145 psi??????????

Don About 3 years ago I had found that Performance tubes wouldn't last long before leaking all the
same way. I don't think that is what is occuring in your case. I usually use Michelin or Panaracer
tubes now.

IMO when you hear a bang, the tire rather than the tube is failing in one way or another. The tire
has a hole in the casing or it is slipping off the rim.

I saw two 650 tires pop off their rims at the MRR in Stevens Point in August. One was on Jude's
bike, minutes after he inflated it. We were at a campsite and I noticed it before it blew and let
the air out of the tire. The other was on Kevin Kuehl's bike (both Aero's but irrevelant) He just
finished a ride and his blew as it popped off the rim. Probably both had mega pressure in it I
presume and both may be Fortezza's. Perhaps the Fortezza's are a little large or underrated and
stretch too much.

I normally run the max pressure that the tire allows for reduced rolling resistance but I agree that
you don't want a flat at speed. If it were my a$$ on the line I wouldn't feel comfortable with 145
psi in Fortezza's. On my road bikes I usually use 20 mm tires at 120 psi. I think recumbents have a
ways to go to equal the quality of low rolling resistance tires that road bikes enjoy. DB Wishbone
20/20 Catrike Speed. 16/16/20 4 uprights but OT.

[email hidden] (Truestorys) wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

"EZ Biker :-\)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message:

I'll be using Continental GPs for now; my LBS doesn't

Quoted message said:

carry any Fortezza tires. I'm also more comfortable knowing there is a "Wire" bead in place
instead of just a molded one.

Hey EZ, I'm Paranoid as Hell too about my Fortezza's and my HED H3 wheel. I'm afraid to ride over
25 mph now and I never go down large Hills without my brakes on. My decent into fear started the
very same day you shot that guy in Florida.

I had an old H3 that I used to ride on my V-rex and I thought I'd put the sucker on the Aero. So I
put in a 4-year-old tube and mounted the Fortezza. I started pumping and when the tire gauge reach
120, the tube exploded and the whole True family ran to the garage to see who had shot me!

One tube down.

So now I find a newer Performance Brand tube and stick the sucker in the H3 and Fortezza. Start
pumping like a mad [censored] and watch the tire gauge hit 120 and POW POP! Another drive by shooting
in the TRUE garage.

Two tubes down.

I search the rim on the H3 and see that there is a serial number etched into the rim, with just
the slightest burr. So I cover this with electrician tape, mount Performance tube number 3, Pump
the sucker up past 120....130....140....145.

And it holds! Yee Ha!

I throw on my helmet, crank down the street, do a great downhill at 35 mph, crest the hill and
BANG! Tube number three explodes! I wobble to a halt and thank God it didn't exploded on the fast
downhill.

So I'm out of tubes and full of fear.

My Local bike shop only has Bontrager tubes in 650c size. So the next day, I take a chance with
the Bontrager tubes. They pump up to 140 and don't explode in the garage. But now, I afraid to
ride down any hills at more than 25 mph. I've lost all my confidence in the H3-Fortezz
combination.

I rode 20 miles last night without a flat. But at any speed, I'm thinking "What if I flat now?"
Will I survive?

Before the H3, I LOVED the Fortezz's! They roll better than anything else.

Right now I'm blaming everything on old tubes. If I can just get in 100 miles or so with the
H3-Fortezz combination, I'll get my confidence back and do some serious downhill speeds.

Don (Living in constant fear)

Thanks for the input Warren. As I previously posted, I'm going to roll with my tried and true
Conti's and Specialized tubes (Not Conti Tubes) at 120 psi and see what happens, particularly this
weekend. I'm inclined to go with what the majority of my GO FAST PRO DFer's say and that's not doing
tires over 120 psi, except maybe in a Velodrome(Sp?) event or something like that. Maybe not as
FAST, BUT SAFER and not SORRY. EZ Biker :-) Pompano Beach, Fl. (Bacchetta Aero Pilot)

"Warren Berger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Those folding tires do not have "just a molded" bead. They have a Kevlar aramid fiber bead, which
is stronger than steel.

Thanks Jude, I'm looking forward to seeing / riding with you. If you read my update post, there
seems to be an issue with part of the bead on my Fortezza tire being scuffed up. My LBS doesn't
carry Fortezzas, so I going to go with a long time previously tire brand, Continental GPs. (120 psi)
These will have a "Wire" bead and I'm at least feel more comfortable knowing that; perhaps the tire
will seat properly in the rim, I hope! Can't wait to get back on the Road, with my Aero! Everything
else is GREAT! EZ Biker :-) Pompano Beach, Fl. (Bacchetta Aero Pilot)

"Jude T. McGloin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

EZ, I run the Fortezzas at 145 on both the Sparticus and HEDs. I have

close

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to 5K on these tires.

EZ . ....I went down to my LBS yesterday to try and buy some good CONTI tubes and got into a
discussion with the mechanic about Fortezz and Tubes. He said he's been running Fortezz's at
145 with no problems. He felt there must be something other than old tubes going on. Maybe
wheel problems.

I ended up walking out the store with a new Fortezz for a front H3 I had just won on E-bay and 2
Conti Ultra Gatorskin tires to sooth my paranoid mind.

Don

"EZ Biker :-\)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

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SO, I'm REALLY happy there are many others that are having wonderful luck with Fortezza tires and
are able to confidently pump and run them up to 145+
psi. I'm not one of them though and will hang with some tried and true Continental GPs (With a
"WIRE" bead) along with Continental inner tubes. I can happily run them at 120 psi too. BUT, we
will find out this weekend.!

EZ Biker :-) Pompano Beach, Fl. (Bacchetta Aero Pilot)

"Jude T. McGloin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

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Did you investigate where and how your blowouts are occuring? <<

Jude,

The first Pop flat on pump-up was an inch from the value stem hole and I really feel this was old
tube (4 yr.) pumped to 145psi sitting on top of the Etched Serial number in the rim of the H3.
This looked like a seam blow out. 2 inch rip.

The 2nd blow out on pump-up was 1 small snake bite hole 180 degrees away from value stem. I would
blame this on:

A. Performance tube?
B. Tube under bead of tire?

Third on the road flat, "POP" sound, looked like a seam blow out. 90 degrees from value stem with 2
inch rip in tube. This one I blame on:

C. Tube under bead?
D. Performance tube?
E. H3 rim?
F. Murphy's Law.
G. God punishing me because I masturbated in the 7th grade.
H. God punishing me because I masturbated last night.
I. Sharp invisible pointed spikes laid on road two minutes before I rode across them. Invisible
spikes placed there by ex-wife.

Don (Living with his mental problems)

GOOD LUCK Don, looking forward to a ride report after this weekend. I picked up my Aero with the
Conti GP's on it and will see what happens. Took it for a short parking lot ride and it at least
feels less HARSH of a roll. Your Conti Ultra Gatorskin tires sound interesting. EZ Biker :-) Pompano
Beach, Fl. (Bacchetta Aero Pilot)

"Truestorys" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

EZ . ....I went down to my LBS yesterday to try and buy some good CONTI tubes and got into a
discussion with the mechanic about Fortezz and Tubes. He said he's been running Fortezz's at 145
with no problems. He felt there must be something other than old tubes going on. Maybe wheel
problems.