There’s been a lot of debate about whether tubulars or clinchers are better wheels. I love the idea of the light weight of tublars, the smaller chance of pinch flats, and that they don’t roll off the wheel when they flat generally. I also have been watching alot of past cycling races and kona races while riding my trainer. Almost all of the pros seem to be riding tubulars, however they all have support vehicles, so when they flat they get a new wheel.
The question I have is for the age groupers or races were there is no support vehicles are tubulars really that great of a choice. From what I understand to have a crr close to clinchers you have to glue tubulars on so firmly that changing one in a race would take forever. So in people opinions who have used tubulars, are the benefits worth the fact that if you flat you basically DNF or lose 15 minutes changing your tire?
Basically in the world of triathlon (except for the pros) are clinchers a better suited wheel tire combo?
I’d say it’s personal preference and what’s on the line. If you were aiming for a PR or Kona slot, I might go with the option that would yield least risk in time loss. I mostly do shorter distance races where I’d prefer to DNF than lose time for any tire change. Plus, I prefer the ride of tubulars.
I think most people can change a clincher much faster than a tubular. Still, it’s possible to change a tubular faster with practice. Then, a can of Vittoria Pit Stop is super fast if you just have a small puncture.
Don’t forget mental factor. If you’re always worried about a flat while you’re riding, it’s distracting you from your focus on the race. Confidence and security are also important for race outcomes.
Go with what you feel is right and you’ll probably be happier (and faster)…
Just rip off the tubular. In a race you are pissed you got a flat, use that anger to rip it off and mount the new one. Takes about 60 seconds.
Or as another ST’er once said, tape a razor blade under your seat and cut it off.
I have both tubies and clinchers in the basement and I know how to change a tire on both types of rims. The ease of changing a tire depends largely in the tire/rim you are using. I’ve spent loads of time breaking tire levers in the comfort of the basement on clinchers that just seem way to small to go on the rim, and I’ve punched myself in the face pulling a well glued tubie off the rim too. On the flip side I can get my CX tires off the rim with no tools (which is precisely why tubies are better for that application) and I can pull the tubies off my wife’s 303’s in about 10sec.
For what is equally a hassle I prefer the tubies on my road bike which i spend most of my time on.
I can cut a tubbie off and roll on a spare much faster then you can unmount and mount a clincher.
I use use tubbies for racing and either a set of tubbies or a set of clinchers for training depending on which bike I am on that day.
I want to see a video of someone cutting a tubie in half with a razor blade and pulling it off. Maybe I am a wuss but could not do it. Tried it is my basement with no time constraints and still could not do it. Even with the blade in a big heavy handle could not cut all the way through it. Took levers and a pair of pliers to get the tire off. CX open tubbie on a 404 btw using the gluing technique on the zipp site and continental glue.
My opinion only, of course, but I can’t see a reason for any AGer to use tubulars.
As you said, they’re slower unless you glue them so tightly that you’ll be lucky to get them off the rim at all. Forget doing it in 10 seconds.They may be lighter, but even a hillier IM like LP wouldn’t overcome the time lost from the increase in CRR.Half of the weight you save is going to be offset by the fact that you’re going to carry a tire and tube with you instead of just a tube. Carry two spares and you’ve negated the weight savings entirely.My only experience changing clinchers is from when I have had flats. I’ve never tried to “practice” to get faster. When I flatted on a long ride with a friend a few months ago, I had him time me just out of curiousity. With the wheel in hand, it took me only about a minute to change the tube and re-inflate it and that included checking the inside of the tire to find what caused the flat in the first place.The fact that most of the pros race tubulars doesn’t mean they’re faster. It just mean that’s what the pros use.
Pro triathlete’s don’t have support vehicules to give them a new wheel. Case in point Chrissie’s Co2 crisis in Kona. The support vehicules at IM’s are usually for the age groupers so they can finish no matter what aren’t they ? (someone please correct me if i’m wrong)
I train on clinchers (just for the cost savings if I flat) and race on tubulars. I can change the flat on my tubular much faster then my clinchers. Leave about 1 inch opposite the valve stem with no glue and carry a tire lever. That little unglued piece shouldn’t really affect your rolling resistance and it’ll be easy to find and stick the lever in to pry a bit off.
Then as someone else said use your race rage and rip er off !!!
I’ve only ever flated on one of my tubulars once and it was in a pre race test ride the day before, never in a race. Mind you i’ve never flatted in a race on clinchers either (before I had my HED3’s).
I think the best argument though is the one that was made above by someone else…do whatever you are comfortable with…no one wants to wind up in a panic on the side of the road throwing their bike because they can’t change a flat
During a race one could assume that there would be a physiological boost factor for riding on the best - the stuff that all the pros ride on.
Do you mean like the clincher Jets that Ms. Wellington won Kona on? OK
There are more pros who race and win on tubulars than there are on clinchers.
It’s funny…just the other day I was discussing with my 11 year old the difference between “correlation” and “causation”…and HE actually got it. You, I’m not so sure
My opinion only, of course, but I can’t see a reason for any AGer to use tubulars.
As you said, they’re slower unless you glue them so tightly that you’ll be lucky to get them off the rim at all. Forget doing it in 10 seconds.They may be lighter, but even a hillier IM like LP wouldn’t overcome the time lost from the increase in CRR.Half of the weight you save is going to be offset by the fact that you’re going to carry a tire and tube with you instead of just a tube. Carry two spares and you’ve negated the weight savings entirely.My only experience changing clinchers is from when I have had flats. I’ve never tried to “practice” to get faster. When I flatted on a long ride with a friend a few months ago, I had him time me just out of curiousity. With the wheel in hand, it took me only about a minute to change the tube and re-inflate it and that included checking the inside of the tire to find what caused the flat in the first place.The fact that most of the pros race tubulars doesn’t mean they’re faster. It just mean that’s what the pros use.
And the sub-par P2C. How in the world did she win, twice?
I realize you’ve got the pink “sarcasm” font going there…but, who ever claimed that a P2C is “subpar”? It’s “on par” with all of the other top TT frames.
So…IMO, the sarcasm ain’t quite working on that one. Sorry.
