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Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat
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cerveloguy
Sep 19, 05 5:33
Post #1 of 32 (1415 views)
Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat
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Been riding tubulars for the past 5-6 yrs years exclusively and never had a flat. I've put a lot of miles on the bike and used either Tufo S3's, Conti Sprinters or Veloflex Criteriums and they've never flatted once.
I thought I'd give clinchers a try with some Michelin Pro's and a Bontrager light tube. Rode on clinchers at yesterday's group ride for the first time and got a flat.
I guess tubies still rule supreme.
BJL
Sep 19, 05 5:42
Post #2 of 32 (1388 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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Never ridden tubs and average a flat every 5-600 miles riding around London.
I guess bad luck sucks and that meaningful surveys, in fact, rule supreme.
"Are you sure we're going fast enough?" - Emil Zatopek
stallion1031
Sep 19, 05 5:47
Post #3 of 32 (1367 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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Bah, get some Specialized Armadillos and prepare to laugh at broken bottles, nails, and tacks.
- Nick
Now that I know some of you guys look through the special needs bags for kicks, I'm gonna put some really weird stuff in mine. I can see it now. "What the heck was he going to do with a family pack of KFC chicken, a football helmet full of peanut butter, a 12 inch rubber dildo, and naked pictures of Bea Arthur?"
gregk
Sep 19, 05 5:47
Post #4 of 32 (1367 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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Your problem is not the clincher, but the light weight tube. They SUCK. They cost me a 1/2 Ironman. THEY are worthless.
I have used Pro Races and GP 3000's with great luck with 'standard' tubes. Now I'm on some very inexpensive Serfas Seca RS tires that are very durable.
Oh, and make sure you use good quality rim tape. I like Velox and Zefal cloth tape.
mellowdave
Sep 19, 05 6:04
Post #5 of 32 (1340 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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I have to agree with the others here, I have very few flats for the number of miles I ride, and especially given that I favor the roadside for riding. I mean I run over some gnarly stuff here and nothing. I flatted for the first time in 18 months over a month ago. I couldnt even remember how to use my air cartridge it had been so long.
I ride GP3000's with either Conti or Specialized tubes. I rode Pro Race and Carbon for a while, and that was the tire I flatted on, and it cut a long gash in the tire when it happened. Still put a tube in and finished the ride.
:)
Excuse me for jumping right into your forum...
tttiltheend
Sep 19, 05 6:45
Post #6 of 32 (1274 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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There is technique to clinchers as well as sew ups. Here's a few pointers:
-Don't use very light tubes
-Dust the inside of the tire and the tube liberally with talc powder.
-Make sure the flat part of the valve stem is not caught under the bead
-Once the tire is seated, make sure the tube isn't pinched underneath the bead.
-Make sure you use adequate pressure to avoid pinch flats, I weigh 160 and run 110-120 depending on conditions.
I got a slow leak with sew ups the first ride, so there...
I average one flat every 3000 miles or so on clinchers, riding on rough New England roads.
Helitech
Sep 19, 05 6:53
Post #7 of 32 (1258 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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Your mistake was light tubes, I had two blow out while the bike was parked after a 10 mile ride.
cankiwi
Sep 19, 05 7:06
Post #8 of 32 (1228 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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I bought some new heavy-duty Specialized clinchers for IM training this year. Good tires are particularly important around Calgary because of all the crap that is on the roads after the winter freeze. Rode hundreds of miles on them with only one puncture pre-race which was the result of debris swept over the roads following the big southern Alberta floods in June. Since then, have had another with a strategically placed staple.
The important thing to check was the cause of the puncture. Was it a pinch? If so, could it be my fault? Was it a tack or a glass splinter? Would have I got that puncture evcen if i was riding tubs?
Part karma, part luck. The only tire that would be bullet-proof would be one made of solid rubber.
If anybody can, a Kiwi can
slowbill
Sep 19, 05 7:13
Post #9 of 32 (1207 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [luckyleese]
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1 yr., 3,200 miles, working on my 2nd set of tires. Just 1 flat and it was a valve stem failure, not a puncture.
psycholist
Sep 19, 05 7:41
Post #10 of 32 (1150 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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Is this some kind of stupid troll posting?
I STRONGLY suspect user error. Just like there's a trick to mounting tubies, there's a trick to mounting clinchers. As others have said, the first trick is not to waste your time/money on ultralight tubes. The second is learning how to install the tire so you don't pinch the tube under the tire bead. But before any of that, you have to be sure to use good cloth rim strips and be sure they cover every bit of every spoke hole. Don't use plastic/nylon rim strips. Use good, adhesive-backed cloth tape. Velox is best. The Performance brand is also good. None of this is rocket science. It's simple stuff.
I ride 12,000 miles a year ... exclusively on clinchers. The only flats I ever get are when I'm stupid and run a tire down to the cords (which I've been known to do). I ride VERY rough tar and gravel roads. That's all we have around here. I run different tires on different bikes, but mostly I ride Avocet Fasgrip tires. Hard to find, but well worth it.
Bob C.
Bob C.
“The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money” –Margaret Thatcher
Steve B
Sep 19, 05 7:45
Post #11 of 32 (1138 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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I concur with those who implicate the tube. I've stopped buying Bontrager tubes because of the number of defects I've had right at the valve stem.
Years ago I rode exclusively sewups. I even did the cross-Arizona tour (eight-day camping tour) on them, two years in a row. I don't own sewups any more, but it's still rare for me to get a flat.
JohnA
Sep 19, 05 7:48
Post #12 of 32 (1127 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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Was it a pinch flat? Otherwise you probably would have flatted on anything.
I have a lot of love for the Conti GP's, but they have let some of my friends down. I am going to try the GP4K's to see how they go. The Vredestein fortezza Tricomp tires are pretty good, too. I had some blow off problems with Spinergy rims, but no problems at all with my Mavics. Only one puncture in around a year on these guys.
Wolfwood
Sep 19, 05 8:17
Post #13 of 32 (1079 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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I use armadillos as well. I get goatheads, glass and metal stuck in the tread all the time. I use pliers to remove them when I get home but rarely get flats.
woodenshoes
Sep 19, 05 9:06
Post #14 of 32 (1013 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cankiwi]
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I've been looking for the Armadillos this year without much success. Did you get them locally or online?? FWIW I have the Conti Gatorskins but haven't put enough miles on them to say how tough they are. MEC used to carry them in 700 x 23 but now only carry the 32 commuter size :(
marko16
Sep 19, 05 9:12
Post #15 of 32 (1000 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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Well there's your problem, never should have mounted a tire, nothing like riding on a good lightweight innertube.
tttiltheend
Sep 19, 05 9:15
Post #16 of 32 (990 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [Steve B]
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I concur with those who implicate the tube. I've stopped buying Bontrager tubes because of the number of defects I've had right at the valve stem.
Years ago I rode exclusively sewups. I even did the cross-Arizona tour (eight-day camping tour) on them, two years in a row. I don't own sewups any more, but it's still rare for me to get a flat.
My wife recently was in a pinch and bought a Bontrager Race light tire because it was the only 650 tire in the shop. What a POS tire, it was very stiff, rode poorly, and wore out quickly; developed cracks as if it had been left out in the sun for a few years. The worst supposedly high-end clincher I've seen in years.
Lar Dog
Sep 19, 05 10:59
Post #17 of 32 (898 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [tttiltheend]
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What is the purpose of talcum powder on the inside of the rim?
Lar Dog
Cousin Elwood
Sep 19, 05 11:04
Post #18 of 32 (880 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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Tubies rule, no two ways. They can be a bit pricey, however. I race on 'em exclusively and have NEVER flatted in a race.
For training I run Slime liners with Conti GP3000s. I avearage a flat about every 6-8000 miles.
Cousin Elwood - Team Over-the-hill Racing
Brought to you by the good folks at Metamucil and Geritol...
klehner
Sep 19, 05 11:08
Post #19 of 32 (866 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [LADAVIDSON]
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What is the purpose of talcum powder on the inside of the rim?
The myth and lore of cycling (from wreck.bikes FAQ):
http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/8b.11.html
-----------------------------------
Ken Lehner
"We are on our last bag of Life and our last bottle of Joy" - the wife
tttiltheend
Sep 19, 05 11:12
Post #20 of 32 (856 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [LADAVIDSON]
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What is the purpose of talcum powder on the inside of the rim?
Put talcum powder on tube and the inside of the tire, there is no need to put it on the inside of the rim. The talcum powder reduces friction and adhesion between tire and tube and makes it easier to install the tire.
For spare tubes, I take them out of the box and put them in a plastic bag and sprinkle in some talcum powder before putting them in my saddle bag.
Tom A.
Sep 19, 05 11:14
Post #21 of 32 (847 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [klehner]
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[quote]
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In Reply To
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What is the purpose of talcum powder on the inside of the rim?
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The myth and lore of cycling (from wreck.bikes FAQ): http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/8b.11.html
Ken Lehner [/quote]
Ken,
Despite Jobst's claim that talc does absolutely nothing...I believe he's wrong on the point about it not helping to prevent pinched tubes when installing a lightweight butly or a latex tube. Having the tube talc'd makes it a LOT easier to push the tube in correctly before seating the tire bead. Ask me how I learned this ;-)
After that, I'll agree, it does nothing....
. . .
Sep 19, 05 11:18
Post #22 of 32 (831 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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I got fed up with the flats I was getting on clinchers and started using Tufo tubular clinchers on my clincher rims 3 years ago.
Some people have mentioned the light tubes are the cause of flats on clinchers. What brand of tubes is best to use that's available with either an extra long stem or removable valve core?
Lar Dog
Sep 19, 05 11:29
Post #23 of 32 (798 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [Brent F]
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Doing my first Ironman in Florida. I have race wheels (Zipp 404 Clinchers). In terms of tires/tubes, what is the recommendation?
Lar Dog
Johnny99
Sep 19, 05 13:11
Post #24 of 32 (725 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [cerveloguy]
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I had bad luck with the Bontrager ultralight tubes this year. Flats in two races. haven't had any issues with the standard tubes.
tttiltheend
Sep 19, 05 13:27
Post #25 of 32 (700 views)
Re: Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat [klehner]
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In Reply To:
In Reply To:
What is the purpose of talcum powder on the inside of the rim?
The myth and lore of cycling (from wreck.bikes FAQ):
http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/8b.11.html
My reasons for using talcum powder have nothing to do with preventing flats or allowing movement between the tire and tube, on these points I don't doubt Jobst. But for me, experience has shown it is significantly easier to mount a tire when it is talced, it's easier to get over that last bit of rim (not a big deal on my 700c Ksyriums, but definitely an issue on my wife's 650 Shimano wheels). It's also been my observation that it's easier to insert the tube without getting it trapped under the bead if it is talced. YMMV.
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