Quote:
Originally Posted by cantdrv55
Very nice, HD. Have you ever used Armadillos before? How long do they last? The Vittorios that came with my bike only lasted about 850 miles before they started wearing down pretty quickly and left me stranded. I've got Michelin Pro 2s now. Slick and low rolling resistance and should last longer but I think I feel the road a bit more.
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I used the Armadillos on my single speed. It seems like they will last a long time. I probably have 500+ miles on that bike, and they look new.
I put them on because I wanted the ultimate punture resistance. I ride in urban conditions, and rolling through glass is a non issue. They are tough. Because they are so stiff, they offer low rolling resistance.
There are a few negative though. First of all, they are a b!tch to get on the wheel. The sidewalls are extremely stiff, and getting them on takes 3 levers and a zen attitude. The second thing is traction. The rubber is quite hard, and I get the impression that they would not be the best cornering tires if pushed hard. Last thing, they really are quite heavy. They add half a pound to the bike.
The wheels that came on the bike were Mavic Open Sports with Specialized Hubs (no name forged hubs with a big S on them). I wanted something more aero and lighter, and I got a screaming deal on the Eastons off E-bay. The 'no name' Specialized hubs are actually quite nice, machined well. The wheels are junk. Wide, flat, ugly and poorly finished. I actually found a defect on both wheels! There was a small burr in the machined braking surface that I needed to filed down. If it was just one wheel, thats one thing, but both?