I’m in the market for a new wheelset. I’ve found a deal on a set I really like. Problem is that I’ve always ridden clinchers – and the set is tubular. I’m competent in changing clinchers – but have never mounted a tubular – nor have I ever seen one mounted. Thoughts??
I would honestly give the tubulars a shot. They are lightery weight, and corner better. Cons are changing tires though. If you’re not ready for the jump up, I have a set of Reynolds SDV66 clinchers that I am trying to sell.
You’ll be fine, a deal is a deal.
what happens when you get a flat 34 miles from home?
Re: flatting
Carry a pre-stretched and glued tubie in you jersey pocket. Carry a can of Vittoria PitStop for small cuts.
Give 'em a try. Sell 'em if you don’t like 'em. But, it’s nice to have options.
Don’t worry about how heavy they are either…aero is the only thing that matters
.
Clinchers are easier
Tubes are like using a dial up rotary phone. You can not be in a hurry.
I am on the back end of a tubular phase-I did not notice any appreciable difference between good quality clinchers and tubulars. My personal experience it is not worth the pain to store extra tires.
I figure i can pull out of my drive with 2 co2 and 2 tubes in my pockets, With tubulars I had to figure out where to put them fold them tape or strap just right and then after use the chances of me getting them folded well and not just stuffed in my jersey was rare.
Kind of a pain in the ass for little or no return-
My suggestion would be to stay with clinchers it is just simpler.
Kevin
Your answer just messed with his head because it made so much sense.
PJ, this is just an ignorant comment… it is likely saying 34 miles out on clinchers, no tubes or CO2… No one goes out with tubulars and at least doesn’t bring a can of pit stop. More times than not that will work, and if not, guess what… You can ride the tubular flat. Trying doing that with a clincher.
Clyde… I am more than happy to see people return to clinchers, they are giving up a lot when they do and it just makes me faster relative to everyone else. With that being said if no one rides tubies and there isn’t a market then I won’t be able to buy them because no one will manufacture them. Truth is there is a little pain in the butt that comes with tubies, but don’t neglect the benefits which include:
- Usually more aero
- Safer when probably glued (ie if you flat going down a hill you have a chance to save it opposed to biting it with a clincher)
- lighter - in addition the extra weight on a clincher can be found at almost the furthest edge of the wheel which means a great impact for this rotating mass
- can be ridden flat (if you only had 1-5 miles left in a race, it would probably be faster just to ride the tire flat opposed to changing out a tube on a clincher)
- no pinch flats
- better corner and handling
- more durable in general, less likely to puncture.
there are prob a few more but regardless there are a lot of benefits that people often fail to mention.
You can ride a flat tubular? really? I didn’t know that… how far is t he max you could do that? (race situation, I mean)
And can you still do that on a carbon rim?
So then if I were to pick up some tub wheels, say Hed Jet C2’s, which tub tyre size do I get? 28x23? Is that the equiivalent of 700x23? Thanks.
Kindly forgive me for quibbling with your phraseology and borrowing from SuperClyde.
Clinchers are simpler. I can change a tubular in about half the time as a clincher, not counting the extra time to check the clincher for debris in the cut that may cause a second flat and probably end your day. So, I disagree that clinchers are “easier”.
That said, I do not glue my tubies tight enough to require being cut off the rim, so I proabaly have increased rolling resistance.
edited.
Kindly forgive me for quibbling with your phraseology and borrowing from SuperClyde.
Clinchers are simpler. I can change a tubular in about half the time as a clincher, not counting the extra time to check the clincher for debris in the cut that may cause a second flat and probably end your day. So, I disagree that clinchers are “easier”.
That said, I do not glue my tubies tight enough to require being cut off the rim, so I proabaly have increased rolling resistance.
edited.
you have increased rolling resistance dramatically. you are essentially taking out an insurance policy against not being able to complete the race. if you race 20 times per year and flat once, then you are purposefully slowing yourself down 19 times for the one time that you will be slower but still be able to finish. if you race once, then you at least get to finish. personally, i am content with the fastest possible races on the times when things go well, and i am content with a total loss when things don’t go well.
is your goal to compete or to complete? that shoul help to make the decision. also, be very very very very very careful with not completely glueing your tubulars. since i have switched to road racing, i have seen many guys roll a tubular tire off the rim, and it is a very scary sight…AND RESULT.
with the HED, I ride a 28x21. it’s more aero than a 23, but it’s less stable, so I would choose the 23 if you are riding rough surfaces or frequently ride in wet conditions.
OK, thanks for the input.
Poor communication on my part. My tubies are no where near loose enough to roll off the rim. And you’re right, that is a scary sight. I did it once, (in 1972 - yeah, I’m old as well as fat and slow) and the rim was sparking on the asphalt. Might have been cool to watch, and I did save it, so all’s well that ends well.
While what you say makes sense, I’m not sure about “dramatically.” I just do TTs (mostly around 40k) on my tubies. So far, I’ve never flatted a tubie in a race. I’ve flatted clincher in crits twice this year - both pinch flats due to the roughness of the course. With the tubies, they’re loose enough so that I can get them off with my hands and a tire lever. Not tight enough so that I blister my thumbs trying to remove them. I’ve done that before, too.
I’m usually in the top half of my age group and rarely would 10-15 seconds change my finishing position by more than 1 place and it never would have put me in the top 3. I’m on a Scott Plasma, too.
Sometimes, I think we sweat the small details too much.
Hope this makes sense.
JSG,
I am pointing out my experience.
As indicative of my moniker how aero my tires are is the least of my concerns. But i will say that my clincher is way more aero than that tubie taped to your seat post.
safer? when I have flatted on each clincher or tubie as my rim contacted the road the bike got squirley. Flats are troublesome regardless. If you flat in a corner you will crash bottom line type of tire is not going to change that.
Lighter? Total set up is not lighter-apples to apples you are required to carry two tires and two co2 or pitstop. I carry two tubes and co2.
a few grams of rotational weight again not a big issue for me.
My experience with riding a tubie flat is the that my wheels are worth way more than a prime at the local worlds or a podium in a tri.
haven’t pinch flatted clinchers in years-I have this thing I use everytime I ride-Floor Pump-
I have not noticed a cornering difference ever.
Glass or road crap will cut any rubber tubie or clincher
Like I said in my op-IMHO the differences are negligible therefore not warranting the additional challenge of where to store my spares on the ride.
I am happy to send you my 808 tubies they are gather dust
Kevin