Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - new to track, clinchers or tubes?

i finally got a track frame, a beautiful cherry red carbon frame from the japanese company Presto - and it was free, lucky me...

now i`m looking at wheels - if i get tubes will i be that much faster? the guy at the LBS (and this is the Giro track builders shop here in Kurume, Japan, so i guess he knows his stuff) reckons the tubes are for the pros, but i want to get into competitive track racing, so - tubes or the cheaper clinchers?

how much of a time difference will i be looking at over 1km?

thanks

i finally got a track frame, a beautiful cherry red carbon frame from the japanese company Presto - and it was free, lucky me...

now i`m looking at wheels - if i get tubes will i be that much faster? the guy at the LBS (and this is the Giro track builders shop here in Kurume, Japan, so i guess he knows his stuff) reckons the tubes are for the pros, but i want to get into competitive track racing, so - tubes or the cheaper clinchers?

how much of a time difference will i be looking at over 1km?

thanks

basically none. Depending on the tires, tubes and glue the clinchers may even be faster. If you're doing kilos your speed gain will come when you get aero wheels not tubulars.

If the wheels are going to be track only I say go with tubulars, otherwise clinchers should be fine. Also I don't know if I would want tubulars if I didn't have a balcony, spareroom, basement storage or something to glue them in.

Whatever you can get that is more aero unless you're running indoors where then I'd say tubulars.

I run box section araya rims, and while they're light and fun, I wish I had something deeper...

ok thanks guys, will look for aero clinchers!

aero clinchers????

You have to go tubulars dude!!! Darn!

It also will depend on the surface of the track you are racing on. If it is really smooth then you can pump you tubulars up to a very high pressure which will lower your rolling resistance. If you are on a bumpier track and need to run at a lower pressure, clinchers might actually be better.

Just ride whatever you have for a season and get used to the track and then figure out your needs... You'll be confused enough when you start racing.

Clinchers have improved a lot over the last 15 years, but I just got a new bike with tubulars and it seems they feel just as good as they always have. They just feel livelier and smoother. Even if they're not REALLY faster, they do feel faster. I say go with tubulars, no question. After all, it's a track bike, you won't be riding over busted beer bottles.