New Barlow Pass.... improvement over the previous version.
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New Barlow Pass.... improvement over the previous version.
I've been a fan of Compass tires for a while, and the Barlow Pass is what I have been using on my Fog Cutter for a couple years. I use this bike for all my "road" riding, both paved and unpaved. Probably around 50/50 pavement/gravel overall.
The version I was running was the 2nd generation (Compass label) and the first that were supposedly tubeless-ready.
It is a file-treaded slick which I find works great for almost everything I ride. Stupid fast and really light, and the ride quality is sublime. If slicks are not your thing, then you would probably not like them. I personally don't find tread all that helpful on most dirt roads, but everyone is different in this regard.
I've been riding Compass tires for years on dirt roads (Barlow, Bon Jon, and Stampede Pass) and never damaged one. Again, YMMV.
That said there were a couple downsides. First, these were marketed as tubeless ready, but after reading all the stories of tubeless hassle and failure, I decided to just stick with tubes. Also, while 400g is not heavy for a 38mm tire, it was heavy for a Compass Extralight. The 44mm version of this tire was the same weight, and the 35mm version is 300g. Nonetheless I still thought they were really good tires.
Anyway, I had read that newest version (Rene Herse label). Was an improvement in both regards so I got a set when my old ones wore out.
They are in fact lighter (weighed in right around the claimed 350g) and tubeless was a breeze to set up (after I fixed my crap rim-taping job). They have not leaked, weeped through the sidewall, or anything like that.
I was really close to going with something else, but really happy I gave the new ones a shot.
The version I was running was the 2nd generation (Compass label) and the first that were supposedly tubeless-ready.
It is a file-treaded slick which I find works great for almost everything I ride. Stupid fast and really light, and the ride quality is sublime. If slicks are not your thing, then you would probably not like them. I personally don't find tread all that helpful on most dirt roads, but everyone is different in this regard.
I've been riding Compass tires for years on dirt roads (Barlow, Bon Jon, and Stampede Pass) and never damaged one. Again, YMMV.
That said there were a couple downsides. First, these were marketed as tubeless ready, but after reading all the stories of tubeless hassle and failure, I decided to just stick with tubes. Also, while 400g is not heavy for a 38mm tire, it was heavy for a Compass Extralight. The 44mm version of this tire was the same weight, and the 35mm version is 300g. Nonetheless I still thought they were really good tires.
Anyway, I had read that newest version (Rene Herse label). Was an improvement in both regards so I got a set when my old ones wore out.
They are in fact lighter (weighed in right around the claimed 350g) and tubeless was a breeze to set up (after I fixed my crap rim-taping job). They have not leaked, weeped through the sidewall, or anything like that.
I was really close to going with something else, but really happy I gave the new ones a shot.
Last edited by Kapusta; 05-30-20 at 07:42 PM.
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Finally, a reason to try to survive the pandemic.
I've never tried tubeless Barlow Pass, but might do so with your recommendation. Did you use their sealant? Do they ride significantly better?
I've never tried tubeless Barlow Pass, but might do so with your recommendation. Did you use their sealant? Do they ride significantly better?
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I think it might feel a little smoother/quicker, but it is a subtle enough difference that it could well be placebo. I had not ridden much this spring before making the switch, so I’m really going off of memory what certain roads felt like on the old BPs with tubes.
Also, if there is a difference, it may be due to loss of weight rather than tubeless or casing difference. I weighed the whole wheel setup before (old BP tires with tubes) and after (new BP with a little over 2oz sealant), and the new setup is ~1/4 lbs lighter per wheel.
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I thought of getting these...and instead got the 700x50c Schwalbe G-One Speeds....in part because I could get them for $55/tire. IRL measure 46mm on 21.5mm rims
How big IRL are the Borlow Passes on the rims you're using?
How big IRL are the Borlow Passes on the rims you're using?
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Last edited by Cyclist0108; 04-19-20 at 07:14 PM. Reason: added some links
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I live in Upstate NY now. Used to live in southwest VA. Lots of USFS roads in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.
I’ve ridden dirt roads all over the East Coast and a few places out west.
In my experience, if I am on something that I wish I had treads, I’m also wishing I was on tires bigger than 38s. In fact, I more often wish for more volume then tread on really bad roads.
The one exception is mud, but that is usually brief on this bike. I’m not CX racing.
I’ve ridden dirt roads all over the East Coast and a few places out west.
In my experience, if I am on something that I wish I had treads, I’m also wishing I was on tires bigger than 38s. In fact, I more often wish for more volume then tread on really bad roads.
The one exception is mud, but that is usually brief on this bike. I’m not CX racing.
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I live in Upstate NY now. Used to live in southwest VA. Lots of USFS roads in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.
I’ve ridden dirt roads all over the East Coast and a few places out west.
In my experience, if I am on something that I wish I had treads, I’m also wishing I was on tires bigger than 38s. In fact, I more often wish for more volume then tread on really bad roads.
The one exception is mud, but that is usually brief on this bike. I’m not CX racing.
I’ve ridden dirt roads all over the East Coast and a few places out west.
In my experience, if I am on something that I wish I had treads, I’m also wishing I was on tires bigger than 38s. In fact, I more often wish for more volume then tread on really bad roads.
The one exception is mud, but that is usually brief on this bike. I’m not CX racing.
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I have no experience with the previous Barlow Pass but the new Endurance casing is quite impressive. On pair in terms of comfort with a very supple Soma cazadero but much, much faster. Yet you have to learn how to ride on a semi slick tire. Here is my review of Barlow Pass:
https://gravelbikes.cc/tests/soma-ca...ires-shootout/
https://gravelbikes.cc/tests/soma-ca...ires-shootout/
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I have no experience with the previous Barlow Pass but the new Endurance casing is quite impressive. On pair in terms of comfort with a very supple Soma cazadero but much, much faster. Yet you have to learn how to ride on a semi slick tire. Here is my review of Barlow Pass:
https://gravelbikes.cc/tests/soma-ca...ires-shootout/
https://gravelbikes.cc/tests/soma-ca...ires-shootout/