Tubular Intimidation

Triathlon Forum
1

I bought some 85mm tubular race wheels last August from ST Classifieds. Nice Wheels, but I am a little worried about the prospect of having to change a flat during a race. I have changed out several clincher flats during training and a couple times racing…no big deal. But I’ve been trying to educate myself about the tubular world. I watched the video on Beginner Triathlete…it doesn’t appear to be a speedy process. I like the idea behind tubulars but I don’t like the idea of taking a DNF because I couldn’t get my tire off of the wheel.

What are your (collective) thoughts on the issue? Having read the “Tubular vs. Clincher” article in Triathlete Mag. I’m thinking about sticking with clinchers (no pun intended).

Luckily I have not glued the rims yet…still brand new.

Kyle

2

As in all endeavors, practice makes perfect. If you not confident in your ability to swap a tire, do a couple while out on training rides…

3

I’ll echo the previous poster: practice makes perfect. I grew up into cycling riding nothing but tubulars; for me, clinchers are a nightmare while tubulars are a piece o cake.

4

How much time does it take you to do a change out? The demonstrator on BT expressed caution not to leave any of the tubular base material stuck to the rim or it will be very dificult to remove it prior to mounting the new tire.
What is your personal process of flat tire change out?
Then what? is the flatty junk now?
Kyle

5

Can’t officials change it for you if you can’t do it?

6

piece of cake changing a tubular. practice some, do it at home a few times before you try it at mile 80 tired etc. make sure you prestretch your spare. Life is much easier using tufo extreme tape, its all I use the last few years and have never rolled a tyre, and I always ride tubulars, racing and training. Roadies will tell you tape isnt is as good as glue but unless your racing crits or have team support their mistaken, glue has a learning curve you cant afford and is a pain in the ass on the fly, get the exreme tape and it’ll be a breeze. good luck, clinchers suck.

7

OK, you watched a video on how to change a tubular flat in your garage or a bike shop, not on the course with the race on the line. The processes for the two are very different.

I have not seen the video you mentioned, but from your description, it seems like a great advice for changing a flat at home. I am going to help you with on the course.

On the course, the hard part is not getting the old tire off, it is getting the new one on. Luckily, since you have unglued rims, you can practice. Practice stretching the tire on by yourself, and inflating it. This is what you will do on race day…no gluing. After you get it on and inflated, pull it back off again. Rinse and repeat.
That will take care of your practice changing the tire.

So, how do you get the old one off ON RACE DAY? Brute force. Grab the thing, rip at it, pull it off. It is a tubular with a hole in it, and therefore trash, so don’t worry about it. Usually, this will get the old tire off. However, if there is a really sticky one, here is a little trick, just don’t tell anyone, it is a secret.
Tape a razor blade to the bottom of your saddle. If your flat tubular (remember it is already trash) won’t come off, pull that blade out, cut the tire straight across the tread, as deep as you can. You basically want to cut the tire all the way to the rim. Now, stick your finger in the tire, and pull. It will come off.

Now, pop the new tire on, just like you practiced. Don’t worry about all that residue stuff in the race, it is fine. You can clean it up when you get home.

The spare you carry with you should have a base coat of glue on it. Just put the glue on and let it dry for a few days before you fold it up. This glue, once heated by using your brake, will stick to the glue left on your rim by the old tire. It isn’t as nice as if you had just glued it up properly in the shop, and I wouldn’t go racing a 4 corner crit on it, but it will get you home, or to T2. Just take it easy on the accelerations, decelerations, and cornering, and most importantly, remember to fix it when you get home so you don’t forget and show up at your next race with an unglued tire.

Your other option is to ignore all of this, and use Vittoria Pit Stop, which works pretty well.

Tubulars are easy, those clinchers on the other hand, what a pain.

8

What a great post. Sounds like you’ve been through it a time or two.

9

I don’t think I could bring myself to ask.

10

yes, razorblade works, tho may do little to help wth the poster being intimidated…

i carry a little butter knife to pry’em off, theres those fancy little ones you ONLY use for buttering bread or spreading chz on crackers…we dont need to be eating that shit, put one in your tool bag or as I do, just fold it up into the PRESTRETCHED spare. Be aggressive, rip that sucker off.

11

I have been riding tubulars for around 15 years now, so I have changed a flat or two. You really just need to practice. Get you technique down for holding the wheel and tire as you pull the new one on. Everyone does it different, find what works for you.

Gluing the tires on correctly in the shop is more difficult that mounting a clincher, however, on the road, the tubular is much easier to change, though unlike a clincher, you are not back to 100%, more like 95% going straight, and 50% cornering/braking.

I do get less flats with tubies that with clinchers overall, and I ride tubies more.