Does anyone here ride Tubulars exclusively? Not just when racing?
09-20-12, 09:16 AM
#26
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You can keep riding with a preglued tubular. I wouldn't corner hard with it. The combination of the remaining glue on the rim, the glue on the spare tire, heat from braking, and air pressure will keep the spare in place. You'd be surprised how well glued the spare is when you take it off to do a proper gluing job.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
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You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
09-20-12, 09:18 AM
#27
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Pre stretched helps getting the spare on. I typically use an old tire that was taken off due to wear, but still has some life left, as a spare for this reason.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
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You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
09-20-12, 09:36 AM
#28
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I think the Tufo extreme sealant would be my first line of defense and in the rare case that I slash open a tire somehow I'll have a spare to get home on.
The majority of the riding I do is within 25 miles from my home so I'm thinking most cases will be manageable. And if I know I'll be riding rougher roads or very long distance I can always use the clinchers.
09-20-12, 09:37 AM
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You can keep riding with a preglued tubular. I wouldn't corner hard with it. The combination of the remaining glue on the rim, the glue on the spare tire, heat from braking, and air pressure will keep the spare in place. You'd be surprised how well glued the spare is when you take it off to do a proper gluing job.
09-20-12, 09:53 AM
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I don't "train" and I can't say "exclusively" because my commuter/utility bike uses clinchers, and I have a spare wheelset for my favorite bike, also clinchers, that I use on terrible roads. But my "most days" wheels are tubulars. I've used them for a lot of fantastic rides out in the middle of nowhere, where I'm 30 miles from the car and don't have cell reception - Rainier, Baker, etc.
I use sealant. I got a flat one day while I didn't have my can of cafe latex, so I rode home on it - very slowly. Flats are very rare, but also very expensive if the tire can't be sealed.
They corner better than my clinchers.
I use sealant. I got a flat one day while I didn't have my can of cafe latex, so I rode home on it - very slowly. Flats are very rare, but also very expensive if the tire can't be sealed.
They corner better than my clinchers.
09-20-12, 09:53 AM
#31
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on riding home with a spare tubular:
going 20-25mph in a straight line = no problem.
navigating a 5 mile twisting descent to get back home = no fun.
going 20-25mph in a straight line = no problem.
navigating a 5 mile twisting descent to get back home = no fun.
09-20-12, 10:13 AM
#32
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When I trained on tubulars I didn't bring a spare. I figured I'd ride the (flat) tubular home. I trust a well glued flat tire more than an iffy tire that holds air. A flat tubular doesn't roll around like a flat clincher - it basically stays where it is when going in a straight line. In turns you have to wait for the first inch or so of lateral movement (as the rim rolls to the outside until the tire's sidewall stretches to max) then you're okay. You have to turn while staying more upright. I wouldn't dive through hairpin turns but I have gone around long, fast, gradual curves on a flat tubular.
I've ridden quite hard on a flat front tubular, even chasing up to a two rider paceline on a rolling slightly downhill road (Route 124 going into Darien CT; I flatted somewhere north of the Merritt). I declined taking a pull because even though I was okay with riding the flat front tire I didn't think it fair to subject the two others to the same risks. After I bridged and refused to take a couple pulls one guy told me to pull through. I told him I would if he didn't mind riding behind a guy with a flat front tire. They declined taking the risk too. I eventually rode the flat home in Norwalk along Route 1.
Two? years ago a teammate flatted a tire just as he dove into a turn in a crit. He had just chased down a 2 rider break. He kept the bike upright even though the front tire slide sideways a bit. I figure he was going 30-32 mph.
At the same time there are a lot of riders on clinchers that have lost it when they flatted in a turn. I find it very hard to ride a flat clincher, even a rear.
Caveat - having had a flat tire on a wide carbon rim (Stinger 6) I can say that I wouldn't ride a flat on one of those. Regular carbon rim (Reynolds for example), regular aluminum rim, fine, but not the wide carbon rims that cradle your tire. You end up on the carbon.
I've ridden quite hard on a flat front tubular, even chasing up to a two rider paceline on a rolling slightly downhill road (Route 124 going into Darien CT; I flatted somewhere north of the Merritt). I declined taking a pull because even though I was okay with riding the flat front tire I didn't think it fair to subject the two others to the same risks. After I bridged and refused to take a couple pulls one guy told me to pull through. I told him I would if he didn't mind riding behind a guy with a flat front tire. They declined taking the risk too. I eventually rode the flat home in Norwalk along Route 1.
Two? years ago a teammate flatted a tire just as he dove into a turn in a crit. He had just chased down a 2 rider break. He kept the bike upright even though the front tire slide sideways a bit. I figure he was going 30-32 mph.
At the same time there are a lot of riders on clinchers that have lost it when they flatted in a turn. I find it very hard to ride a flat clincher, even a rear.
Caveat - having had a flat tire on a wide carbon rim (Stinger 6) I can say that I wouldn't ride a flat on one of those. Regular carbon rim (Reynolds for example), regular aluminum rim, fine, but not the wide carbon rims that cradle your tire. You end up on the carbon.
09-20-12, 10:14 AM
#33
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I have to post a link to my favorite flat tire clip. I love it when the announcer realizes what has happened.
09-20-12, 10:47 AM
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09-20-12, 11:54 AM
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When I trained on tubulars I didn't bring a spare. I figured I'd ride the (flat) tubular home. I trust a well glued flat tire more than an iffy tire that holds air. A flat tubular doesn't roll around like a flat clincher - it basically stays where it is when going in a straight line. In turns you have to wait for the first inch or so of lateral movement (as the rim rolls to the outside until the tire's sidewall stretches to max) then you're okay. You have to turn while staying more upright. I wouldn't dive through hairpin turns but I have gone around long, fast, gradual curves on a flat tubular.
I've ridden quite hard on a flat front tubular, even chasing up to a two rider paceline on a rolling slightly downhill road (Route 124 going into Darien CT; I flatted somewhere north of the Merritt). I declined taking a pull because even though I was okay with riding the flat front tire I didn't think it fair to subject the two others to the same risks. After I bridged and refused to take a couple pulls one guy told me to pull through. I told him I would if he didn't mind riding behind a guy with a flat front tire. They declined taking the risk too. I eventually rode the flat home in Norwalk along Route 1.
Two? years ago a teammate flatted a tire just as he dove into a turn in a crit. He had just chased down a 2 rider break. He kept the bike upright even though the front tire slide sideways a bit. I figure he was going 30-32 mph.
At the same time there are a lot of riders on clinchers that have lost it when they flatted in a turn. I find it very hard to ride a flat clincher, even a rear.
Caveat - having had a flat tire on a wide carbon rim (Stinger 6) I can say that I wouldn't ride a flat on one of those. Regular carbon rim (Reynolds for example), regular aluminum rim, fine, but not the wide carbon rims that cradle your tire. You end up on the carbon.
I've ridden quite hard on a flat front tubular, even chasing up to a two rider paceline on a rolling slightly downhill road (Route 124 going into Darien CT; I flatted somewhere north of the Merritt). I declined taking a pull because even though I was okay with riding the flat front tire I didn't think it fair to subject the two others to the same risks. After I bridged and refused to take a couple pulls one guy told me to pull through. I told him I would if he didn't mind riding behind a guy with a flat front tire. They declined taking the risk too. I eventually rode the flat home in Norwalk along Route 1.
Two? years ago a teammate flatted a tire just as he dove into a turn in a crit. He had just chased down a 2 rider break. He kept the bike upright even though the front tire slide sideways a bit. I figure he was going 30-32 mph.
At the same time there are a lot of riders on clinchers that have lost it when they flatted in a turn. I find it very hard to ride a flat clincher, even a rear.
Caveat - having had a flat tire on a wide carbon rim (Stinger 6) I can say that I wouldn't ride a flat on one of those. Regular carbon rim (Reynolds for example), regular aluminum rim, fine, but not the wide carbon rims that cradle your tire. You end up on the carbon.
09-20-12, 03:18 PM
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I have ridden Tufo tires and their exteme tape for years. Very very few flats and until recently, I rode the tubulars exclusively. No complaints. I would remove all of the old Tufo tape before putting on new. If you let it dry out, just as with Conti glue, it is evil to remove.
09-20-12, 03:36 PM
#37
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Any reason you stopped? And if you had to replace a tire on the road, did you apply new tape? Or ride carefully on the old stuff with a new tire?
09-20-12, 03:44 PM
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I would say about 1/2 my bikes were built with tubular wheels and I ride tubulars about 50-60% of the time. I have had to turna nd head home a few times after a flat but that just means a post ride cocktail sooner. I have ridden home on flat on occasion and once even two flats.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
09-20-12, 08:47 PM
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09-21-12, 06:08 AM
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I'll add, I got a flat in a crit earlier this season. It was a slow leak, and my tubular held enough air that it was almost hard to tell - I started feeling like I was sliding a little through turns but I felt fine on the straights. I had to ask a buddy behind me whether I looked like I had flatted. He said yeah.
I pulled out, did my wheel change and jumped back in.
I pulled out, did my wheel change and jumped back in.
09-21-12, 01:44 PM
#42
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I still ride them on my TT bike exclusively. I normally carry a spare tire; folded up tightly it fits in a seat bag just fine. About 3 weeks ago I hit something big on my way home from work and slashed the rear tubular beyond repair. I had taken the seat bag off for a race and forgotten to put it back on. I rode the flat tubular 18 miles home and still averaged 19 mph for the ride. The rim was fine.
09-21-12, 02:58 PM
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Yep.. I rode tubulars almost exclusively for a couple of years, bought some carbon 50s in a group buy here on BF, rode 'em everywhere.
I still ride them on my TT bike exclusively. I normally carry a spare tire; folded up tightly it fits in a seat bag just fine. About 3 weeks ago I hit something big on my way home from work and slashed the rear tubular beyond repair. I had taken the seat bag off for a race and forgotten to put it back on. I rode the flat tubular 18 miles home and still averaged 19 mph for the ride. The rim was fine.
I still ride them on my TT bike exclusively. I normally carry a spare tire; folded up tightly it fits in a seat bag just fine. About 3 weeks ago I hit something big on my way home from work and slashed the rear tubular beyond repair. I had taken the seat bag off for a race and forgotten to put it back on. I rode the flat tubular 18 miles home and still averaged 19 mph for the ride. The rim was fine.
Those of you who have used Tufo tires.... have you had any experience with the S33 Pro's? They're really inexpensive for tubulars and seem to be made for training, yet have positive reviews from what I've seen.
https://www.tufo.com/s33-pro/
09-21-12, 03:07 PM
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Are you going to glue them yourself?
09-21-12, 03:38 PM
#45
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I will most likely try their Tufo tape. Supposed to work really well with their tires. And if I did, I'd tape them myself.
Unless someone can recommend a quick curing glue that works well? I like the idea of being able to ride the tires right after I tape them with the Tufo stuff. I'm new to all this, as you know.... I feel like I should experience real gluing at some point too.
Unless someone can recommend a quick curing glue that works well? I like the idea of being able to ride the tires right after I tape them with the Tufo stuff. I'm new to all this, as you know.... I feel like I should experience real gluing at some point too.
09-21-12, 03:39 PM
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I ride tubulars pretty much at all times when on my road bike. I put Flat Attack sealant in them, and have been happy with it. I decided to keep the Stan's for the tubeless, as the Flat Attack doesn't dry out like I've found Stan's to do.
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09-21-12, 04:05 PM
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In 73' there was a shortage of tubulars(0 available in the states for a summer), it sucked... had to get clincher rims
Today I use tufo clincher tubulars, love the roll, love the pressure (170lb's+) they last forever, really, the tread is gone, down to it seems the tube, good for another year
Haven't glued a tyre on for awhile, still keep an assortment of tooth brushes around for the glue tho.
Today I use tufo clincher tubulars, love the roll, love the pressure (170lb's+) they last forever, really, the tread is gone, down to it seems the tube, good for another year
Haven't glued a tyre on for awhile, still keep an assortment of tooth brushes around for the glue tho.
09-21-12, 04:23 PM
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Very excited to get my wheels! Tubulars should be a fun change/challenge and I'm hoping I enjoy the benefits. Should lighten my bike up some as well.
Those of you who have used Tufo tires.... have you had any experience with the S33 Pro's? They're really inexpensive for tubulars and seem to be made for training, yet have positive reviews from what I've seen.
https://www.tufo.com/s33-pro/
Those of you who have used Tufo tires.... have you had any experience with the S33 Pro's? They're really inexpensive for tubulars and seem to be made for training, yet have positive reviews from what I've seen.
https://www.tufo.com/s33-pro/
09-21-12, 04:59 PM
#49
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I used the giro twix tufos in both tubular and tubular clincher extensively. The s33 is a good tire, and sidewalls are more durable.
it's a good choice
it's a good choice
09-21-12, 05:07 PM
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I'll add, I got a flat in a crit earlier this season. It was a slow leak, and my tubular held enough air that it was almost hard to tell - I started feeling like I was sliding a little through turns but I felt fine on the straights. I had to ask a buddy behind me whether I looked like I had flatted. He said yeah.
I pulled out, did my wheel change and jumped back in.
I pulled out, did my wheel change and jumped back in.
