Six jours

My trails are pretty rocky. I've got Challenge Grifos mounted but am wondering how well they will hold up. If they don't do the job, I figure Tufos are probably the best for the application, but am looking for other opinions.

fietsbob

Races are an Hour long at most, and most courses loop by the pits to swap bikes if you brought 2.

If this is just riding trails recreationally , IDK tubs if you want , its your parade.
monster cross 29er bikes are an option..

Wouldn't clincher wheels & tires be adequate for training rides?

Six jours

This is training for racing on local trails.

fietsbob

Im old and slow , seems practicing taking the barriers, off and back on as seamlessly and fast as possible,
is the time saver.. around the course..

but have fun ..

flargle

I guess "Train on clinchers, race on tubulars" is passe these days?

Six jours

You know, I was going to start the thread with a disclaimer about how "I know I'm using the wrong tires, the wrong wheels, the wrong frame, the wrong shoes, the wrong kit, and the wrong attitude, so let's just see if we can answer the question", but I thought it sounded a little too pissy. But as it turns out, the 'cross forum is just as BF as the rest of BF, so pissy would have been as good a way to start as any.

I'd ask if anyone knows a good cyclocross forum, but I don't really need to be told that I'm wrong to be looking for a good cyclocross forum.

flargle

My bad, I thought you were looking for other opinions.

But seriously, do you ONLY have tubular wheels for that bike? It seems bizarre to train on rocky trails with tubulars. Beyond my love of snark, I genuinely just don't get it.

moralleper

To me it is not worth the risk to damage a tubs on a trail training ride where I might be a 1 hour+ ride from the car. I really do not want to walk back to the car.

Cynikal 

I would look for a tire with a synthetic sidewall like Tufo's or Specialized. The biggest issues with rocks are sidewall tears. I don't mean to be pissy, as you call it, but for the price of new tubies you could pick up a cheap clincher wheelset. To each their own.

GrayJay

Another option are the current clement CX tubulars;
https://clementcycling.com/products

The are made by TUFO with similar construction technique. One problem you will find with almost all new tubulars is that they are made to fit the 33mm width regulation. THe extra tire volume afforded by wider tires would be very beneficial for riding rocks. If your frame has clearance, you could even do a tubular mostercross bike using 29'er MTB tubulars such as;

https://twentynineinches.com/2010/04/...ut-of-the-box/

Six jours

Yes, only tubular wheels - lots and lots of them. I don't see any reason why tubulars can't be at least as resistant to sidewall abrasion as clinchers, so don't really understand the shocked reactions - the last time I raced 'cross, there simply weren't any cyclocross clinchers, so the idea of doing all your off-road riding on tubulars was hardly novel.

Unless you carry a spare clincher tire with you, what's to prevent you from being the guy on foot while the tubular rider just puts on his spare?

At any rate, folks, I really don't mean to get into a "tubular vs. clincher" debate. I've already made that decision for myself and just wanted to hear from folks who might have experience with the rubber coated and/or synthetic sidewall tubulars. Sorry if that wasn't clear in the OP, and thanks to the folks who've supplied their thoughts.