Veloflex Black Tire

Price Paid:  $55.00 at World Class Cycles

Favorite Ride:
TOMRV

Bike Setup:
2007 Trek Madone with custom built wheels. Velocity Fusion rims, sapim spokes, Dura Ace hubs.

Summary:
Riding these tires was just bizarre to say the least. Bizarre in a good, unbelievable way. I still can't believe that a tire can behave like a shock absorber. I replaced a set of Bontrager Race X Lite tires with these Veloflex Black (Pave) tires. The Bontragers worked out just great for me with over 2000 miles before I had to replace the set, so I have nothing bad to say about the Bontragers. On the other hand, these Veloflex tires are some other kind of animal. How in heck can a tire cushion like these do? I just finished a 80+ extreme climbing ride with the new Veloflex tires. Two weeks prior I did the same ride with my trusty Bontrager set. Huge difference in ride comfort. Both sets were inflated to the exact same pressure. Both sets were 700 x 23c. Same bike, same rider. Riding on the Veloflex tires was like someone just invented a full suspension road bike. That's not to say when you hit a bump full on that it doesn't still drive the seat straight up into the family jewels. These tires almost seem to be alive with the way they respond to small vibrations. Veloflex says they use a Natural Rubber exclusive compound. I say it's magic. Another difference I noticed in the specs of the Veloflex tires is their extremely high TPI (Threads Per Inch) count. 300 TPI on the Veloflex versus 120 TPI for the Bontragers. The high thread count must make this a much more supple and flexible tire. Also, the inflation limits are significant different. 145 lbs per square inch versus 120.

I replaced both my tires and inner tubes (michelin air stop tubes) at the same time. WCC had a deal that included free shipping and innertubes for the price I paid for the tires.

Strengths:
Beautifully made. Exceptional road damping. Good rolling resistance. High thread count. Good looking, very simple graphic on the tire.

Weaknesses:
Unlike some other reviewers, I was able to 100% hand mount these tires on my Velocity Fusion rims. I'm a pretty small guy (135 lbs) without a lot of upper body strengh. It wasn't easy and I think I pushed the finger prints right off my thumbs, but I did it. Honestly, I think it makes a big difference who makes your rims as to how difficult it will be to mount the tires. I did liberally coat all surfaces with talc, including the rim tape, the inside of the tires and the outside of the rim itself. Amazingly enough I didn't do the traditional guy thing and do the massive talc job in the living room, I actually went outside:) By the way, I didn't have traditional talc sitting around. I grabbed some Gold Bond Medicated power (mostly talc) and used that.

Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Race X Lite tires.

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Price Paid:  $38.00 at PBK

Favorite Ride:
Saanich

Bike Setup:
Steel, ultegra, DT Swiss hubs and rims

Summary:
I love these tires. They grip well, seem fast, and provide better cushioning than any other tire I've tried. To my mind, similar in feel to ProRace 2, but better all the way round. Are they durable? I don't know yet, with only 1,000 km on them, but I won't mind the price if I can get 3,000 to 4,000 km on them

Strengths:
Best riding tire ever

Weaknesses:
None that I can see

Similar Products Used:
Vittoria Evo, Diamante Pro Lite, Rubino Pro;
Michelin PR2

Price Paid:  $50.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Waipapa Loop

Bike Setup:
Stock Scott Addict

Summary:
At the risk of repeating the previous reviewers these tyres are the business.
I cannot find a faster tyre and goodness knows it feels like I've tried a few. I ride and race on course chip roads and have found if you don't over inflate (100 psi)these tyres are still as fast and real smooooth. For a top tyre of this weight they are quite durable too. Just don't train on them unless you have deep pockets.

Strengths:
Simply the best racing clincher I have found.

Weaknesses:
None really for intended purpose. Don't seem to like glass. What does?

Similar Products Used:
Continental GP, Michelin Pro Race,Vittoria Corsa.

Price Paid:  $32.00 at wcp

Favorite Ride:
country, no cars

Bike Setup:
Fuji Team RC, DA, X-lites and Zipps

Summary:
People! If you are wanting the best ride quality, suppleness, spin-up rate, and low weight in a clincher, THIS IS IT. Stop looking. Vulcanized tires can not touch a handmade, cotton casing, real rubber tread open tubular like these. And the 300tpi and flawless construction is better than Vittoria. Small company- think master craftsmen. Add a latex tube and you just created 95% of what tubulars offer at a much lower cost. I'll give you that tubs. still corner better due to sidewall deformation. But Veloflex delivers low rolling resistance, lively feel (latex tube matters here), satisfactory puncture resistance and killer grip. They can be expensive but if you surf you'll find something acceptable. Think $60 for tire and latex tube. When have you ever seen a top quality tubular for that? No glue, no ridiculous repairs. Get em! (I am in no way associated with any arm of the bicycle industry. Just a masters racer with kids who wishes he'd found this combo years ago). One final note to the younger generation. You can not damn a tire's puncture reputation unless you keep your tread clean even while riding. Put your hand on the tire if you ride through some junk and you'll be happier with the durability of any tire.

Strengths:
Ride quality with latex tube. Weight. Cornering grip. Quality and beauty of construction. Old school sidewalls or black. Tread color choices.

Weaknesses:
Potential cost but still less than sew-ups.
Lifespan

Similar Products Used:
Vittoria Open Corsa EVO CX, Contis, Michelins, Vredestein, Panaracer you name it.

Price Paid:  $59.00 at Cyclebits.com

Favorite Ride:
Any ride

Bike Setup:
Madone SSL, D/A 10 sp, FSA K-Force
Alex Nexus 1, D/A 9 sp
Guru Strada, D/A 9 sp
Giant TT, D/A 9 sp
Nishiki single speed

Summary:
These are the best feeling clincher tyres I have ever used. If I didn't know any better, I'd think they were tubulars.
Value for money, I think they are fantastic, hand made tyres, real hand made Italian tyres, are rare and should be much more expensive than this. Sure they wear fast, but what do you want from a tyre that is so grippy and light.
Matched with Maxxis flyweight tubes and a 1350gram set of American Classic wheels, they are hard to beat.

Strengths:
Excellent grip, low weight, great road feel.

Weaknesses:
Can be tricky to fit on rims. Be patient, don't rush it.
Be extra vigilant about sharp nasties on the road.

Similar Products Used:
Nothing could be classed as similar, but...
Michelin Pro2 Race, Clement Gavias, Vredesteins, Continentals, Hutchinsons, Bontragers