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Cycling Tech & Components
Wheels & Tyres

All stitched up

By Cycling News

Published 17 June 2005

Continental's bicycle tyre division is a small part of what's now a huge company, but it's where the...

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Image 1 of 15

Maria Stolz works on a Competition tubular — Maria Stolz works on a Competition tubular (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

An example of the marketing materials featuring the factory staff. — An example of the marketing materials featuring the factory staff. (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

Smokes, or rubber tubes? — Smokes, or rubber tubes? (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

Maria Stolz works on a Competition tubular — Maria Stolz works on a Competition tubular (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

The red material is the Vectran layer — The red material is the Vectran layer (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

The rubber tread then needs to be vulcanized — The rubber tread then needs to be vulcanized (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

And so begins the stitching process. — And so begins the stitching process. (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

The cotton layer helps protect the inner tube — The cotton layer helps protect the inner tube (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

This is the difficult part - stitching the casing together — This is the difficult part - stitching the casing together (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

Another view of Barbel's work. — Another view of Barbel's work. (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

Here, the casing is finally hand-stitched with thicker thread. — Here, the casing is finally hand-stitched with thicker thread. (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

After the final stitching process, the tyres are inflated — After the final stitching process, the tyres are inflated (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

After checking the tubular was air-tight for 24 hours — After checking the tubular was air-tight for 24 hours (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

Then they end up here — Then they end up here (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

An example of the marketing materials featuring the factory staff. — An example of the marketing materials featuring the factory staff. (Image credit: Gerard Knapp)

Image 1 of 15

View Original

Maria Stolz works on a Competition tubular

Image 2 of 15

View Original

An example of the marketing materials featuring the factory staff.

Image 3 of 15

View Original

Smokes, or rubber tubes?

Image 4 of 15

View Original

Maria Stolz works on a Competition tubular

Image 5 of 15

View Original

The red material is the Vectran layer

Image 6 of 15

View Original

The rubber tread then needs to be vulcanized

Image 7 of 15

View Original

And so begins the stitching process.

Image 8 of 15

View Original

The cotton layer helps protect the inner tube

Image 9 of 15

View Original

This is the difficult part - stitching the casing together

Image 10 of 15

View Original

Another view of Barbel's work.

Image 11 of 15

View Original

Here, the casing is finally hand-stitched with thicker thread.

Image 12 of 15

View Original

After the final stitching process, the tyres are inflated

Image 13 of 15

View Original

After checking the tubular was air-tight for 24 hours

Image 14 of 15

View Original

Then they end up here

Image 15 of 15

View Original

An example of the marketing materials featuring the factory staff.

no copy in legacy cms

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