maiello

Evening Folks,

Just got a pair of wheels laced: Mavic GP4 rims (1980's), Maillard 700 team issue hubs (1970's). The wheels are tubs, and as I've never bought or ridden tubs before a word of advice from more experienced cyclists would be most welcomed. The chap in the shop said to be cautious around modern tubs as the beading in the centre of the tyre might cause it to sit to high on these rims. The rims are quite shallow. Also he said that glue or tape could be used. As I said I've no experience of this type of wheel and would value some thoughts. The frame I'm attaching them to is a Peugeot, Reynolds tubing 753r. Many thanks, Gerald.

CV-6 

Do a forum search for a thread "Totally Tubular". That should give you what you need.

Nice wheels.

DiabloScott

I've never heard of this... modern tubies have a bigger seam under the tape? Older rims have a more shallow profile?

I have a set of GP4s and have had no problem with any sew-ups. Never tried the Tufos, maybe that's what he's thinking.

repechage

I have noticed that the new modern tubulars (less expensive ones) seem to have a "bone" at the stitch line.
Stretching them on the wheels inflated to 90 psi or so for a few weeks helps much.

But modern tubular rims I have not seen shaped much differently than old. The new rims are not a wide as some of the old (older than the Mavics) but I have not looked at the latest carbon offerings where they have gone a bit wider.

Number400

My brand new set of tubular rims are no deeper or wider than those. I mounted some Continental training tubs on them that had a very small seam. I glued the crap out of them and have had no troubles.

jimmuller 

Last year I glued new Vittorias to older Super Champion and NISI rims on my Motobecane. When I (finally) had to change a flat on a C&V ride last month (another BF member was riding it) removing the tire required considerable effort. It certainly wasn't going to come off by itself.

Peugeotlover

Tubulars are just fine.

Been running tubulars for 43 years.

Some things I have learned:
(1) 30 gram tube of Vittoria mastik is enough for two rims/two tubulars.
If you over do it, you will have a difficult time removing a tire from the rim.
(And, one heck of a messy rim to clean up).

Second thing is to mount "Tire Savers" on front forks and rear stays.
Will save you from many many many flats.

crank_addict

+1
My guess that's exactly what that shop was implying..... but rather of Tufo's TUBULAR / CLINCHER. Scary thought but many of todays common bike shops have no clue about ANY tubulars, new or vintage OR the above type mentioned. I ride all version's - no fear of tubulars or tubular/clincher type.

SvenMN 

Agreed, nice wheelset!

I have been running Tufos and Continental tubulars on both my modern wheels and my vintage wheels... I've never had an issue with "beading in the centre of the tyre", but then I stretch the tires for weeks before gluing them. Perhaps using tape may add more material to the center than my 3 coats of tubular glue, but I doubt it.

I was curious so compared a modern Conti tubular on both a modern carbon wheel (404) and a GP4. The exposed gluing tape looks pretty much the same on either rim. There is a groove machined along the center line of the carbon rim, but when pulling off an old tire it just seems to be holding excess glue.

noglider 

Are you sure you heard him right? Glue or tape MUST be used. It is not discretionary.

maiello

Hi noglider, sorry I wasn't clear; the chap said to use glue or tape. Whenever i've looked into tubs the recommendation has always been to use glue. To be honest I thought that was the only option, so i'm a bit relieved to find out there's a slightly less messy way of keeping the tyre on. That said, what would you recommend?

Peugeotlover

Tape is most useful when you get a flat far from home.
At that time you will want a roll of double sided stickum rim tape, a spare tire, and a way to inflate the tire.

You don't want to wait around for glue to dry when you flat far from home.

When you can take your time mounting a tubular onto a rim, that is when you use 15 grams of rim cement.
Let it dry over night, preferably.

Grand Bois

I never use glue. I'm sold on tape.

Road Fan

I've used glue for decades, but could see changing to tape. I tried tape once and I was pleased with it.

I've also ridden temporarily with no tape or glue, had no problems, and I have lived to tell the tale. I don't recommend it, but there is no reason to fear it. If you do ride temporarily with no tape or glue, ride at JRA pace and try not to accel/brake/corner at high g's.

Ed.

+1 for tire savers

I've never used tape, and don't find glue to be terribly messy (but I don't pour the glue one, either). I don't put glue on the tire, just a smallish strip around the rim.

I've never used more glue on the few times I've gotten a flat while out on the road. There is typically sufficient glue on the rim to keep things together if one doesn't get overly exuberant.

I do like to keep a few tires in reserve, and mounting them on rims (no glue or tape) and inflating them will ease the mounting for real (ie with glue/tape). In your case I strongly recommend putting the tires on the rims, sans glue, inflate them hard, and wait maybe as long as a week before gluing them.

I see no logic to the comments re 'beading' in the center of the tire. No worries from my experience.