Life is too short for bad bikes or cheap wine. That’s our philosophy and we’re sticking to it, because once you’ve had the best, there’s no going back.
All of our bikes are shod with Vittoria tubulars for a reason: we think they rock. And when you’re rolling in a mini peloton with a fleet of Pinarello F8s and a mechanical support car right behind, you need to be rocking.
Most of you will need no introduction to the storied Italian tyre brand. We don’t have the space to get into their palmarès here but trust us, it’s long. Bernard Hinault trusted them. So to did Francesco Moser and Marco Pantani. And when John Degenkolb out-sprinted Zdeněk Štybar and Greg Van Avermaet to win the 2015 edition of Paris Roubaix, he did it on Vittoria rubber.
Long-time fans will tell you that they love the supple feel and incredible grip. The fanatics will even insist that they sound differently at speed (they do). They might not be the hardiest tyre on the market, but they’re not meant to be. They’re meant to be fast. Just like that really expensive road bike of yours.
That performance comes from their high TPI – the threads per inch in the tubular’s cotton casing. The higher the number, the better the tyre deals with rough roads and changeable surfaces because it deforms easier, providing more traction. Your average nylon clincher will have a TPI of anywhere from 60 to 150; the cotton-cased Corsa range comes in at 320. That means that they can use less material to make a stronger tyre, saving weight and promising a smooth ride.
So if you want to carve through bends, fly up mountains and descend with confidence – we know we do – they’re the obvious choice. Upgrading wheels and tyres is the most dramatic performance improvement you can make to a bike. And because those tyres are your only contact point with the road and not something that’s worth being cheap with. So go on: treat yourself. You can thank us later.
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Vittoria made waves earlier this season by releasing Magic Mastik, a glue that promises to revolutionise the way we think about tubs. No more multiple layers, no more waiting for days. Just one application and an overnight cure and they’re ready to race. We think it’s amazing, but if you’re old skool there’s no shame in sticking – pun intended – with the tried and trusted Mastik’One either. Check out the video below to see how easy Magic Mastik is.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=u11zQTMv1Bs
