I have ridden tubulars and clinchers. I am currently using Mavic Ksyrium ES clinchers with Conti 4000S and Edge 45 tubulars with Conti 4000S. I am considering a set of Campy Shamals with Hutchinson Atom tubeless.
You can read about anything on the internet. Some say clinchers roll easier than tubulars, others say the opposite. It's pretty hard to make a comparison. Here are a couple of opinoins:
This is a test of all three tire types:
http://www.conti-online.com/generat...al/downloads/download/tourtest_gp4000s_en.pdf
In it it says that modern folding clinchers are way ahead of tubulars, and the data in the tables shows that the Conti 4000S Clincher and Hutchinson Fusion 2 Tubeless are lower rolling rolling resistance than any of the tubulars. I dunno, maybe that difference is like the difference in wind resistance between being on the flats or on the hoods. Whatever it is, there is still a difference that catches my curiousity. It's interesting, though, that even though this is from the Campy site, they didn't sugar coat their 4000S tubular's higher rolling resistance.
Then there's this review of the Shamal tubeless wheel:
http://www.testrider.com/fly.aspx?layout=videoindex&taxid=81&cid=160&preroll=true
Again, I dunno, maybe the component companies bought these guys to say good stuff. It doesn't seem like it though. But if they are right, and tubeless are lower rolling resistance than clincher, wouldn't that make them the lowest rolling resistance?
I plan to run the Atoms without sealant, and carry a tube and inflator. So considering rotational inertia, they should be about like a clincher and tube. Or a tubular with Tufo rim tape. The big difference will be adding 300gm over my carbon tubular rims, argh! I regularly do climbs that are 7-15%. And I will be losing some aero advantage, but does that matter at 20mph? I dunno 3X (I guess I don't know much). But...I will feel a lot better about being able to fix a flat. My son and I have had tubular punctures that wouldn't seal with PitStop or Stans, and needed to call in a ride home from the momma... that would bed a serious issue on a mountain ride where there isn't cellular service.
And, if the tubeless roll smoother, that will be an added advantage. I guess I will see how it all works out when I put them on.
You can read about anything on the internet. Some say clinchers roll easier than tubulars, others say the opposite. It's pretty hard to make a comparison. Here are a couple of opinoins:
This is a test of all three tire types:
http://www.conti-online.com/generat...al/downloads/download/tourtest_gp4000s_en.pdf
In it it says that modern folding clinchers are way ahead of tubulars, and the data in the tables shows that the Conti 4000S Clincher and Hutchinson Fusion 2 Tubeless are lower rolling rolling resistance than any of the tubulars. I dunno, maybe that difference is like the difference in wind resistance between being on the flats or on the hoods. Whatever it is, there is still a difference that catches my curiousity. It's interesting, though, that even though this is from the Campy site, they didn't sugar coat their 4000S tubular's higher rolling resistance.
Then there's this review of the Shamal tubeless wheel:
http://www.testrider.com/fly.aspx?layout=videoindex&taxid=81&cid=160&preroll=true
Again, I dunno, maybe the component companies bought these guys to say good stuff. It doesn't seem like it though. But if they are right, and tubeless are lower rolling resistance than clincher, wouldn't that make them the lowest rolling resistance?
I plan to run the Atoms without sealant, and carry a tube and inflator. So considering rotational inertia, they should be about like a clincher and tube. Or a tubular with Tufo rim tape. The big difference will be adding 300gm over my carbon tubular rims, argh! I regularly do climbs that are 7-15%. And I will be losing some aero advantage, but does that matter at 20mph? I dunno 3X (I guess I don't know much). But...I will feel a lot better about being able to fix a flat. My son and I have had tubular punctures that wouldn't seal with PitStop or Stans, and needed to call in a ride home from the momma... that would bed a serious issue on a mountain ride where there isn't cellular service.
And, if the tubeless roll smoother, that will be an added advantage. I guess I will see how it all works out when I put them on.