KonAaron Snake 

What do others think of the Veloflex tubulars? I like them - but I don't find them to be a huge improvement on the clinchers.

gomango

I have used the Roubaix, Arenbergs and now the Vlaandarens.

They are all in my sweet spot for $$$$.

As much performance as I need and the ride is fantastic.

None of them are as wide as I prefer nowadays.

jimmuller 

Oops. My bad. I meant to say they were NOT prone to flats. I've been running Veloflex Masters on the Torelli rims, first on the Masi now on the Gazelle, and Veloflex Criteriums (sew-ups) now on the Masi. I have had one and only one flat on any of them. The flat was due to a large screw that went into the front tire. I rode for another mile and a half on the way to work before it went flat.



As I say, except for this one my Veloflex have had no flats at all, at all. When I was running Vittorias (both clincher and sew-up) I had plenty of flats.

Veloflex website claims they have a puncture-resistant belt. It appears to work.

I corrected my error above.

gomango

Yeah, as I mentioned, my experience with the brand has been really satisfying.

All I want that company to do now is put out a 700x28 or 700x32 clincher at a price point near the Masters.

Down the road they can put out a little wider tubular and I would be very happy.

KonAaron Snake 

This is one of those things where I think your perspective and comparison points really count. I don't think they're flat prone...I've done better with these than I have with Panaracers or Vittorias (I'm beginning to think Vittoria just SUCKS across the board)...but they do flat more than the GP 4000s and 4 seasons. I get about 2/3rds the life span, which also isn't awful. To me the Conti GPs are the bench mark for a great clincher tire...and the Veloflex do fall short on flat and durability in comparison. The ride is REALLY nice though...it is more supple than the Contis. Which do I like more? I like both and I like having bikes with each. The Veloflex obviously look the part on a steel bike, and that counts.

My first experience with Veloflex were their crazy light Record tires, which I bought by mistake. I was flatting every other ride and almost swore off Veloflex immediately. I've done OK with the Masters...surprisingly so given their weight.

I get the feeling that we're far from the only ones loving the Veloflex tires. It seems like they're expanding carefully and I'd wager we'll see those things at some point in the near future. The 27 tubulars were, hopefully, a portent. Let's remember that they didn't even have 25s until recently!

jimmuller 

I have to agree but this is a half-full/half-empty argument. My Veloflex-shod bikes, both clincher and sew-up, have light rims strung with 32 2.0/1.7/2.0mm swaged (a.k.a. double-butted) spokes. To the hand they feel similar, the clinchers ever so slightly heavier, and both lighter than the 25mm Paselas on most of my other bikes. I run all the Vf at about 140psi. With similar weight, sidewall suppleness, and pressure they should feel similar.

So what's to recommend one over the other? I think the sew-ups feel slightly smoother, but that could be the power of suggestion. A flatted sew-up is easier to change on the road, way less convenient to fix back home (but a good excuse for a beer). And you are screwed if you get more flats on any given trip than you are carrying spare sew-up tires, whereas a patch kit for clinchers covers a multitude of oops's.

jimmuller 

Good to know. After the most recent cut in a Vittoria on the Motobecane I ordered a pair of Veloflex Criteriums for it. IIRC (and I may be mistaking the various models) I looked at the Record (that's the 210g 22mm tire, right) and decided not to go that extreme. Your notes says I did the right thing.

gioscinelli 

From what I've read that riding under-inflated can lead to more flats and bottoming out on rough road conditions. Over-inflating can damage the wheels and the rump, too. On my Cinelli I use Victoria's Open Corsa and on the Colnago C50 I have Veloflex Open Tubulars. The Victoria's ride harsh, the Veloflex ride smoother, both have 8 bars or 115psi inflation, the minimum required inflation. Fortunately, I weigh less then 150 lbs.

gomango

I can't ride Records.

I'm way too big of a boy for that tire.

My oldest son's friend races Junior class and he uses those a bit.

He weighs 140 soaking wet and he still only rides them in a race.

Zero flat protection and the sidewalls are tissue thin.

gomango

Interesting.

I ride Masters at 85 front/95 or so rear.

Our streets stink here in St. Paul and I like to keep the fillings in my mouth.

When I ride on paths locally like the Gateway they go up 10 pounds front and rear.

That path is like riding on smooth sheets of glass compared to our streets and it's fun to let them rip when no one is in sight.

xiaoman1 

Thanks to all for the time to respond ordering VM's today.
Regards, Ben

jeirvine 

I ride them at exactly that as well (Master 25's), and I weigh 183. I measured them on my Super Champion Gentleman rims and they are actually 22.9mm. They ride more like a larger tire, due to the suppleness, I think. I really wish they would do a 27 or 28mm, or at least a true 25mm.

due ruote 

Actually, the Veloflex site states 100 psi min for the Master 23 and 85 psi min for the 25.

jet sanchEz

Sorry to bump an old thread but I've been using these tires for a few years now and, yes, they are great but I wondered what inner tube y'all are using with these tires?

I find the 25s are pretty hard to mount onto a 23mm rim with a regular inner tube and I was thinking of trying a latex tube with them...any ideas?

SJX426 

I recently purchased the Vittoria Corsa G+. I am impressed compared to the Michelin Pro 2's and Vittoria Corsa CX. The VM's will be next. They are 23's and are run at 120 back and 115 front. The tread is simple and very quiet with a nice comfortable ride on my Montello.


The pressure only lasts for about two days so I am thinking of going with Latex tubes.

noglider 

I have these tires (I think 23mm) on my Lemond Titanium bike. Sunday, I rode the Tour de Bronx 45 miles and then I rode another 15 miles in the city on fairly rough street surfaces. I experienced no harsh ride or fatigue except that my shoulders ached near my spine at the end of the day. I've made some progress with lifting weights and doing pushups, and I believe it would have been worse without those workouts, so I can't blame my pain on the tires. I weigh about 155 now, and I inflated the tires to 90 psi front and rear.

They were hard to install, and while I expect them to stretch, I don't know how much or when. I didn't want to take a chance in case I got a flat on my ride, so I brought along a Kool Stop Tire Jack. It stuck out of the end of my toolbag, but it's lightweight. It makes mounting tight tires easy and safe. I recommend this tool highly.

mikemowbz

That Kool Stop tool looks handy.

I like my VAR tool for the same purpose, similar concept (and more compact?): VAR RP42500 tyre tool review - BikeRadar

I've usually found Veloflex Masters to be pretty easy to *re-mount*, but undoubtedly difficult first time 'round.

I've got Masters on two bikes (on three sets of wheels, actually). Two sets of 25s and an older set of blue/tanwall nominal 22s that now measure ~24mm wide. I just grabbed a spare set of 25s during a big online seller's most recent tire sale (~$60 Canadian!) At prices I've paid, value on these tires is phenomenal.

I run 'em higher than most here, but I'm a big guy (6' 2 1/2" and ~265lbs). Usually fill to 120-125 rear and 110-115 front, and I'll ride 'em down to about 20psi below that before dutifully filling again.

I really like the ride (grippy, and very plush even at high pressures). Have not had an abnormal number of flats.

Still waiting for a 28mm equivalent clincher from Veloflex.

Going to try the new(ish) 28mm Vittoria Corsa G+ Isotech in the meantime; hoping these new ones prove not to be overly fragile (especially in light of Aaron's comments above).

BigPoser

That is beautiful! Can I ask what bars you have? They look like a nice compact bar, but with a 26mm stem?

Roger M 

They're most likely Highway One bars from Soma.

As for the tires, I've been riding the Masters, as well as the Vittoria Corsa SC. They're pretty comparable as far as ride and durability. I like em for the price, but they don't last forever.

Camilo

I've been using Masters for about 500 miles or so. I started with 23's which were exactly 23mm on my Velocity A23 rims (23mm outer rim width, 18mm inner). Every other 23mm tire I've used was closer to 25mm on those rims.

But the ride was fine and they look great. I tore a sidewall on the rear after about 100 miles, so I replaced it with a 25 mm Master (which is exactly 25mm, fwiw). So I have 23 in front and 25 in back.

For mounting - they were tough, but not exceptionally more tough than my Michelin Pro 4 tires. I use Veloplugs on my rims and am really careful to pinch the beads into the center of the rim, and it works OK.

SJX426 

If you are referring to the Corsa G+, I can tell you they don't stretch enough to not need the tool. I started carrying mine around with other flat repair items in my small backpack. It is light enough but a bit bulky. The advantage is the leverage you get from the length.

Vintage Raleigh

I use Armorall on tyres that are tight to fit

himespau 

Since I hate flats (and replacing tires due to wearing out because I'm cheap/lazy), if they made a skinwall Continental 4000s, I'd be all over that. As it is, I have a set of Master 25s waiting to try the next time my current 4000s wear out or after I rebuild the wheels (the rims are pretty thing), whichever comes first (or if I flat near the house). What can I say, I'm too lazy to take off a pair of perfectly fine tires just to try something new.

T Stew

I love my Masters, even the 23's run nice and smooth, in fact just as smooth on decent roads as my big tired bikes (but not as smooth over potholes and large cracks). Only gripe since I got the colored ones is keeping them clean. They now seem to be permanently dingy lookin. Any tricks?



I've got some 25's too but haven't tried them yet.

Only other relatively skinny tires I have ridden that were nearly as nice in gum walls are my Conti Classics (25s). Those seem to be very nice if the darker gum walls work for you.

noglider 

@mikemowbz, I prefer the VAR levers, too, but they're out of production.