After scoping out Hilly Billy 2012 Roubaix (see post "Hilly Billy Roubaix 2012, Idea") we decided that the drive was too long and the flats too plentiful in 2011 to not have bomb proof tires. The Continental cyclocross plus was the only solution we could find. Suuuuure no one in their right mind would use a tire this heavy for racing. But no one in their right mind drives 3.5 hours to WV to race on roads made of Mordor gravel. So we'll take the sluggish rotation over the worry sweats. Now, enter my obsession since 2011 cyclocrosss; Stans Alpha Road wheels. Tubeless baby! I hated using tubular wheels in 2011 cx. And I REALLY hated the idea of buying carbon tubular cx wheels that I race with 12 times per year! I vowed to find a way to go tubeless successfully in 2012. Well no better first test than Hilly Billy 2012 ultracroooooossss (right?)! I talked to my super mechanic Kevin Luckeroth (KLuck) and we decided that I have a habit of wanting bomb proof equipment over super-light-weight performance. So I went with the heavier (but still light at 1435 grams), more spoked, Stans Alpha 340 Comp wheels (alloy baby! forget carbon!). The conti cx plus tires fitted loosely on the rims so airing up took a little messing around with the floor pump. But with a C02 cartridge or air compressor it was simple dimple. Read my comments on these test rides posted to Strava (road, trails, mixed):
test #1 (install them and a quick cx test) = http://app.strava.com/rides/9564217
test #2 (well paved roads, and some trails with a killer gravel/dirt downhill) = http://app.strava.com/rides/9651592
test #3 (commute with some moderate trail climbs) = http://app.strava.com/rides/10822476
test #4 (trail riding with some tough climbs) = http://app.strava.com/rides/10575497
test #5 (Hilly Billy Simulation, more on this in the next post) = http://app.strava.com/rides/11017880
Hilly Billy Simulation post next!
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