Normally The Keepers reserve our Reverence articles for products we’ve used for years, or with new stuff that has had at least six months of duty. Riding the cobbles of Belgium and Northern France can put most gear (and bodies) through six months of abuse in just a few weeks, so in this case the work these tyres have been put through there and in the months since qualifies them for a deserved earlier dose of Reverence.
Selecting what gear to run for the Cobbled Classics Keepers Tour wasn’t too hard a task; there are some things which just go with cobbles bikes like double wrapped bartape, alloy steerer fork and of course box section rims laced 3 cross. Tubular or clincher was about the only tough decision I had to make. I managed to find a cheap pair of Ambrosio tub rims, but as they were 36 hole it proved impossible to find a cassette hub in time for the tour. How bad could clinchers be? After all, Freddy Guesdon won Roubaix on clinchers in 97, and the Pavé boys would have spare wheels if something went terribly awry. It wasn’t the cobbles that would claim my clinchers, but the ham-fisted rock apes generously referred to by airlines as baggage handlers.
Choosing a tyre to run was probably the easiest task. It had to be Vittoria’s Open Pavé CG‘s, based on what I’d seen gracing Pro’s bikes in just about every edition of the Spring Classics I’d witnessed. The distinctive green herringbone tread stripe is as synonymous with these races as are crazed fans, beer and frites en mayo. Unfortunately the ‘Open Tubular’ doesn’t come in the 28mm width of it’s tubular brethren, but a 24mm version only. That extra mm wasn’t a lot but it was something. The real benefit of the tyres though is the 320TPI casing, yeilding a super smooth ride on any surface. Coupled with Vittoria’s Latex inner tubes, the feel of cushioning under the bike is definitely noticeable. Over all of the 21 secteurs we rode on the way to Roubaix, then another 15 of the worst a few days later, topped with a full complement of Flandrian roads, I only once feared I might hear the dreaded hiss from my tyres. Nailing an edge of a nasty cobble hard enough to feel the rock hitting the rim, the tyre bounced off and the slippery latex tube stayed intact. On return to NZ, I inspected the tyres for damage and was surprised and delighted to find nary a nick or any signs of wear.
I’ve been riding the Pavés ever since the Tour, and don’t want to swap them out at least until the Kiwi winter is over. The ride continues to impress with their sheer suppleness (dare I say souplesse?) over rough surfaces. They aren’t the lightest or fastest rolling, but neither am I. For summer I think I’ll try the lighter Corsa Evo SC‘s, which look just as cool with their tan sidewalls and are another Pro favourite. And if you’re worried about a green stripe clashing with your bike’s paint job, I think there should be a Rule #8 ammendment that the only coloured tyre allowed on any bike, due to it’s unrivalled heritage, is the venerable and now ReVered Open Pavé CG.
Thanks to Graeme at Cycle Sport NZ for his generosity in supplying the tyres and tubes.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/brettok@velominati.com/Open Pav/”/]
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@Oli
So, I went to the local tip shop to see if I could find an old frame to make into a wheelbuilding jig. Didn't find one of those, but I did find a DMR trailstar for 20 bucks. Orange Marzo M1 Bombers, xt brakes, and a tacoed rear wheel. (sigh), N+1 means I'm now a mountain biker. Or a middle aged roadie who does mad hucks round town.
Haha! Love the tar, love the dirt, baby!
A status on my Rubino Pro Techs. The standard bike exam after the Festum Prophetae revealed a decent sized cut in the back wheel. I guess the good news is that it was a cut found later, not a puncture on the road. The bad news is that my route held no unusual road conditions. Maybe just bad luck, but I'm leaning toward the "nick too easily" crowd.
Is there a particular name in the Lexicon yet for a riding acquaintance who rides old shite tyres that need to be replaced and then flats two rides in a row? If not, we need one & someone more friendly with this dude needs to tell him to buy some new damn tires.
Standard fare though - he also rides old, threadbare, ugly as kit. Mtn shoes/pedals on his road bike as well. I'm pretty sure he's one of these types who is working so hard to not comply with "the norm" and thus be cool that he actually comes off looking & flatting like a dumbfuck.
@the Engine
It worked - I was better after 160kms than I was before I started
@Anjin-san
I'd recommend you only use sealant when you're sure it's gonna work well and seal the puncture otherwise there's really no point.Never use sealant just to get you home.Stans can cope with bigger cuts and punctures than Caffelatex but for me it's too strong.I don't like to use sealants at all and prefer to take off the punctured tube and put the spare on.If my current tube is almost worn out (75% of usage) and I happen to puncture I will use Caffelattex and if that doesn't work then I'd use Stans.Basically you just try to seal the tubular and wear it out completely since it's not worth to use thread and needle on it no more.
If you happen to puncture on a fairly new expensive tubular do not use sealant if you are not sure if it's gonna work.Use a spare and send your tube to place like Tire Alert or similar and they will fix it for you with free return shipping.If you use sealant and it didn't work I doubt they will accept it.
@Gianni
" Lower pressure=faster rolling, better cornering, more comfy"
That is absolute bollocks Gianni.If you can't ride your race bike at a pressure above 100 PSI then I'd recommend different bicycle choice,touring bike perhaps .I just can't believe that out of all tire choices out there you went for the worst option-tubeless.Since you're not a newbie on a race bike I'm surprised you have to ride on such a low pressure to be comfortable.If you normally pump up to 80 PSI what pressure you had in France/Belgium?
@Dr C
Nice bike mate.Is your back problem the reason your saddle is pointing down more than usual?
@TommyTubolare
You know, I'd also submit that it could have a lot to do with you're choice of tub. I was having this discussion w @gaswepass just last night. He was trying out some demo carbone tubs at our local Tuesday Night Worlds, and said he didn't like the feel at all. Felt like every time he's cornering they were "tippy" and like they were going to come out from under him. I thought that sounded weird, and asked what rubber they were running. Conti Sprinters. I had a set of those glued up on some Zipps in the past (came equipped with them, used). I hated the Conti's right away. Switched to Vittorias and solved the problem. Ran the same pressure too BTW; 135psi.
I'm riding TUFO's Race Elite 23mm in the rear, TT 19mm in the front. The front is a bit squirrely and will get changed soon. That said, they are smooth enough at the psi I run them at, that during the Cogal this weekend I kept "bounce checking" my rear tyre 'cause it felt too soft. It wasn't. AND, I was really only out-decended by Frank (who's bigger than me and goes downhill like a bowling ball on rails) on one hill. One which he is now currently in 2nd place on Strava. Or maybe I have mad bike handling skills. Fuck what do I know anyway. 80psi? For my beach cruiser maybe.
@TommyTubolare
Tried them at 120 and it was much better than 155 - feels different going down hill as I'm going faster (which is counter intuitive but the computer does not lie)