Technical Stuff, Please Advise

I believe that I've mentioned the friend that lives on a boat and has
just completed a circumnavigation. Well, he is now lusting after a
folding bicycle and apparently is leaning toward a Dahon. He keeps
asking me questions (I guess any expert is better then no expert :-)

Anyway, the dealer is pushing SCHWALBE tires, at extra cost.

I've heard of Schwalbe tires, usually in the context of fat squishy
tires, but is the extra price of any merit for a bike that is used
primarily for short local trips, in say a village sized environment?

Controltech Bicycle components USA, another extra cost item.
They seem to make bike components, handle bars, stems, seat posts,
saddles, etc.

I've never heard of them but then again I don't lurk about peeking at
the labels on stems and seat posts. Is there any advantage to these
components over any other make?

RIDO saddles (Nothing else should come between you and your bicycle)

Their description of the advantages of their product appears to me to
be utter B.S. and I've told the bloke that, however if anyone knows
anything good about this saddle please say so. I'd hate to condemn
something that was good just because I didn't use it.

--
Cheers,

John B.

On 3/31/2014 9:37 PM, John B. wrote:

I believe that I've mentioned the friend that lives on a boat and has
just completed a circumnavigation. Well, he is now lusting after a
folding bicycle and apparently is leaning toward a Dahon. He keeps
asking me questions (I guess any expert is better then no expert :-)

Anyway, the dealer is pushing SCHWALBE tires, at extra cost.

I've heard of Schwalbe tires, usually in the context of fat squishy
tires, but is the extra price of any merit for a bike that is used
primarily for short local trips, in say a village sized environment?

There are different models of Schwalbe tires.

Our Bike Friday New World Tourists have Schwalbe Marathon Slicks on
them. These have the reputation for being fairly slow, and they
certainly seem that way to me. BTW, I'm basing it not only on "feel,"
but on my coasting speed down the very familiar hill right outside my
driveway. While I don't remember their specific coasting speed at the
appropriate telephone pole, it was far less than the consistent 17 mph I
get with my utility bike with the 27" x 1 1/8" Michelins on it.
(Haven't yet noted the speed with the utility bike's new Paselas, but I
suspect it will be the same.)

I've read in the Bike Friday owner's discussion list that Greenspeed
Scorchers are much faster tires. But they seem to be fragile as well.
Some folks have had not just flats, but sidewall problems.

Since your friend is A) on a boat, and B) just doing short trips and not
long tours, I'd say a rugged tire might make the most sense. IME, these
Schwalbe Marathons are fine for ruggedness. Only one flat in maybe 1000
miles, and that was after having to ride through a dense patch of broken
glass. (To avoid a woman with a baby carriage on a MUP who decided to
suddenly do a U-turn.)


--
- Frank Krygowski

John B. writes:

I believe that I've mentioned the friend that lives on a boat and has
just completed a circumnavigation. Well, he is now lusting after a
folding bicycle and apparently is leaning toward a Dahon. He keeps
asking me questions (I guess any expert is better then no expert :-)

Anyway, the dealer is pushing SCHWALBE tires, at extra cost.

I've heard of Schwalbe tires, usually in the context of fat squishy
tires, but is the extra price of any merit for a bike that is used
primarily for short local trips, in say a village sized environment?

I have Schwalbe Stelvios on my Moulton, so it would be a similar
small tire. I've been happy with it. Can't say I really notice
much difference from one tire to the next, other their affect on
my wallet. The Schwalbe has been lasting for quite a while (the
Moulton is only used occasionally nowdays).

--
Joe Riel

On Mon, 31 Mar 2014 22:48:40 -0400, Frank Krygowski
wrote:

On 3/31/2014 9:37 PM, John B. wrote:

I believe that I've mentioned the friend that lives on a boat and has
just completed a circumnavigation. Well, he is now lusting after a
folding bicycle and apparently is leaning toward a Dahon. He keeps
asking me questions (I guess any expert is better then no expert :-)

Anyway, the dealer is pushing SCHWALBE tires, at extra cost.

I've heard of Schwalbe tires, usually in the context of fat squishy
tires, but is the extra price of any merit for a bike that is used
primarily for short local trips, in say a village sized environment?

There are different models of Schwalbe tires.

Our Bike Friday New World Tourists have Schwalbe Marathon Slicks on
them. These have the reputation for being fairly slow, and they
certainly seem that way to me. BTW, I'm basing it not only on "feel,"
but on my coasting speed down the very familiar hill right outside my
driveway. While I don't remember their specific coasting speed at the
appropriate telephone pole, it was far less than the consistent 17 mph I
get with my utility bike with the 27" x 1 1/8" Michelins on it.
(Haven't yet noted the speed with the utility bike's new Paselas, but I
suspect it will be the same.)

I've read in the Bike Friday owner's discussion list that Greenspeed
Scorchers are much faster tires. But they seem to be fragile as well.
Some folks have had not just flats, but sidewall problems.

Since your friend is A) on a boat, and B) just doing short trips and not
long tours, I'd say a rugged tire might make the most sense. IME, these
Schwalbe Marathons are fine for ruggedness. Only one flat in maybe 1000
miles, and that was after having to ride through a dense patch of broken
glass. (To avoid a woman with a baby carriage on a MUP who decided to
suddenly do a U-turn.)


I didn't make myself clear I guess. The question is should one use the
"standard" tires or opt for a change to Schwalbe at an additional
cost. So far my recommendation is "you don't need it".
--
Cheers,

John B.

On Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:50:42 -0700, Joe Riel wrote:

John B. writes:

I believe that I've mentioned the friend that lives on a boat and has
just completed a circumnavigation. Well, he is now lusting after a
folding bicycle and apparently is leaning toward a Dahon. He keeps
asking me questions (I guess any expert is better then no expert :-)

Anyway, the dealer is pushing SCHWALBE tires, at extra cost.

I've heard of Schwalbe tires, usually in the context of fat squishy
tires, but is the extra price of any merit for a bike that is used
primarily for short local trips, in say a village sized environment?

I have Schwalbe Stelvios on my Moulton, so it would be a similar
small tire. I've been happy with it. Can't say I really notice
much difference from one tire to the next, other their affect on
my wallet. The Schwalbe has been lasting for quite a while (the
Moulton is only used occasionally nowdays).

I don't know what the show room models that my friend is looking at
have for tires but the way he is talking the dealer wants to change
the tires to Schwalbe tires and charge him extra for it. Given what I
think his use will be I've so far recommended whatever the standard
tires are.
--
Cheers,

John B.

On Tuesday, April 1, 2014 7:29:01 AM UTC+2, John B. wrote:
On Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:50:42 -0700, Joe Riel wrote:



John B. writes:



I believe that I've mentioned the friend that lives on a boat and has

just completed a circumnavigation. Well, he is now lusting after a

folding bicycle and apparently is leaning toward a Dahon. He keeps

asking me questions (I guess any expert is better then no expert :-)



Anyway, the dealer is pushing SCHWALBE tires, at extra cost.



I've heard of Schwalbe tires, usually in the context of fat squishy

tires, but is the extra price of any merit for a bike that is used

primarily for short local trips, in say a village sized environment?



I have Schwalbe Stelvios on my Moulton, so it would be a similar

small tire. I've been happy with it. Can't say I really notice

much difference from one tire to the next, other their affect on

my wallet. The Schwalbe has been lasting for quite a while (the

Moulton is only used occasionally nowdays).



I don't know what the show room models that my friend is looking at

have for tires but the way he is talking the dealer wants to change

the tires to Schwalbe tires and charge him extra for it. Given what I

think his use will be I've so far recommended whatever the standard

tires are.

--

Cheers,



John B.

The range of Schwalbe tires is huge so as long as you don't specify the model, width and size the all the advice here will be useless. For the kind of your friend riding I would go for the standard. Not worth the hassle to change them. Same goes for stem etc.

Lou

On Tue, 1 Apr 2014 02:30:36 -0700 (PDT), Lou Holtman
wrote:

On Tuesday, April 1, 2014 7:29:01 AM UTC+2, John B. wrote:
On Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:50:42 -0700, Joe Riel wrote:



John B. writes:



I believe that I've mentioned the friend that lives on a boat and has

just completed a circumnavigation. Well, he is now lusting after a

folding bicycle and apparently is leaning toward a Dahon. He keeps

asking me questions (I guess any expert is better then no expert :-)



Anyway, the dealer is pushing SCHWALBE tires, at extra cost.



I've heard of Schwalbe tires, usually in the context of fat squishy

tires, but is the extra price of any merit for a bike that is used

primarily for short local trips, in say a village sized environment?



I have Schwalbe Stelvios on my Moulton, so it would be a similar

small tire. I've been happy with it. Can't say I really notice

much difference from one tire to the next, other their affect on

my wallet. The Schwalbe has been lasting for quite a while (the

Moulton is only used occasionally nowdays).



I don't know what the show room models that my friend is looking at

have for tires but the way he is talking the dealer wants to change

the tires to Schwalbe tires and charge him extra for it. Given what I

think his use will be I've so far recommended whatever the standard

tires are.

--

Cheers,



John B.

The range of Schwalbe tires is huge so as long as you don't specify the model, width and size the all the advice here will be useless. For the kind of your friend riding I would go for the standard. Not worth the hassle to change them. Same goes for stem etc.

Lou

My thought exactly :-)
--
Cheers,

John B.

On Tuesday, April 1, 2014 6:53:35 AM UTC-4, John B. wrote:
On Tue, 1 Apr 2014 02:30:36 -0700 (PDT), Lou Holtman

wrote:



On Tuesday, April 1, 2014 7:29:01 AM UTC+2, John B. wrote:

On Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:50:42 -0700, Joe Riel wrote:







John B. writes:







I believe that I've mentioned the friend that lives on a boat and has



just completed a circumnavigation. Well, he is now lusting after a



folding bicycle and apparently is leaning toward a Dahon. He keeps



asking me questions (I guess any expert is better then no expert :-)







Anyway, the dealer is pushing SCHWALBE tires, at extra cost.







I've heard of Schwalbe tires, usually in the context of fat squishy



tires, but is the extra price of any merit for a bike that is used



primarily for short local trips, in say a village sized environment?







I have Schwalbe Stelvios on my Moulton, so it would be a similar



small tire. I've been happy with it. Can't say I really notice



much difference from one tire to the next, other their affect on



my wallet. The Schwalbe has been lasting for quite a while (the



Moulton is only used occasionally nowdays).







I don't know what the show room models that my friend is looking at



have for tires but the way he is talking the dealer wants to change



the tires to Schwalbe tires and charge him extra for it. Given what I



think his use will be I've so far recommended whatever the standard



tires are.



--



Cheers,







John B.



The range of Schwalbe tires is huge so as long as you don't specify the model, width and size the all the advice here will be useless. For the kind of your friend riding I would go for the standard. Not worth the hassle to change them. Same goes for stem etc.



Lou



My thought exactly :-)

--

Cheers,



John B.

Is the shop simply trying to make extra money due to their perception that your friend isn't that familiar with bikes?

Cheers

I used to be boat people too, and I see the point of the right Schwalbe tyres on a boat bike, viz fewer flats and less exposure time to fix them in rough places. The right Schwalbe tyres are the ones with the most puncture protection, probably Marathon Plus. Some of the fat tyres have as much protection and more comfort than the somewhat harsh Marathon.

The rest of the seller's advice is money-grabbing.

Andre Jute

On 3/31/2014 8:37 PM, John B. wrote:

I believe that I've mentioned the friend that lives on a boat and has
just completed a circumnavigation. Well, he is now lusting after a
folding bicycle and apparently is leaning toward a Dahon. He keeps
asking me questions (I guess any expert is better then no expert :-)

Anyway, the dealer is pushing SCHWALBE tires, at extra cost.

I've heard of Schwalbe tires, usually in the context of fat squishy
tires, but is the extra price of any merit for a bike that is used
primarily for short local trips, in say a village sized environment?

Controltech Bicycle components USA, another extra cost item.
They seem to make bike components, handle bars, stems, seat posts,
saddles, etc.

I've never heard of them but then again I don't lurk about peeking at
the labels on stems and seat posts. Is there any advantage to these
components over any other make?

RIDO saddles (Nothing else should come between you and your bicycle)

Their description of the advantages of their product appears to me to
be utter B.S. and I've told the bloke that, however if anyone knows
anything good about this saddle please say so. I'd hate to condemn
something that was good just because I didn't use it.


I wouldn't. He ought to ride it and stow it and ride again
until he knows what he needs/likes and what he doesn't.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971