Ok, ST’ers. Thanks for everyone’s assistance with my ZIPP clincher vs tubular problem. I ordered the 650 clincher 404s, and they just arrived today! I am dying to ride tomorrow but for one small problem. I also ordered the Vittoria Open Corsa Evo-CX tires, and they arrived folded and flat as pancakes. How do I get them to stay on the rims so that I can insert a tube when they refuse to stay even the slightest bit curved?
- Slightly inflate tube
- Open Beer
- Stuff lightly inflated tube into Tire to create big circle
- Drink Beer
- Start to pry tire onto new rim
- Finish beer after failing to get tire onto rim
- Get new Beer
- Make sure the tire will not pinch the tube as you try to pull it onto the wheel.
- Curse as wheel continues to slide around.
- Throw that tire across the room declaring it defective
- Get other tire
- Repeat 1-11 until you get one on. Then have another beer and warm up for the second tire.
You can also lightly inflate tube, stuff into tire, press one portion of it onto wheel, tape it down, work way around wheel making sure no pinch flats. Inflate tire.
Thanks, Nick! I am working through your steps right now, but I am substituting wine for the beer. This process reminds me of assembling items from IKEA!
Just wait to you are doing it on the side of the road, shaking and sweating, kneeling and one handed. Good times.
Just wait to you are doing it on the side of the road, shaking and sweating, kneeling and one handed. Good times.
Just wait until you try to get the last four inches over the rim. 
Getting the first side on is the easy part.
that’s hillarious
.
- Slightly inflate tube
- Open Beer
Actually one thing that will help is a lot more beer than that. Some tires are insanely difficult to install the first time. Putting talc on the tube will make it slide better and will be less likely to pinch, and I’m not aware of any bad side effects (I’ve been doing it that way for 20+ years). But I never thought of taping the section down that’s already installed…good idea! Having thin tire levers will help, as even though they say to not use them to install a tire, some are so tight it’s almost impossible initially.
FWIW I have a 650 tri bike and have used many different brands and, at least from my personal experience, Vittoria, Continental, Bontrager and Michelin tires were far more difficult to mount than Vredestein and Hutchinson even though I bought them all in the same 650x23 size.
Miguel in the 'No…El Tribato