Originally Posted by
OCLV Assassin
Okay I searched, and the threads I looked through really didn't answer my questions so I am starting a new thread. I am interested in buying a set of wheels, only for racing, or anytime I want some extra speed. I will primarily be riding a different set for training that are heavier and non-aero. I'm looking at Psimet's 50mm carbon wheels. Now I am very familiar with clinchers as anyone is I assume. I am just trying to find out if they are for me, so I turn to BF for help.
First off, what are the main advantages of Tubulars?
Weight?
Ride?
What else?
The disadvantageous are from I've found:
Harder to work with
Messy
If you flat your screwed
What else?
I am a bit of a weight weenie, but that aside, if there are no other advantages, and they are as big of a pain to deal with as people say I will then stick to clinchers. Is the ride of tubulars like 100x's better or what? Do they roll faster, or have less rolling resistance? How hard are they to deal with? It seems allot of people are going to the tape nowadays and not glue, is it better, or what? I am just basically a total tubular noob, and looking for advice. He charges $100 more for the clincher version of his wheels, so the price seems like a good deal with the tubulars. I could buy tires with the money I'd saved. If they are going to be a total pain in the butt, then it would be worth the extra hundred to me to have the old simple clinchers. Also how much weight could be saved by going to a tubular set vs. clinchers? It can't possibly be that much is it?
I just want to make sure whatever I do, I make the right decision. Wheels are a pretty big investment, and don't want to make a mistake and have to buy them twice. Please give me your best advice you can on this subject. Thanks in advance.
Take this just as another opinion. By the way, I don't race, but I do ride tubulars 100% of the time.
In my opinion, the benefits are simple:
1. Comfort is superior.
This assumes good tubulars as mid to low end tubulars are far worse in this aspect than equally rated clinchers.
2. Lighter set up
Covered already
3. Prone to less flats at least in my experience.
If I was to compare to others in my area that ride comparable mileage as me, I have to say I get far fewer flats than they do. I ride between 3:30AM and 6AM on weekdays, and the last thing I need is a flat at that time. 9/10 of the tires I have gone through in the last 2 years have worn out completely before getting a flat.
Down sides:
1. Cost
The good tires cost more and do last less than comparable clinchers. I get about 2500 miles out of a rear tubular and about 6000 miles out of a front. I am heavy though. Glue is dirt cheap, so a can of glue will last you 2 years easy and dozens of gluing jobs. Tape in the other hand, can range from $8-15 per tire. I do prefer tape as it is much more convenient and quicker to do. That is after of years of gluing tires. Fixing a flatted tubular cost me about $20 since I send it to someone to replace the tube and base tape.
2. Set up time
That is not even a true down side for me personally. It takes me almost as long to change a flat tubular for a spare tubular on the road as most people I know take to fix a flat on a clincher (replace the tube). Experience comes in handy here. You do need to carry a spare pre-glued. You need to stretch new tubulars (some brands like Veloflex and Vittorias I find I do not have to stretch and use right off the bat!). Recently glued tubulars require minimum of 8-24 HR of drying time, although I will admit to having ridden a few right after a few min. NOT recommended!!!
3. Getting passed the exaggerated word out
Many people in cycling today never rode bikes in the times when tubulars was the norm. They love to repeat the stuff they hear. Rolling a tubular is a common misconception that could not be more overly exaggerated for example. Gluing a tire requires a nuclear engineering degree, etc. This is very simple stuff.
To me personally, cost is NOT an issue as the ride quality is more important, so that is out. Set up time is not an issue either as I don't stretch tires and use tape. #3 is not an issue either. Therefore, I ride tubulars all the time.
YMMV!!!!!!!!