Originally Posted by
Sy Reene
Well, yes you're correct. But I think Dave's point is that for a professional cycling team that runs support vehicles, there really is no reason to choose clincher tires (tubeless) over tubulars, or is there? Leaving aside the fact that sponsors can't sell tubulars, so they don't want their pro teams riding something that won't sell. :-)
Thank you! Yes, there is no reason whatsoever for someone to be riding on clinchers (regular, tubeless or hookless) where there is money at stake.
This applies to every cycling discipline, whether 'cross, MTB, road, track whatever. For 99.9+ percent of the riding done, regular tubed clinchers are adequate, or with sealant if you tend to ride on tires that are too lightweight and susceptible to punctures for the conditions you ride in.
The only reason for the pro team migration to clincher/tubeless/hookless is that tubulars will not sell to the gold-card weekend warrior, and they needed another solution. So here is a sorry chronology of events:
- Circa 2015 carbon rim brake tubulars rule road racing. Carbon is a superior rim material, but with braking heat management issues
- Tubulars do not sell to the wider public, so carbon clinchers are developed. Carbon clinchers are a bad idea, due to poor heat dissipation during braking, and the fragility of the rim hooks. Plus the hooks cause pinch flats. In contrast, carbon tubular rims dissipate heat better, do not cause pinch flats, and are much stronger against impacts.
- Disc brakes are ported over to road riding, as carbon clinchers just don't cut it. Braking duties are moved to disc rotors, which obviously adds a bunch of weight and safety issues. 2 pounds of extra ballast to every bike.
- Clincher rims still cause pinch flats, so tubeless is developed. In order to get this airtight, messy sealant is required. Every few months.
- Clincher rims are still too heavy, and cause pinch flats, so hookless is developed, with all the associated problems and safety liabilities.
- Unlike tubulars, clinchers blow off rims and are unrideable in the event of flat. So pool noodles are inserted in the tires.
See how far we've migrated from the perfect solution: tubulars.. Weird journey indeed. Bet the pros and the team mechanics love this..