Tubular tires vs. clincher tires
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Is anybody using https://www.effettomariposa.eu/en/products/carogna/ ?
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When I did some 80 or 100+ mile events I brought a spare, for good luck.
Used the caffelatex espresso with success once after hitting a rock hard on a fast downhill, which caused a slow leak.
I did have to call for a flat tub once or twice, before I used the sealant as preventive
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Is anybody using https://www.effettomariposa.eu/en/products/carogna/ ?
The tape is just over 1mm thick and super sticky, I would think the best application would be cyclocross, it seems overkill for road. It's also heavier than glue in terms of grams added, glue barely adds any weight.
I would like to see them come out with a thinner lighter version for road and keep the thick for cx
My current wheels, are all glued, but if I make one set a winter/rain set I would use tape just so I could swap tires faster
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@Psimet2001: what tubulars are you recommending these days for your racers? I have been on veloflex for a while now.
For daily riding and racing - Donnelley and Maxxis.
Before anyone jumps in - no on Continental. They're just too dead riding to be worth it. There's a reason to ride tubulars and Continental murders that reason. Might as well ride clinchers at that point.
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In general I'm getting to the point where I don't feel the need to try and convince riders to ride on tubulars. If they stick with it long enough they will eventually try it and will either love it or not care.
When it comes to cyclocross though....there's no debate. There are people and companies that want to try and debate it but really it boils down to even on the best day on the best rider with the best technology in rim and tire - tubeless will only ever achieve a status that is "as good" as tubular....and there's a lot of if's in there. A few pros are doing well on tubeless setups now and everyone wants to use this as justification for why tubeless is now "OK" for racing when in reality they are pros on factory tubeless sponsored teams. Most of them would not choose tubeless and don't really like that they are on it. Those that actually do like it are actually doing well "despite" racing on tubeless. Not because they are on tubeless. It's a distinct difference that a lot of people don't see because they want to follow their narrative.
I always go back to Syn Nys who said in one of our local events, "I start at 1 bar of pressure. I adjust from there to suit the course after riding it." That's 13.4 psig guys. It's done to get sidewall and tread compliance. You can't do that on tubeless. You especially can't do it on tubeless and get the same sidewall compliance.
When it comes to cyclocross though....there's no debate. There are people and companies that want to try and debate it but really it boils down to even on the best day on the best rider with the best technology in rim and tire - tubeless will only ever achieve a status that is "as good" as tubular....and there's a lot of if's in there. A few pros are doing well on tubeless setups now and everyone wants to use this as justification for why tubeless is now "OK" for racing when in reality they are pros on factory tubeless sponsored teams. Most of them would not choose tubeless and don't really like that they are on it. Those that actually do like it are actually doing well "despite" racing on tubeless. Not because they are on tubeless. It's a distinct difference that a lot of people don't see because they want to follow their narrative.
I always go back to Syn Nys who said in one of our local events, "I start at 1 bar of pressure. I adjust from there to suit the course after riding it." That's 13.4 psig guys. It's done to get sidewall and tread compliance. You can't do that on tubeless. You especially can't do it on tubeless and get the same sidewall compliance.
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Trained and raced on tubulars from 1975-1985. Why? Because keeping up on the clinchers of the day was simply impossible, especially for a weakling such as I. We all rode with a spare, two on a long ride, and just took it easy on the corners if we had to use one. I rolled one more than once—fortunately on the rear. The glue was the worst thing about them and the sewing was a bit laborious. Doctrine where I was at the time specified some nasty, black 3M product designed for fastening weatherstripping. Terrible to remove.
I just went to tubeless tires and the slight improvement in feel and adhesion made me miss tubulars.
I just went to tubeless tires and the slight improvement in feel and adhesion made me miss tubulars.
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All over the place really but I start with Vittoria Corsa or Donnelley LGG. Veloflex - i always loved them but had no source but as of last week I now do. Super light weight though and not daily riders for most of the ones i would be interested in.
For daily riding and racing - Donnelley and Maxxis.
Before anyone jumps in - no on Continental. They're just too dead riding to be worth it. There's a reason to ride tubulars and Continental murders that reason. Might as well ride clinchers at that point.
For daily riding and racing - Donnelley and Maxxis.
Before anyone jumps in - no on Continental. They're just too dead riding to be worth it. There's a reason to ride tubulars and Continental murders that reason. Might as well ride clinchers at that point.
Psimet, I love your posts. Level headed and real by someone completely involved in bikes at a high level. I've been away from the cutting edge a long time and was only in the racing scene 3 years, but it was my life. I lived and raced very close to the best, highest level this body was capable of (and knew full well that across the pond, I never would have been anybody. Had I not had my accident and raced to my very best, I'd could have been a decent Cat II with serious 3-week tour capabilities - in those fictional Cat II Grand Tours. Polka-dotted jersey maybe?)
Ben
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Rode the tubular HED 3c at lunch, it's on a 21mm. The disc wheel is also. By any measure, that all carbon zero spokes front wheel on a 21mm tire should be really harsh.
Seriously felt about the same at proper pressure as a 23mm clincher on the road bike.
A lot smoother roll than I assumed. Even based on the hype about tubs. It was pretty good.
Can't imagine how nice a 23mm tub would feel.
Seriously felt about the same at proper pressure as a 23mm clincher on the road bike.
A lot smoother roll than I assumed. Even based on the hype about tubs. It was pretty good.
Can't imagine how nice a 23mm tub would feel.
#34
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Note that tubeless is not the same as tubular. Tubular = cylindrical tire glued to the rim.
Tubeless = similar to clincher, but without inner rubber tube, and using a liquid sealant instead.
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Gosh, have you ridden tubulars? I had them on a bike I owned from 1972 to 2010 and didn't find them cumbersome at all. Yes, the glue isn't fun, but that can be handled with a bike shop. Road replacement isn't a problem, and tools aren't necessary.
I will definitely consider tubulars when it's time to replace my wheels.
I will definitely consider tubulars when it's time to replace my wheels.
TLDR: If you are not a professional road racer that has a team car following you: tubulars are too cumbersome to deal with. Stick with clinchers.
Note that tubeless is not the same as tubular. Tubular = cylindrical tire glued to the rim.
Tubeless = similar to clincher, but without inner rubber tube, and using a liquid sealant instead.
Note that tubeless is not the same as tubular. Tubular = cylindrical tire glued to the rim.
Tubeless = similar to clincher, but without inner rubber tube, and using a liquid sealant instead.
#36
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TLDR: If you are not a professional road racer that has a team car following you: tubulars are too cumbersome to deal with. Stick with clinchers.
Note that tubeless is not the same as tubular. Tubular = cylindrical tire glued to the rim.
Tubeless = similar to clincher, but without inner rubber tube, and using a liquid sealant instead.
Note that tubeless is not the same as tubular. Tubular = cylindrical tire glued to the rim.
Tubeless = similar to clincher, but without inner rubber tube, and using a liquid sealant instead.
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TLDR: If you are not a professional road racer that has a team car following you: tubulars are too cumbersome to deal with. Stick with clinchers.
Note that tubeless is not the same as tubular. Tubular = cylindrical tire glued to the rim.
Tubeless = similar to clincher, but without inner rubber tube, and using a liquid sealant instead.
Note that tubeless is not the same as tubular. Tubular = cylindrical tire glued to the rim.
Tubeless = similar to clincher, but without inner rubber tube, and using a liquid sealant instead.
In the modern era many of the tubulars we use are tubeless tubulars. Tubulars that have no inner-tube meaning you can run sealant.
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(Like fix gears are dangerous because they don't have brakes. Funny, mine have always had brake levers, cables and calipers that went hooked up and very good at stopping the bike. But I still get told my bikes are dangerous.)
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All over the place really but I start with Vittoria Corsa or Donnelley LGG. Veloflex - i always loved them but had no source but as of last week I now do. Super light weight though and not daily riders for most of the ones i would be interested in.
For daily riding and racing - Donnelley and Maxxis.
Before anyone jumps in - no on Continental. They're just too dead riding to be worth it. There's a reason to ride tubulars and Continental murders that reason. Might as well ride clinchers at that point.
For daily riding and racing - Donnelley and Maxxis.
Before anyone jumps in - no on Continental. They're just too dead riding to be worth it. There's a reason to ride tubulars and Continental murders that reason. Might as well ride clinchers at that point.
I ride part of the time on Sprinters. They are not the most lively, but they grip fine and sure do last. In the mileage that has Corsas cut up & stuggling to hold air,
the Sprinters barely have a nick.
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So I have a question for you tubular guys. Do people still ride silk sew-ups? I used to ride them in the late '70s to early '80s. Though delicate, they never flatted on the road. They had this most amazing sound, like the wind was running right through them. At the time, they cost an ungodly $30/tire. The inner tubes were latex and were difficult to repair, but they last a long time.
Last edited by Robert A; 02-26-19 at 12:31 PM.
#43
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Tubulars are cycling's record player.
Some appreciate the quirks, nuance and rituals but most just want and need a mp3 and some ear buds.
Also, I love watching beginner glue jobs try to corner hard.
Some appreciate the quirks, nuance and rituals but most just want and need a mp3 and some ear buds.
Also, I love watching beginner glue jobs try to corner hard.
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Uh oh. I've been putting sealant in my old fashioned tubed tubulars. Imma gonna die!
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Yup. Pretty sure you're right.
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So I have a question for you tubular guys. Do people still ride silk sew-ups? I used to ride them in the late '70s to early '80s. Though delicate, they never flatted on the road. They had this most amazing sound, like the wind was running right through them. At the time, they cost an ungodly $30/tire. The inner tubes were latex and were difficult to repair, but they last a long time.
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You can definitely put sealant in tubulars with tubes but it definitely doesn't work as well at stopping flats as it does on tubeless tubulars. We stopped running sealant in any Challenge tubulars for cross a few years back. It's almost never works for us and the price for new ones, etc seems to be cost effective for most riders. YMMV
Yup. Pretty sure you're right.
Yup. Pretty sure you're right.
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Replaceable valves. That and a paperclip will clear any sealant jam but it will always be a pita to do quick pressure changes when that's in the system/
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I've had some trouble, especially w/ used wheels/tires that already had sealant,
with the latex tube gluing to itself with the sealant and then blowing out on inflation.
So I carry a little bottle of Stan's but don't use it unless needed.
with the latex tube gluing to itself with the sealant and then blowing out on inflation.
So I carry a little bottle of Stan's but don't use it unless needed.
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TLDR: If you are not a professional road racer that has a team car following you: tubulars are too cumbersome to deal with. Stick with clinchers.
Note that tubeless is not the same as tubular. Tubular = cylindrical tire glued to the rim.
Tubeless = similar to clincher, but without inner rubber tube, and using a liquid sealant instead.
Note that tubeless is not the same as tubular. Tubular = cylindrical tire glued to the rim.
Tubeless = similar to clincher, but without inner rubber tube, and using a liquid sealant instead.
Those CX arguments are still true for other disciplines. For most singles of moderate mass, any will do. But add rough roads or a lot of weight and back to tubulars winning.
As I mentioned above (I think) - that is why they go on the tandem.
They are only primarily inconvenient as compared with tubeless, or tubulars, and in some cases don't seat as well which I debate about is super smooth TTs or track. For everything else they are superior. In cost:weight ratio they win too.