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Tubular wheels for fixed gear?

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Old 09-15-10 | 10:31 PM
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Tubular wheels for fixed gear?

Hi, I found a great deal of hed jet tubular wheelset for 350. I was wondering if it's a good idea to use on a fixed gear. I'm using front brakes so i won't be skidding. Two more questions, how long does the air last on tubular tires, and can i use regular wheel
(700x23c) tires and tube on tubular wheels instead of those expensive ($40+each) tubular tires? ThAnks guys
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Old 09-15-10 | 10:50 PM
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You have to use tubular tires. Sorry, that's why they are called tubulars. Regular tire and tube wheels are called "clinchers".

Tubulars are used on the track usually.
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Old 09-15-10 | 10:56 PM
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Tubulars are streetable, but a pain. The air lasts way less than 24hrs and you need to cary a spare tire.

$40 tubulars are CHEAP. Most would consider them junk. A good tubular is 70+ and most are around $100 (and can be $200+)

Stick with clinchers.
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Old 09-15-10 | 10:58 PM
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If you are riding city streets, I wouldn't bother with tubulars unless you plan to ride them on the track only.
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Old 09-15-10 | 11:00 PM
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Hell, I can't stand most clinchers that cost under $50. Good tires are so underrated... its the best bang for the buck impovement you can make on a bike under $1000.
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Old 09-16-10 | 05:53 AM
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Originally Posted by thirdgenbird
Tubulars are streetable, but a pain. The air lasts way less than 24hrs and you need to cary a spare tire.

$40 tubulars are CHEAP. Most would consider them junk. A good tubular is 70+ and most are around $100 (and can be $200+)

Stick with clinchers.
the air last less then 24hrs? then i'll need to pump air again!?
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Old 09-16-10 | 06:25 AM
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Old 09-16-10 | 06:33 AM
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only the expensive tubulars have latex tubes which don't hold air for long, the cheaper ones hold air like every other tire.
but it's still not the best city setup
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Old 09-16-10 | 06:33 AM
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Ive ridden on tubular without pumping them up everyday. They are not as bad as everyone says.
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Old 09-16-10 | 06:39 AM
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They're not necessarily bad, I just don't think they're very practical for general, everyday riding.
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Old 09-16-10 | 06:48 AM
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It is stupid to ride tubulars on the street.
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Old 09-16-10 | 06:56 AM
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Originally Posted by PHR3AK
only the expensive tubulars have latex tubes which don't hold air for long, the cheaper ones hold air like every other tire.
but it's still not the best city setup
I put air in my clinchers daily (you should too)

Originally Posted by seau grateau
It is stupid to ride tubulars on the street.
Not true. tubulars have been ridden on the street for decades. They are just harder to repair and therefore not as practical.
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Old 09-16-10 | 06:59 AM
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The amount of tubulars I change due to flats on a monthly basis around here because a bunch of 'elite' weekend warriors insist on using them is stupid.
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Old 09-16-10 | 07:13 AM
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[QUOTE=thirdgenbird;11473486]I put air in my clinchers daily (you should too)

why? they loose air really slowly, repumping them every few weeks is more then enough. don't care about 10psi more or less...
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Old 09-16-10 | 07:17 AM
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Every few weeks???
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Old 09-16-10 | 07:30 AM
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yes, pump them up to 11bar and when they are down to 7 or 8 i pump them up again. try to clean my bike once a month and do all the pumping. normally i just oil the chain once a week and that's it.
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Old 09-16-10 | 07:42 AM
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^how often do you ride? I don't ride as much as I used to because now I'm living outside of town but when I was riding regularly I was topping them off every few days max.
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Old 09-16-10 | 07:55 AM
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every day 30 to 80 miles. really don't think it's necessary to pump them up so often. when it feels spongy during turns i do something about it but otherwise...
i ride a track bike and sealed bearings because i don't like to pay attention to my bike
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Old 09-16-10 | 08:21 AM
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So you ride 400+ miles without adding air to your tires? I smell a rat...
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Old 09-16-10 | 08:25 AM
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Don't mess with him. He rides 160 PSI tires... clearly a pro.
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Old 09-16-10 | 08:35 AM
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Originally Posted by milkcratebasket
Ive ridden on tubular without pumping them up everyday. They are not as bad as everyone says.
well, you can ride flat tubulars

Last edited by hairnet; 09-16-10 at 08:42 AM.
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Old 09-16-10 | 08:36 AM
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I didn't see that. 11bar clinchers? Are they dedas? Veloflex? How often do you flat?

I may get veloflex tubulars soon (for a geared road bike)
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Old 09-16-10 | 08:43 AM
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Hairnet, you mis quoted me. Please fix it.
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Old 09-16-10 | 08:47 AM
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ha
yeah I caught that
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Old 09-16-10 | 09:09 AM
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2 bars more than written on the tire is not a problem, normally get the cheap vittoria - they sit pretty tight on my rims and never had a problem.
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