OK, next year I’m going to be getting myself some race wheels (renn disk, ebay aero front), and the thorny question of tubular/clincher comes up. I’ve read loads of threads, and pretty much decided to go with tubulars, but I have some questions that I haven’t seen elsewhere.
When you first got tubies, how many times did you change them before you felt comfortable doing them. As they’re going on race wheels, they won’t see much use, and hopefully few flats, but I’m going to need to practice for when it happens in a race.
Did you buy a couple of sets of cheap tubies to practice with.
Does the practice cause any damage to the wheels.
How often do you practice changing them.
With prestretching, can you just keep your spares on a couple of cheap clincher rims?
Thanks,
J.
I was in the same boat last year. I made the switch to tubes for my race wheels and never regretted it. In fact, I think they are easier to work with than clinchers. 1) Tufo tires and Tufo tape is the way to go. I put them on last year ( the tape lets you make corrections before it becomes permanent) and never messed with them again. Never flatted as of yet. 2) I bought 1 cheap tubular rim on ebay for stretching. I carry 2 prestretched tubies with me for IM races. 1 for shorter distances. 3) It was fear of the unknown which lept me away from tubs in the first place. Now I know better. Make the switch and you’ll never look back.
I’ve pretty much always raced on tubulars and trained on clinchers. You can use a clincher rim to do the stretching if you like.
You shouldn’t have trouble replacing tires (if needed) while racing as its fairly easy to do as long as you’ve stretched the tire. I actually use cheap or worn tires as spares.
Gluing is my preferred method, but others like tape. Tape is not as messy for someone new to tubulars.
Good luck and enjoy the ride!
Rocketboy
I switched this year, exactly as you planned. Renn and ebay front. I got a Hed. so far, it’s been great. I ended up buying conti sprinters and vittoria rubino somethings (I always forget). Next year, I’m thinking of switching to tufo. I practiced stretching and mounting without glue for about a month. then I used tufo tape. very easy. I bought a cheap set of old tubular wheels($60 - I love ebay) and use that to stretch tires.