What Our Gearhead® Experts Are Saying:"I swapped to the tube-type Blackbird for a crit block and kept it on for fondo season. It feels quick right off the line, corners hard without that vague squirm, and the Aramid layer has shrugged off sketchy shoulder debris. If you want a classic clincher that’s genuinely raceable, this one hits the sweet spot."When speed is the goal and simplicity matters, we reach for the Hutchinson Blackbird tube-type. Built around the Blackbird race platform, this clincher uses Mach Tread 3. 0 to minimize rolling resistance on the straights while holding a confident line through fast corners. Handmade in France with a supple 127 TPI folding casing, it delivers that lively road feel we love for crits, circuit races, and tempo training. Aramid Pro Tech adds everyday resilience without dulling the tire’s snap, so we can run pressures to taste and focus on positioning—not punctures. The tube-type Blackbird brings race-day speed to riders who prefer a reliable inner-tube setup.