Most Goathead-Resistant Tires

Oh, I see that the Schwalbe Marathons kevlar as well. So anyway...

--
Greg Dunn

"Greg Dunn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:sa%Fa.117116$d51.188903@sccrnsc01...

Quoted message said:

Where I bike, "goathead" thorns abound. These are ingenious little devils with a base shaped like
a medieval mace and a single spine that sticks out like a straight pin. They are designed so that
when they fall on the ground, they often land with the spine sticking straight up. Riding over
them is like traversing a pincushion that has needles stuck in it with

their

Quoted message said:

sharp ends facing out.

For normal use, I have Continental Top Touring 2000s on my bike (a RANS V-Rex). They are much
better against the goatheads than other tires I've used (Primo Comets, Tioga Comp Pools) BUT I'm
looking to outfit a spare wheelset with faster, higher pressure tires. Obvious candidates are
kevlar tires like the kevlar Primo Racers and Schwalbe Stelvios, but some swear

by

Quoted message said:

certain non-kevlar tires such as the Schwalbe Marathons.

What's your vote? I need one 26" (559mm) and one 20" (409mm) tire,

neither

Quoted message said:

wider than 1.5". Please speak also to the speed and handling characteristics of the tire, if
you can.

Thanks!

--
Greg Dunn www.BicycleCommuter.com

I live in the king of goathead country, Albuquerque, NM. The rental bike company here tells me this
is a surefire way to prevent goatburr flats = tire liners + thornproof tubes + slime. They never
flat from goatburrs.

Greg Dunn said:

Where I bike, "goathead" thorns abound. These are ingenious little devils with a base shaped like a
medieval mace and a single spine that sticks out like a straight pin. They are designed so that
when they fall on the ground, they often land with the spine sticking straight up. Riding over them
is like traversing a pincushion that has needles stuck in it with their sharp ends facing out.

For normal use, I have Continental Top Touring 2000s on my bike (a RANS V-Rex). They are much
better against the goatheads than other tires I've used (Primo Comets, Tioga Comp Pools) BUT I'm
looking to outfit a spare wheelset with faster, higher pressure tires. Obvious candidates are
kevlar tires like the kevlar Primo Racers and Schwalbe Stelvios, but some swear by certain
non-kevlar tires such as the Schwalbe Marathons.

What's your vote? I need one 26" (559mm) and one 20" (409mm) tire, neither wider than 1.5". Please
speak also to the speed and handling characteristics of the tire, if you can.

Thanks!

Plenty of goatheads around here too, though they are mainly the nemesis of mountain bike and lawn
mower tires. I use Shwalbe Marathons, no slime, no liner, and have had only one flat in 2500 miles
(a roofing nail!) but I stick to the paved roads and the occasional short stretch of gravel road.
It's the off-roading where you'll likely encounter goathead plants. The mountain bikers around here
use Slime by the gallon. I would not expect even the Marathons to stand up to goatheads, one of the
nastiest spiny seeds in God's creation. Dog's don't like 'em much either.

Bill Anton 2001 Vision R-40 SWB OSS Lubbock, TX, USA

"Greg Dunn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<sa%Fa.117116$d51.188903@sccrnsc01>...

Quoted message said:

Where I bike, "goathead" thorns abound. These are ingenious little devils with a base shaped
like a medieval mace and a single spine that sticks out like a straight pin. They are designed
so that when they fall on the ground, they often land with the spine sticking straight up.
Riding over them is like traversing a pincushion that has needles stuck in it with their sharp
ends facing out.

For normal use, I have Continental Top Touring 2000s on my bike (a RANS V-Rex). They are much
better against the goatheads than other tires I've used (Primo Comets, Tioga Comp Pools) BUT I'm
looking to outfit a spare wheelset with faster, higher pressure tires. Obvious candidates are
kevlar tires like the kevlar Primo Racers and Schwalbe Stelvios, but some swear by certain
non-kevlar tires such as the Schwalbe Marathons.

What's your vote? I need one 26" (559mm) and one 20" (409mm) tire, neither wider than 1.5". Please
speak also to the speed and handling characteristics of the tire, if you can.

Thanks!

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

Quoted message said:

I live in the king of goathead country, Albuquerque, NM. The rental bike company here tells me
this is a surefire way to prevent goatburr flats = tire liners + thornproof tubes + slime. They
never flat from goatburrs.

Greg Dunn said:

Where I bike, "goathead" thorns abound. These are ingenious little devils with a base shaped
like a medieval mace and a single spine that sticks out like a straight pin. They are designed
so that when they fall on the ground, they often land with the spine sticking straight up.
Riding over them is like traversing a pincushion that has needles stuck in it with their sharp
ends facing out.

For normal use, I have Continental Top Touring 2000s on my bike (a RANS V-Rex). They are much
better against the goatheads than other tires I've used (Primo Comets, Tioga Comp Pools) BUT I'm
looking to outfit a spare wheelset with faster, higher pressure tires. Obvious candidates are
kevlar tires like the kevlar Primo Racers and Schwalbe Stelvios, but some swear by certain
non-kevlar tires such as the Schwalbe Marathons.

What's your vote? I need one 26" (559mm) and one 20" (409mm) tire, neither wider than 1.5".
Please speak also to the speed and handling characteristics of the tire, if you can.

Thanks!

I, too, live in Albuquerque, NM. The goatheads are a ferocious beast. Sometimes they are called "the
devils caltrop". Anyway, my solution
is.. a tire with a kevlar belt, a tire liner and a sticker flicker. My tubes are standard weight. I
don't use thorn resistant tubes and absolutely refuse to use any kind of a sealant. I ride
everywhere, including over goathead patches, and rarely(1-2times a year)get a flat. My front tire
is a Primo Comit(20x 1.35) and the rear is a IRC Metro Duro(26 x 1.75). Last year i had no flats
and only one this year caused by glass. Also, I'm not a light weight ... My dad says I'm a
full-sized man..6'-5" and 300 lbs. Paul