Going Phantom Aero on the FMB naturals. Photo: Rouleur.cc
Tradition and innovation are the two opposing edges that cut our evolution through the fabric of our sport. Tradition grounds us, while innovation ensures we advance ever forward. The problem with tradition is that it is comforting and familiar, often shielding us from adopting newer, improved practices and technology. The trouble with innovation is that its freshness can blind us from being able to distinguish non-functional novelties from material improvements. We must learn to distinguish between a reluctance to change and an appreciation for a well-refined way of doing things.
When it comes to the evolution of aesthetics, a clouding factor are the fads that intersperse fashion trends. Trends tend to have a cyclical nature to them as they come in and out of style, each iteration mutated slightly from the previous. Fads, on the other hand, are blips on the continuum that tend not to reappear. Unfortunately we often can’t tell the difference until some time later, when we are left with distressing photographic evidence of our failures to tell the former from the latter. Fluro colors are an example of a trend (whose reemergence we are currently experiencing) while parachute pants are an example of a fad (whose reemergence would presumably signal the coming apocalypse.)
In Cycling, colored tires emerged innocently enough, allowing for riders to playfully match the color of the tire’s tread or sidewall to the color of their frame or kit. Or to nothing at all, depending on the savagery of their personal style. Prior to the mid-nineties, tires could be any color you wanted, so long as the tread was black and the sidewalls tan; they matched every paint scheme imaginable and always Looked Fantastic.
Colored tires introduced a stylistic weapon whose power most riders did not possess the aesthetic nuance to control, like young Luke Skywalker heading off to Bespin to face Darth Vader. Chaos ensued, limbs were lopped off. In the right hands, the colored tire could be wielded like Jackson Pollock wielded an overloaded paintbrush. Marco Pantani’s 1998 Bianchi was an aesthetic masterpiece which has yet to see its equal. But the damage done by misguided overuse left lasting ripples (and in some cases trauma); eventually this unwieldy power was returned to the fiery depths of Mount Velomis.
The lasting effect that we feel to this day is the advent of the black sidewalls; when combined with the modern deep section wheel they makes for a monolithic mass of rim and tire. This is by no means a bad look; when deployed in the right circumstances it has a Spinal Tap Black effect which can be used for intimidation. The natural sidewall, on the other hand, gives a clean delineation between rim and tire, harkening back to the days when tires came in every combination of black tread and tan you could ever want.
Having options gives the illusion of freedom when in fact it is the choice to simplify that truly leads to liberty. Choose natural sidewalls and your bicycle’s simple beauty will emerge gracefully. And always remember: friends don’t let friends ride clinchers.
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Oh, and I have naturels on my modern carbon steed and my classic steel steed. They look excellent on both bikes.
That said, cleaning them after a #9 ride blows, which is all the more reason to have a backup wheelset with all black tires.
@Teocalli
That's the thing with these modern black bikes. You can't tell if they're dirty. I know it's time to clean it when I spill so many drinks on it that I stick to the TT when I touch it.
@Teocalli
Tubeless?! That is a mountain bike thing. Wash your mouth out with acetate and sniff some fucking glue.
@ChrisO
I have this experience as well with fewer punctures on the latex tubes. But it was foolhardy to send spares up the road.
And while I can feel a significant difference between tubular and clinchers, some of that feel may result from the difference in the wheels too (Ambrosio Nemesis and Mavic Mach 2CD2s versus C24s). I have on a few occasions run latex in one wheel and butyl in the other and with the high tpi tires can definitely feel a difference in ride quality at a given pressure between the wheels. This is consistent with lab tests as well. Its a small difference, but within reason to be perceptible at 2-3%.
Which I think is interesting in contrast to the MTB when running tubeless versus tubes. I can't tell a difference in feel but I'm always mindful of pinch flats when running a tube.
At the risk of posting something from RBR, have all y'all seen this? Glen Plake is stud.
http://www.roadbikereview.com/reviews/gallery-glen-plakes-mint-condition-gios-super-record
Riding tan sidewall tyres, riding tubs and riding latex tubes are all still on my 'I have never' list. I recently crossed off 'riding a carbon-framed bike' from that list.
Are latex tubes faster?
@fignons barber
WOW ! What a gorgeous bike in white. I love black bikes and the Canyon. But that Cyfac bike is brilliant. Is that an alloy bike or is it C ? It's nice.
@RobSandy
Tan sidewalls are definitely faster.........
@chris
Well yeah. The problem with them is that when you do puncture they are a real pain (literally) to get off. The ride though is great with no tube. I found that the tubeless tyres seemed all to be be made of rubber at the sticky end of the spectrum (tried them all) and so seemed to pick up the little gravel/flint shards we have here and so punctures and cuts seemed to be way more prevalent than I get running Pave and Corsa. The sealant is way short of the marketing claims and only seals the tiniest of hosts at 80+ psi. So while the ride on Schwalbe One was event better than Corsa with Latex the pain of the downside ended up being too much.
Though I did get some Orange Seal while I was in the States and may try putting a Schwalbe back on and see if it seals the collection of holes they have.
One thing I have found is that a clincher still seals pretty well and when I do puncture the rate of deflation seem to be slower with tubeless rims vs when I puncture on the bikes with standard rims. I suspect this is because the air does not escape through spoke holes and around the rim. Net I feel they are quite good on a safety angle even if I never run them tubeless again.
hosts? Damned auto spell - holes obviously.