ericlowney 

So I didn't realize how rare it would be to find tubulars at my LBS's, but I got a pair of MAVIC wheels for cheap and want to give them a try. Can anybody recommend a good tubular tire (and where to buy it)? Tires are going on a 1970s Dawes Galaxy frame, that I use to ride too/from work maybe 1-2 days a week (8 miles) and group ride (up to 50 miles). Was thinking a fatter tire might be better, like 28-32c (maybe more?), which is what I had on the bike when I was running 27 1 1/4" clinchers (Schwalbe Active 28/32). Rims are different, narrower rim is a red label GP4 and is 20mm wide. The front rim is approx 21.5mm. I would like some tires that have some speed to help me keep up with the carbon and aluminum bikes in the group, but do like the comfort of larger tires. Any help appreciated!

Also, do most people buy them in sets of 3 so you have a matched spare? Since they seem to be somewhat hard to come by, I'm thinking this is probably the best way to buy them.

smd4

You know there are 97 pages of posts devoted to tubular tires up in the stickies? You can find some good recommendations there.

Totally Tubular

jamesdak 

Check Merlin or Probikekit websites for prices usually better than the U.S. sources.

Pretty much anything Veloflex in the size you need will be a superior ride.

I carry an old tubular as a spare but if you don't have that I'd get three.

repechage

Dawes Galaxy... I think those came 27" as new
double check you can lower the brake pads the 4mm or so needed to clasp the tubular wheel set.

ericlowney 

you are right about that, I had to file down the brakes calipers a bit to get them to work

pastorbobnlnh 

ProBikeKit currently has these Vittorias on sale as a two pack for just north of $100. They 28mm wide.

Vittoria Rubino Pro Two-Pack

And as an aside, if you've never tried tubular gluing tape, let me recommend Effetto Mariposa Carogna, in the narrow 16mm width for your vintage rims. It is so much easier to use than glue.

SJX426 

I run Vittoria and like them a lot.
De Rosa in Riding configuraton on Flickr

ericlowney 

are those the Corsa G2.0? Those are on my short list - 700/28 or 700/25. Not sure I need the Speed version

79pmooney

I've just gotten back into tubulars after 25 years on clinchers. (Marriage, money ... Had an old clincher blow, come off and cause a highlight reel crash. Haven't been able to erase that thought on big downhills so I'm back for peace of mind.)

Merlin (UK)- excellent prices, very fast. Their stock turnover is high so what's there at any moment is a crap shoot. They also limit my purchases to usually one fewer than the number of that tire I want so I have to order twice and pay the shipping twice. The Vittoria tires I've purchased have been excellent and very, very nice rides. (Corsa G+ Controls in 28c. Rubino in 25c isn't quite as nice but still a fine ride. I've bought several Rallys as spares and ridden home several times on them dry mounted on Tubasti so some residual stick - perfectly safe to get home as long as you keep that in mind.)

Just purchased Continental Giros in 22c for an '80s race bike to get sufficient skinny. We'll see how I like them. (They look like the tires I trained on years ago; a common tread pattern and cotton so I don't expect any surprises.)

But yeah, for most of the bike world, tubulars are like the dodo birds. "I think we can find a stuffed one in back if you give us a day or two."

scozim 

I'm a Continental Sprinter and Sprinter Gatorskin fan. Excel Bike usually has them 2 for $98 when on sale. The Gatorskins are being run right now thanks to fresh chip seal road. Most of the ones I get are 22mm but you can get 25's. Frankly I have no problem with the 22's on the bikes. In fact, I often find myself looking down at the back tire to make sure it's not going flat because it absorbs the road imperfections so nice.

Aardwolf

Using Vittoria Rubino Pro G+ 28mm here, like them a lot.
On Mavic Monthlery Route, 22mm width.
Got them from Merlin Cycles (UK) for £35 each https://www.merlincycles.com/vittori...0c-140868.html

At 75 psi they're exactly 28mm diameter leaving me about 4mm clearance.
Did have a flat after about 90 miles (shard of glass) but installed Orange Seal and no more flats after 600 miles.

SJX426 

Yes, but 23.P1030570 on Flickr

VintageRide

Challenge produces a 32 mm road tubular, not cheap but very nice riding - I have used their 25mm and find they give a comfortable ride, more so than the Vittoria Rally kevlar 25mm training tubulars mounted currently which are alright, just not as good. I will say the Vittorias offer more resistance to flats and a reasonable trade off. They are better than the tubulars offered by Yellow Jersey as I have tried them. Plus, I prefer a traditional tan side wall on a vintage bike.

VintageRide

I might add that a person I know that was using wider Challenge tubulars on many vintage road bikes in his collection has been switching over a few of them to 32 - 35mm clinchers from Rene Herse out of Seattle.. He found the differences to be minor at best while offering the obvious advantages of a fast rolling clincher when dealing with a possible flat. If you cannot repair a sew up yourself they are basically throw aways. I did learn to patch them after disposing of a few over the years but quite labor intensive. Just a thought.


I put up with tubulars on the one bike as it is not ridden all that much and I wanted to keep it original.

Fredo76

With removable Presta valve cores, sealant, and Velox Jantex rim tape instead of glue, the Continental Giros I bought are proving as easy as clinchers.