Schmolke TLO Tubulars in da house!
11-27-16, 05:39 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Half Moon Bay
Posts: 325
Bikes: Parlee Altum R, 85 Eddy Merckx Professional
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
4 Posts
Schmolke TLO Tubulars in da house!
From the super nice folks are Fairwheel. 1040g on my scale. I'll get them glued up this week and post a ride report asap...
Schmolke1.jpg
Schmolke2.jpg
Schmolke1.jpg
Schmolke2.jpg
11-27-16, 06:24 PM
#2
Senior Member
Congrats. Those are some sexy looking, lightweight hoops. Let us know how they roll. What will they be sitting under?
11-27-16, 10:19 PM
#4
Senior Member
Damn, that's light. What is the rim width and height and spoke count?
11-28-16, 12:38 AM
#6
Senior Member
What tires will you be gluing on?
11-28-16, 07:13 AM
#9
Senior Member
11-28-16, 07:35 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
Why does a tubular road rim need to be wider than the historical standard? Wider glued-on tires don't require wider rims. The base tape generally matches even narrower rims. And no matter what rim width, the tire shape stays the same. You don't get the same aero improvement with tubulars on wider rims that you get with clinchers. A 20 or 21 mm wide tubular rim would have been considerably lighter than even these very light rims.
11-28-16, 08:50 AM
#12
Senior Member
Why does a tubular road rim need to be wider than the historical standard? Wider glued-on tires don't require wider rims. The base tape generally matches even narrower rims. And no matter what rim width, the tire shape stays the same. You don't get the same aero improvement with tubulars on wider rims that you get with clinchers. A 20 or 21 mm wide tubular rim would have been considerably lighter than even these very light rims.
My question about tires for these Schmolke wheels was real curiosity to see what others are doing relative to my own choice.
11-28-16, 11:36 AM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Half Moon Bay
Posts: 325
Bikes: Parlee Altum R, 85 Eddy Merckx Professional
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
4 Posts
I'm just getting into tubulars so I expect to learn a lot. I recently purchased some 27mm wide tubular rims (~25mm at the tire junction) and 25mm tires. Inflating those tires on the wide rims yields a combo with a very smooth transition from tire to wheel, nearly identical the profile shown for running 23mm clinchers on ~25mm wide rims. Had I wanted to run 20mm tubulars, I think a narrower rim would have been a better choice in order to not exceed the tire width and add drag.
My question about tires for these Schmolke wheels was real curiosity to see what others are doing relative to my own choice.
My question about tires for these Schmolke wheels was real curiosity to see what others are doing relative to my own choice.
Good question, but honestly I find the aero benefits to be so minimal as to be unnoticeable for me. I've tried quite a few combinations on my Zipp 202's and Easton EC90's. My interests now are weight and stiffness. I'll post a ride report as soon as I get these glued up...
11-28-16, 11:57 AM
#15
Senior Member
They do look like a nice wheelset. I was thinking of getting something similar myself (with WR Compositi rims) but then I remembered that I am poor.
11-28-16, 12:10 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
Good question, but honestly I find the aero benefits to be so minimal as to be unnoticeable for me. I've tried quite a few combinations on my Zipp 202's and Easton EC90's. My interests now are weight and stiffness. I'll post a ride report as soon as I get these glued up...
11-28-16, 12:16 PM
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Half Moon Bay
Posts: 325
Bikes: Parlee Altum R, 85 Eddy Merckx Professional
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
4 Posts
Thanks Robert, I have a guy locally that glues all my tubulars for me, super secure and my favorite part, super clean!
11-28-16, 12:42 PM
#18
Senior Member
Good question, but honestly I find the aero benefits to be so minimal as to be unnoticeable for me. I've tried quite a few combinations on my Zipp 202's and Easton EC90's. My interests now are weight and stiffness. I'll post a ride report as soon as I get these glued up...
11-28-16, 12:44 PM
#19
Senior Member
Why does a tubular road rim need to be wider than the historical standard? Wider glued-on tires don't require wider rims. The base tape generally matches even narrower rims. And no matter what rim width, the tire shape stays the same. You don't get the same aero improvement with tubulars on wider rims that you get with clinchers. A 20 or 21 mm wide tubular rim would have been considerably lighter than even these very light rims.
The reason for the recent fat tire thing is to provide the extra air volume so that riders on clinchers don't get as many pinch flats. But since tubulars are basically immune to pinch flats (the smooth rim profile), this trend does not translate over to them. So you can run 22mm tubulars at lower pressures over bumpy terrain, and not have to worry. I do this almost daily.
So once again, the benefits of tubulars are manifested: lower weight, less fragile rims, immune from pinch flats, and much safer after a blowout. And you don't have to run fat (heavy) rims and tires to benefit from lower inflation pressures.
11-28-16, 12:44 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,246
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18420 Post(s)
Liked 15,564 Times
in
7,333 Posts
How do you pronounce "schmokle"? 
11-28-16, 02:04 PM
#21
Senior Member
Wider tires on wide tubular rims will provide some miniscule aero benefits relative to wider tires on conventional (20mm) tubular rims. But 22mm tires on conventional tubular rims would have less frontal profile, they would be even more aero. And a lot lighter.
The reason for the recent fat tire thing is to provide the extra air volume so that riders on clinchers don't get as many pinch flats. But since tubulars are basically immune to pinch flats (the smooth rim profile), this trend does not translate over to them. So you can run 22mm tubulars at lower pressures over bumpy terrain, and not have to worry. I do this almost daily.
So once again, the benefits of tubulars are manifested: lower weight, less fragile rims, immune from pinch flats, and much safer after a blowout. And you don't have to run fat (heavy) rims and tires to benefit from lower inflation pressures.
The reason for the recent fat tire thing is to provide the extra air volume so that riders on clinchers don't get as many pinch flats. But since tubulars are basically immune to pinch flats (the smooth rim profile), this trend does not translate over to them. So you can run 22mm tubulars at lower pressures over bumpy terrain, and not have to worry. I do this almost daily.
So once again, the benefits of tubulars are manifested: lower weight, less fragile rims, immune from pinch flats, and much safer after a blowout. And you don't have to run fat (heavy) rims and tires to benefit from lower inflation pressures.
11-28-16, 02:10 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
Wider tires on wide tubular rims will provide some miniscule aero benefits relative to wider tires on conventional (20mm) tubular rims. But 22mm tires on conventional tubular rims would have less frontal profile, they would be even more aero. And a lot lighter.
The reason for the recent fat tire thing is to provide the extra air volume so that riders on clinchers don't get as many pinch flats. But since tubulars are basically immune to pinch flats (the smooth rim profile), this trend does not translate over to them. So you can run 22mm tubulars at lower pressures over bumpy terrain, and not have to worry. I do this almost daily.
So once again, the benefits of tubulars are manifested: lower weight, less fragile rims, immune from pinch flats, and much safer after a blowout. And you don't have to run fat (heavy) rims and tires to benefit from lower inflation pressures.
The reason for the recent fat tire thing is to provide the extra air volume so that riders on clinchers don't get as many pinch flats. But since tubulars are basically immune to pinch flats (the smooth rim profile), this trend does not translate over to them. So you can run 22mm tubulars at lower pressures over bumpy terrain, and not have to worry. I do this almost daily.
So once again, the benefits of tubulars are manifested: lower weight, less fragile rims, immune from pinch flats, and much safer after a blowout. And you don't have to run fat (heavy) rims and tires to benefit from lower inflation pressures.
Last edited by rpenmanparker; 11-28-16 at 02:14 PM.
11-28-16, 04:06 PM
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Half Moon Bay
Posts: 325
Bikes: Parlee Altum R, 85 Eddy Merckx Professional
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
4 Posts
I'm pretty sure any aero benefits of a tire a few millimeters wider or narrower are, as you say, impossible to detect. In my case, I gave in to the popular trend for running slightly wider tires and bought Vittoria Corsa G+ 25mm knowing that would (should) be a perfect match for my rims. And they were only 15 grams heavier, each, than the 23mm tires. My wheelset is also a bit porkier than yours at ~1370 grams, but that does include thru-axle disc hubs and 24/28 F/R lacing.
LOVE the G+ series tires, I have them on my other wheels. Unfortunately Vitoria has not figured out how to make a G+ tubular with an all black sidewall. Are you listening Vitoria? How hard can that be??
12-13-16, 12:01 AM
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Half Moon Bay
Posts: 325
Bikes: Parlee Altum R, 85 Eddy Merckx Professional
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
4 Posts
First ride, short, about 32 miles and a couple thousand feet of climbing, so good descending too. Again, 1040g (TLO 30 tubular, Veloflex carbon tires) for the wheelset (Tune hubs) put together by the good folks at Fairwheel. These are on my Parlee Altum R, Campy EPS, EE Cycleworks brakes, Swiss Stop Black Prince pads.
As you might expect, acceleration is exciting. There is quite a bit of road feel and I'm not sure if that is the tire or the rim, more riding needed. This ride was very windy, so lots of cross winds, but the wheels didn't care. No cross wind issues. Downhill speeds never topped 35mph, but the wheels felt very stable and cornering was great. The biggest and nicest surprise was the braking, very solid, no pulsing, smooth and steady with no squealing. They look *****in' and I'm very impressed so far. More after my next ride. I ran the tires at 110 and 100 psi and will try less next time.
Ok, second ride today, 40 miles, lots of steep climbs and fast descents. The steep climbs went up to 18%, and the wheels did not hold me back. My waistline did, but the wheels were great. The next big test was a steep, and twisty technical descent that ended with a 20% straight descent. Again, the braking on these wheels is impressive, and only a very little squeal on one hard brake going into a sharp turn after a high speed segment. Then the big high speed test. A long 20% down grade. Topped 50mph and the wheels were solid. They felt light, but no wobble at all, very impressed. Running Veloflex Carbons and dropped the psi to 100 on the back and 95 in the front and the ride was much better. So far I am really liking these wheels. 1040g for under $1900. Plus Tony at Fairwheel was just great to deal with. Highly recommended. I just might sell my Zipp 202's...
As you might expect, acceleration is exciting. There is quite a bit of road feel and I'm not sure if that is the tire or the rim, more riding needed. This ride was very windy, so lots of cross winds, but the wheels didn't care. No cross wind issues. Downhill speeds never topped 35mph, but the wheels felt very stable and cornering was great. The biggest and nicest surprise was the braking, very solid, no pulsing, smooth and steady with no squealing. They look *****in' and I'm very impressed so far. More after my next ride. I ran the tires at 110 and 100 psi and will try less next time.
Ok, second ride today, 40 miles, lots of steep climbs and fast descents. The steep climbs went up to 18%, and the wheels did not hold me back. My waistline did, but the wheels were great. The next big test was a steep, and twisty technical descent that ended with a 20% straight descent. Again, the braking on these wheels is impressive, and only a very little squeal on one hard brake going into a sharp turn after a high speed segment. Then the big high speed test. A long 20% down grade. Topped 50mph and the wheels were solid. They felt light, but no wobble at all, very impressed. Running Veloflex Carbons and dropped the psi to 100 on the back and 95 in the front and the ride was much better. So far I am really liking these wheels. 1040g for under $1900. Plus Tony at Fairwheel was just great to deal with. Highly recommended. I just might sell my Zipp 202's...