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Fun with thumb tacks
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:45 pm
by il padrone
Why the Schwalbe Marathon XR are so well-regarded amongst world touring cyclists (now no longer available but replaced by the Marathon Mondial).
[youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz8fT13r ... re=related[/youtube]
Re: Fun with thumb tacks
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:43 am
by Max
Wow! That's terrifically impressive. Has anyone had experience with the Mondial?
BTW, is it just my imagination, or is he running super-low pressure in his tyres?
Max
Re: Fun with thumb tacks
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:19 pm
by il padrone
The Mondial is only fairly new on the European market. I have not heard of it available in Australia yet. I'm very confident I could do the same with Vittoria Randonneur Cross tyres.
Re: Fun with thumb tacks
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:44 pm
by lethoso
Max wrote:BTW, is it just my imagination, or is he running super-low pressure in his tyres?
No, that's crazy low, gotta be something like 10 PSI
Still, the last bit of that video was quite impressive
Re: Fun with thumb tacks
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:59 pm
by ldrcycles
Very cool. What difference is there between the Marathon XR and Marathon Mondial?
Re: Fun with thumb tacks
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:53 pm
by il padrone
Very similar tread design
Marathon XR
Marathon Mondial
Apparently the Mondial is a heavier tyre (not sure why) and it has some
fancy new casing design features.
Schwalbe wrote:The Marathon Mondial owes its long-lasting durability to its rubber mixture. In order to optimize contradictory technical properties Schwalbe combines compounds like no other manufacturer, targeting particluar areas to their respective requirements. The Marathon Mondial has "State of the Art" TravelStar Triple Compound. Under the tread centre lies an elastic mixture for easy rolling, while there is a grippy rubber compound, for cornering traction on the tire´s shoulder. In the middle of the tread an abrasion-resistant, harder compound offers low rolling resistance for thousands of miles.
Unpredictable gravel roads and potholes, acacia thorns: these are the treacherous tire killers. Protection may come down to the smallest of margins such as the durability of the rubber mixture. The lightweight extremely densely woven High Density puncture protection belt reliably protects against punctures and ruptures. The light but sturdy "Snakeskin" protection provides maximum reinforcement against sharp objects that would otherwise cut the sidewall.
Re: Fun with thumb tacks
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:31 am
by Baalzamon
Well that tyre in the youtube is a marathon plus tour. My commuter has the marathon plus and it too can run over glass and tacks like that. Does make a challenge when you go back to normal tyres and your behaviour really has to change. Instead of thinking nah my tyres will not puncture, it's eeep glass & swerve to avoid or pick a path. I wonder how my Supreme Dureme's would hold up, but I've got slime in my tubes anyhow....
Re: Fun with thumb tacks
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:34 am
by il padrone
lethoso wrote:No, that's crazy low, gotta be something like 10 PSI
Not quite sure where you get that idea ?? The Marathon Supreme tyres were going down after riding through the thumb tacks, but the Marathon XRs look to be at pretty normal pressures when he is riding them - some tyre deformation due to his weight but not much. I'd say he'd have ~60 psi in them, about what they need (they are 26"x2.00" tyres so don't need 110psi)
[edit] Ah, Marathon Plus Tour - so it is. That explains the puncture resistance. Those beasts have a really thick puncture resistant layer - heavy as all get-out but unbeatable.
Re: Fun with thumb tacks
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:52 am
by Chaderotti
I cringed when I saw the tacks on the floor up turned like that...
But yeah, good tyres.
Re: Fun with thumb tacks
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 1:58 am
by Baalzamon
I've got a starbike order in the works, so I'll pick up a pair of Mondials whilst I am at it. See how they go, but my current tyres the Dureme's I expect them to last for a good while still. They wore excellent on my last tour. Just tried putting a tack in my duremes and bang air comes flying out
Just gave the wheel a quick spin to get the slime plugging the hole.
Re: Fun with thumb tacks
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:10 pm
by lethoso
il padrone wrote:Not quite sure where you get that idea ?? The Marathon Supreme tyres were going down after riding through the thumb tacks
yeah, that's probably where
I didn't watch the video hugely closely