I’m Tomoda. I recently fractured my shoulder and can’t do any mechanical work, so I’m behind the counter—which is a rare sight.
As I mentioned on Instagram, please feel free to come talk to me about anything—whether it's advice on bikes or apparel, or things I specialize in like DH, DJ, and MTB. I’m particularly strong when it comes to All-City bikes, so don't hesitate to ask.
Well, standing on the shop floor makes you notice things you don't when you're working as a mechanic; I realized there are things that arrived but haven't been introduced to everyone yet. Today, I immediately noticed something important I’d overlooked.
So, even though it’s been a while since they arrived, I’d like to introduce these tires today.
As the name "Horizon" implies, these tires have the potential to take you anywhere.
These tires are in the 650Bx47c size, a new standard proposed by WTB known as "Road Plus." To put it simply, they provide nearly double the air volume while maintaining the same outer diameter as a 700x28-30c tire.
On paved roads, the center-slick tread pattern allows for a smooth, enjoyable ride, while off-road, the high air volume and file-tread side pattern provide excellent traction and capability.
They are the perfect tires for epic rides that mix both paved and unpaved surfaces. Of course, they are also ideal for camping trips where you’re carrying a lot of heavy gear. I think they’d be especially perfect for next month’s RIDEALIVE 2016.
While there are still few dedicated frames like the Hunter Cycles Rough Rider Plus that featured these tires early on at this year's NAHBS, they can be installed on any bike that has just a bit more chainstay clearance than a standard road bike. They are also compatible with cyclocross bikes and many endurance bikes released by mass-production manufacturers in recent years.
Your current bike might be compatible, too. A list of usable bikes is available and updated regularly on the official WTB website, so please check it as a reference.
I plan to install them on the Surly Disc Trucker 26″ I’ll be building soon. I'll share an update then, so stay tuned.
Thanks again for stopping by today. I'll be at Circles starting at 12:00 tomorrow.