Re the fitting issue: my experience of using the tubed versions for a number of years is that they are only hard to fit the first time. After that you should be fine eg if you needed to refit on the roadside. I don’t even have to use a lever to get them off if they’re well worked in before hand.
That wasn't my experience. I helped the friend that I loaned them to put them on his rims. Maybe marginally easier, but not by much. Could be the kind of thing where the third time is the charm though.
@@Mamilian Possibly, or maybe the length of time they remain on a rim before the second fit is significant. Either way I suffer the first install difficulties because I love how great they ride; if I had experienced the sketchy grip issues you note then I wouldn't put myself through it.
Thanks for your experience. What would you recommend for a tyre (and size) if comfort is important (85% tarmac 15% gravel). I'm used to the 45mm Schwalbe G-One Bite but want something faster on tarmac.
What kind of gravel? If it's mostly the fine, easy rolling kind, a lot of people like the 32C GP 5000 S TR. If it's a little chunkier, something like the Gravelking 35c slick is also popular. This year I used a 35C G-One RS for the race in IL that I bought these for, and crash in :), (mostly on chipseal, bad roads, with a little bit of cat 2/3 gravel). It's great, I've used the 45C version for every other race this year. Might be my all time fav. But there are trade-offs there. I like to pick a tire based on the worst parts that might be encountered, but that's going to make you slower on the other parts. Hope that helps. Picking tires is hard :).
Re the fitting issue: my experience of using the tubed versions for a number of years is that they are only hard to fit the first time. After that you should be fine eg if you needed to refit on the roadside. I don’t even have to use a lever to get them off if they’re well worked in before hand.
That wasn't my experience. I helped the friend that I loaned them to put them on his rims. Maybe marginally easier, but not by much. Could be the kind of thing where the third time is the charm though.
@@Mamilian Possibly, or maybe the length of time they remain on a rim before the second fit is significant. Either way I suffer the first install difficulties because I love how great they ride; if I had experienced the sketchy grip issues you note then I wouldn't put myself through it.
Thanks for your experience.
What would you recommend for a tyre (and size) if comfort is important (85% tarmac 15% gravel).
I'm used to the 45mm Schwalbe G-One Bite but want something faster on tarmac.
What kind of gravel? If it's mostly the fine, easy rolling kind, a lot of people like the 32C GP 5000 S TR. If it's a little chunkier, something like the Gravelking 35c slick is also popular. This year I used a 35C G-One RS for the race in IL that I bought these for, and crash in :), (mostly on chipseal, bad roads, with a little bit of cat 2/3 gravel). It's great, I've used the 45C version for every other race this year. Might be my all time fav. But there are trade-offs there. I like to pick a tire based on the worst parts that might be encountered, but that's going to make you slower on the other parts.
Hope that helps. Picking tires is hard :).