Michelin

I picked up my CX bike back in 2000 ' a Gunnar Crosshairs built by Waterford with Reynolds 853 tubing. My first cyclocross tires were the original Michelin Muds, and believe it or not, I'm still running that same set today. After 20+ years the knobs are finally starting to peel off from age.

I ride this bike everywhere ' from mellow singletrack to the same technical trails I take my S-Works Stumpjumper EVO on. The old Michelins have held up surprisingly well, but since they're not tubeless, I do deal with the occasional pinch flat.

I'm hoping the new Michelin Power CX Mud tires will give me the same grip and character as the classic Michelin Muds I've been used to since 2000.

There are lots of reasons to site that are most likely trumped up to make us tolerate the exponential increases in bike related retail items, particularly tires.

Sadly, one of the most affordable outdoor recreation alternatives has exceeded my willingness to pay for participate in.

So, I guess I will cave in to play Pickleball with the masses of wiffle tennis octogenarians.

Of course, I will make my own racket to avoid paying an obnoxious price for a carbon fiber swat stick reminiscent of that high dollar Trek full Durace 5900 I bought back when I was still working and had expendable cash.

Thanks for the great time I had riding the open spaces.

Really good tire from Michelin, rolls fast and feels lighter than the scale would suggest. I bought them in 30mm and weighed them at 330 and 335 grams so not that heavy and not that light either but they react to bad roads like a lighter tire. I don't do that much climbing so I might have noticed the weight more if I did. I have them mounted on Reserve 42/49 wheels and they are about 34mm with a really good, round profile. I swear they look like they were designed specifically for these wheels. Obviously there is a huge air volume so they are extremely comfortable but give enough feedback so you still feel connected to the road, only the best tubeless tires have this tendency in my experience. Not that this affects performance but they seem to stay cleaner than most tires, even after riding through dust they seem to just shake it off. They've been durable so far, some tread cuts on the rear but no punctures. The 35mm version tested well on BRR as a gravel tire, hopefully the 28mm version will eventually be tested for road pressures.

I've used a lot of tires in my day and can never quite find the Goldilocks tire. If they're fast and grippy, like a conti gp5k, they're not durable. If they're durable, they're heavy and ride like a wooden wagons wheel. These Michelin jawns are the best tires I've ridden in years. They're light, grippy, and durable. Plus, if you get them on sale, they don't break the bank like the contis will.

Installation was easy and tubeless setup was straightforward. They seem to be true to size but I have not actually measured them.

On race day, I'll use a different tire. But for training, fondos, and group rides, these are perfect. I've got around 500 miles on them so far and they still look new. I hope they last, because otherwise I will look like a fool.