patentcad

Occurred 30 miles into the Nyack Ride on Sunday. It did take me a while to figure out how to strip the glued Conti Sprinter off the Zipp 404, and then some more time to successfully stretch and mount (not glue) the cheaper Conti spare sew-up, but once I managed that, it inflated with CO2 and I completed the course solo (another hour + of riding) with no further incident.

I've been riding once or twice a week on the road with that spare tubie wondering how it would go if I got a flat, and it was no problem. That was pretty cool. The only problem is I have to buy another Conti Sprinter. But $200 annually to replace blown sew-ups is worth it for the advantages the sew-ups provide for competitive rides (for me). I generally only race or do competitive rides like Nyack with them, maybe I'll train on them around here a couple of times each month.

NomadVW 

Maybe if you rode more?

patentcad

I'll have to increase the 12,000+ miles annually just to keep you happy.

Road Nazi whackos.

cranky old road 

35 years ago when I used to squirt a little glue onto my Fiamme rims and put on a tire without further thought, it was easy to pull a tire off on the road. Now that I'm following written installation procedures with multiple coats of glue, I've wondered how I would get a tire off on the road. I've started carrying a plastic tire iron just in case I have trouble getting a tire off my Gigantex rim. Did you need to use a tool to pry the tire off?

MadCowMoo

That tool may be of little use ripping off a well glued on tubular. First you have to break it free with just the strength in your
thumbs and some good old fashion cussing. But after getting around 10 inches loose you can tear the rest off in seconds.

wideAMG

tubulars are great.

they flat alot less than clinchers and clinchers cannot match the ride and rolling resistance of tubulars, although they are getting close.

i also flatted out my 6-year old tubulars on a group ride and after i yelled flat and the group stopped they were all surprised how fast i had the old tubular off and new one on. i carry the tufo glue tape for road repairs. a couple of stretches a CO2 and off you go. no tools no wait.

the high-end wheels and pros still use them but in-stock availability is challenging. only my high-end store carries them. i find the $29 cheapos are heavy and will flat more.

i'm also running the conti sprinter black chilli

patentcad

The tire lever did nothing for me. It was all kneading the tire with my thumbs and coaxing it off, it took a while, it wasn't that easy, but I got it. I mainly race with tubies, and in about 16 months riding/racing them again, and several punctures, this is the first that happened on the open road (not a race) that required me to use my spare. Tubulars are superior in most respects, I agree. But they are truly a massive pain in the ass. That's why I only race and do competitive rides with them. Worth the hassle for the performance, but I would never use them for daily riding.

NomadVW 

Actually, they've passed them in great part: https://www.biketechreview.com/tires/...sting_rev7.pdf

Can't vouch for the other assertions.

Naterider

I wish that I was cool enough for tubulars. If it was possible for me to ride tubulars on the Nyack ride my life would be complete.

ridethecliche

Heh, I had two flats on a 26 mile ride yesterday. Rode the last 7 miles on a flat rear clincher (very very slowly) and then walked the last 3 miles home barefoot.

I think I need new rim tape. Bleh...

cslone

1994 called and they want their theories back.

operator

Best clinchers around are equal if not already better than the best tubulars. There's no reason why anyone should be riding backwards technology on the road anymore in a non-race situation. Time to join the 21st century.