559 X 42-46 mm tires -- suggestions?

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Patrick Moore

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Jun 24, 2020, 4:15:52 PM6/24/20
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God willing, I'll have a new 26" wheel frame into which to fit new wheels and tires; and fatter tires. 

I know about the Nachez Pass. Are there significantly cheaper alternatives that provide a good part of the ride quality of the NP EL in the 26 X 1.8" size?

I want something that performs well on pavement, and I will give up dirt traction for nice pavement rolling.

I want something that measures an actual 42-to-46 in the 559 size.

Also, questions 2 and 3: what is the lightest tube you can use for these? (I've bought no 26" tube fatter than 1" wide since about 2010.

What pressure do you run your 42 or 46 mm tires at? The efficacy of sealant in tubes depends on a sufficiently high pressure and I will not be using a tubeless setup, for now anyway.

If any respondent has tires to sell, let's talk.

Oh, and a last indirectly related request: Am looking to BUY or TRADE a petty, silver, internal cam, all-steel QR skewer for a 120 mm hub. Can trade a 126 mm Campy, older, very nice.

Someone offered to sell me a working TC hub (direct and -13.5%; say 76 and 66 or 71 and 61) at a reasonable price, and I may have the gofast respaced to 120 to accommodate a wheel built around this hub. Plans not final.

Thanks.

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Patrick Moore
Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

Jason Fuller

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Jun 25, 2020, 5:09:33 PM6/25/20
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I would say 26 x 1.75" Panaracer Pasela will be hard to beat for this criteria.  Other options I know of being Surly Extraterrestrial 26 x 46c and Schwalbe Marathon. 

Patrick Moore

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Jun 26, 2020, 1:12:27 PM6/26/20
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Thanks, Jason I had the Pasela in mind and may buy a pair. The Extraterrestrials look a bit beefy and have too much tread for my taste. Sorry, haven't liked Marathons.

I've used PowerBlocks in the 451 size, but found them rather doggish despite others' opinions; at least, the Pasela ought to roll as well.

Others' opinions? I may eventually buy some Nachez Passes, but I'd like to try a cheaper alternative first.

Again, for occasional light dirt use, sandy soil. I can fit up to true 45s, I think. There was a similar thread on the boblist recently but that was about 559 X 2"+ tires. 

How wide are your 1.75 Paselas (and how wide are the rims?).

Thanks.

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Jason Fuller

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Jun 26, 2020, 1:41:45 PM6/26/20
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No need to apologize, I don't like Marathons either haha!  I was stressing over tire options in this size before, as I wanted to run 60-62mm metal fenders on my Clem and that capped my options at around 48c. A lot of the good 26" options seem to run in the 52 - 54mm range.  Fortunately for me, I shoehorned some Simworks 74mm fenders in so I could keep the fatter tire options.  

For me, I'd spend the extra money on the Naches because it would take me at least 3-4 years to wear them out and the ride improvement is easily worth it for me.  But I also understand not every bike needs $70ea tires. Paselas don't have quite the same feel, but can't knock em 

Jason Fuller

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Jun 26, 2020, 1:43:35 PM6/26/20
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Sorry I missed the question on 1.75 Pasela size - I find they run a bit narrow, more like 39-40mm on 25mm [external] rims 

On Friday, 26 June 2020 at 10:12:27 UTC-7 Patrick Moore wrote:

RichS

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Jun 26, 2020, 1:56:10 PM6/26/20
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Patrick,

If spending less on tires is the driving factor, then I concur with Jason on the choice of 1.75 Paselas. I think I paid $45 or so for a pair of recently purchased Pasela Pro Tites now on my Atlantis. They measure 41mm on Sun RhynoLite rims.

Certainly not as refined as the Herse models but not bad either.

Best,
Rich in ATL

Eamon Nordquist

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Jun 26, 2020, 7:31:35 PM6/26/20
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My Paselas in 26x1.75 (both wire and folding) have been right at 42mm on Rhyno Lites.

Eamon

Patrick Moore

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Jun 26, 2020, 8:28:08 PM6/26/20
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Thanks, all. I have a used Pasela that measured 41.23 mm on my 21 mm rim at about 40 psi.

I guess the question comes down to: Is it worth spending for Paselas, only to up and spend more on the Nachez Passes? So, next question: Have any of you used both of these, that is the ~40 mm Pasela and the Nachez Pass; and how much noticeably better (I emphasize "notice") is the NP?

Anyway, the Elk Passes rolled wonderfully on the bikes inaugural ride just now.

R Shannon

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Jun 27, 2020, 1:05:19 PM6/27/20
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Patrick,

This won’t help you at the moment but I did spring for the 26x1.8 NP and received them a few days ago. I’ll report back when I get them mounted and rolling. 

Best,
Rich in ATL

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 26, 2020, at 8:28 PM, Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:


Thanks, all. I have a used Pasela that measured 41.23 mm on my 21 mm rim at about 40 psi.

I guess the question comes down to: Is it worth spending for Paselas, only to up and spend more on the Nachez Passes? So, next question: Have any of you used both of these, that is the ~40 mm Pasela and the Nachez Pass; and how much noticeably better (I emphasize "notice") is the NP?

Anyway, the Elk Passes rolled wonderfully on the bikes inaugural ride just now.

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Patrick Moore

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Jun 27, 2020, 3:14:58 PM6/27/20
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Thanks, Roberta. I'll be interested to hear how you like them. 42 mm is just barely wide enough to ride the sandy bosque roads and trails, with effort and walking in the deep spots, and if they roll well on pavement, then they'd be good as an occasional alternative to the 29 mm Elk Passes.

What will the NPs replace?

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Dave Johnston

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Jul 7, 2020, 9:21:36 AM7/7/20
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I currently use Pasela 1.75 (non-Kevlar belt) on an X0-3 and Nachez Pass EL on an Atlantis and I like them both. They both measure 41mm wide on 90's style narrow rims 21-23mm outside width.
If I'm paying attention the Natchez Pass are nicer, If I'm just riding errands then in reality I don't notice the difference. I like both better than the slightly wider Kojak 2.0 which actually measured 44mm on 25mm rims, which is a nice width but I guess they are belted or something which makes them draggy. In the past I've used Ritchey Tom Slicks 1.4" that are about 35mm width, I like wider than that.

My XO-3 and 2001 Atlantis are set up in a similar way and I guess the geo is similar because both handle about the same. In theory the Atlantis with Nachez Pass is a much better bike, but once I'm out on the road it's all good!
 
I actually bought non-EL Natchez Pass for the XO-3 when they were on sale a couple years ago, but those dang Paselas won't wear out.

Knowing your tastes though, you should just go straight to the Natchez Pass. 26" mid sized slicks is pretty much an ignored category right now, no one wants to pay for the molds. In 650b WTB and SOMA are offering some slightly cheaper competitive options if you get them on sale, but I don't think they are doing 26".

-Dave J

Conway Bennett

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Jul 7, 2020, 9:49:49 AM7/7/20
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These split the difference between Natches Pass and the Paselas:

https://global.bluelug.com/fairweather-for-cruise-tire-black-skin.html

Conway Bennett

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Jul 7, 2020, 9:50:04 AM7/7/20
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Patrick Moore

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Jul 7, 2020, 10:14:57 AM7/7/20
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Thanks. I do plan to bypass testing others and buy the NP ELs; have to wait and pay my taxes next week to see if the guvmint leaves me enough $$ for a pair and some tubes.

The Fairweathers -- Thanks, Conway -- look very similar to the Paselas, which look heavyish in the tread, though you give them a good report. I used the narrower 26 X 1.25 Paselas extensively, and they were decent but certainly not as nice as the 28 mm Elk Pass!

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