Challenge Fango Tubular review

Time to dust off this 'ol blog for a review.

Now, tubular cyclocross tires aren't as cool as cigarettes, but have many of the same associations: tradition, addiction, perceived nuances, and loss of brain cells. While reading about the woody earthiness in a Parliament light, I can only think to the countless poetic masturbations written about supple tubular casings. On to the review!

Challenge Fango Tubular - 32mm

This pair of tires was a complement to a set I already owned and love - The classic Challenge Grifo, also in 32mm. For those of you that don't know much about tubular cross tires, these are relatively inexpensive with a nice supple casing and classic latex-tube-sewn-in construction. This makes them more repairable than a tubeless (Tufo) type, but also more fragile. The sidewall is polyester instead of the more expensive Dugast's cotton...but don't take that as a bad thing. Cotton sidewalls rot if left wet, and need protective layers of aquaseal or other rubber to protect them, while polyester can be left bare without a problem. They're somewhat heavier than the other good cross tubulars, but honestly who cares. Yeah, I said it.

The tread pattern on these tires is a bit of a mystery to me. They have low central and transition knobs - great for rolling resistance on hardpack or pavement, and they clear mud really well, but don't offer much pedaling grip in mud, loose debris, or really anything else when compared to a tire with taller center knobs like the Grifo, or a Michelin Mud2. I agree with Matt Pacocha - the side knobs are solid, scoop shaped, and well supported - they hook up better at high lean angles than any cross tire I've ever used and really make this tire what it is. This combo - fast rolling center with great side knobs - makes this tire ride more like a mountain bike semi-slick than what I'd truly call a "mud tire". In serious slop, the side knobs really help in off-camber, but I find myself wishing for more paddles in the center of the tread to keep momentum forward. I'm curious to try a Grifo in the rear, with a Fango up front for really slick conditions.

That said, when the terra-firma turns into terra-caramel, these tires actually clear when others won't.

Best for:
High speed, mountain-bikey hardpack courses, super sticky mud, grass.

Worst for:

Seriously slippery mud, sharp/rocky courses due to fragile sidewall.

How it fits into your quiver:
This tire has turned into my favorite all-arounder. If you own a single pair of tubulars, this should be high on the list unless you're always racing on landfills (norcal), or in goatheads (CO) - in those places I'd probably opt for the more durable Tufo's - likely going with the non-flexus version to save some cash.

If you're looing for a dedicated mudder, look elsewhere. Don't buy this expecting to excel at Hamme-Zogge, or even Gloucester if it's been raining a lot. Suggestions for those conditions would probably be Tufo's Cubus (flexus or regular), Dugast's Rhino, or even Challenge's classic Grifo.