Velobuild VB-R-218

[Serge_K]

And for good reason, I might add. If you're looking for max bang for the buck, I found that Schwalbe's Ones (a tad more durable) and Pro Ones (super fast but fragile) are often cheaper than Conti and Vittoria and are still on par with the best. Pricing might depend on your country and distributor, though. Same goes for the Tufo Calibra Plus. That's one hell of a fast and light tire, but a bit fragile. I'm based in Germany, so German tire brands are cheap here and so is Tufo, being a Czech brand (which is actually made in Czech Republic in contrast to all the others who are actually producing in the Far East).

The conti gp5000 is made in Asia? The compound is so special and pricing so high, I always assumed it was made in Europe, if not Germany?

[Sebastian]

Conti’s premium tires are made in Germany. The GP5000 specifically says so on the tire I believe. The lower tier tires are from Asia. Vittoria used to be made in Italy but now they’re all from Thailand. Schwalbes are made in Asia as well I believe. Not sure about their top ranking tires. I’m not saying this is a bad thing in terms of quality. For me it’s rather about supporting my local economy, wages and working conditions and maybe for the stuff to have a slightly smaller carbon footprint.

[BeR]

Correct, I have just bought 2 GP tires and It is written "handmade in Germany". I hope that they will be more puncture resistance than the P zero race even if Rolling Resistance says no.

[rasch]

Shwalbe one, gp5000 or vitoria corsa depending on the bike and on the costs at each moment. but I always buy them below the 40€/tire mark. I think more than that is actually "trying to be pro when I'm not".
Then I use some TPU tube whatever is cheap

[blackpyros]

I use Hutchinson Challenger 700Cx28.

[Queen of Skulls]

Shwalbe one, gp5000 or vitoria corsa depending on the bike and on the costs at each moment. but I always buy them below the 40€/tire mark. I think more than that is actually "trying to be pro when I'm not".
Then I use some TPU tube whatever is cheap

I got some tpu as spares should I just go all tpu?  over the standard rubber?

[rasch]

I got some tpu as spares should I just go all tpu?  over the standard rubber?

For me yes. Not that I'm a weight weenie but it's always less weight. There are some ppl who says that they are better with a whatever lower resistance but I don't notice any difference. I guess thsts for pros. I ride for pure joy.
I have 1 rubber tube in the saddle bag though. It's always useful for an emergency either on my tires or other ppl who might need

[Sebastian]

TPU always. There's just no reason not to. They're lighter. They roll better. I don't necessarily notice the lower rolling resistance but I do definitely notice the tire feeling more supple with less butyl rubber stiffening up the carcass. So that's a plus.
I'm using Ridenow tubes which are now in their 3rd iteration. They were unreliable at first but the flaws from the beginning are now all but ironed out. The valves hold air. And I'm even having success at repairing them. And they're basically only marginally more expensive than butyl tubes where I live. So why use anything different? I'm also not getting more punctures. I've never been getting many in the first place and the tpu tubes - despite their low weight - do not seem to be more fragile.

I'm using the 36g version though for peace of mind. I might try the crazy light 24 and 18g versions mainly to see if they feel even comfier. But to use them as a spare at the roadside would possibly be hard. The 36g version does already feel delicate but you get used to putting them in and out. Can't imagine what the 18g version feels like but I'd be afraid to damage it when changing tubes after a puncture.

[Queen of Skulls]

For me yes. Not that I'm a weight weenie but it's always less weight. There are some ppl who says that they are better with a whatever lower resistance but I don't notice any difference. I guess thsts for pros. I ride for pure joy.
I have 1 rubber tube in the saddle bag though. It's always useful for an emergency either on my tires or other ppl who might need

the best way to save weight is for the rider to drop 20 to 40lbs....she needs too. i'm 6ft and 230. I like the smaller size for the tpu. for the ride bag. but if I am going tpu...I might as well go full tpu.


edit: I decided to go with the  Continental Grand Prix 4 season... cus they are like the gp5000 but more durable. I am not trying to race.

[Jimin]

I am about to order and was thinking about the size. Did a bikefit and coming from a gravel white gx LTD and they mentioned that from a gravel perspective my reach/stack is:
330mm < Ideal Reach < 365mm
545mm < Ideal Stack < 575mm

given this, I am not really sure if I should go with S or XS. What do you guys think?

[blackpyros]

given this, I am not really sure if I should go with S or XS. What do you guys think?

Did you check if they still have those sizes in stock? They aren't making any new frames.

[Jimin]

Did you check if they still have those sizes in stock? They aren't making any new frames.

I did, they have all sizes in stock is what they told me

[blackpyros]

I did, they have all sizes in stock is what they told me

That's kinda new. Few months ago some sizes were already unavailable and they declared the frame is in close-out sale.

[SillyMochi]

That's kinda new. Few months ago some sizes were already unavailable and they declared the frame is in close-out sale.

5 people are looking at this frame now!

Oldest trick in the book 

[Jimin]

That's kinda new. Few months ago some sizes were already unavailable and they declared the frame is in close-out sale.

Strange, contacted through whatsapp. Dont know if thats the same what you guys have been contacting through