Word of mouth is one of the best ways to make a decision about a product or event. I fully believe in promoting the things I use and using the things I promote. With that in mind, here is a collection of various product, race and event reviews with my honest opinions contained within them.
First Impressions: Michelin Pro 4 Race Service Course
Having retired my Vittoria Rubino Pros after about 5500 miles on them (and finally wearing through to the cords) I was in the hunt for a new set of rubber. As luck would have it, the Trexlertown VeloFest a couple weeks ago, and it was the perfect opportunity to score some new rubber at a good price. As luck would have it, I picked up a pair of Michelin Pro 4 Race Service Courses for $70, which was a pretty decent deal (and no tax either.) While I was not terribly fond of the Pro Race 3 (both for longevity and puncture reasons) I was willing to give these a go.
What's new?
Well, like any new product, “substantial research” was put into the development of the Pro 4. Michelin claims longer lifespan due to a dual tread compound with a more durable center tread. They also claim that technology trickling down from MotoGP has led to a more pointed profile which rolls faster and corners 13% better than the Pro 3. Tests apparently showed that the average lean angle increased from 21 degrees to 27.5 degrees before slipping. And most importantly, durability and puncture resistance has been increased substantially. All this supposed improvement led me to take a chance (although to be honest, at $35 per tire, it's not much of a risk.)
First impressions
My Rubino Pros weighed in at an average of 236 grams. The Pro 4s weighed in at 198 grams (average.) This equated to a total savings of 72 grams (about 1/6th of a pound, which isn't much.) The Pro 4s were quite a bit harder to mount up than the Vittorias, even for a set of new tires. They were TIGHT on the rim and I had to actually work to get them on, but they may stretch slightly over time. Once inflated, they are definitely more of an oblong/pointed profile as opposed to a round profile, and they seem to be closer to a true 23mm tire than the 23mm Rubino Pros (which were more like a 25mm.)
Sidebar: Yes, I know all about the research that shows how larger contact patches roll faster etc etc, but honestly the difference is so minimal that I'd sooner go for a better quality tire then a wider tire that rolls .001 mph faster. Now, back to the review at hand.
I inflated the front to 85 PSI and the rear to about 92 PSI and took off on a 67 mile ride. Right out of the gate, the Pro 4s seem to roll a bit quicker: while it's impossible to quantify via hard data, the Pro 4's didn't seem sluggish when coasting. Cornering seemed to be somewhat better than the Rubinos as well, but this could be due to the slick Pro 4 shoulders. The Vittorias felt a little “squishy” when being pushed to the absolute limit, which I chalk up to the shoulder siping squirming around a bit. Ride quality seemed to be a little compromised, which could very well be chalked up to the 110 tpi of the Pro 4 compared to the 150 tpi of the Rubino and the smaller volume. I wouldn't call it rough, but it certainly is a little bit more “chattery” which may be a turn-off for some riders. The best thing: no flats, even in wet conditions with cinders (and even some gravel roads.)
Overall
Since I've mounted them, I'v put about 250 miles on them. 250 miles is really not even close to enough time to form a solid opinion on these, but you know what they say: you only have one chance to make a first impression. So far, the Pro 4s have made a good one, and I hope that continues to be the case.
Vittoria Rubino Pro Tire Review
When looking for tires, most people have a set of requirements based upon their riding conditions: lightweight and supple for racing on smooth roads, durable, high volume and puncture resistant for riding gravel grinders, or somewhere in between for everyday training tires. In most cases, training tires are durable, all condition clinchers that won't leave you stranded by a puncture from a road cinder the size of a pin head. Vittoria's [easyazon_link identifier=”B000HDNCHI” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”n” tag=”taicoaandthed-20″]Rubino Pro[/easyazon_link] fits all these requirements, which is why I've put about 5000 miles on a pair of them. Here are the results of a season's riding:
Mapping Your Ride: RideWithGPS
So many cyclists rely on Garmin units to direct them in their riding these days; gone are the days of consulting a paper map and cue sheet. Not to mention that getting lost and asking for directions is basically a thing of the past. No, now we can sit in the comfort of our own living room and plan a 50 mile ride, but with the myriad options out there, which one do you choose? This go around, we'll have a look at RideWithGPS.com and explore some of it's features.
Reviewed: Craft ProZero Gore Base Layer
Ask any cyclist which element will cause them undue stress on a ride and many will answer "wind." Not only does it sap the power from your legs, drain your willpower and slow you down, it definitely can put the hurt on your body temperature. No matter how many layers you're wearing, without some sort of wind protection you're going to get cold. Enter the Craft ProZero windproof base layer, but does it really work as well as advertised? A couple months of riding in it has led me to say yep.