Transcontinental Race No. 7 - TCR7 - #TCRN07 - 2019

Aren’t they a bit heavy and slow?

Tyres: I'm debating what to use.

I am trying out gp5000, but found them a pig to mount. I actually fucked one of my rims trying to put them on with a metal tyre lever as a last resort. So I am not actually trying them out yet as my front wheel is away getting a new rim put on. If they are OK and I get another set that aren't so tight, I might use them. Although some people have said they're not very durable.

Im not bothered either way about tubeless vs tubed. I've had disasters with both, but I won't use gp4000 as the sidewalls are too fragile for offroading.

Schwalbe Pro ones are a possibility. I've still got the set I bought for TCR last year and not used yet.

A more durable option is IRC formula Pro X guard from cycleclinic (that's the one he recommends), but they won't be the fastest.

Friendlier roads are all very well, but its not so easy to tell if the paths are good enough. I remember my screw up in 2016 when I thought it would save me some climbing to take the cycle path through the woods to neuchatel. It didn't, map was wrong, and it was fucking steep. And it was a dark, narrow, gravely path through a forest at night. Got lost, had meltdown, etc. Cost me 3-4 hours vs staying on fast main road with no traffic.

I know I said I'm not worried about performance but Marathon? Last time I ran one of those it outlasted the road... :)

Safety first! Unless it's ugly, then safety can do one.

I have some Pro Ones here still after the tubeless non-starter. Not much point running TLR as tubed tyres though. I want a proper tube tyre not some bastard tyre.

I'm not talking about paths I'm talking about minor roads vs. major roads. Most bike paths are shite.

https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/tour-reviews/schwalbe-marathon-supreme-2016

Always used to be one distance for road, another for mtb, but some cx and gravel bikes split the difference, and mtbs with throughaxles are going to directmount...

I'll try it without first and see what happens. I need to order some chainrings and bodge a cassette first.

Hardly a tractor tyre. The almotion is supposedly quicker again

I am trying out gp5000, but found them a pig to mount.

Weird, I've mounted 3 pairs on different wheels and they are the easiest ever. Didn't even need a lever, could do it by hand even though I got spaghetti arms, no power.

Do you rate them as a tyre, are they longlasting?

Haven't used them long enough to have an informed opinion but I raced RaTN without any punctures. So far I'm happy with them. :)

That sounds good. Will they survive 80km of gravel in Serbia I wonder.

6870GS works fine with 11-40 on a Straggler, which (afaik) has a standard MTB-length hanger.

Shimano diagram about dropout/hanger geometry here

I am assuming I've got a tight pair as others say they are no worse than schwalbe ones. I've not had major issues with any other tubeless tyres but my gp5000s are something else.

True. It's better than the Marathon name conjures up in my head from when I used them.

Almostion is TL only though.

Often compared with voyager hyper, which I think you've used, if you wanted an idea of what to expect

I’m pretty set on running GP5000’s.
Also light enough to seriously consider carrying a spare but that doesn’t seem the done thing.

I taped a spare one to my top tube last year. Would definitely do that again if I was racing this year.

Taking a spare not a bad idea (I had to buy a new tyre on both tcr and indypac) but I would take something different, easier to get on and not tubeless.

I fitted an XT 11-40 to my bike yesterday with the new ultegra long cage di2 rear mech. Fits fine without a roadlink and I even backed the b-screw off a bit. I took a few links out of a new 116 link chain and it's good. Running 46-34 at the front and Di2 stops you cross chaining in the little ring anyway.

I’d not run tubeless. Probably run the 32s. I’ve been looking at tubilito inner tubes. Really rather costly but stronger and lighter is very tempting. Just not come across anyone using them.

Lol at these tyre choice.

Going to enjoy watching this!

I heard they're not good.