The robust Marathon XR touring tire developed a cult following among bicycle tourists (including us), who marvelled at its ability to resist punctures and roll for distances of 15,000-20,000 kilometers.
Then, in 2009, Schwalbe discontinued the tire – much to the disappointment of the bike touring community.
Now we can all cheer again, as Schwalbe are releasing a new tire in 2012, and they’re touting the Marathon Mondial as the “ultimate touring tire, made for roads, tracks and trails of all continents”.
Let’s hope! Yes, it’s heavy and relatively expensive but for those of us who really like to get off road (and don’t mind losing a bit of speed in exchange for reliability and durability), the Marathon Mondial could be what we’ve been missing for the last couple of years.
Read more about the Marathon Mondial – and other tires for touring – on our Tires For Bicycle Touring page.