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Old 04-30-09 | 07:44 PM
  #10  
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Sluggo
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Left bank, Knoxville TN
The advantages of a real glue-on tubular compared to a clincher are 1) the rim is lighter than a clincher rim for the same strength because no walls are required for the beads to connect to, 2) the entire air volume is available to provide the suspension functions of a tire -- there is no air volume that is blocked by those rim side walls, so you can have a lighter tire for a given ride quality (and a high-volume tubular is very cushy), 3) lighter tire weight for the same tire durability because no bead is required (not as much of an advantage with kevlar beads), and 4) it can be faster to fix a flat on the road if you have a spare that is properly prepped and you only get one flat.

The disadvantages of tubulars are 1) the glue and preparation, 2) the difficulty of patching a puncture, 3) the danger of rolling a tire off if the glue is old or you did a lousy job, 4) greater expense.

The Tufos have only the last of these advantages over clinchers, and 2 of the disadvantages. I have not used the Tufos, but I did ride on tubulars in my racing days. At the danger of sounding like PMT's troll, it seems to me that if the marginal performance advantages of tubulars are worth the trouble to you, make the commitment and get real tubulars. Otherwise, stick with clinchers.
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