Fitted the Duranos onto Alex rims last night. The 26" folding tyre went on okay, but the 20" wired front was a total bastard to mount. Ten minutes of hurty thumbs and harsh language. I seriously hope I never have to do that in the piddling rain.
[Just done a search....so tagged this thread....it seemed fitting to my experience].
I'm just about to set off for the Elenydd....my preparation is all over the place, I'm already about 3 hrs behind - but I have two new tyres that, gratefully, arrived today, a Durano and a Kojak, neither of which I have tired before. So...which one do I take?
Tried fitting the Durano first......hell bells, I had to get a scaffold pole as extra leverage to get the ******* thing on.
I remember the ICE people telling me that they'd found Alex 406 rims to be difficult sometimes, but I've never had a problem with the Marathon racers, but the 406 Alex rim + 406 Durano + welsh mountains = forget it. What's all that about? And it also means metal tyre levers. In abundance. Without question.
Maybe I should be grateful that I feel compelled to take those.
The Kojak was a bit easier, but not by much. I'm taking that.
Blimey....forget performance, but think more about meeting the fairy at 1am somewhere between Wales and arrivee!!
No thanks.