Racing Ralph cyclocross...

[TimoWr]

Hallo forum,

I looked at the Schwalbe website but some things are unclear to me. It says the "Racing Ralph" for cyclocross is available in "black-skin". Does that mean a tire with black profile and brown sidewalls (I always thought skin means the classic brownish sidewalls). I wonder because the tire in the pic on the website is all black.

Also, is it a good tire? Anybody who uses them can comment on their performance?

Thanks in advance,
Timo

 

[elmar schrauth]

the tyre is complet black,except of the name ,(a white decale on the side)


it is a good allrounder and it seems to have a good puncture protection

elmar

 

[TimoWr]

Thanks!

 

[Snapcase]

Also, is it a good tire? Anybody who uses them can comment on their performance?

By far the best cyclocross clincher I've tried up to now. It's not the lightest tire you can get but it delivers a comfortable ride and good traction on nearly every type of ground. For extremely muddy conditions it's not my top choice, but as Elmar said it's a good allrounder. No snakebites so far, by the way. Durability is average compared to other tires I've tried (e. g. Schwalbe CX Pro and Ritchey clinchers, Tufo and Gommitalia tubulars).

Snapcase

 

[TimoWr]

Thanks snapcase. Guess I'll use them on my pimped bike

But seriously, I appreciate your input. Thanks for the short review of this tire. And that goes for Elmar too

 

[RobBj123]

No tubulars for the pimped bike ??

PS: Followed that other thread with great entertainment and got some Record Ergopowers for my next cyclocrossproject as well ;-)

 

[TimoWr]

That's not fair, just when I listened to snapcase and decided to go for all Chorus you jump in with Record!

The bike has full carbon clincher tires because I am lazy and a disaster when using glue

 

[RobBj123]

Is it going to be a racebike...?

 

[TimoWr]

A racebike? A bike for cyclocross and long tours on unpaved roads. The high profile carbon rims (Corima) are there because of their performance in sliding through mud and light weight but I don't use tubular tires because I hate the glueing etc.

 

[RobBj123]

Okay...

 

[Snapcase]

... but I don't use tubular tires because I hate the glueing etc.

You're completely right – changing a tire in the mud really sucks. The slightly more comfortable ride and the better snakebite resistance tubulars can provide don't seem like a proper counterweight for all the hassle you have with them in case of defect.

Snapcase

 

[RobBj123]

I race on tubular tires and use normal clincher tires during practice. This way you can rely on the superior performance of tubular tires in a race and when you are out in the woods somewhere far from home you have no problem reparing a flat tire.

 

[Snapcase]

I race on tubular tires and use normal clincher tires during practice. This way you can rely on the superior performance of tubular tires in a race and when you are out in the woods somewhere far from home you have no problem reparing a flat tire.

So hab' ich das auch gemacht, als ich noch Rennen gefahren bin; wenn es im Rennen um maximale Durchschlagsicherheit und besten Grip bei komfortablem Druck geht, sind Schlauchreifen natürlich die beste Lösung. Wenn man seinen Schlauchreifen-Laufradsatz nur im Rennen fährt, stört auch die geringe Lebensdauer der meisten Schlauchreifen nicht so.

Aber Timo fährt ja keine Rennen, also braucht er sich den Spaß, abends auf dem Sofa mit Nagelschere, Nadel, Zwirn und papierdünnen Flicken bewaffnet Schlauchreifen zu reparieren, nicht anzutun.Aber da sind wir ja alle einer Meinung.

Snapcase

 

[TimoWr]

I use the bike is pretty harsh conditions (plenty of mud and water on daily rides in the woods) but not in competion. Thus it is no use to go through all the trouble with tubulars, just like snapcase said. Anyway, my current weight does not allow me to ride with extremely low tire pressure anyway.