Okay, so I know they are heavier… but does anyone use conti gatorskins during racing to help ‘ensure’ that they do not get a flat? there is always a possibilty of getting one, but with one of the thicker tires that are less prone to flatting… I’ve been thinking about it… but not sure…
Alright STers, gimme your thoughts. 
the problem is not that they are heavier, but that their thicker structure takes more energy to deform as you roll along.
in this case, a lot more. in an HIM or IM you can actually run a fast tire, get a flat, fix it, and finish faster than you would on a gatorskin.
my approach to avoiding flats in races, which has worked pretty well for my wife and I (1 flat in like tons and tons of tris and bike races) is use fast tires, but make sure they are not worn out. Use the fast tires only for your races, replace them if they get too many cuts or too worn.
Those tires are way too slow to use in a race.
Do you also swim with ankle and wrist weights? Do you you run with boots? 
There are plenty of good clincher tires which offer decent reliability without paying a huge CRR or aero penalty.
Check out the tire articles on the frontpage.
I’m pretty sure I’ve read somewhere (probably here, so not sure if its true) that getting a flat with race tires is about the same amount of time as using training tires without a flat. It probably also depends on how fast you can fix a flat.
I’ve only done it once when the course was well known for poor road conditions causing flats and decided that the loss of speed on the bike was worth knowing I wouldn’t be stopping mid-race for a flat tire change. This was also a qualifier race that I knew I could afford some time, but wasn’t convinced I could afford a full tire change. Lots of flats on the course that day and still glad I made my choice that day.
I have raced gatorskins many times, in triathlons and road races. Our road races tend to have very rough roads and you probably won’t catch back on the group after a wheel change so I find it to be worth it sometimes. Particularly when people don’t call out potholes and I nail one. I usually travel for tris so the roads tend to be better and I’ll usually use another conti tire.
It’s the tire of choice here at Ironman South Africa. I’d hazard a guess that 70% of the field is running them. The bike shops are certainly recommending them too.
YMMV,
Hugh
in that case run a brand new gp4000s
and practice changing flats!
It’s the tire of choice here at Ironman South Africa. I’d hazard a guess that 70% of the field is running them. The bike shops are certainly recommending them too.
YMMV,
Hugh
Thanks guys, I was just wondering. I have on gatorskins on my training wheels and wasn’t sure which tires I should use for racing… but since most of the races I will be doing say that there are good roads, I will use something better than the GS in terms of rolling resistance
THanks!
I just got back from a trip there (Port Alfred to Cape Town and back). The roads seemed better than anything over here in Canada, aka Winter frost pothole land. Seems Gatorskins are just silly.
"Do you you run with boots? "
in the military… I ran with boots… yes
A GP4000s would be a much better tire choice if you are going to go thick and heavy.
In an average Ironman, how many flats do you think there are out of 2,300 riders? Maybe 15-20? Let’s say it’s 50…which makes it 2% of the group. And remember that most of those riders are running race quality (thinner/lighter) tires/tubes. I’d take my chances and run light and fast tires.
During a taper for a race I spend my extra time in my basement organizing my flat kit, practicing changing a flat, getting the sequence down pat, ensuring all my equipment works, making sure I know every detail in case it happens.
I just got back from a trip there (Port Alfred to Cape Town and back). The roads seemed better than anything over here in Canada, aka Winter frost pothole land. Seems Gatorskins are just silly.
You’re right about that. We haven’t found the roads that bad. The course is ~ 90% rough what I’d call pebble seal. Not sharp chips of crushed rock like back in the states but more rounded pebbles. If certainly doesn’t make for a smooth ride. I also agree there are less potholes than Upstate NY or Canada. That said, the actual road surface is vastly rougher than any of the North American IronMan courses with perhaps some sections of IMWisc.
Hugh
So really you just need a fast and comfortable tire. Seems like a lot of that can be adjusted for with tire pressure.
how about with tubulars? I’ve got tubular racing wheels with gatorskins on them. I’m racing FL 70.3 in a month, and i’ve read her on ST that some of the roads contain potholes. I guess my choices are:
- Pick up other race tires (GROAN)… carry gatorskin as spare.
- Pick up other race tires (GROAN)… carry other race tire as spare.
- Pick up other race tires (GROAN)… don’t carry a spare.
- Run on gatorskins… carry a gatorskin spare.
- Run on gatorskins… carry a non gatorskin spare.
- Run on gatorskins… don’t carry a spare.
The usual Slowtwitch response to that question is “Are you in my age group?”
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I’m pretty sure I’ve read somewhere (probably here, so not sure if its true) that getting a flat with race tires is about the same amount of time as using training tires without a flat. It probably also depends on how fast you can fix a flat.
I think it depends mostly on how long the race is. Flat in sprint = race over. Much different on HIM or IM.
I did a 3000 ft uphill TT on Gatorskins, I hate to think how much time I lost on those tires, but yes, they do work for racing.
I used them for a few races but only because I was newbin it and needed the mental help of not dealing with a flat. 4000 contis next race