Hmmm.. the amazing thing about the Randonneurs is that they seem to have so many qualities... so few of them good. They have a soft compound so they wear quickly - fear not though - they are the lowest gripping tyre I've ridden. What's more they are quite low pressure which may help their ride compliance. However they are slow. As soon as you stop pedalling you can feel the bike slowing with tyre drag. They are like riding in thick mud... slippery and with lots of drag.Inwood wrote:That reminds me, I lost grip the other day and almost came off. I have a 32mm randonneur on the back and a 25mm marathon plus on the front. Both tyres got wet from a section of seepage coming through cracks in the road which caught me off guard (the road was otherwise dry), then just after that I was cornering at speed over a metal manhole cover. (Yes yes I know not a good idea, it was not well done). Anyway, the randonneur let go but re-stuck and I managed to stay on. I have to figure out a scientific way to compare the 2 tyres, but it seems (in a non scientific way) that the marathon plus has more grip. Wouldn't you normally expect to lose the front wheel in a situation like this? Anyway I'm alive and unscratched so its all good, and re-remindered about manholes...Comedian wrote:That's a great idea. Anything to get rid of those Vittoria Randonneurs!
The only positive attribute I can find is that they seem to be impervious to punctures. I've done nearly three k on them now without a puncture... touch wood. The back is heavily flatted to the point where the tread is nearly gone in the middle but I guess I better wear it out before I can toss it!
I put Michelin Pro Optimimum 700x25s that were castoffs because they were too slow on the road bike and they transformed the bike. It was so easy to pedal! Unfortunately after 5 punctures in two weeks the Vittorias got another chance...