Originally Posted by
yohannrjm
Hey Guy,
You should be able to go to 21-22 mm tires. Just make sure that the tire sits well in the rim and makes contact all the way when it is fully inflated.
I use tubulars on the road occasionally. There are a few disadvantages with that, though.
1) You'll have to carry a pre-glued spare tire, in the event of any flats. If you do have a flat and have to use your spare then:
a) You have to pray that you don't flat again (or carry two spares).
b) You have to corner gingerly since the replacement will not be stuck well.
2) You can carry a patch kit, but that involves removing the tire, base tape and stitching; then patching the tube, and then reversing the process, followed by sticking the base tape and tire back on. It can be done.
3) Cheap tubulars tend to be not be round enough or straight enough. Good tubulars can cost a LOT of money.
4) You can run them at very high pressures, but you probably will not want to do that when just riding around.
5) Gluing tubulars is easy, but some people do not like to do it.
That said, I like them.
I'd like to comment on some of these comments. IMO, carrying 2 spares is not commonly needed, but is not difficult if you have a very long ride planned, such as if you carry a Barley bag. Plus, in-tire sealants can reduce the number of tire replacements, and get you home.
Field-patching of tubulars is IMO not thinkable.
IMO cheap tubulars (I ride exclusively on Conti Giros, Vittoria Rallyes, Servizio Corse, and Gommitalias) are adequately round, flat-resistant, and repairable. I had a set of classic Vittoria CGs on one bike, but the Rallyes run as well. I assume thta if I bought Veloflexes or (RIP) Dugasts for $200 a set I would notice a difference, but $150+ worth of benefit? Consider the value of a buck, we are Vintage cheapos, here, after all.
There is no reason not to use 23 mm or 24 mm tubulars on your Wolber track rims, that I can think of. Correct glueing is needed no matter what.
High tire pressures tend to enhance rim protection relative to lower tire pressures. With the low rim mass and hence strength, I would recommend tire pressures toward the high end. That said, best ride quality at high pressure (say 130 psi) will occur with narrower tires, not wider. Your optimum set up (note I do not say necessary setup) is probably a narrow 20 mm tire running at 130 psi. I might suggest a set of Tufos.
Road Fan