Why are tubular wheels so narrow?
01-17-22, 04:14 PM
#51
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The funny bit is that aero rims help the pros in a road race in sprints and breakaways but riding in the peloton the wheel aerodynamics do very little. If you do most of your riding without a peloton dragging you along, you are getting a benefit the whole time.
Helps when I get dropped from the first group in gran fondos and have to take turns at the front of some ad hoc group of stragglers 😒
Anyway, I just don't see much of a downside to running a mid depth - let's say 45mm - CF wheel with 25mm tubeless tires. No issues in wind and plenty comfortable at reasonable pressures (that said, infrastructure is not a dirty word around here, and I keep at a reasonable cyclist weight).
Helps when I get dropped from the first group in gran fondos and have to take turns at the front of some ad hoc group of stragglers 😒
Anyway, I just don't see much of a downside to running a mid depth - let's say 45mm - CF wheel with 25mm tubeless tires. No issues in wind and plenty comfortable at reasonable pressures (that said, infrastructure is not a dirty word around here, and I keep at a reasonable cyclist weight).
01-17-22, 04:17 PM
#52
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Originally Posted by Branko D
The funny bit is that aero rims help the pros in a road race in sprints and breakaways but riding in the peloton the wheel aerodynamics do very little.
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01-24-22, 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Psimet2001
I'm not trying to take the fun out of it. I've just been around this stuff too long - at races. The strong guys with good engines win. They win so many times despite the equipment they're on. In the context of TT's by all means enjoy discussing the nuances of marginal gains.
Modern bulging profile, iirc 24-25mm, 23/25 Corsas. Light & aero FTW.
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01-24-22, 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by rubiksoval
After about 5 seconds you completely don't notice it.
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01-26-22, 05:12 AM
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At this point I don't understand why recreational cyclists bother with tubular.
01-26-22, 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by bruce19
At this point I don't understand why recreational cyclists bother with tubular.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NGnKMvZ5Ig&t=59s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NGnKMvZ5Ig&t=59s
They don't, and they also don't bother with which tire is fastest- they're out there pushing 30mm watt-hogs.
01-26-22, 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by woodcraft
They don't, and they also don't bother with which tire is fastest- they're out there pushing 30mm watt-hogs.
01-26-22, 11:55 PM
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I'm a recreational cyclist, and I rock tubulars because I love riding the best bike I can build.
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02-04-22, 12:56 PM
#59
my nice bike is at home
If I had a sponsor / personal mechanic / unlimited tire-budget I would, for sure, ride tubulars. I used to ride them and repair them (huge PITA!) exclusively in the late 80's.. back when every single beverage was sold in a glass bottle or can no plastic, flats were even more common then. Nothing feels quite like a nice tubular set-up. I borrowed a buddy's bike a few years ago and it reminded me..
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Last edited by kraftwerk; 02-04-22 at 01:09 PM.
02-04-22, 02:39 PM
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Originally Posted by TPL
Why are wheels that are NOT tubular so wide ?
02-05-22, 01:20 PM
#62
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Lots of good and bad info in this thread. Back in the day I used to ride those skinny tubs. Resisted clinchers for the longest of time. Now that I am no longer competitive I ride 28mm (who would have thunk) tubeless. There are still very good uses for tubs, in addition to nostalgia, but they are getting fewer.
