Rubber Meets Road: Vittoria Open Pave Review

Larger diameter tires are quick becoming the accepted standard in road racing, and have been the paragon of classics racing since time immemorial. With this in mind Vittoria produces it's Open Tubular (Clincher) in a 24mm diameter, and the tubulars come in 24 and 28mm varieties. A wider tire not only results in a broader more effective contact path but also a smoother ride over all surfaces, paired with an incredibly supple casing makes it an ideal tire for rougher road racing.

My test set of Pavés were 24mm open tubulars, and in testing proved to be ideal for rougher roads. While Tucson is a poor analog for the country roads of the Ardennes it did offer up plenty of shattered road and precipitation during the monsoon season, as well as the world-famous Saturday Shootout.

The first discernible difference of the tire came from sitting on the bike, a quick look down revealed the tire deformation was much more noticeable than similar race tires. This is an attribute of the cotton casing of the tire; while many manufacturers rely on the rubber carcass (outer skin) of their tire to be exceptionally tacky, Vittoria believes good grip should be more than skin-deep. Cotton Corespun K casings in the tires are a throwback to a time before synthetic fabrics dominated the market, and allow a more flexible and supple performance from the fully inflated tire, like a traditional tubular; they do add a bit to the price, but the performance of the tire is more than worth it. The K stands for Kevlar, as the Pavé is reinforced for more rigorous parcours with a hint of the ubiquitous ballistic material. The rubber, a standard silica and rubber mixture, on the outside of the tire is not like the smooth treadless patterns of Michelin or Continental, but a unique Twin Tread Technology. It features a series of small prisms in the center of the tread and a set of elongated prisms on the edges. This leads to enhanced cornering grip and water shedding. The pairing of this tread with an ultra-soft casing with the highest commercially available TPI provides, as the company claims, "A grip that never lets go."

The first true test of the tires came high up on the slopes of Lake Peak in Santa Fe; rain had left the road strewn with gravel, as well as a good bit of moisture clinging to the road. The tires not only maintained speed well, but also accelerated comfortably. The descent down the mountain was a dream, and the cornering capabilities really opened up on cracked pavement, with less of the jarring feedback typical of fully inflated race tire. They performed just as well in flat, smooth, and wide open racing on dry pavement.

While as a training tire it was not very resistant to cutting or puncture, and was susceptible to quick wear, the tire is not made for day-in-day-out use. This is a race-tire, which means it only comes out for race day, or the essential Saturday group-ride. Vittoria's Pavé EVO CG belongs in any riders arsenal, whether racing clinchers on rough rural roads stateside, or tubulars in the pinnacle of the European spring classics season.

Rubber Meets Road: Continental Grand Prix 4 Season Review

Since moving to Tucson durable tires have become a must for me; there's nothing I hate more than a flat during a good ride or a double flat leading to a long walk. My trusty Ultra-Sports had stood up to the Flagstaff winter, but were no match for the myriad of debris that lives on the roads of Tucson.
Continental sent us some nice Grand Prix 4 Season tires to test, so I pulled off my Gatorskins to give them a try. I was worried about switching to Four Seasons over the nearly indestructible Gatorskins, but was interested in a tire that is billed as a faster training option. They mounted easily enough and I got off to a good-start on them.

The first concern was that the test tire lacked the triple layer Poly-X-Breaker of the Gatorskin, but the 4 Season is actually a more robust and durable offering, with a double layer Vectran Belt and a Dura-Skin wrap over the sidewalls. The puncture resistance of these tires was phenomenal, and I found myself really trying to test them. I rode gravel, loose wood bridges, through some good size piles of glass, and of course plenty of small bits of metal. In 1,500 miles of riding I never had a puncture. I had one flat in the entirety of my time on the tires, when one of my tubes blew in the furnace like June weather. I normally replace my tires every 2,000 miles or when they wear flat, but after 1500 miles they still have visible mold lines. A long wearing tire can often let down on speed and handling, and these tires needed an appropriate test to dispell that dogma.

Luckily Tucson has some great race-pace group rides, like the infamous Shootout, to put tires to the test. I expected to suffer a little bit more because of rotating weight and more rolling resistance, but these tires upped the ante again. While they weigh in at 242 grams for a 700x23, one gram more than the Ultra Gatorskin, the real difference comes in rolling resistance. By no means do they roll as well as a Black-Chili Grand Prix 4000; however, there is a palpable increase in speed versus a Gatorskin. I was easily able to power up and roll along in the front group without a noticeable amount of drag unlike my normal training tires. The cornering and grip was also phenomenal for an all season tire; most tires in the same class are notoriously gummy and weak in corners. They stuck in the corners and descents almost as well as race tires, and the little bit of tread made them acceptable on a few dirt-road excursions

On the whole, the tires met and surpassed my expectations. The only flaw for me was that the ride of 700x23s was a little harsh, but 700x25 tires are available, so it's not a drawback at all. A platform with exceptional puncture resistance and rolling performance, that wears well is a rarity and a pleasure. I'll definitely be riding them as my training tire in the future, and as race tires in a pinch

Off the Rack: Castelli Velocissimo Due Shorts Review

Castelli's motto is "An Unfair Advantage," and while the Velocissimo Due Bib may not be an unfair advantage it does have its perks. Velocissimo is Castelli's mid-range short line, but for the price they compare to the high-end models of many other companies. Italian apparel is known for a tighter fit and higher grade matierial, along with a higher price tag, but this bib hits the mark of the former without the latter.
The most prominent feature of Castelli shorts is a fit that varies highly from the standard offerings found in the States. What first piqued my interest in the Italian manufacturer was the longer sleeves and legs of its winter clothing, and when spring came I knew I would want more. The sizing is consistently smaller than most other brands that I have experience with; I typically wear a medium, but a large in Castelli. The overall cut is much more suited to the build of a serious cyclist: thin at the waist, but with plenty of girth for the thighs, as well as a good length that keeps away from the short-short look of many Euro-style brands in larger sizes. Giro3 cuffs finish off the legs; these elastic bands provide a snug fit without any binding, or annoying silicone grippers that tend to bite and pull at any hint of unshaved legs. Holding the legs down is pertinent, but the advantage of bibs is that they stay up; and the mesh straps while not being anything special, are comfortable and long enough, even for me, at 6'4". Quality fit also comes from the 10-panel construction of the short which allows the short to expand and contract in individual areas without pulling on static areas; this is made possible by Castelli's Affinity Lycra, which provides an optimal amount of stretch and durability. Affinity is not an airy fabric like the Breathe and Energia materials found in Castelli's high-end shorts, but it performs spectacularly and the black shorts don't cause legs to cook in the Arizona sun.

Joining ten panels of fabric does make for a more labor and cost intensive short, but the construction is superb. The stitching is low profile and keeps away from being irritating at any of the seams found throughout the short, although the edge of the chamois can cause a bit of discomfort if all the essential equipment is not well placed within its confines. Typically with a short made of lighter fabric and low profile stitching a more delicate approach to donning is necessary, but in 3 months of almost daily use, not a single stitch has come undone, and I have not torn any of the panels in a rush to pull up my shorts and get on the saddle.

In putting these to shorts to the test I actually rode several 100+ mile rides in them, my second ride being out to the infamous Kitt Peak. The road out to the base of the mountain is far from smooth, and a chamois that has yet to be broken in is not something I would recommend to the faint of heart, but these shorts performed admirably without an excess of chamois cream. The Kiss3 chamois is light without being too thin, and therefore avoids the diaper like quality of a lot of well padded shorts. I liked the light pad, as it didn't ride up or fold when I stood, and was smooth back in the saddle. With a lighter seat pad comes the threat of being underpadded for a multi-hour trek, but after six hours of rough roads I was still considerably more comfartble and happy than my companions.

My only point of contention is the small rubberized Italian flag on the back of the short, while it does add something to say, "Yes, these are Italian shorts," the plastic stitch that holds it in place tends to scratch at the small of the back if you're a rider who doesn't wear a baselayer. With a bit of baselayer segregating the skin from the plastic thread evrything is just fine, but it's the small style and branding add-ons that define the weakness of Castelli. The sublimated Scorpions have a habit of peeling of some of the other shorts I've had, but these ones are resisting any cracking or peeling. Despite this, they do have sleak style, and come in three colors.

The bottom line is that with the Velocissimo Bib-Short, you get what you pay for, and that's a good bit. Superior fit compared to most brands, quality matierials that make for a durable short, and a chamois that contours well to the body in and out of the saddle. They may be more expensive than what you'd be used to for a mid-level short, but they perform like a top-end pair.

Off the Rack: Castelli Diluvio Gloves Review

It's going to be a cool wet day on the road, the temperature is going to hover above freezing, and you have base miles to get in. The standard long finger glove you've been wearing all fall isn't going to make the grade today. You need something waterproof and insulated, but not so thick you lose a good grip on the hoods. Castelli's Diluvio gloves are the solution; the neoprene construction keeps the water out and the heat in.

When first donning the gloves it's a strange sensation, the neoprene does not conform to the hand but compresses gently. It's not incredibly flexible or particularly bulky, but it doesn't impede dexterity on the levers. They won't be any good for typing on the iPhone at the coffee-shop, but you'll be able to flick the controls all day while it sleets.

The extra grippy texture of the palm

The palms have an incredible texture, and for the first rides the palms would actually stick to each other. The grip feels secure on the bar, and I didn't feel my hands slip, but is a little vague because of the thickness and cushion of neoprene. Unlike most gloves there's no extra pads in the palm, but I had no trouble with them for 4 hours at a time. After the initial odd feelings the gloves felt almost like a second skin and were incredibly comfortable and the level of padding was delightful.

The biggest drawback is that the gloves are too effective; they don't let anything in or out. My hands would become particularly clammy after only a few minutes and well pruned at the end of my rides. The sensation is not particularly bothersome, but for some it is a deal breaker.

On the whole the Diluvios are a pleasant experience and completely different from any other winter glove. The thin insulation is wonderful by comparison to the ski-glove like options from the other companies, and if it's going to open-up with some sleet or rain, they're the best option. There are more tactile gloves and warmer gloves, but the former trades off warmth and the later lacks waterproof finish. Castelli has made a truly unique product, there's room for improvement, but this version is a pleasant new entry into winter gloves.