1989Pre 

It's going up to sixty-nine degrees tomorrow in Maine, so I'm going to put in a 40-60-miler on the Grubb. First time ever riding on tubulars. Tires are all pumped up to 150 psi. I'm not in shape for this and haven't been training much this winter, but I never let that stop me...I'll just put on a dry shirt at the turn-around point. Anyone else get any quality, vintage miles in yet this season?

juvela

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tyres at ten ATM! ; ^. O

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sd5782 

Just did 34.5 miles today which is pretty long for this 65 year old guy. Have fun and approach it easy so as to be able to accomplish your goal.

Wildwood 

My 22mm Sprinters recco a max of 175psi.
Pump On!



I ride 'em at ~110.

bikemig 

Did a 24 mile ride yesterday on my velo cheapy contest entry, a 1972 Sekine SHR, that I paid $20 for and 15 miles today on my 1979 Trek 510. I like that Trek a lot and put a lot of miles on it. I'm riding 700 x 35c tires at 70 PSI on it. I need to build an old British bike to ride though! I have a British project or two sitting in the basement.

I haven't ridden tubulars for some time. They're fun. Maybe I need to buy some cheap sew ups and start riding them again.

nlerner

Did about 350 miles over seven consecutive days of riding last week for the Touroica event. I was on 30mm clinchers at about 55 psi.

OldsCOOL

Happy miles on your ride, hoping all goes well. Good seeing you on your Grubb! Take an extra or two tires with you. I use high pressure in mine as well.

1989Pre 

Hi Ryp, its good to hear from you. Which bike have you been riding? Do you still have the Centurion? Paul

OldsCOOL

I’m riding the 88 Cannondale Criterium Series most of the time on open road rides. Sold that Centurion a while back, it was too heavy for me. A novelty bike. The ‘89 PRE has been refurbed and given to my 34yr old son. Still a great bike. You have my respect riding the gearing on the Grubb with your hills. Shoot, any hills.

79pmooney

150 psi? What are the tires, the roads and your weight? Sounds about right for a 19c tire under a 300 pound rider on a velodrome with perfect boards. (I weight half that and just returned 50 miles on decent rural Oregon pavement and quality 28c tires. 86 psi front, 90 rear. Perfect, then feeling a little hard late in the ride.)

Tire pressure labels on sewups are allover the place when it comes to what they mean. Often the max is the highest pressure you can safely inflate to. Very high numbers indicate very good casings, good stitching and good gluing of the base tape. It does not mean you should actually ride at that pressure. (The tire manufacturer may honor any issues you have at that pressure. Your dentist will not.)

Trust me. Yes, I am just getting back into the sewup/tubular thing, but I ride them exclusively for a high mileage decade and for 80% of my riding the next. I absolutely love them. I hope you do too. But that pressure is setting yourself up for a bad experience. Drop your pressure until the rear sinks 1/4 to 1/3 of the way to the road when you get on. Put 5 psi less in front. Go ride. Adjust from there.

1989Pre 

Thanks for the advice and anecdotes. The tires are new Bontrager R4 Hard Case Lite 25c. The roads are very clean and smooth. Right now, I weigh 165, but am aiming for 160. I'm glad you mentioned something. I'm used to riding clinchers, and my motto has been, "take the max recommended psi and knock ten pounds off." Maybe that doesn't work with tubulars. My older clinchers that take 85-100 max psi, I will max out. The max psi on these Bontragers is rated 190.

OldsCOOL

Hey Paul, did you get the ride in? I know the weather has been tricky lately. Hope all is well.