This is for the people who race on clinchers:
What is the biggest reason (or reasons) why you are reluctant to use tubulars? I’m interested to find out what people’s thoughts are. Thanks!
Wait, I thought that if you weren’t on tubulars, you weren’t actually racing. 
I recently got a set of tubulars for my race wheels, but I did debate the issue for a while before.
My argument for clinchers was that tires for them were cheaper and they were a known quantity (I knew how to change flats on them and “care” for them in general). Prices per indicent are cheaper with clinchers than with tubulars.
I chose tubulars becuase ultimately, they’re race wheels. I’ve been told that tubulars are less prone to flatting than clinchers. They can be inflated higher than clinchers can (debatable if that actually makes a difference). And tubular wheels are lighter overall than clincher counterparts.
Cost (flats are expensive), and modern clinchers are close enough to tubs in performance.
I would go back to tubs if I could afford a pair of really nice carbon rimmed race wheels.
Oh, I’m only talking about race wheels…
Yup, as far as I am concerned the first thing that makes a race wheel a race wheel is that it is a tubular. The term “clincher race wheels” is an oxymoron.
tubulars appear to be a big mess/hassle. Is dealing with the glue, setting and truing worth it? What a production.
My adversion to tubulars is for crits only. I’ve seen a few roll and the outcome has been an intimate get to know the pavement incident. A few crits have banned tubs as well in this area. For TT/duathlon/road races/circuit races/hill climbs etc it’s race tubulars or go slow!
AHHH HAAAA.
I knew it. I thought that is what I would start to hear.More later…
I train and race only on Tubbies…I do have one set of clinchers, seems every time I ride them I get a flat…(bad Clincher Mojo).
Again, it’s a known thing. I’ve never used tubulars. However, after flatting twice in the same race and walking 6 miles, AND reading too many Bunnyman posts, I bought tubular race wheels this year. I’m leaning toward Tufo because of the sealant. But then, how much sealant do you use? Again, there’s the unknown factor. I’m also thinking aboiut trying the tubular clinchers.
three words
3M Fast Tack.
Never roll a tub again. But its lousy for triathletes etc, since it completely dries, so there isn’t anything sticky when changing a flat tub. It is also a bitch to remove the tire.
For Iron-distance races when we need to bring replacements in case of a flat, I think it’s easier carrying two tubes under the saddle vs. 2 tubular tires…
Other than that…cost and no one’s ever done a good job of showing that it’s just as easy to change as a clincher. I’ve seen people yelling at their flatted tubies on the side of the road at races…maybe too much glue, who knows - but I don’t think you can beat the value of clinchers vs. performance.
I can come up with the following list:
a) glue removal haircuts are not pretty;
b) Joseba Beloki;
c) the cost performance tradeoff is not the wide;
d) because tubie folks seem to feel very strongly that they have the secret sauce and tend to look at CLINCHER RACE WHEEL owners, like myself, like we are crazy, which i like, makes me seem dangerous;
e) if you rode through some of the neighborhoods i do you would ride clinchers.
re: clincher race wheels. can we agree zipp 404s are racing wheels? so if they sell 404s clinchers as such clincher race wheels must exist, now don’t they?
I use them for racing only, on my Zipp 909’s. But if had one objection it would be the messy glue. I asked about using the tape before but the replies I got was to stay with my conti glue. I always seem to get glue on the sidewalls. I use Conti tubs only, thus no sealant and will therefore carry a spare under the seat, maybe the size of a spare and trying to fit it under the saddle can be a “little” objection as it does defeat the object somewhat of having an aero seatpost.
OK… “more later…” we are now waiting for the reason why you asked, I think you have something on your mind…?!
I have used both and ultimatly went back to clinchers. the reasons are…
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I hated having to pack a tubular under my seat so big and bulky.
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If I flat with a tubular chances are I am not going to get top 3 in my ag so who cares how long it takes to change the tire
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Clinchers are cheaper…
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Tubulars can be inflated to higher pressure, so what does that save me 5 secs??
It is all about being practical to me, and the minuses of tublars don’t outweigh the pluses
"This is for the people who race on clinchers: "
Clinchers?? What are they??
I race on tubulars, but only because I got a really good deal on my race wheels. If I had to do it all over again, I’d go clincher because:
(1) IMO, clinchers are now at least as well made as tubies and cost a lot less.
(2) Price-per-flat, a clincher means a $tube. A tubular means a $30-100 new tire, or a PITA session with a needle and thread.
(3) Roll anxiety. No, I’ve not rolled a tubular yet but I know the day will eventually come. Yes I do use Fast Tack.
(4) Ease of tire changes. I can change a clincher in my warm living room watching TV. I’ve got to change a tubular in my frigid garage.
(5) Post incident. After a clincher flat, I’ve got a new tire securely fastened to the rim and can corner as hard as I want. With the dry glue of my spare tubular I have to corner much slower.
20 years ago clinchers sucked and tubulars were definitely the way to go. Nowadays most clinchers are better than tubulars as that’s where the tire companies are putting their efforts. How many new tubulars have come on the market in the last 10 years - maybe 5-10? How many clinchers - probably hundreds? It’s really hard to make a credible argument for tubulars in 2004. The ride quality and tire pressure argument are obsolete, and the weight advantage is minimal at best.
I had ten times more flats riding tubulars,i got tired of fixing flats on tubulars,anyone ever do this? i switched to clinchers for most of my riding and it was two years before getting a flat,at one time i had 50 thats 50 tubulars that needed fixing
A few years ago, the Mavic neutral support vehicle in the Euro-pro field stocked all of its spare wheels with Michelin clinchers. Apparently the pros couldn’t tell the difference between their normal tubs and the neutral support clinchers.
Tom,
When I was in the Air Force and had to head over to Europe several times a year, I’d just head over from Baden Baden to Strassbourg and by 12 tubs for ~$5 each. I’d train on tubulars all the time. They were great and would rarely flat. And since I don’t go down any 20K descents with switchbacks dones at 40 mph in 100 degree heat like Beloki, rolling a tubular was not a concern. I like the ride of tubulars better, but now that I rarely get over to Europe where I can by cheap “condor” tubulars, I just ride clinchers in training and race on Conti sprinter tubulars. I like the ride of a wider tubular better and in 2003 when I heard that USPS was using 23 mm tubulars for superior protection against flats, I knew I was making the right choice. If it is good enough for the Hincapie-Armstrong train in the TTT, it is sure good enough for a lame guy like myself.
Dev