Tubular Tire Recommendation

I get best results with the hand-made ones. I've got the
following setups - Veloflex Criterium, Conti Competition,
and right now I've got Michelin Service Course on my TT
bike. But I'm pretty sure Michelin doesn't make those
themselves (green sidewalls/black slick tread). Like them
all, especially like the profile of the Veloflex - a bit
wider. I guess that would be cost no object for the latter
two and maybe you can still get Veloflex at $75US.

Occasionally you can find older, Italian made Vittoria CX/CG
on ebay for a decent price. Those are still very nice riding
and durable.

-Darryl Mataya

Darryl Mataya wrote:

*Hello,

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I get best results with the hand-made ones. I've got the
following setups -

*I have use all of these tires listed and these are my
impressions of them.

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Veloflex Criterium

*Still my favorite or ride quality, road feel, grip and
traction. They are quite durable, I usually get 1500 to
~2000 miles out of a rear tire and more from the fronts. I
have had a tire gashed by something very large and sharp, it
left a 1/2" long cut on the tread, but the tire still went
down slowly, it did not flat suddenly.

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Conti Competition

*One durable tire, these wear well, light weight with nice
grip and traction. The only thing I don't like about these
are the ride and price in the USA.

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Michelin Service Course on my TT bike. But I'm pretty sure
Michelin doesn't make those themselves (green
sidewalls/black slick tread).

*I used these for a while and did not like them. The ride
was quite similar to their clinchers and overall feel on the
road were very similar too. These simply don't feel like a
nice tubular.

*I did have problems with the base tape coming un-glued
from the casing. This got me concerned enough to stop using
these tires. I have rolled more than one tubular over the
years, and rolling a tubular during a race is too dangerous
for all involved.

*I'm pretty sure Michelin did build these tires, but
Michelin is pretty much our of the tubular tire business.
They have concentrated on clinchers and a new tubeless
road tire.

*There are others like the Vittoria CX, it's kind of a
classic standard nice hand made tubular. I have used them
over the years and like them just fine, not as nice riding
as the Veloflex, but definely good. It's one of the standard
issue among the pro-peleton.

*Vittoria All Weather Pro and Special Pave. Both really
good when it's cold, wet and the roads are mush. I use
these during the wet season. Better ride then the CX due to
the larger casing, softer tread compound, but it's one
tough tire.

*There is TUFO, no inner tube. I have not tried these yet,
and Dugast, they are under new ownership and offers a
variety of handmade tubulars. You can find them on the web.

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Like them all, especially like the profile of the Veloflex
- a bit wider.

*Veloflex now makes a tire called the Roubix, it's 24mm
wide. I have not tired them yet, but they might be the new
Del-Mondo.

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I guess that would be cost no object for the latter two
and maybe you can still get Veloflex at $75US.

*Contact Danny at Crit USA, he has pretty good prices and
great service.

Quoted message said:

Occasionally you can find older, Italian made Vittoria
CX/CG on ebay for a decent price. Those are still very
nice riding and durable.

*Better yet, Clement Del-Mondos, Criterium, Paris Roubix.
Egyptian cotton casing or silk. Those were the days..

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-Darryl Mataya

Bernice

Rob-<< What are considered to be the finer tubular tires
available today?

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<BR><BR>

Conti Sprinters for the rear and Vittoria CX for the
front..Velomax also a good choice.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali
costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Rob-<< What are considered to be the finer tubular tires
available today?

*Conti Sprinters.... I got near 6,000 miles out of one. The
center of the tread was very near the casing. It never
flatted, but just wore out. That is one durable tire. The
ride is not to my liking, otherwise, it's a pretty good
value overall.

Bernice

Quoted message said:

Conti Sprinters for the rear and Vittoria CX for the
front..Velomax also a good choice.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali
costruite eccezionalmente bene"