So, farewell then...

bracketed
bracketed Posts: 55
edited June 2009 in Commuting chat
So, farewell then, rear tyre and tube.

A Conti GP 4000 in dashing blue, and a more reserved Specialized inner tube, they each only ever knew the embrace of the other from their first meeting at the beginning of January. The P*nct*re Fairy never paid them a single visit throughout their 1840 miles together, the one supporting from within at 120psi and the other protecting from without with a Vectran breaker belt.

The end, when it came, was mercifully swift. A tear in the sidewall, and an unscheduled explosive deflation event while travelling down Priory Lane, and it was all over. Unscheduled yes, but those little wear indicators told their own story - it was lucky this hadn't happened rounding the corner at the bottom of Broomfield Hill at 38mph this morning (oops...)

So, the world moves on, and a new GP 4000 (in dashing blue) and inner tube are now sitting on that back wheel, waiting to prove their mettle on the Embankment. They have a lot to live up to.

No flowers.
White Condor Italia 2011
FCN 3

Comments

  • deffler
    deffler Posts: 829
    RIP :(
    Boardman Hybrid Pro

    Planet X XLS
  • rinko
    rinko Posts: 45
    Very moving ... I'll set aside some quiet time later today to contemplate your loss.
  • Greg T
    Greg T Posts: 3,266
    You've been with the same tyre too long.

    Things go stale, you need to mix it up a bit - I've got some tyre sites I can PM you - if you know what I mean.....
    Fixed gear for wet weather / hairy roadie for posing in the sun.

    What would Thora Hurd do?
  • MrChuck
    MrChuck Posts: 1,663
    edited June 2009
    How many miles did you get out of the tire, just out of interest? I'm inferring from your post it was pretty worn?

    EDIT Never mind! :oops:
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Greg T wrote:
    You've been with the same tyre too long.

    Things go stale, you need to mix it up a bit - I've got some tyre sites I can PM you - if you know what I mean.....

    +1 No point in having using quality rubber if you don't mix things up once in a while. I hear the Dutch stuff can be really hardcore.
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    You wre lucky to get that many miles out of it, I've had a GP4000 go in exactly the same way after about 200 miles. And another, although that was after maybe 7 or 800 miles. Seems to be their weakness, although I'm still running them until the remaining two I have left die. Will be going 4000S, or maybe Vittoria Open Corsas, next (did like the look of Ultremo R but after recent reports - no thanks!)
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • bracketed
    bracketed Posts: 55
    Thank you all for your kind words and well-meaning advice at this difficult time.

    Oh the things I’ve tried. I started off with a bit of low-class Kenda rough, only for them to go to pieces when it mattered. I fell for the bullet-proof charms of Armadillo for a while, but eventually got bored of the chunkiness. Exciting handling when wet though, for those that like that kind of thing… My Gatorskins quickly developed a self-harm habit – sorry, but that kind of attention seeking just doesn’t do it for me. The GP4000 hit the sweet spot – quick, light, and no fuss. They do cut up a bit, but as long as you pull the glass out occasionally, they're happy.

    I’m probably getting too comfortable with them, and should start looking around again. But, well, good tight German rubber… hmm… :P
    White Condor Italia 2011
    FCN 3

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