“…the tyres ride very similarly to their junior tubeless siblings, the 25 through to 32mm Pro Ones…”
Great news, especially for converts to ‘allroad’-style bikes (endurance platforms that retain performance characteristics but typically feature a more comfortable geometry and the space to fit wider, higher-volume, more comfortable and more forgiving tyres).
Managing to get our mitts on one of the few sets in the country, these were earmarked as perfect allroad tyres for holiday cycling.
Fitting them to the rims—carbon Hunt Limitless 42’s—was a refreshingly simple affair. While some tubeless tyres just about require a crowbar to fit and remove, the Pro Ones were reassuringly tight but still manageable to fit by hand. Valve stem removed, the tyres popped into place after a few seconds with the trusty air compressor.
Following advice from the Aussie Schwalbe distributor, we squeezed in around 90mls of sealant prior to inflating the tyres to 45psi for the maiden ride.
One thing with higher volume tyres and tubeless ready wheels: don’t inflate to the type of levels we are used to! Quality wheelsets are marked with maximum inflation recommendations in relation to tyre width. The rule of thumb is the greater the volume, the less the pressure.
So how did they ride?
In four words: fast, smooth and comfortable. Incorporating Schwalbe’s ‘ADDIX Race Compound’, the tyres ride very similarly to their junior tubeless siblings, the 25 through to 32mm Pro Ones.
If anything, the 34’s felt more supple and more comfortable that previously tested Schwalbe tyres. Mated to the wider wheelset, and ridden over a range of road surfaces from super smooth to rough, coarse country roads, these provided fantastic efficiency and impressive cushioning.
They Must Be Slower?
Well, if they are, it isn’t noticeable. With the weight savings and efficiencies of tubeless, and mated to the top-quality and fast-spinning Hunt Limitless wheels, the ride was fast, direct, grippy, and, in a word…sweet.
You can see the range of Schwalbe tyres at this year’s Bowral Classic Event Village and for more info visit them at www.BikeBox.com.au
