We heard some frustration after we sold our last Schwalbe Marathon XR 700×50 (50-622). The discontinued tire is very popular. Well, the customer that bought our last five of these tires just returned them all. The five tires are new-in-box and are available on the website.

Schwalbe XR Replacements

The popular Schwalbe Marathon XR tire has been discontinued. It is replaced in the Schwalbe bicycle touring tire range by the Dureme and the Extreme. These new tires have a more sophisticated puncture-protection system at a lighter weight. (folding 700 X 40:  XR – 670g, Extreme – 525g. Dureme – 550g)

I have tried to show the treads of these three tires in a photo. Clicking on the photo will take you to our Flickr photostream. The picture can be enlarged there to show the treads more clearly.

You can see the tread on the Extreme is more open than the XR, slanting it to a tour that will see more rough surface. The Dureme tread is a little more appropriate for smooth surfaces than the other two.

You can learn more about the new tires at the Schwalbe website.

Tags: Dureme, Extreme, XR

The German Schwalbe website announces the newest model in the “Evolution” line, the Marathon Dureme. This new high-end tire is added to the touring/city line with the Marathon Supreme and the Marathon Extreme.

Schwalbe does such a wonderful job of describing all the merits of this tire, and the Evolution line, that I can only refer you over to them for more information. It will be very good, large, expensive tire. Maybe the greatest bike tire ever. (hey, read what they have to say.)

Tags: dureme ceramicguard highdensityguard snakeskin triplenano

Schwalbe North America advises us of arrival dates (at their warehouse) for some Marathon Supreme and Marathon Extreme tires. We should have them soon after. Many of these tires have been out-0f-stock for a while so there might be a pent up demand that would eat up this shipment quickly.

MS       700 x 32C                    May 20
MEX     26×2.25                       May 20

MS       26×1.60                       June 18
MEX     26×2.00                       June 18
MS       26×2.00                       June 18
MS       700 x 32C                    June 18
MS       700 x 35C                    June 18
MEX     700×35C                      June 18
MS       700×50C                      June 18

Schwalbe makes their high-end Marathon Supreme and Marathon XR models available in both folding Kevlar bead and wire-bead. The thing is, the way they are priced the wire-bead tire is only about $3 less expensive at retail.

Kevlar-bead tires are lighter, easier to carry and store, and (for us) easier to shelve and ship. Wire-bead tires take up a lot of shelf space and, given the small price difference, I am inclined to leave the wire tires out of our inventory.

But maybe I’m missing something. What is the case for a high-end tire with a wire bead over folding Kevlar at almost the same price. Tell me why you want us to carry these top-line tires with the wire bead. Wallingford Bicycle Parts wants to be your best source for Schwalbe touring tires. If there is a market for the wire-bead versions we will get them in here.

This presta stem is one indicator of the quality of the Schwalbe tube. Features include:

1. clear valve cap
2. replaceable valve core
3. collar on nut that adapts presta valve to schrader rim
4. nickel plating

Like tire sizing, different parts of the world have different names for tire valves. The valve that U.S. cyclists commonly know as a ‘presta’ style is listed as ‘SV’ (for Sclaverand Valve) by Schwalbe. It has also been called a French Valve.

Schwalbe labels the valve we know as Schrader as ‘AV’ for Auto/Car Valve.

We bring this small piece of an inflated tire system to your attention because we think it is a good example of the care that Schwalbe takes with all of their engineering and construction.

Tags: valve stem