new Vredstein tires for me!

[LordOpie]

Big thanks to Just James... my virtual sugar-daddy.

It's like Chanukah! I got 8 gifts in the mail today!

(2) vredestein Perfect Carraterra 26x2"
EDIT: Just rode the Carraterra's today. The morning commute was a real nasty mix of water, snow, and ice. The tire handled well, tho I was not riding agressively. The one big surprised was the commute home... the roads were bone dry. I was expecting the tires to be slow with some vibration from the knobs; however, it was much faster than I even dreamed, very smooth, no noise... even through turns when I'm leaning onto the knobs a little.
(2) Vredstein Moiree 26x1.375"
(4) Vredestein tubes

I loved my Vredstein Fortezzas... especially doing 50mph down a mountain, but I have no 700c wheels any more.


I didn't know the strip along the sidewall was reflective until I looked at the photo on the computer :D Pleasantly surprised. I'll be using this tire until it snows. One question tho, will it work on a Mavic XC717 rim? The rim seems rather narrow. I have another wheelset that I'll use if y'all think it won't hold.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/lordopie/th_Vred_commuterTire2.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/lordopie/Vred_commuterTire2.jpg)

The tread pattern looks like it'll be a great all-weather (maybe not ice?) tire. Looks like it'll move me on snow. Looking forward to trying it in crappy weather. Plus, it looks rather burly, so I'm hoping for no flats in said crap weather.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/lordopie/th_Vred_commuterTire1.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/lordopie/Vred_commuterTire1.jpg)

I'll post more about them as I use them.

[James]

Hey good, they got in. Sweet.
Shouldn't be any issues using it on the 717 rim, I wouldn't hesitate to use them on one. I have a set of the Carraterras on a pair of Bontrager wheels, they're a tad wider, but you should be fine.
Man, the pic of the Carraterra tread came out really nice! Both tires have silica in the rubber, so they'll be a bit better in the wetter conditions than tires without. Both have anti-flat strips in them, the ones in the Carraterras are pretty damn thick too, so they should be able to take what you can dish out. They were both developed for riding in the Netherlands, which as we all know is pretty much the #1 bike commute country in the world. Vred sells about 800,000 tires there annually, most of them the commute stuff.
The Moirees are a bit faster, obviously, but the tread was designed to clear water pretty well, so don't be afraid to run them when it's wet out.
Let me know how they work for ya!

JJames

[gonefirefightin]

lucky..........when do i get a virtual sugar daddy? must be a custom title thing.......

[LordOpie]

Hey good, they got in. Sweet.
Shouldn't be any issues using it on the 717 rim, I wouldn't hesitate to use them on one. I have a set of the Carraterras on a pair of Bontrager wheels, they're a tad wider, but you should be fine.
Man, the pic of the Carraterra tread came out really nice! Both tires have silica in the rubber, so they'll be a bit better in the wetter conditions than tires without. Both have anti-flat strips in them, the ones in the Carraterras are pretty damn thick too, so they should be able to take what you can dish out. They were both developed for riding in the Netherlands, which as we all know is pretty much the #1 bike commute country in the world. Vred sells about 800,000 tires there annually, most of them the commute stuff.
The Moirees are a bit faster, obviously, but the tread was designed to clear water pretty well, so don't be afraid to run them when it's wet out.
Let me know how they work for ya!

JJames
I'll put them through the trials of goathead and glass lined roads. I didn't know about silica and how it helps. I want to try them on ice, but I already bought a set of Nokians, so, ya know, gonna wuss out.

I wish America was just a little more bike conscious as the Netherlands or Italy.

lucky..........when do i get a virtual sugar daddy? must be a custom title thing.......

You're pretty whiney for a war hero.

[gonefirefightin]

You're pretty whiney for a war hero.

I am just bitter about not having a cross bike, must be an uber cool club thing.

[James]

I'll put them through the trials of goathead and glass lined roads. I didn't know about silica and how it helps. I want to try them on ice, but I already bought a set of Nokians, so, ya know, gonna wuss out.

I wish America was just a little more bike conscious as the Netherlands or Italy.

A lot of it is the culture, but a lot has to do with how many towns and cities in the US were built; around the car.
This is a pretty cool site: http://www.2milechallenge.com/home.html
Opened my eyes a little bit to all the stuff that's around my pad...

I would totally ride the Nokians over the Vreds on ice, bar none. There is no substitute for metal studs in your tires

[ire]

Looks great! Now I'm extra excited...

[James]

Looks great! Now I'm extra excited...

Yours were 700c...
I would guess you'll see them tomorrow or so.

[ire]

Yours were 700c...
I would guess you'll see them tomorrow or so.

SWEEEET....can't wait! I'll post pics when I recieve them

[gonefirefightin]

SWEEEET....can't wait! I'll post pics when I recieve them

how come I am not in this whole "tire pimp/e-sugar daddy" circle?

[LordOpie]

how come I am not in this whole "tire pimp/e-sugar daddy" circle?

cuz these are commuter tires and you're unemployed.

[James]

how come I am not in this whole "tire pimp/e-sugar daddy" circle?

Aren't you sponsored through the Wounded Warriors though?

[gonefirefightin]

cuz these are commuter tires and you're unemployed.

my existence is now justified by the casual online smattering of words from random people.

I think i will go cut myself

Aren't you sponsored through the Wounded Warriors though?

yeah, I pretty much get whatever I need, but not want...

I am just jealous/bitter and angry that i cant do the whole hybrid/cross stuff. I can ride over it just not anything on foot. one road bike and it is still down due to a crash in the carolinas.

[James]

yeah, I pretty much get whatever I need, but not want...

I am just jealous/bitter and angry that i cant do the whole hybrid/cross stuff. I can ride over it just not anything on foot. one road bike and it is still down due to a crash in the carolinas.

So then what do you *want*?

Get that bike up and running man!
*edit*: Like I should talk...:)

[LordOpie]

I am just jealous/bitter and angry that i cant do the whole hybrid/cross stuff. I can ride over it just not anything on foot. one road bike and it is still down due to a crash in the carolinas.
umm, what?

I don't know about ire, but I'm not doing any cx stuff at all. If I can't ride over it, I'll take another route home.

You crashed your road bike?


I wish I was hardcore enough to get blowed up and still ride hard enough to crash :) I've become a big wet pvssy after what you'd consider minor surgery three times.

[gonefirefightin]

my gears have switched in to a downhill priority mode in the last few weeks. I am currently using the programs road bikes instead of flying my own. kind of a pain in the arse since nothing fits but it is all free.

I think opie hit it on the head..............

cuz these are commuter tires and you're unemployed.

eh hem, retired.....thank you

[ire]

I don't know about ire, but I'm not doing any cx stuff at all. If I can't ride over it, I'll take another route home.

I ride/race cross.....but man do I hate running! I try to ride everything and only dismount when absolutely necessary. GFF…..cross bikes are great for road/gravel rides. I use mine for that a lot

[Wumpus]

One question tho, will it work on a Mavic XC717 rim? The rim seems rather narrow. I have another wheelset that I'll use if y'all think it won't hold.


I run a 2.3 WTB Weirwolf on a 717. No problems yet.

[LordOpie]

I run a 2.3 WTB Weirwolf on a 717. No problems yet.

check out Sheldon Brown's tire-rim width chart (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html#width) and tell me if y'all think he's way off base?

I mean, according to that chart, you "shouldn't" put a tire wider than 44mm. Even conservatively, that's much narrower than 2.3" (58mm).

And yet, Wumpus clearly exceeds the 'recommendation' without issue? (which is very good to know, thanks)

[ire]

check out Sheldon Brown's tire-rim width chart (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html#width) and tell me if y'all think he's way off base?

I mean, according to that chart, you "shouldn't" put a tire wider than 44mm. Even conservatively, that's much narrower than 2.3" (58mm).


pffffft.....what does that Sheldon Brown guy know anyway? :disgust:

[ire]

SWEEEEEET!!!! I got my Vredstein tires!!! These things are really light, and check out the PSI....175!! Thanks Just James!!!!!!!!!!

[LordOpie]

you got the upgraded Fortezzas! Awesome!

Just make sure your rim is rated to handle whatever psi you run :)

[ire]

I love black tires....they have that "mean" look :) That way I look good when I get passed on the climb

[-dustin]

we sell a fair amount of the Fortezza Tricomps. I've been curious and want to try them at some point. I'm just too cheap when it comes to tires. 4 of my 6 tubular tires are used Vittoria Corsas from a customer that flatted. I've injected Stan's into them hoping they'll hold.

[LordOpie]

we sell a fair amount of the Fortezza Tricomps. I've been curious and want to try them at some point. I'm just too cheap when it comes to tires. 4 of my 6 tubular tires are used Vittoria Corsas from a customer that flatted. I've injected Stan's into them hoping they'll hold.

Is the following true...

stans > true goo > slime

?

My LBS has true goo tubes, but the owner said, "let me put stans in the regular tubes instead." I figure it's gotta be as good, if not better.

[ire]

I don't know about true goo and slime, but Stan's is different. Its basically a liquid latex

[-dustin]

Stan's is definitely different. Not sure about True Goo and Slime, though.

[James]

SWEEEEEET!!!! I got my Vredstein tires!!! These things are really light, and check out the PSI....175!! Thanks Just James!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, sweet!
A couple of things:
1. I (and Vred) recommend you run then at 145psi, assuming your rim can take it. Most can. The alloys rims on one of my wheels are rated to 333psi on the Japanese standard test, and even the magnesiums are rated to 217psi.
2. You probably know the Fortezzas, but the Quattros are designed for wetter conditions. Figured you could use them up in your area, be a great winter/wet tire. Still have dual compound, still are designed for 145psi, but fantastic in the rain. They're roll a bit slower in the dry, but that's not what they're designed for. I really think you'll like them.

Keep me posted on your experiences with them, I'd like to hear them.

JJames

[James]

we sell a fair amount of the Fortezza Tricomps. I've been curious and want to try them at some point. I'm just too cheap when it comes to tires. 4 of my 6 tubular tires are used Vittoria Corsas from a customer that flatted. I've injected Stan's into them hoping they'll hold.
What shop do you work at?

[-dustin]

Plano Cycling and Fitness

[loco-gringo]

we sell a fair amount of the Fortezza Tricomps. I've been curious and want to try them at some point. I'm just too cheap when it comes to tires. 4 of my 6 tubular tires are used Vittoria Corsas from a customer that flatted. I've injected Stan's into them hoping they'll hold.

I ran them and liked them a lot. I am running Fortezza SEs right now.

FYI to all - Open Pros are rated at like 146 now.

[ire]

...but the Quattros are designed for wetter conditions. Figured you could use them up in your area, be a great winter/wet tire...

They will get some use this weekend! We are supposed to have rain rolling in on Friday

[loco-gringo]

They will get some use this weekend! We are supposed to have rain rolling in on Friday

After I crashed in the rain, I am a giant vaginal wart about wet roads. I almost move backwards around wet corners. Let me know if these work really well.

[ire]

After I crashed in the rain, I am a giant vaginal wart about wet roads. I almost move backwards around wet corners. Let me know if these work really well.

LOL...I will. The rain can really bring out the oils in the road

[LordOpie]

LOL...I will. The rain can really bring out the oils in the road

as y'all know... just like a car, be extra careful the first 15-20 minutes of rain. By then, hopefully, most of the oils will be lifted and washed away.

[James]

After I crashed in the rain, I am a giant vaginal wart about wet roads. I almost move backwards around wet corners. Let me know if these work really well.

I was too, and to a certain extent still am, but I was pretty impressed with those tires. The side tread is "borrowed" from some Moto GP wet tire technology, little raised points instead of file tread, helps cut through the water to the pavement.

[loco-gringo]

I was too, and to a certain extent still am, but I was pretty impressed with those tires. The side tread is "borrowed" from some Moto GP wet tire technology, little raised points instead of file tread, helps cut through the water to the pavement.

Can you send me a link to pics??? Cost on them???

Never mind. I am smarter with the intarweb than I think I am. :redface:

[LordOpie]

Is Veltec like QBP? I'm confused.

[loco-gringo]

Is Veltec like QBP? I'm confused.

No. They are a distributor, but of much higher quality Euro type stuff.

[James]

Is Veltec like QBP? I'm confused.

We distribute several high-end mostly European brands, but the difference between us and someone like QBP or J&B is that we handle the marketing for the brands as well. So we don't just distribute, we do a lot more.

[ire]

We distribute several high-end mostly European brands, but the difference between us and someone like QBP or J&B is that we handle the marketing for the brands as well. So we don't just distribute, we do a lot more.

You must be the sole importer then?

[LordOpie]

Sounds like a licensing arrangement?

[LordOpie]

Feel free not to answer as you may not be allowed to...

But like Sidi, the only way to buy them in the USA is through your company to a reseller to me? There's no way for a US shop to get Sidi unless it passes through y'all first?

Here's where I'm going with this... ya know how Intel was nothing but a chip manufacturer? Then it marketed itself to end-users even tho 99% of users wouldn't know a chip if you dipped it in salsa? Then it was all "Intel Inside"?

Well, if Veltec only 'licenses' quality stuff for sale in the USA, then why not market your company? I know it's about the quality product, but looking at your website, I see products I love (Sidi, Vreds, Colnago), but products I've never heard of.

Knowing that it must meet the Veltec standard, I am now interested in those products, tho I still know nothing about them.

Like ALINE Insoles. Their website -- from about a 15 second scan -- doesn't really tell me anything to differentiate them from the rest of the insole makers out there, but knowing Veltec is the US agent, now I'm more interested.

Or maybe, via the license, you're not allowed to associate yourself with the product directly? If so, the companies you represent lack vision.


(yes, I'm in marketing, but not really the point :))

[James]

Feel free not to answer as you may not be allowed to...

But like Sidi, the only way to buy them in the USA is through your company to a reseller to me? There's no way for a US shop to get Sidi unless it passes through y'all first?

Here's where I'm going with this... ya know how Intel was nothing but a chip manufacturer? Then it marketed itself to end-users even tho 99% of users wouldn't know a chip if you dipped it in salsa? Then it was all "Intel Inside"?

Well, if Veltec only 'licenses' quality stuff for sale in the USA, then why not market your company? I know it's about the quality product, but looking at your website, I see products I love (Sidi, Vreds, Colnago), but products I've never heard of.

Knowing that it must meet the Veltec standard, I am now interested in those products, tho I still know nothing about them.

Like ALINE Insoles. Their website -- from about a 15 second scan -- doesn't really tell me anything to differentiate them from the rest of the insole makers out there, but knowing Veltec is the US agent, now I'm more interested.

Or maybe, via the license, you're not allowed to associate yourself with the product directly? If so, the companies you represent lack vision.


(yes, I'm in marketing, but not really the point :))

Well, it's a bit complicated, but I'll try to break it down so it makes a bit of sense, and I'm not confused. :)

First, yes, a shop has to be a Veltec dealer in order to get any of our stuff. Even further, to sell Colnago for example, a shop has to be approved to sell frames. We're less picky with brand like Vredestein and Enervit for example.

Veltec made the conscious choice to move our brand a bit to the background, and push our partner brands instead, at least to the consumer. For example, we want Vredestein or Sidi or Colnago to be the name people think of, not Veltec, some distributor. Shops know us, and know that we usually only represent brands that are in the top 3 in their fields.
We are pretty picky about out brands, and we are always the sole distributor in at least the US, though we prefer having exclusive rights for both US and Canada.
We're pretty well known in the industry, for example after Look took their stuff direct, we were approached by several brands for possible distribution, Colnago being the result obviously.
We have a sister company over in Europe, Veltec Benelux, and they do things a bit differently, they promote Veltec as more of a brand, but they do have several more wholly-owned brands over there than we do, and the US market is much, much different than Europe.

We are currently not working with ALINE, we've decided to mutually part ways. It's a good product, but just wasn't as good a fit as we would have liked.

It's a discussion we seem to have every year, but right now I think we're happy to let our partner brands shine, at the end of the day they are the product we're selling.

Hope that made a little bit of sense...:)

JJames

[LordOpie]

Makes sense. Very clear.

In the case of Intel, they had one product to push to the end-user, despite the tons of boxes they were in.

In the case of a distributor that has 100s or 1000s of products, it's easier to market themselves than all those products.

In your case, you have a small select group of premier products that sell themselves. No reason to re-invent the wheel, as it were.

Like Sidi, nothing you say about Veltec will improve the quality of the Sidi Brand. It's Sidi, enough said :)

And Colnago just makes me hard.

[-dustin]

I didn't realize that Enervit was bought through Veltec. Some of their stuff is damn good, while other bits are putrid. Enervit, Accelerade, and Hammer Nutrition products all sell very, very well for us. I just got some Enervit tablets to try out tomorrow... We no longer stock Nuun tablets, sadly.

[ire]

Thats very cool JJames....now if I could just get you to send me a Colnago :biggrin:

[ire]

I fvckin flatted again today :panic: :banghead:

I needed to test out the new cranks on the cross bike so I went out an did a cross ride and flatted about mid way through my ride.......I'm so sick of flat tires. I race cross on tubeless tires, but I was riding my backup wheels (which are tubed).

I did get my sweet Vredstein tires mounted on the road bike and they are all ready for tomorrow. It is raining right now, so it should be a good test of the tires. Looking forward to it!!! :biggrin:

[loco-gringo]

I didn't realize that Enervit was bought through Veltec. Some of their stuff is damn good, while other bits are putrid. Enervit, Accelerade, and Hammer Nutrition products all sell very, very well for us. I just got some Enervit tablets to try out tomorrow... We no longer stock Nuun tablets, sadly.

Just get your HJ rep to bring them by. I get them from Hans and UBP.

[loco-gringo]

I fvckin flatted again today :panic: :banghead:

I needed to test out the new cranks on the cross bike so I went out an did a cross ride and flatted about mid way through my ride.......I'm so sick of flat tires. I race cross on tubeless tires, but I was riding my backup wheels (which are tubed).

I did get my sweet Vredstein tires mounted on the road bike and they are all ready for tomorrow. It is raining right now, so it should be a good test of the tires. Looking forward to it!!! :biggrin:

I want to get some strips and run my CX bike tubeless.

[-dustin]

Just get your HJ rep to bring them by. I get them from Hans and UBP.
sweet. didn't think to look for them in the catalogs.

[loco-gringo]

sweet. didn't think to look for them in the catalogs.

I have really liked Nuun in the heat, but defer to Gu2O these days. I think I am the only one here not taking Sport Legs though.

[loco-gringo]

One thing I'll say. If you cramp up, eat a Nuun tablet. It feels like someone is throat punching you as it dissolves, but the cramps almost dissipate immediately.

[James]

I didn't realize that Enervit was bought through Veltec. Some of their stuff is damn good, while other bits are putrid. Enervit, Accelerade, and Hammer Nutrition products all sell very, very well for us. I just got some Enervit tablets to try out tomorrow... We no longer stock Nuun tablets, sadly.

Taste is very subjective, but I will admit that one of the gels, the Lemon I think, I did not enjoy. I think I likened it to "Satan spitting in my mouth" or something.
The GT Tablets are awesome, both for use while riding, but they are also an INCREDIBLE hangover cure. One of those every 30 minutes with some water, and you're on your way to feeling better.

Have you had any Envervit Cheerpacks? Liquid crack, just amazing.

[James]

I fvckin flatted again today :panic: :banghead:

I needed to test out the new cranks on the cross bike so I went out an did a cross ride and flatted about mid way through my ride.......I'm so sick of flat tires. I race cross on tubeless tires, but I was riding my backup wheels (which are tubed).

I did get my sweet Vredstein tires mounted on the road bike and they are all ready for tomorrow. It is raining right now, so it should be a good test of the tires. Looking forward to it!!! :biggrin:

Sweet! Let me know how they work out!
145psi remember!

[LordOpie]

I think I likened it to "Satan spitting in my mouth" or something.

:rofl:

I need to learn more about these products since I'm very conscious of nutrition during riding.

[ire]

Sweet! Let me know how they work out!
145psi remember!

Rode like a champ!! I really like them....the pavement had dried by the time I went out, so I didn't get to check the wet conditions handling. Thanks again JJames!

[LordOpie]

added mini-review to Carraterras in first post.

[James]

added mini-review to Carraterras in first post.

Told ya so!

Glad they're working out for you!

[LordOpie]

Told ya so!

Glad they're working out for you!

Told me they'd work in the slop or that they're a lot smoother and fast on dry pavement? Or just a general, "stfu Opie and do what I say" :D

[James]

Told me they'd work in the slop or that they're a lot smoother and fast on dry pavement? Or just a general, "stfu Opie and do what I say" :D

The latter...:)