landdnl

Ok, I spent about 2 hrs. yesterday online doing "research" on whether or not I want to go the tubular route. , I'm doing a weight weenie build, sort of, and the Edge 25 carbon tubular rims caught my eye, along with the Veloflex Carbon Tubular tires. I've been riding clinchers exclusively with gp4000s, so I'm pretty much illiterate when it comes to these things.

I couldn't get any definitive information to sway me one way or the other reading old posts. Tubaholics say they're the greatest thing out there. Tubafobiacs wouldn't be caught dead with them.

Ok, here's my questions:

I'm looking for a tire that I can get 2500 miles on before wearing out.(These will be used on good roads and paths. Isn't going to be my everyday riding wheelset. Is there a better option than the Veloflex that is relatively light weight and durable? These aren't going to be used for racing, so much as doing fast solo rides, so the fastest tire out there isn't a huge concern.

Do you have to use a carbon specific tubular for a carbon rim?

Can I use the carbon brake pads for everyday use with my clincher tires?

Realistically, how long does it take to glue a tubie on? Not counting the time it takes to stretch, cure, dry. This is where the tubaholics exaggerate. If they're that good at it, maybe they're doing it too frequently for my tastes.

As far as flats go, what is the lightest weight tubbie to carry with me just in case? Is there a good double sided tape that I can use so if I do flat, I don't have to wait for the glue to cure? Are they much less flat prone than clinchers?

Are there specific temperature ranges where tubulars should not be used? I.e. Over 95 or below freezing.

What is the best glue to use(I'm assuming you have to use a carbon specific glue for carbon wheels)?

What is a good Youtube video on installation?

Am I missing anything else I should know about?

Thanks in advance.

rpenmanparker 

You mean tubies, not tubbies. Tubbies would be fat tires.

rpenmanparker 

There are brake pads which will work well on either aluminum or carbon rims (Swiss Stop Yellow King and Black Prince for example), but it is not recommended to use the same SET of brake pads on both aluminum and carbon rims alternately. It is not a clincher vs. tubular thing but rather a material thing. Aluminum shards caught in the pads from the alloy rims can damage the carbon rims. Or so "they" say. So it depends on what material your clinchers are made out of. If carbon, it is okay to use the same pads on both sets of wheels. If aluminum, no.

Also you should be aware of the recent thread (I don't know where it is!) about using sealing slime in tubular tires to obviate the need to change and/or repair them. Find it and read it.

Compared to a set of Kinlin aluminum XR-200 rims or similar profile carbon rim and Conti GP 4000 clinchers with light tubes, you won't save much weight with tubies unless you go really extreme on the rim and tire choices. You will sacrifice durability of both the tire and rim doing that. That wouldn't be for every day use, but rather for race day use only. My opinion.

landdnl

Good point. Oops.

Fred Smedley

You probably want to be real careful with what sealant you use. Most latex sealants dry out or clump in short order, 3-6 months. Balance and weight then becomes a big issue , and having to continually add sealant for protection.

Retro Grouch 

I'm thinking those goals are going to work at cross purposes.

If it was my bike I'd build myself a weight weenie wheel set for weight weenie rides and an everyday wheel set for everything else.

landdnl

I forgot to ask about the sealant. Thanks. How would you go about this with presta valves after the flat occurs? I understand that putting sealant in as a preventative measure before you flat reduces the ride quality.

I was looking at the Kinlin's a few months ago, but decided against them purely for aesthetic reasons. I say this is for a weight weenie build, but aesthetics and durability are just as important. The XR-200's for a set would weigh 256 grams more for a set than the Edge 25's assuming a set of Veloflex Tubulars are used(500 grams/set). Plus the Edge's would look perfect on my bike. Everything is done except I still have to get TRP970 brakes and the wheels of course. Right now I have the 2013 Fulcrum 5's on there and the Enve's would be just as nice looking but save a huge amount of weight, not to mention the Tune hubs(White), with cxray spokes(936g/set,1436g with tubies, still a very durable build) Now the Enve carbon clincher is only 46g/set more than the Kinlin set, but again, they're carbon. I do have a Cinelli Experience that I currently use for my everday/commuting rides, so I guess it's not a deal breaker using the new bike for weekend rides only.

You gave me some things to think about, especially the brake pad issue. Thanks for your help.

fietsbob

Agreed, In order for there to be sufficient tread rubber to offer a long wearing time/miles , it has to be there in the first place ..

and that is not going to make for a light fast race tire ..


replaceable valve stems .. CZ Tufo is into making a sealant plugged tubular tire TUFO - Tubeless bicycle tyres - Products

Retro Grouch 

I'm thinking the description of a weight weenie build, like an apology, should not contain the word "but."

Still sounds like a nice bike - and pretty light too. Are you going to break the 15 pound barrier?

landdnl

Where it stands right now, I'm at 13.25 lbs.(Borrowing my Dura Ace 7900's from my other bike). With these wheels, I can get down to 12.75 lbs. and this with durable standard light weight components. And 12.8 lbs. sounds a lot lighter than 13+ pounds since the "teen" doesn't follow twelve.

I've been wanting to try something other than clinchers. Tubeless tires weren't the answer for me, so tubulars came to mind just to see how they do. Same goes for carbon rims. Shelling out $1700 is expensive to satisfy my curiosity, so in my mind I try to justify it for this bike build.

rpenmanparker 

I'm doing the math you suggest. A pair of Kinlin rims weighs about 770g. Minus 256g for the Edges would be 514. Sorry, but I wouldn't ride a 257 g rim every day whether lightened by being tubular or not. I don't think the Tune hubs can take it either. Not to be a party pooper, but as one weight weenie to another, I think you are reaching too far. 936 g carbon tubular wheels are just not for everyday.

rpenmanparker 

As stated un the referenced thread, you can also do with regular valve stems. Either inject the slime into the tube with a fine hypodermic needle or attach the slime container to the valve, stem amd all, and just squeeze it in. Apparently both work.

landdnl

I agree. But this isn't going to be an everyday ride. I have another bike for that. I sure hope your wrong about the Tune hubs though(MIG70 and MAG170).

fietsbob

A friend liked Tubulars, he Injected sealant into the tube , patched the hole like any other puncture , and sewed the casing back up.

Tufo, AFAIK , is kind of a airtight rubber lined tire casing.. tube is not really a separate part

Homebrew01

It takes me 15-20 minutes or so to glue a tire, ready to ride the next day.

For a spare, I carried a used tubular with residual glue. It can be ridden as-is, as long as you go slowly on corners. Then glue on a new tire when you get home.

No temp range as far as I know.

Many people like Vittoria, but other brands work too. Not carbon specific.

crank_addict

You could swing both ways but I can't decide what to do with these...lol. Does that even make sense?! I have a pair of Tufo 700x21c TUBULAR - CLINCHER. If used on the road, you can't service them so I guess would have to run a sealant.

fietsbob

The Tufo Company makes sealant too .. so they concur.

FastJake

Tubbie sounds even stupider than tubie. They're TUBULARS. Sorry...

Rino

I have to confess, I used to really enjoy sew-up tires years ago, but I was not very fast at getting them set up on the rim properly. I'm totally satisfied with some of the modern day clinchers, but I wouldn't try to talk anyone else out of having a set of tubulars.