Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.
Robjustice
06-12-10, 12:30 PM
I just mounted my first set of tubulars. Zipp 404's with Vittoria Corsa. The rear came out perfect. The front however is trued up, but there is a slight highspot. Is this something to be concerned about? Should I remove the tire and remount it??
The high spot probably happened because you didn't stretch it evenly, either not stretching enough early on and pulling it hard at the end, or stretching hard at first and finding slack at the end (and wondering why folks seem to have problems. As to whether it's OK or not, is a matter of degree and location.
If it's near the valve, or a short bump sort of thing you feel as you ride, remount the tire, if it's a long gradual thing sort like a cam and isn't noticeable riding you can leave it alone.
Everyone has his own approach to mounting tubulars. I mount a partly inflated tire (1-2psi, or only enough to give it shape) using old fashioned mastic while it's still wet and slippery, which allows me to relocate the tire until I'm happy. Many of the current glues which need to be tacky aren't so friendly about shifting and equalizing the tire.
With practice you'll have a better feel for how to get a tire seated uniformly. It also varies by tire, so it's best to mount tires on a dry wheel (I have a 40 year old front just for this) in inflate the tire both to pre-stretch it, and to get a feel for how much you'll have to stretch it when mounting.
BTW- here's an old tubular tire trick. You can use the valve as an indicator of a shifting tire. If you mount with the valve perfectly straight and later notice it's angled, it means your tire has shifted, which is common riding in hills during hot weather. This only works if the valve hole in the rim is sloppy enough to allow the valve to move, so I ream the tire side of the rim slightly oversize for that purpose.
ultraman6970
06-12-10, 05:05 PM
Not something to be worry about, besides i havent seen a tubular that is 100 round ever if that makes you feel better.