Homebrew01

It takes me about 20 minutes per wheel. Ride them the next day.

Stucky

I've never ridden tubulars, but if safety is a concern, I'd be like the skydivers- you always want to be the one to pack your own parachute!

TriEngineer

seems high, usually one layer of glue on tyre, two coats on the rim, clean the previous, actual labour should only about 60-80 for the pair. That's NOT including tyres.

TriEngineer

are you using tape or glue? if it's one layer it's not enough.

bitingduck

I've been riding tubulars for years on the track and always glued my own with essentially the same method as you, including leaving the old glue. Why take it off if it's well adhered to the rim? The new glue will bond to the old better than to a clean rim. If I can't get a can of Mastik 1, I tend to use about a tube per tire (slightly more if it's brand new rims) and have never had a problem.

StanSeven

if it's the same shop I'm thinking of, it is first class. Everything I've bought or had fine there is excellent and priced fairly. They also sponsor a team, have lots of rides, do a lot for the community, and will do just about anything needed if it's an emergency.

Homebrew01

Glue. 1 layer on the tire. 1 layer on the rim. Another layer on the tire. Mount, pump up, center the tire. Done

lopek77

Just watched few YouTube movies about mounting tubular tires...That is easier and faster than changing regular tube...So, why it cost so much at LBS, and why you guys are paying for that?

zonatandem

I quit riding tubulars in 1978 . . .

I <3 Robots

My local shop charges 20 to 30 bucks to mount a tubular tire.

I mount my own tires and I don't remove the old glue. A lot of it comes off with the old tire. It takes a couple hours to glue. Most of the time is waiting for the glue to become tacky between coats. Let the glue dry overnight...ride the next day.

Lazyass

Scrape off the old glue??? You don't need to scrape off the old glue. I don't believe I ever even reglued the rim itself, especially on the road. Pull off the old tire and throw on the new pre-glued and pre-stretched one that's in the tubular tire bag or jersey pocket. Done. Never had a tire come off the rim. You guys overthink this nowadays. The ridiculous cost of quality tubulars is the only thing keeping me from them today. They're easier to change than clinchers. And if you can teach yourself to sew with dental floss they're easy to patch.

drider85

Sure something like 20-30 min per if it is a new tire (Pre stretched tire) and new wheel. That all goes out the window in a used system. Removal of a tire takes time. Often times you can reuse the glue on there however if it is junk and needs to come off 20 min won't cut it. I think our local shop charge a different rate for New vs Used (removal+install) vs Used+cleaning the rim.

garysol1 

And that's your prerogative. If you like to have seasons and seasons worth off of old glue on your wheel thats your call. Me personally after 2 or 3 tire swaps I like to get back down to the base of the rim but thats just me.

sced

For average Joes tubulars provide no practical benefits. They're just a bling or "special interest" thing. So if you are too are unwilling to do the job yourself you gotta pay for their higher operating costs.

Homebrew01

I have never bothered cleaning old glue off rims. If there is any that looks loose or flakey, I give it a quick scrape. That makes it a 22 minute job instead of 20.
I have raced hundreds of P-1-2 criteriums with my method. Never a problem.

Maybe I had enough wheels in rotation I never felt there was so much glue build up to be a problem.

Looigi

Me too. I don't anyone else screwing up my stuff. I'll do it myself, thank you.

rpenmanparker 

Since tubulars are known and valued for their smooth ride, the main downside to leaving old glue on the rim would be if it were uneven or lumpy. Otherwise there is no reason to remove it. If the old glue makes a smooth layer, just leave it.

Fred Smedley

But why ? You can take a knife or dull screw driver and knock off every thing that needs to come off in about 10 minutes per wheel. A shop charges $120.00 because they don't want to do the job. I have two sets of tubulars , can't say I like messing with them much either.

roadwarrior

I was hoping I'd get to an informed response in this thread.

Trsnrtr

There comes a time when the glue builds up to the point that it has to be removed.

bikemig 

This is bike forums . . .

roadwarrior

Good point. Well played.

I've been trying to visualize taking a screwdriver to a set of two grand carbon wheels to get glue off.

I was on the DYI thread when the notification popped up. that was a great segway..

K.Katso

LOL. I use Tufo Rim Cleaner and an old toothbrush if I really need to get old glue off. Brush it really good, then blast it off with a hose in the back yard and dry it. Any residual can be scraped off with a popsicle stick in a matter of minutes. It works just as well on the Vittoria glue as on the Tufo tape adhesive. There are many other solvents out there that are safe for carbon rims as well, and none of them require you to use a sharp object to get the glue off. That being said, most of the time with the old Vittoria glue, I just leave it on there unless it is really old or caked up.

Lazyass

That time never came for me, but I didn't pour tons of glue on it. Not sure how much some of you guys use. You only need a thin coat. That may be why some people break their fingers trying to peel a tire off.

tarwheel 

I have never seriously considered using tubulars, and reading this thread has me convinced that I will never do so!