Originally Posted by
Andy Antipas
Tufo tape holds strong. When I tape a tire on, I leave approximately one inch of the rim opposite the valve stem without Tufo tape. I carry a small slotted screwdriver in my tire sock. On the very rare occasion where I needed to change a tubular on the road (once in the last 5 years and I ride around 5,000 miles a year), I use the screwdriver to help get the tire started for removal. Once you get a little bit of tire peeled off it is easy to remove it the rest of the way.
Back in the day, I used Wolber tubular glue and never had a tire roll off, but there are more steps to mounting a tubular with glue. I find that Tufo tape makes mounting and running tubulars much quicker and easier. Plus, as I mentioned in my earlier post, tire sealant takes the fear out of having to throw away a tire with a minor puncture. I have been getting an easy 1,000 mile plus out of Veloflex tubulars used on the rear wheel. Of course, YMMV.
I will plan on duplicating the 1" gap; of course there's no way the tire will come off there while riding - too small of a gap - but that's a great idea to get everything started. The sealant approach seems to be wait for a flat, then use it and hopefully it will take care of the cut/puncture if it's small enough. Another contributor suggested that if it was a slow leak that could be ridden on for a short time, chances are sealant would do the trick. If the cut is bigger, and the tire won't hold air at all, best to put on the spare and repair the tube another day.
At least once in my life I need to repair a tubular (and build a wheel). Perhaps I'll get to do both this year, maybe even on the same wheelset
Got a nylon wheel to take the residue off the rim, so I'll get that done tonight I think - but will have to call around, find out where I can find the tape since my LBS doesn't carry any.
DD