[burl81]

Just thought I'd make a comment about Tubulars vs. Clinchers. I ride both tires very often with racing and training. I race crits on E5 S-works bike with clinchers and RR on a Scott CR1 SL with Reynolds DV46t and Vittoria tubulars.
I also train occasionally on the Scott cuz if just fun...and fast. Anyway, after two seasons racing and the occasionally training on the tubies I had my first flat on the rear tire. Nail through it.
Going from clinchers to tubies I can't notice a huge different in weight, BUT I do feel and enjoy the ride quality of the tubies. Don't know exactly how to explain it, but they just feel better.

*Almost two complete seasons of racing and ONE flat. I think the price and "glue time" was well worth it.

 

[eleavitt]

Tubulars

Gotta question the glue. I have only ridden on tubulars with tape. I use to only tape about every 4 inches of the rim with about a 4 inch long section of tape. I was cheep. I had one tire roll on me once and it never came off the rim. Scared the heck out of me though. I was flying around a corner and just thought how I would have looked if my bike came out from under me. The glue seems like over kill

 

[burl81]

Questioning tape

Why would you question gluing when who used taped and admitted that it rolled on you? Glue doesn't take that long and isn't a mess if you understand what your doing and don't rush.

 

[Don Duende]

Yesterday I glued my first set of tubulars. By myself and I got the instructions off the internet. It was no big deal. A little messy (wear a shop apron and gloves). I mounted a pair of cheap Continentals because they were easier to stretch over the rims. I have a pair of Conti Podiums that will be a biyotch to stretch. Makes me think that all the anti-tubular posts are from sissies. I'll post if I have any problems, like they roll off the rims on a corner, but they seem quite snug.

 

[Lectron]

well, join the club...

I usually never take part in any tubular vs clincher
debates, as most of the 'clincher clan' has never
even tried tubulars

 

[eleavitt]

Glue

Good point. After reading everything on glueing tires and the way the bike shop I've been dealing with hyped glue I just thought it was a way for them to make an extra buck. I think they wanted 10 bucks a tire to glue them on. I just installed my tires with tape because that's how I always did it. I'll see how it go's and update once in a while. Is anybody else using tape right now?

 

[Andrea138]

I use tape, but unlike a previous poster, I use it all the way around the wheel. I've raced my ass off on taped tubulars and never had a problem.
The problem starts when you want to change tires- tires are difficult to remove, and it takes lots of picking & scrubbing with some noxious chemicals in order to get the rim totally clean again (though the tape manufacturer says that getting it totally clean between tapings is not actually necessary).

 

[eleavitt]

Tape

I taped the whole rim this time. To old to take that chance and a fall.

 

[takmanjapan]

TakmanJapan says...

tape is what you want! All the way around the wheel.

 

[heliskyr]

I've never tried the tape, mainly only use Mastik One. I saw a white paper some guy did using some analytical lab testing on tape vs. glue, and his results suggested glue was more secure. In the absence of a better argument, I chose to follow their advice.

Here's the article if you're interested: http://www.engr.ku.edu/~kuktl/bicycle/Part9.pdf

 

[Guest]

Once you go to remove/replace a tubular that was taped, any time you saved initially by taping instead of gluing is lost.

Changing a glued tire is really not that hard at all, and the wheel itself will require minimal prep. Taking that tape off you end up with way more mess than I have ever made with some mastik.

 

[Guest]

Oh, and riding tubulars is nice. I roll around on clinchers most of the time but everyone should log a few km's on Vittoria Pave's at some point, preferably in Belgium, but at least in the rain so you can pretend.

 

[Arowdy1]

I use a hair dryer to take the tape off of my rims and it only takes about 5 minutes.

 

[mattwahh]

I use a hair dryer to take the tape off of my rims and it only takes about 5 minutes.

just a question what about changing a tire thats been taped out training? ive never used tape before only glue but am considering giving tape a go

 

[Arowdy1]

If I get a flat while out on the road I change it and just try to make my way back home without rolling the tire off of the rim. I have found that there is enough stickiness to the tape to hold the tire on.

 

[Haridic]

ive got a question about tubs, with clinchers you can rip the tires of and replace tubes very quickly if you flat in a race, with tubulars i cant see how you can do this quickly and safely in a race, maybe you tubby guys can teach me

I still cant see the benefit over clinchers that tubs have, specially when weight diff. is near enough to zero,

 

[Lectron]

If you don't see or experience any benefit -> don't use it. Most people don't

When it comes to changing a tubular, it really dosn't take longer.
Ripp off the old, on with the new (pre-glued) and off U go

 

[xc_burner]

Training

I understand the tubular benefits and I'm seriously considering a tubie wheelset (Still trying to decide which one ).

My question is, do you guys ride with another tire if you race/train on your tubies? Where do you put it? It seems a little bulky to carry along.

 

[burl81]

ive got a question about tubs, with clinchers you can rip the tires of and replace tubes very quickly if you flat in a race, with tubulars i cant see how you can do this quickly and safely in a race, maybe you tubby guys can teach me

I still cant see the benefit over clinchers that tubs have, specially when weight diff. is near enough to zero,

What clinchers have you found that equal the weight of a carbon tubbie? Reynolds dv46ul 1200g, Lew 900g, reynolds KOM 1062g, Bontrager xxx-lite 1175g etc, etc, etc.

Plus, when you race and you get a flat on a clincher or tub, your race is generally over...if your doing a Road Race. Crits wouldn't really matter with the free lap rule or wheel support.

 

[BeeCharmer]

ive got a question about tubs, with clinchers you can rip the tires of and replace tubes very quickly if you flat in a race, with tubulars i cant see how you can do this quickly and safely in a race, maybe you tubby guys can teach me

I still cant see the benefit over clinchers that tubs have, specially when weight diff. is near enough to zero,

Here's a tangible benefit from my experience two weeks ago. Had a front flat with 3k left in a 40k TT; was still able to manage 20mph on my Conti Competition (and no rim or tire damage) and finish.

Besides recording a finish, saved me a lot of walking.