Limited Release of a Higher Performance RIDER T1

• Lighter weight improves dynamic response on the trail

  • Quicker acceleration

  • Better braking

  • Sharper handling

• More supple sidewalls enhance ride quality

  • Stronger passive suspension effect

  • Conforms better to trail irregularities

• Restricted availability due to limited available quantities

  • Delivered by Swiss Post within Switzerland

  • Shipped by DHL from Germany to the rest of the world

  • Sold by Specialty Retro Products to North American addresses

Greetings, citizens of Terra One! While making the second batch of RIDER T1 tires, my manufacturing partner, Vee Tire Co., was able to produce a small quantity which weigh in below the lower limit of the production tolerance range, which was previously 710 grams. They shipped all of these lightweight tires to Terra One, and upon receipt, I weighed and sorted the tires again, setting aside all of the examples below 700 grams to become this limited production, RIDER T1 Light release. A large part of the weight differences between RIDER T1 tires come from the amount of rubber which is captured by the 120TPI nylon casing fabric in and on the sidewalls during the curing process in the molds. This means that while the specifications for the RIDER T1 Light are the same as the original version, their casings should be even more flexible than the original version. You, the rider, will benefit from a more supple ride quality and improved dynamic response (acceleration, braking & agility). However, this also means that the RIDER T1 Light will likely be more susceptible to sidewall damage: from cuts, scrapes, exposure to UV light, and underinflation. In pushing the lower limits of weight possible with this design and specification, occasionally a tread block or two will have been molded with soft, rounded edges, instead of the usual sharp, square corners. You can see an example of this inside a yellow circle in a close-up shot in the product gallery. In addition, with less translucent, undyed rubber material covering the sidewalls, one will see more details of the underlying fabric, especially the joint at which the casing has been joined to itself by hand on the build drum during the making of the tire. Also, the shades of beige may not be as consistent as the standard version: both from point to point around a single tire, and between the two tires which make up a pair. You can see examples of such visible details circled in yellow in the product gallery images. I will personally match pairs of RIDER T1 Light tires by sidewall shade and weight, but be prepared for lighter shades and a larger degree of color variation than the standard version.

The RIDER T1 Light is a limited production tire, which requires compromises in durability and visual consistency to achieve even higher performance. If you have any doubts that it's right for you, your bike, your riding style, and your favorite trails after reading this far, please choose one of the standard versions instead.

As with the standard versions of the RIDER T1, there aren't any designs or information printed on the outside of the tires. All logos and legal information are molded into the sidewalls. As it comes out of the same molds as the standard versions, the RIDER T1 Light will be your unmarked and unmarketed secret weapon. The total number of these lightweight tires produced was low enough that it didn't make sense to split it up across my logistics and reseller partners around the world. The RIDER T1 Light is available through this web site and through Specialty Retro Products in the USA. Please kindly limit each order for the RIDER T1 Light through this website to a single pair. This will both allow more enthusiasts to experience these special tires, and keep my shipping costs from Germany to addresses outside the EU under control. DHL's reasonable Päckchen (small parcel) flat rate to the rest of the world ends at 2kg per shipment, and any heavier packages are charged significantly more. Finally, be aware that customs and VAT charges may apply to destination addresses outside of Switzerland and the EU. That's enough detail from me. Thanks for reading this far, and if the RIDER T1 Light is right for you, enjoy! Happy trails, Terrance