Originally Posted by
ravenmore
Open Tubulars = Clinchers. They are the same thing.
You are right in that you can get great quality clinchers that do rival the ride of quality tubulars.
Open Tubulars are tubulars with a bead. The tube is still encased in the tire, they are just made so they can be mounted on a clincher rim. Not quite the same.
And to the OP, I know a couple of messengers (and former messengers) in NYC that work on tubulars. They swear by them. Personally I've flatted four tubulars in a span of two months riding only once a week so I don't ride them unless I'm racing.