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Accessories - misc
velo:re tyre belt velo:re tyre belt velo:re tyre belt
Re:Velo tyre belt

velo:re tyre belt

7
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Dec 3, 2009

7
£35.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Stylish durable belts that makes a great present for the cyclist with everything
Weight: 
0g
Contact: 
www.green-oil.net
How we test

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What better way to reincarnate a treasured tyre once the miles finally take their toll than as an extremely durable, nay practical belt. Aside from doing a fine job of holding the civvies up, they’re a chic, fun way of promoting recycling and an ideal stocking filler for that cyclist who has just about everything. However, with a bit of effort, rivet gun and belt buckle you could easily make your own.

Made in the UK from redundant tyres collected from London bike shops, velo:re wash, cut and fashion them into very fetching belts. There’s a choice of three designs knobbly, slick and semi-slick and three widths (although bespoke options are available: just send them your cherished tyre, detail the style of buckle and they’ll do the rest). There’s ample length to navigate most waists between 28-38 inches and they look stylish securing slacks, jeans-especially cut downs and/or three quarter length messenger knickers. If you need a few more holes you could always add some with a bradawl. Despite some initial scepticism, it didn’t compress the innards even hunched over the drops. Being thicker than cowhide, ours felt a little restrictive to begin with but this is soon forgotten once the belt softens up a bit.

Thirty five quid might sound to the cynic like (excuse the pun) money for old tyre but when you consider these have an extremely low carbon footprint as they’re made here, will outlast leather belts and don't require any animals to get it, they start looking decent value.

Verdict

Stylish durable belts that makes a great present for the cyclist with everything

road.cc test report

Make and model: velo:re tyre belt

Size tested: Schwalbe 16x1.375

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Being a belt made from recycled tyres arguably it is very popular amongst members of the fixer community but something cyclists everywhere will appreciate-especially those concerned about the envioronment.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Made in Brixton from tyres reclaimed from cycle shops, the tread is cleaned and cut into strips before being fashioned into a belt. There's a choice of three designs and two different buckle types, although they will reincarnate a much loved tyre for the last word in bespoke tailoring.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

180g as tested.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The Re-Velo does everything a good belt should, making a style statement into the bargain. Good with most civvies and 3/4 length knickers it lacks the supple characteristics of those formed from cow-hide but by the same token doesn't encroach either.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

A great style statement and a proves recycling can be cool and practical in the same breath.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

tyre belt
Re:velo
Christmas gift
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

Add new comment

7 comments

Avatar
finbar | 14 years ago
0 likes

Timely review following BSNYC's post earlier in the week:

"While I can appreciate finding new uses for things instead of just throwing them away, I also feel wearing used bicycle components is a form of self-expression only slightly more dignified than wearing a sandwich board or painting your face at sporting events."

Avatar
JonMack | 14 years ago
0 likes

I wanna get myself a Vittoria Pavé belt made up, mmmmm!

Avatar
dave atkinson | 14 years ago
0 likes

it was more like 8 months 1

and fair play to them, they probably got the name the right way round first time 4

Avatar
DaSy | 14 years ago
0 likes

Add to that the strange and slightly unreadable nature of that website, and I think I'll wait the week or so for it to appear here thanks..

Avatar
cactuscat | 14 years ago
0 likes

nice review - i *was* thinking of buying one, but now i realise that no endeavour featured it before road.cc, well i guess i'll save my money 39

Avatar
dave atkinson | 14 years ago
0 likes
Quote:

Once again, you're a little late to the party...

didn't realise there was a party - did we get an invite? i guess we'll just bin all the other reviews we were planning of stuff that's already appeared in some form on any other website. wouldn't want to be not first again... 4

Incidentally, the BBC website was talking about them back in August last year. It ain't a race.

Avatar
NO Endeavour | 14 years ago
0 likes

Once again, you're a little late to the party...

http://www.no-endeavour.cc/2009/02/from-waste-to-waist.html

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