You can order from Scott in Mpls, as already mentioned, or buy from him on
ebay. He's always got listings for tires there, makes it handy to see what
he may have in stock.
Ordering direct from Grand Bois has been mostly smooth for me. Recent
covid-related shipping issues have cropped up, they switched from EMS to
DHL when delays kicked in, not sure what they're doing now, but Japan seems
to be getting back to a quasi-normal.
Nobody's mentioned the Soma Supple Vitesse tires, which are another
high-zoot Panaracer OE product for a US-based brand/company. I use 'em a
lot, like 'em a lot. They have std and extralight versions, and are
generally less expensive than Rene Herse. You can buy direct, might help to
wait for one of their occasional/seasonal sales if you're not in a rush.
ModernBike seems to have the lowest everyday price on them.
The Challenge tires are also very nice. Just be aware they are "open
tubular" design, not vulcanized, so they lay flat against the rim out of
the package, with no natural upward curve whatsoever. I don't use tubeless
tires, so I can't compare mounting a Challenge open tubular to those, but I
can say that Challenge open tubulars are the most difficult tires to mount
of any tires I've used over the past 10yrs+. I'm cranky and stubborn, and
only when death is the only other alternative (yes, I'm exaggerating) will
I use tire irons to mount a tire, but I've come close with Challenge. I
recently got some fat, puffy Strada Bianca Pros, and they look just
beautiful, but every time I look at them I can almost feel palm and thumb
pain again. Once they've gone on, and had some time inflated, subsequent
mounting isn't inordinately difficult, but the first time is a real bear. I
recently got a Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack to spare my palms and thumbs next
time around.
[image: 49837732981_ce1b8c5de4_c.jpg]
I'll also say that tire mounting experience is akin to flatting experience,
in that it is a certainty that someone else thinks mounting Challenge tires
is easey-peasey, they never have a problem. ("Tire X is a flat magnet!" "I
ride mine thousands of miles and never get a flat." Like that...) One man's
death fit is another's no sweat. But Challenge does see the need to have a
video on their website showing their preferred mounting technique. And boy
howdy the dude in the video doesn't seem to struggle like I do. I've bought
more than one pair near-new from somebody on a forum who gave up trying to
install them. So it ain't just me.
But they are dead sexy.
Paul Brodek
Hillsdale, NJ USA
On Sunday, June 21, 2020 at 11:07:49 AM UTC-4, Tom Goodmann wrote:
>
> I've long enjoyed the suppleness of these tires, but they seem not to have
> been available in the U.S. now for some years; I think they can still be
> obtained outside the U.S.. Any recommendations for near-equivalents?
> (Labeled as 700 x 30, but seem to measure out closer to 32). Thanks in
> advance for any recommendations. Tom, Miami
>
> Sam Hillborne
> Legolas
> Goodrich-built 650b prototype
> '94 RBT
>
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