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Question about Gatorskins
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 2010-08-11 7:33 PM |
Extreme Veteran  453   Long Island, NY |  Subject: Question about GatorskinsTook my bike in to LBS over the weekend. They gave me new tires- Gatorskins. My old tires were Continental Ultra Race and were very worn. I was not having issues with flats, but they suggested the Gatorskins anyway. He said I could train and race with them. I am mostly a BOPer. I have read that the rolling resistance is so-so on these tires, and that people recommend racing with a different tire. Is there really going to be a noticeable difference for me as a BOPer to race on them? I will be riding on them for the first time tomorrow morning, and will head back to the LBS if I don't like them. So do I stick with the Gatorskins to race with (Timberman next weekend) or do I go back to my old tires, or do I train with the Gatorskins and get other tires to race with? ( My bike knowledge is limited but I am learning more each season... ) |
| 2010-08-11 7:47 PM in reply to: #3038363 |
| Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins my guess is that you won't notice the difference. |
| 2010-08-11 8:29 PM in reply to: #3038397 |
Extreme Veteran 453 Long Island, NY | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins tri808 - 2010-08-11 7:47 PM my guess is that you won't notice the difference. That is what I was figuring. I will see how they feel tomorrow when I ride. |
| 2010-08-11 8:32 PM in reply to: #3038363 |
Master 2406 Bellevue, WA | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins I've done four IMs on Gatorskins and train exclusively on them. I've never flatted a Gatorskin, not in several thousand miles of riding them. I put lighter race tires on my bike for the race if I'm feeling in the mood. At IMLP I couldn't really tell any difference. Sigh. One time I put those race tires on and went out on a 25 miles of the IMAZ course. Flatted at mile 20. I put the Gatorskins back on that evening and left them on for the race. |
| 2010-08-11 8:44 PM in reply to: #3038363 |
Extreme Veteran 547 Canyon Hills (Lake Elsinore), CA | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins They are actually pretty good in the rolling rseistance or lack there of department. I've been training and racing with them for the past 12 months and have no complaints and I'm pretty sure the tires aren't holding me back. |
| 2010-08-11 8:48 PM in reply to: #3038363 |
 Bronze member | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins Thanks for posting this question! I just got Gatorskins a couple of weeks ago and was wondering the same thing. I feel like I'm slower lately but there are too many variables (HOT here, messing around with tire pressure, riding different routes) to blame it on the tires. |
| 2010-08-11 8:52 PM in reply to: #3038363 |
Champion 5495 Whizzzzzlandia Silver member | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins I put Gatorskins on my racewheels. How fast am I going to be if I'm sitting on the side of the road changing a tire? My guess is I'm going to be faster while moving... even if there's more rolling resistance...  I did manage to puncture a Gatorskin in my race last Sunday... but I didn't flat. At least not while riding. When I picked my bike up out of transition, the front tire was completely flat. There was a slit in the tire. I must have run over something VERY sharp, b/c Gatorskins are TOUGH to puncture. |
| 2010-08-11 9:17 PM in reply to: #3038363 |
Expert 1484 | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins I've been training on a set of 25mm Gatorskins, love the ride. I have GP4000s and GP 4 Seasons on hand too. Only knock I can put on Gatorskins is that they get greasy in very cold conditions, I'd not ride them near or below freezing, GP4 Seasons are much better in the very cold. Last season I did around 5000 miles on the Tubular version of the Gatorskin. Just ordered an other set of tubular version last week. |
| 2010-08-12 8:05 AM in reply to: #3038363 |
Elite 3515 Romeoville, Il | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins I took a top 10 finish in my AG on gatorskins this weekend. My bike is my stongest leg. I avg'd 23.67 mph. My last Oly I avg'd 21.6 on the gators. I've never had a flat on the road and I ride and race on them. Plus they last pretty long. I had a pair last season that got me near 4000 miles. I have no reason to change them for something else IMO. Edited by Meulen 2010-08-12 8:05 AM |
| 2010-08-12 8:58 AM in reply to: #3038363 |
Champion 7036 Sarasota, FL | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins I rode on Gatorskins for a couple of year and then "upgraded" to Michelin Pro Race 2's and 3's. They "feel" faster, but I think a lot of that is psychological or just due to the fact that my engine has gotten strong over time. I never flatted on the Gatorskins, but have flatted two times in the last year on the Michelins. They definitely seem to be more susceptible to cuts from road debris. I flatted in my last race, but it wasn't the tire's fault, it was the tube rubbing on a rough spot on the rim. Mark |
| 2010-08-12 9:27 AM in reply to: #3038363 |
Expert 1203 | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins Thanks for posting this. I just switched form race tires to Gatorskins and it seems like my ride is a little smoother. Perhaps mental, dunno. Guy at shop suggested these as THE best all around tire you will find and the minimal amount of rolling resistance they may add is not enough for the average joe to notice anyway. I think this was a subtle way of saying I need to work on my engine, again, dunno... It's good to hear others opinion about these tires and confirm what the guy at the LBS was telling me. |
| 2010-08-12 1:02 PM in reply to: #3038363 |
Extreme Veteran 657 | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins The wind was finally calm enough yesterday for me to get an idea of how fast I was able to ride. I was able to crank out over 23 mph with the Gatorskins for an hour. They don't seem to be too slow. Could I have done 24 without them? I don't know. 23 seemed fast enough for what I do. |
| 2010-08-12 1:08 PM in reply to: #3038363 |
Extreme Veteran 453 Long Island, NY | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins Thanks all for the replies. I rode for an hr on them today and they felt just fine. My avg speed was about right for a flat ride, if not slightly faster than I have been riding on flats. So I think I will be just fine with them for racing. |
| 2010-08-12 1:30 PM in reply to: #3038363 |
Pro 5361 | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins wow! I've never seen so many consistently positive comments about a tire. nevertheless- when I look at the rolling resistence difference between something like a Gatorskin and a race tire, it's pretty substantial. 10watts per tire? That's the difference between 23mph and 24mph! |
| 2010-08-12 1:43 PM in reply to: #3040117 |
Master 2855 Kailua, Hawaii | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins morey000 - 2010-08-13 8:30 AM wow! I've never seen so many consistently positive comments about a tire. we are all sponsored by Continental ;-) |
| 2010-08-12 1:45 PM in reply to: #3040117 |
| Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins morey000 - 2010-08-12 9:30 AM wow! I've never seen so many consistently positive comments about a tire. nevertheless- when I look at the rolling resistence difference between something like a Gatorskin and a race tire, it's pretty substantial. 10watts per tire? That's the difference between 23mph and 24mph! Really? Is this something you've read or by experience? I can cruise down a road @ 200 watts going about 20 mph. If I start sprinting @ 750 watts for 30 seconds...how fast do you suppose I would be going? |
| 2010-08-12 2:49 PM in reply to: #3038363 |
Expert 1484 | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins Nice, just got my pair of Tubular Gatorskins from Probikekit.com today. Will be using one as my front tire for Lk Steven's 70.3 this weekend! |
| 2010-08-12 2:51 PM in reply to: #3038363 |
| Regular 55 | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins First hand experience.... I have gatorskins on my road bike for daily commutes. I swap to conti GP4000s for races. Everything else remains equal. I get an easy 2-3 mph increase with the race tires on. When race is over and the gatorskins go back on... its always a bummer and feels like riding in sand... very noticeable. Additionally, gatorskins, armadillos, etc are bricks (with reason.. to protect flats) but the are jarring and create a much harsher ride than a nice compliant tire. They also corner like crap. I would not lean hard into a 25mph turn with gatorskins. They will come out from underneath you. |
| 2010-08-12 3:02 PM in reply to: #3040166 |
Extreme Veteran 767 Rockville, MD | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins tri808 - 2010-08-12 2:45 PM morey000 - 2010-08-12 9:30 AM wow! I've never seen so many consistently positive comments about a tire. nevertheless- when I look at the rolling resistence difference between something like a Gatorskin and a race tire, it's pretty substantial. 10watts per tire? That's the difference between 23mph and 24mph! Really? Is this something you've read or by experience? I can cruise down a road @ 200 watts going about 20 mph. If I start sprinting @ 750 watts for 30 seconds...how fast do you suppose I would be going? 75MPH!!! Edited by nhunter344 2010-08-12 3:03 PM |
| 2010-08-12 3:42 PM in reply to: #3040380 |
Extreme Veteran 453 Long Island, NY | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins huerto - 2010-08-12 2:51 PM First hand experience.... I have gatorskins on my road bike for daily commutes. I swap to conti GP4000s for races. Everything else remains equal. I get an easy 2-3 mph increase with the race tires on. When race is over and the gatorskins go back on... its always a bummer and feels like riding in sand... very noticeable. Additionally, gatorskins, armadillos, etc are bricks (with reason.. to protect flats) but the are jarring and create a much harsher ride than a nice compliant tire. They also corner like crap. I would not lean hard into a 25mph turn with gatorskins. They will come out from underneath you. Well I don't think I will be taking any corners at 25 mph in this lifetime  In all seriousness, your avg speed for a ride with race tires is almost 3 mph faster over a ride of the same distance/conditions with the gatorskins?? That seems like a big difference to me. |
| 2010-08-12 3:50 PM in reply to: #3040566 |
| Regular 55 | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins Yep. That is no exageration. 2-3mph gain with good racing tires over gatorskins. Its always shocking how light and fast my bike feels when I take the gatorskins off and put the GP4000s on. Vittoria Corsa Evos are even faster and are a dream to ride, but they are not as puncture resistant as the Conti GP4000s. Look, if the gatorskins were race tires, pros would race on them... they don't. They are awesome commuter tires that get me to work in the morning without flats. But they are DOGS compared to a good race tire. |
| 2010-08-12 4:07 PM in reply to: #3040597 |
Elite 3515 Romeoville, Il | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins huerto - 2010-08-12 3:50 PM Yep. That is no exageration. 2-3mph gain with good racing tires over gatorskins. Its always shocking how light and fast my bike feels when I take the gatorskins off and put the GP4000s on. Vittoria Corsa Evos are even faster and are a dream to ride, but they are not as puncture resistant as the Conti GP4000s. Look, if the gatorskins were race tires, pros would race on them... they don't. They are awesome commuter tires that get me to work in the morning without flats. But they are DOGS compared to a good race tire. On the other hand............. if everyone got a 2-3mph gain on good race tires over gatorskins wouldn't all the rest of us be all over doing this? LOL |
| 2010-08-12 4:11 PM in reply to: #3040667 |
| Regular 55 | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins Meulen - 2010-08-12 4:07 PM huerto - 2010-08-12 3:50 PM Yep. That is no exageration. 2-3mph gain with good racing tires over gatorskins. Its always shocking how light and fast my bike feels when I take the gatorskins off and put the GP4000s on. Vittoria Corsa Evos are even faster and are a dream to ride, but they are not as puncture resistant as the Conti GP4000s. On the other hand............. if everyone got a 2-3mph gain on good race tires over gatorskins wouldn't all the rest of us be all over doing this? LOLLook, if the gatorskins were race tires, pros would race on them... they don't. They are awesome commuter tires that get me to work in the morning without flats. But they are DOGS compared to a good race tire. Good question... why indeed? Price? fear of flatting? All I know is I ride both and there is a noticeable difference in performance. |
| 2010-08-12 4:19 PM in reply to: #3038363 |
Elite 3067 Cheesehead, WI | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins Love mine! Wouldn't go with anything less. No more flats...knock on wood  |
| 2010-08-12 4:25 PM in reply to: #3038363 |
Champion 9407 Montague Gold Mines, Nova Scotia | Subject: RE: Question about Gatorskins I have had one pair of Gatorskins and hated them; didn't like the way they felt while riding and thought that they cornered poorly. If my commute involved lots of debris, I may consider using them again but I have switched to Ultra Sports for my commuting bike and have not had a flat since installing them (February 2010). For racing, I would never even consider riding them or any other non-racing tire; it is simply too many watts to give away on race day. Shane |
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