There was never any question in my mind that tubulars are more romantic than clinchers, and as a Velominatus I was always convinced that the additional time and care that goes into gluing on a set of tires would make you feel just that much more connected to your bike and the history of the sport itself. I was skeptical, however, that tubs would ride noticeably better – and even if they did – whether they would prove to be too much of a hassle to make riding them worthwhile.
Two and a half years after building my first set of tubular wheels and gluing on a set of handmade tires, I have eliminated clinchers from all my bikes. The ride is better, the gluing is a quick and easy process (once you learn a few tricks), and a tubular can be changed more quickly than a clincher. Plus the glue gives you a little buzz; what’s not to like?
The switch from clinchers to tubulars did require a change to my tool kit, however. This fact wasn’t immediately apparent to me and I went on several rides happily armed with tire levers and a spare inner tube. Gearing up for riding tubulars is a more subtle process than it is with clinchers, a fact which gives me no small amount of pleasure. First comes the approach to folding and carrying the spare tire, should you choose to carry one. Also, with the removal of tire levers, spare tube(s), and patch kits comes the introduction of repair sealant; in the event of a flat, the first tactic is to inject the tire with some goop and see if it seals itself, eliminating the need to replace the tire in the first place. This works splendidly in many cases, and appears to be a long-term solution as well; I have one particularly beloved tire which has been holding fast with sealant since a puncture over a year ago.
After a few iterations, my tubular-friendly survival kit has evolved into a beautifully compact system which takes up less bulk in my jersey than does the clincher version. It consists of a Lezyne Carbon Drive Lite rubber-banded to a tube of Vittoria Pit Stop and a Lezyne V5 mini tool. Nothing to it. On longer rides or rides with others, I will strap my tiny tub to my saddle as extra protection in the event the Pit Stop doesn’t work.
Tubulars ride better, corner better, are easy to mount, quick to change, give you a small buzz, and require a smaller survival kit than do clinchers. You heard it here first: friends don’t let friends ride clinchers.*
*Thanks to @Nate for coining this phrase.
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So, what are these tubular tire mounting tricks?
Veloflex tubbies are the magic carpet ride ... Lezyne Carbon Drive pump, Lezyne SV10 multi-tool, Stan's 60ml tyre sealant and a Tufo valve tool.
Well crap. Now I'm going to have to work out a way to bring these into the fold without triggering a variation of Rule #12's 's - 1' clause...
@Frank I thought you were going for a tube of Stan's or equivalent, being smaller and lighter than the Pitstop?
Timely in some respects as I've just given up my 18 month experiment with Tubeless coming to the conclusion that the sealant has some way to go and that the options on tubeless tyres are currently not as durable as some of the clincher and tubs available given the flint ridden roads that I mostly ride.
However, this evening I came to doubt my sanity. Fitting clinchers to Campag Two Way Fit Shamal wheels the clincher blew off the rim 3 times. It seems that the nature of the deeper slot on the tubeless rim combined with the seating shelf can make the tyre grip low on one side leading to it being high on the other and blowing off (if you excuse the expression) rather than it self seating without too much hassle. This seemed to be a very sensitive issue as after the first time I was darned careful the following two until I became megga careful to work round the tyre as I inflated it.
Wonder whether anyone else has encountered this - particularly those who own/work in LBS? The tyres in question are Schwalbe Ultremo DD so I don't know whether they have a particularly shallow band making them more difficult to seat.
Did I really say that? hah.
I have not had luck with the sealants I have tried so I rely on a spare. On long unsupported rides I might bring two, despite the aesthetic problems this method presents. The need to do this would belessened if others in the party were also running tubulars.
The last time I got out the glue pot it was to move tires from one wheelset to another. As I only needed a single coat due to everything already having some glue it hardly took more time than mounting clinchers.
I still carry a tire lever as it is sometimes useful to start working a flat free of the glue.
@Teocalli obviously you should trade the 2 way fit Shamals in for the tubular version. They are Sublime.
one day, one day
Very timelly read. I glued my first set of tubulars to the my first set of custom build wheels last weekend. Haven't ridden them yet out of fear of getting a flat.
I run tubeless Hutchinson's w/o any kind of sealant (on tubeless easton rims), and have had a flat yet. Sure I need to reinflate every other day but big deal.
Best of both world's!
I should add one more piece of kit to my list: gloves, so I can wipe tires after riding thru debris.
@frank You make a compelling argument. I'm still kicking myself over that $70 tubular wheelset that I passed up on craigslist.