RE:
Veloflex clinchers were then steets ahead of other clinchers and close in performance to the best tubulars {underline edit}
Hilary, thanks for your response, and one that is a very noble and common refrain.
Please don't feel that I am singling you out, as I am not, but I have lost count of how many times I have heard that modern clinchers ride "just as good as" or "almost just as good as any sew-up".
Allow me to pose a simple question to CR listers and ask them how many time they have heard just the opposite:
"I really like these sew-ups they ride just as good as clinchers!"
I sure as heck have never heard anyone say that.
And there is an obvious simple reason:
Clinchers have never ridden, handled or performed as good any sew-ups in my experience, ever.
Those folks that have changed out their beautiful steeds OEM with sew-ups for those bizarre clincher contraptions---and you know who you are---should be shot at dawn! But not before you bequeath me the sew-ups you haven't yet thrown away. (-:
Nels Cone Seattle WA
p.s. years ago, I wrote a rather indepth article on sew-ups versus clinchers, complete with graphics for the Bicycle Trader. I do not know if Bradley Woehl is still on this list, but if he is, maybe he can dig it out and send it to us.
> Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 19:04:11 +0100
> From: hilary.stone@blueyonder.co.uk
> To: greg@nofatmusic.com
> CC: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: Re: [CR] Tubulars v Clinchers
>
> When we did rolling resistence tests at Cycling Plus magazine in the
> 1990s the Veloflex clinchers were then steets ahead of other clinchers
> and close in performance to the best tubulars - and certainly offered
> better performance than the cheap tubulars...
>
> Hilary Stone, Bristol, British Isles
>
> Greg Arnold wrote:
> > Ahh! The conundrum of logic and language!
> >
> >> Hi Michael,
> >>
> >> If you have never used anything other than tubulars on your bikes then how
> >> do you know that nothing else compares with their ride quality ?
> >>
> >> Regards
> >>
> >> Ken Hume
> >> London, England
> >
> > Ill leave it to Michael to respond - but I know he's been riding a long
> > time, bought his first few Masi's from Falerio personally, and has had a lot
> > of experience. I'm guessing he, like many of us, had ridden other peoples
> > bikes with clinchers and decided long ago they were inferior rides!
> >
> > But it brings up a topic I didn't find a lot of archive info on --
> >
> > I'm interested in is what kind of tires the listers have found to be
> > 'stellar' rides from among the few brand choices left these days.
> >
> > I am curious because I've been running my own - costly! - test by swapping
> > various sets of wheels on my fav rides to compare. This is primarily because
> > I bought a stunning 63 cinelli last month - completely original except with
> > Spence Wolf clinchers (the horror!) built on 60s hubs with the usual spence
> > wolf touch of soldered spokes. I was told they were built in 1990, so I'm
> > halfway off topic, but I expect a list variance! (since the wheels are on a
> > 1963 SC) My first clinchers ever.
> >
> > Ive also been a sew-ups only rider all my life, but I must say, with
> > veloflex pave tires these clincher wheels are really tight, ride
> > beautifully, are pretty to look at, look just like low profile tubulars, and
> > I'm told have a reliably long life. I've swapped the wheel set among several
> > 60s and 70s bikes I own, and find them quite nice. I'm 6'2/185 so I ride
> > larger bikes @62-63cm and I guess for even heavier riders/large bikes these
> > clinchers may be a nice alternative.
> >
> > I have also found Tufo Pro 33s to be bullet proof, very well balanced and
> > consistently made, thin profiled, and lovely. Plus they are cheap. My only
> > gripe is cosmetic - the tan sidewalls oxidize over time and turn almost
> > black. Anyone else have this issue? Or tried cleaning them with any luck?
> > Please let me know how its done!
> >
> > Next I bought some larger profile vintage Clemente grifo 61s last month to
> > further the experiment. Much larger profile, decent well balanced tires and
> > period correct, handsome, but no great ride improvement.
> >
> > Finally I have been also riding Gommitalia Platinums. Premium tires, perfect
> > balance, thin profile, very pretty in tan and black, and my top
> > recommendation if cost isn't an issue. They average $100/ a piece.
> >
> > So - anyone else care to chime in? Would love to know what people are riding
> > these days and why.
> >
> > Gorgeous day in NYC, I'm off to soak up some road on the Veloflex Paves!
> >
> > Thanks
> > Greg Arnold NYC
> > greg@nofatmusic.com
> > http://www.nofatmusic.com