Michelin

Generally in life--you can't have it all. This tire, though; fast, tough, not heavy, smooth ride quality, very decent price (when on sale, anyway) may be an exception. Maybe we can have it all?

The set of 35c tan wall tires I bought avg 395 grams. They mounted without drama, and measure ~36mm on my 25mm ID rims, at 50PSI, after 200 miles break-in (TPU tubes). Lord, they are fast...faster than any almost-400gm 'training' tire has any right to be. Tough? Yes, after numerous sections of class 2/3 gravel on my fave 'all-road' routes here in western OR (25% gravel), I see zero cuts, and no flats. All good on grip. The ride is close to sublime...90%+ as good at a set of 30c Conti 5000 tires I use as a tarmac-only tire set on the same rims. Michelin is truly back in the hunt.

A winner, especially at the sale price.

I have a vintage single speed Raleigh International I ride on the pavement in Chicago. Had been using gatorskins in a 25mm. After reading about folks going with wider tires and knowing my frame would accommodate them, I bought the Michelin tires. Fit on the rim with no resistance and seated first try. The ride is soft and comfortable. Do not see any difference in rolling resistance even though max pressure is less than the 100lbs I had been using. My only complaint and it is not as much a complaint as a big difference is that these tire are a bit heavier. Price was right!

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.