Spring has arrived, and it's that time of year when you just want to ride forever.
Speaking of essential items for riding along those endless roads, it has to be...
"Tires."
Here at Circles, we carry tires from many different brands, but today I would like to introduce Challenge Tires.
These tires are handmade in Italy.
They are incredibly famous in the cyclocross racing scene—legendary, even.
When you think of cross racing, you think of tubulars, but this time I want to focus on their clincher tires.
The company calls their clincher tires "Open Tubulars."
Is it just a difference in name?
No, that's definitely not the case.
First, take a look at this photo.
See how the tire sidewall spreads out like that?
Compared to the same size from other manufacturers, the level of suppleness is overwhelming.
What kind of effect does this suppleness have? It translates directly to the tire's "flexibility."
Why is this "flexibility" good?
Because when cornering, a tire is constantly deforming. This is particularly noticeable with cyclocross tires at low pressure, but the same holds true for high-pressure road tires as well.
By deforming appropriately to match the road surface, the tire grips the ground, allowing you to move forward and turn.
In other words, because the sidewall is so supple, the tire deforms smoothly and grips the ground more efficiently.
And this is what leads to the ride quality known as the "Open Tubular" feel.
When it comes to supple tires, tubulars are naturally superior, but they also have many disadvantages, such as being cumbersome to handle and difficult to repair in the event of a flat.
That’s where these "Open Tubulars" come in; they are as easy to handle as regular clincher tires, so as long as you have a spare tube, you can ride without worrying about flats.
With low rolling resistance, nimble cornering, and a plush ride quality, Challenge Tire’s Open Tubulars balance these features at a high level.
As the season progresses and cyclocross comes to an end, there will be more opportunities for on-road riding.
So, this time, I’ve stocked some slick tires in the shop.
We have them in 25c, 27c, and 30c—perfect sizes for everything from road bikes to summer cross bikes—so please come and enjoy the unique ride quality of Open Tubular tires.
Challenge Tire
Top Left STRADA 700x25c ¥6,420- (plus tax)
Top Right PARIS-ROUBAIX 700x27c ¥7,040- (plus tax)
Bottom STRADA BIANCA 700x30c ¥7,040- (plus tax)
I've gone on at length, but to summarize briefly:
"Challenge tires are amazing, so please give them a try. Seriously, check them out." Thanks!