

Oh, horse puckey!
I like to ride bikes, have been doing it all my life.
The rest of that crap is just a fringe benefit,
and the blogosphere gives me a chance to share my interior
monologue with virtual rather than imaginary friends.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Tires are not really a fashion statement, but...

you know how we get some times. 
 I read a sales pitch for the new Schwalbe Big Ben tires on the Rivendell website and recognized that they might be just the tire for an upcoming trip.   I happened to Google them and found they not only come in 3 sizes for 700c, they come in 4 colors as well.  Now I have always thought that it was a bit over the top, or just plain silly to fret over the color of  tires.  They are going to get dirty and worn out faster than anything on the bike (I say that with a straight face although I am careful to buy gumwall tires for the Hillborne).  I guess those were the old days, and now that Schwalbe is making this tire in graphite grey I will have to be classified as superficial and silly. 
 It really looks nice with the grey of my Hunqapillar.
The tires, (I supposed the other colors are built like this)  are like a Big Apple with a more pronounced tread.  They come in 55, 50 and 40 mm widths.  The different colors, tan, cream and graphite grey are only available in 50 and 40mm sizes.  There is also a selection of 26"and one 650b, but that's just too complicated for words, go here.  I bought the 50mm for the Hunq and it is just what I was looking for in an all purpose tire for this devil.   It actually measures 46mm wide on a 27mm Rhyno Lite rim.   That is just the footprint I want for all around everyday riding on any surface except loose sand or mud.  
In his sales pitch, Grant Peterson referred to them as the "perfect tire."  I don't know what perfect is, but these are really impressive.  Not only do they have a very useful and over designed tread, they have a reflective strip as well as a sidewall tread for a dynamo.  These feel like great tires, they are very fast on pavement and large and durable enough to attack curbs or potholes with nary a thought.
I expect to use the Marathon Dureme for dedicated pavement touring and leave these on for anything else during the season.  If  I like them as well as I expect, I may get the smaller size for the Hillborne.  But that does raise a question, cream or brown?  They say the brown matches a honey colored B17, but the cream would compliment the fenders and trim so well. 
You know, new shoes, decisions.

4 comments:

  1. Thanks, Marc, I've been looking at these. The Hung looks great!

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  2. These seem to be the real deal. I haven't ridden much on them, and only on pavement, but they are a nice pair of shoes.

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  3. Marc, after using a 29er mountain bike tire, and what I thought at the time was a wide 40 mm touring tire, I put 50 mm Big Apples on my Hunqapillar. The rear one turned out to be defective, and I replaced it with a 50 mm Big Ben. Just like the Big Apple, only more tread. I can't imagine a better tire for my Hunqapillar. Thanks for the review.

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  4. I agree Jon. These, especially the 50mm seem to be a perfect fit for the Hunq. I imagine putting a lot of miles on these.

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