Clinchers suck - first ride & first flat

Triathlon Forum
21

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

Ken Lehner

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 :wink:

After that, I’ll agree, it does nothing…

22

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?

23

Doing my first Ironman in Florida. I have race wheels (Zipp 404 Clinchers). In terms of tires/tubes, what is the recommendation?

24

I had bad luck with the Bontrager ultralight tubes this year. Flats in two races. haven’t had any issues with the standard tubes.

25

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.

26

I bought Bonty racelite tubes once.

ONCE.

the tires I 've had no problem with , but I’ll never buy those tubes again.

27

“Your problem is not the clincher, but the light weight tube. They SUCK.”

Thanks. That seems to be the general opinion. I won’t give up on clinchers just yet. I’ll give the regular tubes a shot first.

28

I would go with beefier tires as well. Micelin pros are nice, but not exactly what I’d call a tough training tire.

29

Go back to the tubbies. Those clinchers are for kids and michelin pro’s cost more then some tufo’s.

Thom

30

Yup. Over 230 triathlons and only 1 DNF: The first time I rode clinchers and flatted with no spare. I raced on tubbies so long I just never bothered with a spare.

Some lessons you have to learn twice I guess…

31

I just hope you stick to your guns and don’t sell any INFERIOR clincher “stuff” at your shop.

That comment kind’a comes around and bites you, I guess.

You are more than welcome to reply with a very kind: “Bite me!”

32

I ride Michelin A1 tubes exclusively. Honestly a tube won’t help too much with a piece of glass embedded through the tire, but I found two such pieces in a worn-out Conti 3000 front training tire. One was stuck through so much I sliced my finger when I found it (on the inside) yet the tube didn’t pop. I typically wear out the Michelin Carbons before getting a flat, but the Pros are much stickier and I’ve flatted twice with them because they collect lots of road debris. The original Axial Pro was a glass collector, the newer Pro Race are much much better. Not sure about the Pro2 I just got a pair of them today.

Oh, and use the talc. Jobst may be right, but I’ve popped non-talc’d tubes within 30 miles of installing them. It looked like a pinch flat, but it popped on flat smooth pavement and was because I pinched the tube on installing it. Cheap or stupidly ultralight tubes tend to do this also. Cheap tubes (Wrench force and Specialized) also leak lots of air, requiring me to pump the tires up every other day.