For what it's worth, I ride the criterium clinchers, both front and rear. To my understanding the exact same tire as the tubular from the middle up. As new, poor grip, and take more time to break in than Michelins, Schwalbes, etc. But then the grip is awesome, easily the likes of Ultremo, Pro3, etc. And I push corners.

I would reckon break in period on these is some 200 miles or so... So don't expect grip from them as new.

Sorry for posting clincher-answers in a tubbie-thread.

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Roadbike
Planet X Stealth w/ drop bars

Mountainbike
Van Nicholas Zion Ti

Ok, maybe. But the longest lived of mine four lasted for 70 km...

Hi,



That points to there probably being some mould release (or some protection against rot perhaps) being left on the tyres as they leave the factory.

Washing the brandnew tyre with a 1/3 solution of vinegar and water should improve things noticeably.

Ciao,

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Being a snob is an expensive hobby.

Does that (vinegar) risk compromising the integrity of the tubular to base tape bond if any gets to the edge of the sidewall and base tape?

I remember seeing a FDJ mechanic scraping a razor blade over a riders new tyres prior to the start of a crit here in oz, to get the waxy coating off...they were slicks so no doubt this wouldn't be done on file tread tyres...

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"It never gets easier, you just go faster..." - Greg Lemond

"I enjoy climbing...I enjoy seeing people disappear behind me." - Robert Millar

I do that trick to all of my new tires - I think I'm just superstitious as I as a young rider was told be a old world champion that this trick made the tire more punchture proof

When I lost the grip on my tubulars they were more than 1000 km old so I my case I would say the were broken in. The thing is I also find Vittoria Corsa Evo CX a bit slippery i wet condition but they are constant a bit slippery so you adjust your riding style to this. They are predictable. Whereas I actually found the Challenge okay but all of a sudden you just totally looses the grib. I have never before and after noticed such a behavior with any other tire/tubular. It was like you could push them to a surdent degree but beyond that limit you just can't trust them. And that's a big problem in a race!

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Technical editor at Cykelmagasinet Denmark

My Simplon Pavo II