Fulcrum 5's / Continental GP 4 Seasons

[Pot Odds]

My Fulcrum Racing 5's arrived this week and i've just cleaned and swapped over my cassette and swapped out the Continental Grand Prix 4 Seasons 25c tyre from my old wheel.

Popping the tyre on was easier than the old rims and i was able to thumb it into place without the need for levers (i've not exactly got big beefy mits either).

Was just wondering what peoples experience was - should I expect to have to use levers or do some peeps get there tyres on fully by hand ?

While i'm troubling the collective - donkey question i'm sure but is there any reason I cant reuse the skewers I already had on the bike rather than the new ones supplied with the Fulcrum 5's - I prefer the look of the originals which are also lighter (only weighed as I was comparing wheel weight with the original wheelset).

Lovely set of bright red nipples on the 5's !

Thanks

Edited by Pot Odds on Saturday 25th April 23:14

[richardxjr]

Never use levers to put a tyre on, but I agree F5s are usually a good fit, well they are with the tyres I've used on them.

Skewers are interchangeable, I got some tarty red Ti ones to match the nipples, now they are light.

[Pot Odds]

Thanks for the reply.

Just to be clear the 5's are an upgrade replacing a set of CXP22's with a faulty freehub. I've always had to use levers to get tyres on the 22's.

So nothing to worry about ?

Red skewers - now there's an idea...........

[Cos18]

I've got the same combo of wheels/tyres. I didn't need levers to fit, although when the tyres were new they were a bit of a pig to fit. They pop in quite easily now that they've softened up a bit. As for skewers, I've chopped and changed before and it's been all good. I was even running different skewers front/rear on a different set of wheels, much to the velominati's delight.

[okgo]

There is a knack to tyres. Most some are very hard to get on without levers, but typically they're really cheap wired ones rather than folding continentals. I have same set up and I don't think I used levers but whatever works for you. As long as you aren't pinching tubes when installing it doesn't matter.

[Banana Boy]

Ooh I hope you enjoy the Fulcrum 5's, I love mine - they totally transformed the feel of my bike!

I used levers for the last 6" going on for the first time with my set of GP4000SIIs (25s) but when I had the front off to change the inner tube it went back on a bit easier. Loving the Conti's too - might end up on a pair of 4 seasons for the winter? Or maybe I'll see how he 4000s feel when it gets cold and wet?!...

[Pot Odds]

Thanks for the replies.

Swapped the front over this morning and found that I could re-fit it to the original CXP22 by hand without the levers - so it was a non issue. Think they must have just been a bit tight when I 1st fitted them so I was remembering using levers.

Am hoping to blag a quick 20 miler later to give them a try but have 9 holes of twighlight golf booked - good job the management has been away on a girls weekend she wont be able to grumble

Rode my 4 seasons all last year and was happy with them. What are the 4000's like - anyone ride both and swap between them ?

Edited by Pot Odds on Sunday 26th April 12:19

[Banana Boy]

Pot Odds said:

Rode my 4 seasons all last year and was happy with them. What are the 4000's like - anyone ride both and swap between them ?

I asked a similar question a while ago ( http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... ): I was coming from Schwalbe Marathons but the consensus seems to be that either 4 seasons or 4k2s will do a good job and that the 4k2s will even be ok in the winter - probably depending on where you are in the country and how severe the winter is?

I decided on the 4k2s because, A. I was fitting them heading into spring/summer and 2. honestly, although most of my mileage is commuting... almost every ride is a race/training ride for me! I just can't help myself but to be pushing the envelope at some random point of the ride (or all of it on the way home). - I just don't enjoy pootling?!