Hey all, here's a question that I hope won't start a big tubular/clincher flame war.
Later this year I'm planning on buying a set of race wheels (renn disk/second hand hed 3 or similar). I race maybe 6 times a year, and will be doing my first ironman next year (IMNZ). I don't race any other form of bike racing, and have never used tubulars.
I'm wondering if it's worth going to tubulars for the race wheels or staying with clinchers. Given that I won't use the wheels that often (at least not in the next few years while I'm in Borneo) and it takes at least a few goes to get used to mounting and changing tubulars, I'm wondering if it is really worthwhile to move to tubulars given the hassle involved in changing them.
I've read around here and gordoworld and there seems to be dissent about whether they're any faster for a MOP athlete, and if you're not used to changing them, I wonder if I'd change them any quicker than a clincher that I can practice regularly if I need to. I woudn't want to be stuck at the side of a road in a race, making a complete hash of changing the tubie, whereas I know how to change a clincher. The extra minute or two a well changed tubie would save me isn't going to make a difference to my race time, or chance of a podium, so I wonder what you all think.
Oh, and the wheel weight's not going to affect me enough to make a difference I don't think.
Cheers,
J.
Later this year I'm planning on buying a set of race wheels (renn disk/second hand hed 3 or similar). I race maybe 6 times a year, and will be doing my first ironman next year (IMNZ). I don't race any other form of bike racing, and have never used tubulars.
I'm wondering if it's worth going to tubulars for the race wheels or staying with clinchers. Given that I won't use the wheels that often (at least not in the next few years while I'm in Borneo) and it takes at least a few goes to get used to mounting and changing tubulars, I'm wondering if it is really worthwhile to move to tubulars given the hassle involved in changing them.
I've read around here and gordoworld and there seems to be dissent about whether they're any faster for a MOP athlete, and if you're not used to changing them, I wonder if I'd change them any quicker than a clincher that I can practice regularly if I need to. I woudn't want to be stuck at the side of a road in a race, making a complete hash of changing the tubie, whereas I know how to change a clincher. The extra minute or two a well changed tubie would save me isn't going to make a difference to my race time, or chance of a podium, so I wonder what you all think.
Oh, and the wheel weight's not going to affect me enough to make a difference I don't think.
Cheers,
J.