benefits of tubular tires
#1
bicyclebikes
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 77
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
benefits of tubular tires
hey so i personally have never ridden on tubular tires, so i was wondering what the benefits of them were. to me they look like more of a pain to put on, but it seems like a lot of the really nice wheels are tubulars.
#2
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 42,919
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22473 Post(s)
Liked 8,794 Times
in
4,092 Posts
Lighter. Slightly better handling/ride.
Way more hassle than they are worth, unless you are racing competitively.
Use search for details ad nauseum.
Way more hassle than they are worth, unless you are racing competitively.
Use search for details ad nauseum.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Zang's Spur, CO
Posts: 9,085
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3351 Post(s)
Liked 5,400 Times
in
2,796 Posts
For the same size tire, it puts more distance between the rim and the road.
No snakebite flats.
When you do get a flat, the tire stays on the rim.
No snakebite flats.
When you do get a flat, the tire stays on the rim.
#4
Artificial Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Cyberspace
Posts: 7,163
Bikes: Retrospec Judd, Dahon Boardwalk, Specialized Langster
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6721 Post(s)
Liked 5,431 Times
in
3,192 Posts
Calling ciocc_cat. Come in. Your soap box awaits.
Again.
Geez...
Again.
Geez...
__________________
#5
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
For me the benefits are:
a) lighter
b) easier to control/ride on when flat
c) less tempting to use my race wheels for training
a) lighter
b) easier to control/ride on when flat
c) less tempting to use my race wheels for training
#6
SLJ 6/8/65-5/2/07
Point "C" is a superb one.
__________________
“Life is not one damned thing after another. Life is one damned thing over and over.”
Edna St. Vincent Millay
“Life is not one damned thing after another. Life is one damned thing over and over.”
Edna St. Vincent Millay
#9
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 42,919
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22473 Post(s)
Liked 8,794 Times
in
4,092 Posts
#10
Elite Fred
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Edge City
Posts: 10,945
Bikes: 2009 Spooky (cracked frame), 2006 Curtlo, 2002 Lemond (current race bike) Zurich, 1987 Serotta Colorado, 1986 Cannondale for commuting, a 1984 Cannondale on loan to my son
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 60 Post(s)
Liked 42 Times
in
19 Posts
In a race situation (b) is the most important. I've had to deal with abrupt tire decompression with clinchers at 30 mph and it ain't pretty. With tubulars it is much more graceful. That allows you to get out of the pack without causing carnage and also ride for a while on a flat tire without destroying a wheel.
#11
Peloton Shelter Dog
MUCH lighter wheels. Far fewer flats in training and racing. I'd say half as many flats. Two reasons: no pinch flats, and if you ride tubulars with higher tire pressures (I pump mine to 140-160 lbs) it's harder for stuff to work its way into the tire to cause a puncture. But they are mostly a pain compared to clinchers.
I ride and race on both. On my TT bike, I can get the bike down to <17 lbs with the 404 tubulars. That's really nice when you're on a TT with rolling hills.
If you can afford and have both kinds of wheels it is kind of nice to go back and forth. I train on the tubulars sometimes. My best friend likes tubulars so much (he trains on them exclusively) that he just sold his last pair of clinchers. But he doesn't put in so many miles.
I ride and race on both. On my TT bike, I can get the bike down to <17 lbs with the 404 tubulars. That's really nice when you're on a TT with rolling hills.
If you can afford and have both kinds of wheels it is kind of nice to go back and forth. I train on the tubulars sometimes. My best friend likes tubulars so much (he trains on them exclusively) that he just sold his last pair of clinchers. But he doesn't put in so many miles.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 778
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Slightly...then again, wheel weight only matters when the going gets REALLY steep.
Not really. You need to compare like constructed tires/tubes.
I agree with the first part of the statement above, but would amend the second part to "unless you are a pro rider with a follow vehicle and a full time mechanic"
One other thing to consider, especially if TTs are your thing, is that tests have shown that unless the tubulars are glued on with what most would consider massive amounts of glue (as in 2-3 tubes of glue PER TIRE) then for equivalently constructed tires and using the same tube materials, the tubulars will actually have appreciably higher rolling resistance.
Not really. You need to compare like constructed tires/tubes.
One other thing to consider, especially if TTs are your thing, is that tests have shown that unless the tubulars are glued on with what most would consider massive amounts of glue (as in 2-3 tubes of glue PER TIRE) then for equivalently constructed tires and using the same tube materials, the tubulars will actually have appreciably higher rolling resistance.
#14
"Chooch"
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Prairieville, Louisiana
Posts: 1,659
Bikes: Late 1990s Ciocc Titan
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Why thank you, brother ahsphoso! However, you may be disappointed with my response . . .
If I were buying a bike today, I'd go with lightweight clinchers. I still ride sew-ups because in the 1980s (when I was still club racing) clincher performance wasn't was where it is today. I don't race anymore, but I also don't feel like building up a new set of clincher wheels (my wheel building skills are rather rusty) so I ride el-cheapo 300 gram Servizio Corse "training tubulars". They roll fast and smooth and I haven't had any flats since I mounted them last year.
That's why I ride them. The advantages/benefits of sew-ups have already been discussed by others in this thread.
Edit: I should add that I have NO intention of buying a new bike. My Ciocc is still more than enough bike for me even after almost 25 years.
If I were buying a bike today, I'd go with lightweight clinchers. I still ride sew-ups because in the 1980s (when I was still club racing) clincher performance wasn't was where it is today. I don't race anymore, but I also don't feel like building up a new set of clincher wheels (my wheel building skills are rather rusty) so I ride el-cheapo 300 gram Servizio Corse "training tubulars". They roll fast and smooth and I haven't had any flats since I mounted them last year.
That's why I ride them. The advantages/benefits of sew-ups have already been discussed by others in this thread.
Edit: I should add that I have NO intention of buying a new bike. My Ciocc is still more than enough bike for me even after almost 25 years.
Last edited by ciocc_cat; 08-30-10 at 09:30 PM.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 778
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Huh...tell that to the guys that were around when the term "snakebite flat" was coined. Here's a hint...they were repairing tubular tires at the time...
That's interesting...my clinchers stay on the rim too on the rare occasion that I flat.
#16
SLJ 6/8/65-5/2/07
Well that one was more superb.
You can ride a flat sew-up whereas riding a flat clincher is nigh impossible.
You can ride a flat sew-up whereas riding a flat clincher is nigh impossible.
__________________
“Life is not one damned thing after another. Life is one damned thing over and over.”
Edna St. Vincent Millay
“Life is not one damned thing after another. Life is one damned thing over and over.”
Edna St. Vincent Millay
#17
Elite Fred
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Edge City
Posts: 10,945
Bikes: 2009 Spooky (cracked frame), 2006 Curtlo, 2002 Lemond (current race bike) Zurich, 1987 Serotta Colorado, 1986 Cannondale for commuting, a 1984 Cannondale on loan to my son
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 60 Post(s)
Liked 42 Times
in
19 Posts
Needless to say I feel much safer on properly glued tubulars than clinchers. There is a considerable inconvenience factor and a considerable cost factor, but they are safer if properly glued.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 778
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Despite what many believe, a flat on a clincher does not necessarily result in an instant "yard sale".
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 778
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That's interesting...mostly because it's well known that Miguel Indurain rode clincher wheels in the Alps during the Tour. Why? Because he didn't want to risk rolling a tubular when the glue heated up and softened from braking...
#21
"Chooch"
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Prairieville, Louisiana
Posts: 1,659
Bikes: Late 1990s Ciocc Titan
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
"Back in the day", I used to be pretty proficient at tubular repairs. I had a Velox sew-up repair kit with patches, needle and thread. I found fixing flats to be good "relaxation therapy" (when accompanied by beer). Patched tires were always relegated to training/club ride spares.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Zang's Spur, CO
Posts: 9,085
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3351 Post(s)
Liked 5,400 Times
in
2,796 Posts
Really?...I'll have to remember that the next time I'm riding on a flat clincher and it's not coming off the rim...or when my friend keeps going down a 1 mile twisty decent and then another mile to his house on a flat clincher just because he's too lazy to stop and fix it...
Despite what many believe, a flat on a clincher does not necessarily result in an instant "yard sale".
Despite what many believe, a flat on a clincher does not necessarily result in an instant "yard sale".
I avoided them with the front wheel, but the back wheel hit one, instantly flatting the rear tire with a snakebite.
The tire immediately came halfway off the rim, so I was going around the curve with all the weight at the rear on the bare bead of the rim grinding/sliding all over the pavement.
Color me skeptical on your story.
#23
Senior Member
B. No longer true on the super wide rims (HED Stinger 6 for example). This was a disappointment since I didn't realize it until I glued them up. But I love this clip so I'll post it again:
You can't do that on a clincher. No way, no how.
cdr
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Zang's Spur, CO
Posts: 9,085
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3351 Post(s)
Liked 5,400 Times
in
2,796 Posts
Air pressure is *so* over-rated.
#25
Headset-press carrier
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Corrales New Mexico
Posts: 2,137
Bikes: Kona with Campy 8, Lynskey Ti with Rival, Bianchi pista, Raleigh Team Frame with SRAM Red, Specialized Stump Jumper, Surley Big Dummy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Get on GP4000 tubs and then the clincher version. Use very similar rims (reflex in my case) -- then come back and report. Have you ever done this? I have and do still and the tubs are better., no contest.