I have a pair of 404 Firecrest tubulars that I hardly never use - and I’m having a hard time justifying keeping them. Is there really any clear benefit to using 404 tubulars over 404 clinchers now? I know they are a little bit lighter - and I do like the feeling of riding tubulars - but I don’t do road races any more, only do a couple triathlons a year and race a few crits. Nothing that I need an expensive wheelset that’s expensive to maintain… right?
so… Give me some advice. Can I use 404 clinchers for everything and get rid of tubulars or are there some races that I really should still use the for?
… Give me some advice. Can I use 404 clinchers for everything and get rid of tubulars or are there some races that I really should still use the for?
Yeah, you can use 404 clinchers for everything you do. About the only downside is if you do a lot of steep and long technical mountain descents where there are some concerns about overheating full carbon clincher rims and even then the Zipp FC rims are apparently some of the best when it comes to heat management and sidewall integrity.
Since you’re comparing the same 404 FC profile for either the tubular or clincher version there’s very little performance difference beyond a bit of weight and you’re right the clinchers are a lot more convenient.
As you hardly ever use them, why are they expensive to maintain?
You’ll take a massive hit selling on used race wheels, alas.
Just keep what you’ve got IMVHO.
If you must sell, well the obvious answer is any covered rear wheel and a Flo 90 front.
I might keep some tubies around if I lived in colorado or california and races had huge climbs pretty often.
otherwise, not worth the hassle. You can get the same feeling of riding tubulars with good clincher tires and latex tubes.
I have a pair of 404 Firecrest tubulars
that I hardly never use - and I’m having a hard time justifying keeping them. Is there really any clear benefit to using 404 tubulars over 404 clinchers now? I know they are a little bit lighter - and I do like the feeling of riding tubulars - but I don’t do road races any more, only do a couple triathlons a year and race a few crits. Nothing that I need an expensive wheelset that’s expensive to maintain… right?
so… Give me some advice. Can I use 404 clinchers for everything and get rid of tubulars or are there some races that I really should still use the for?
Aren’t tubies also a bit more resistant to pinch flat in a pothole or such?
Yeah, a bit and they can be a bit safer to ride to a stop after a complete blowout at speed and won’t blow out or have sidewall deformation from excessive braking on long technical descents (but can also get hot and melt the tubular glue holding the tires in place in similar heavy braking situations).
But all of those are pretty minor and tubulars are not markedly more robust or safer than clinchers run at appropriate pressures at least for road riding, now cyclocross tubulars run at very low pressures like 25-30 psi…that’s a different discussion.
If you were buying today, no doubt that clincher would be the preference but I wouldn’t take the hit by selling them and buying new wheels. Ride 'em until they fall apart and then replace with clinchers.
Well pinch flatting is no fun. I hit something (rock?) last year at over 40mph in a race. Pinch flatted, front and rear latex tubes, THROUGH the tires, and destroyed rear rim. Clinchers inflated 5 miles prior. It sucked. Would a tubie have prevented that at speed? I doubt it, but maybe??? That was an expensive incident.
I’d agree with above that unless you have to have every gram of weight…what a pain in the butt tubies must be! Especially if you do happen to flat.
Are you buying 404s new? If so then between selling and buying its going to be between 500 and 1000. For a few crits and a few tris your looking at about 50 per race to change and you wont be any faster and might be a few seconds slower on hilly days.
You mention expensive to maintain butno way will this be cheaper unless you put in a lot of miles and wear through tires/tubes quickly.
Now if you can find someone to trade or sell and buy a much cheaper wheels set thats a different story.
Your problem is that you are riding those clinchers too much. You should just ride the tubbies all the time. I’ll hold onto the clinchers for you so you aren’t tempted to ride them. (Does this really need to be pink?)
Well pinch flatting is no fun. I hit something (rock?) last year at over 40mph in a race. Pinch flatted, front and rear latex tubes, THROUGH the tires, and destroyed rear rim. Clinchers inflated 5 miles prior. It sucked. Would a tubie have prevented that at speed? I doubt it, but maybe??? That was an expensive incident.
I’d agree with above that unless you have to have every gram of weight…what a pain in the butt tubies must be! Especially if you do happen to flat.
Wait, you ripped through the clincher in this instance? That isn’t a pinch flat. That is just sucky luck. And yeah, unless your tubie was a Gatorskin of some sort it was likely going to happen.
I haven’t had good luck with latex tubes, but maybe I’m using the wrong brand - I had challenge tubes - but I’ll try some new ones.
Thanks for the advice. I love riding tubulars - and you’re right without flat they are great - but when they do flat (and the roads near me in NorCal aren’t very good) it’s a pain to replace the tire.