!972 Legnano Specialissima tires
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
!972 Legnano Specialissima tires
I ended up buying the Legnano bike I posted for a friend on here,The bike is in beautiful
condition and is being serviced by a friend. He suggested swapping out the rims for
clincher rims instead of using the original tubulars.I am hesitant about doing this
for 2 reasons # 1 I really like to have it remain original and #2 I'd have to buy some
clincher rims . This bike is totally stock right now so any thoughts? The picture is before cleaning it up
condition and is being serviced by a friend. He suggested swapping out the rims for
clincher rims instead of using the original tubulars.I am hesitant about doing this
for 2 reasons # 1 I really like to have it remain original and #2 I'd have to buy some
clincher rims . This bike is totally stock right now so any thoughts? The picture is before cleaning it up
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#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: California's capital
Posts: 640
Bikes: Litespeed Firenze, Spot Acme, Specialzed S Works Pro Race, Davidson Stiletto, Colnago Superissimo
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Reviving my '80s Colnago I had the wheels relaced for clinchers (Velo Orange polished Al finish) figuring I would never return to tubulars. [shudder] Kept the good-condition Mavic rims in case I decide to sell it and a buyer wants to double-reverse the process and make it '80s again from the ground, up. Gave me a chance to make the Campy hubs glow, something I can't achieve on a built wheel.
Clinchers are great now, not their 40YO selves.
My $0.02
Have fun, either way!
Clinchers are great now, not their 40YO selves.
My $0.02
Have fun, either way!
#3
Passista
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,795
Bikes: 1998 Pinarello Asolo, 1992 KHS Montaña pro, 1980 Raleigh DL-1, IGH Hybrid, IGH Utility
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I'd keep the wheels original, for the reasons you said. If you later find the tubulars impractical, or just don't like them, you could build a new clincher wheelset.
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#4
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Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Saratoga, CA
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Bikes: 1981 Bianchi Specialissima, 1971 Bob Jackson. 2012 Kestrel 4000. 2012 Willier. 2016 Fuji Cross 1.1, 1950 Hetchins, 194X James Fothergill, 1971 Paramount P15, 1973 Paramount P12, 1963 Legnano
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I would keep the original tubular and also get a matching set of period correct clinchers. I've found this gives me the best of both worlds.
#5
The Wheezing Geezer
Join Date: Oct 2021
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Bikes: 1976 Fredo Speciale, Rivendell Clem Smith Jr., Libertas mixte
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The above is a good suggestion. Wheels are N+2.
Tubulars can be mounted with tape nowadays, and those with removable valve cores can take sealant, too. They are easier to deal with than many clinchers these days. Clean up the wheels and mount a new pair of sew-ups. Get a new pair of clincher wheels if you want, as well.
Tubulars can be mounted with tape nowadays, and those with removable valve cores can take sealant, too. They are easier to deal with than many clinchers these days. Clean up the wheels and mount a new pair of sew-ups. Get a new pair of clincher wheels if you want, as well.
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#6
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,978
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
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Back in the 1970s it was pretty common to keep two sets of wheels, clinchers for everyday use, tubulars for club rides and special events. I kept the original 27" wheels on my Nishiki Competition (yes, I would use 700C today, to avoid having to move the brake pads up and down) and bought a pair of tubular wheels with low-flange Campag. hubs from a colleague. He had laced them with radial and 2X, which I changed to 3X front and rear. They got a lot of use when I lived in Los Angeles, but very little after I moved to north coastal San Diego County and discovered goat-heat thistle thorns (psst...).
Since I have two littermate Capo Siegers, I plan to put tubulars on the near-original one and clinchers on the repainted resto-mod.
Since I have two littermate Capo Siegers, I plan to put tubulars on the near-original one and clinchers on the repainted resto-mod.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
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#7
Senior Member
Keep the original wheels. Shop the best deal you can find on a pair of Vittoria Rally tires. They are decent tires. They typically have a bit of a squiggle in the tread but ride smoothly.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Problem solved I have a friend that knows Italian bikes. He is servicing it .He sold me a pair of Campy clinchers for $100
and told me to just keep the original rims. He said he can make the 8 speed freewheel work. That is probably cheaper than
finding tubeulars and having them mounted. I already have tires for the clincher wheels
and told me to just keep the original rims. He said he can make the 8 speed freewheel work. That is probably cheaper than
finding tubeulars and having them mounted. I already have tires for the clincher wheels
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#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter