Tubular gluing question/problem

Triathlon Forum
1

I had the local bike shop glue a pair of new continental competitions on my Zipp 404s and the front wheel is making a weird noise when I ride it. I finally figured out that about a six inch section of the tire crackles when I grip the rim and press down on the tire. I am assuming that this is just a poor glue job but it would be helpful to know if anyone else has experienced a similar problem with their tubulars before I ask the bike store to reglue the tire. Thanks

2

Had a similar problem a couple of days before leaving for IMAZ. In this case it was only the area immediately around the valve, but it took me a while to figure out what it was. Anyway, I rode it in AZ without regluing and all was good. I figured that since it was such a small area it would not be a problem.

3

Thanks for responding. My tire may be safe but the noise sure is annoying.

4

Peel it back and put some more glue in there! It’s not rocket science…

5

That’s good advice, except the reason I took the wheels to the bike store was because of my incompetence in gluing them myself. I’m pretty handy, but I think I’ve met my match when it comes to gluing on tubulars. Maybe it was the 3M fast tack glue I used which seemed to dry before I could finaly get the tire mounted. Two of the bike stores i contacted to glue them on for me said they don’t do it anymore - “too hard.” I’m starting to appeciate clinchers more and more.

6

Use Continental cement next time.

7

Just take it back to the LBS that did the glue job. Have 'em fix it for you.

8

Continental tires & Fast Tack: bad combination. That glue will pull the base tape off the tires (leaving you with, well, not much). Don’t do it.

9

It ain’t car trim ! It’s a tire. I would use the corect glue. I never have a noise problem using tubasti rim cement. Like Ken said. It’s a easy job.

squish squish

The dirt

10

Amen to Ken and the fasttac. Really really bad plan there.

11

Two of the bike stores i contacted to glue them on for me said they don’t do it anymore - “too hard.”

That’s two bike shops I’d never set foot in again, if I were you. Seriously - would YOU trust a wrench who can’t glue a tubie? I sure as hell wouldn’t…

12

Interesting. When I ordered the tires from Bike Tires Direct, they assured me that the 3M fast tack glue was good. Live and learn I guess.

13

I used fast tack and lived. I just think using the right glue is a good idea.I like my tubbies with the backing on the tire.

Life is outside Dirt

14

Vittoria Mastik cememt works quite well. If you are riding Zipps, the website as well as most tire manufacturers strongly advise against using Fast tack. If those bike shops find gluing tubulars too difficult, I would run. I am completely inept when it comes to bike maintainence (I still take my bike in to get the cassette switched) and even I can glue tires. Couple of helpful hints:

  1. If its your first time, then don’t try to rush through it. Getting that last little bit of tire around the rim can be irritating and messy. Just expect it and take your time.

  2. Wear old clothes and gloves.

  3. Pre-stretch the tire for a few days before mounting.

  4. If you need to do a last minute/morning of a race gluing , just use the Tufo tape, but remember allow extra time when you take that tire off because it can be a hassle getting the old tape off of the rim.

15

Change LBS.

If you’re ever in San Diego county, head down to Nytro on Coast Hwy and get ‘Alex’ to do your wheel for you, the right way!

/no shameless plug intended; Alex does great work just the same/

  • mike