Categories: Accessories and Gear

Tubular Survival Kit

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.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

RManneck says:

Sep 6 2014 at 10:40 am

This whole "ginger on the tire" business doesn't sound safe at all....how about NOT riding over glass/ debris?
Nate says:

Sep 6 2014 at 10:49 am

@RManneck i am certainly not riding thru piles of glass but the occasional but of small debris is inevitable. At least around here.
Teocalli says:

Sep 6 2014 at 11:39 am

@Marty McFly

@Teocalli I have been riding Eurus 2-way fit rims with cheap training tires (Vittoria Rubino/Zaffiro pro) now for a while.

After i fit the tyre i pump it to 1bar, then i roll the wheel by hand while pushing it down against the floor. Then i deflate again. Pump to 1 bar again and roll. Then i inflate to 9bar. When pressure is around 8 bar the bands will pop into place with a loud sound. If they dont pop, i suggest you deflate roll and try to inflate again.

Thanks, I'll try that. I was manipulating by hand (as it were) at a bit higher pressure. 170 Km today with no incident so all turned out well. In fact our lunch stop was funny. Having a nice break at 100K with a roll, cake and coffee and had been there maybe 20 mins when - pssssss. Mate and I both look at each other and at the bikes wondering which had gone. Fortunately it was his.
Gianni says:

Sep 6 2014 at 2:21 pm

@Teocalli

@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.

It must be the diameter of the bead or something to do with the tire. I have a pair of 2-way fit Eurus wheels and have used Michelin, Specialized Roubaix and Conti 4000 clinchers all without a thought or incident.

I have Bontrager R3 tubeless back on there now. I've gone back and forth. What sealant were you dissatisfied with?
kiwivelo says:

Sep 6 2014 at 3:07 pm

@Nate or, more elegantly, a toothbrush.
Ccos says:

Sep 6 2014 at 6:25 pm

Ah tubbies. I've really been thinking about making the jump back for some time and this post helps. My race wheels are fitted with them and the ride is fantastic. I came into cycling riding them (cheap Clements if memory serves) and I think I flatted maybe twice over Merckx knows how many miles.

The problem would be what to do with all those clincher wheelsets (never mind how to run it past my CFO of a VMH).
antihero says:

Sep 7 2014 at 3:50 am

I've ridden tubs exclusively for the last 2 years, and I'll never go back: Pave Evo CGs on Golden Tickets is the path of righteousness. The ride is utterly Cadillac, like rolling 32mm Grand Bois clinchers, but without the weight and the need for a placid rando frame.

I have had a single on-the-road flat in all that time, and I commute on Nashville's glass-strewn streets year-round. I once had to make a panic stop to avoid a truck, and I skidded the tire over a nail. The nail went into the tread, and exited the sidewall. It looked like a compound fracture.

I pulled out the nail, and sealed the holes up with superglue. Let sit for 30 seconds. Hit the tire with some PitStop, and spun it a bit for even distribution. Gave it 50 pumps with the Lezyne for good measure, and off I went. I finished the ride, and the tire would have kept going, had I allowed it. Prudence required that I cut it off and start fresh, of course.

When people talk about having regular flats on their tubulars, I'm incredulous. What are these guys riding, tissue paper?

I add a roll of Tufo Tape and a tiny bottle of superglue to my repair/replace kit. I like the idea not having to give the glue job second thoughts. Haven't had the occasion to use it yet, though.
antihero says:

Sep 7 2014 at 3:55 am

FWIW, I've never once wiped a tire. It's like throwing salt over one's shoulder, and the consequences of error are hideous. If I ride over a big patch of glass, I just stop and pick it out by hand.
antihero says:

Sep 7 2014 at 4:02 am

@kenl

A man after my own heart. Got a tubular wheelset about four years ago with the goal of just gutting it for the hubs. Since the rims weren't completely trashed I couldn't justify just tossing them so I figured what they hey and got a couple of tubular tires.

Been riding tubulars pretty much exclusively ever since.

The only problem with flats I've run into is that last winter I rode a lot and got a gazillion flats. If I do any riding outside this winter I'll just slap on the clincher wheelset and suffer with it (which is the point of riding during the winter anyway, isn't it?).

Since summer started and the roads dried up I haven't had any flats over about 1000 miles. The rear tire is showing threads so I certainly got a full life out of it.

I still carry one tire lever in my road kit. This is because of and experience I had on a winter ride with a buddy. It's dark and raining and I get a flat. Apparently I did an outstanding glue job because it took the both of us 20 minutes just to get the tire off (well, this was after about 90 miles so we were a bit tuckered out too). I had a cheap plastic lever that didn't do the job so I switched to the King titanium ones. Oh, and make sure to leave an unglued gap opposite the stem. Yep, learned that lesson the hard way.

I use the small bottles of Stan's Sealant, just throw one in my ride tool pouch and then in the jersey pocket it goes.

Here's the workaround on that: I carry a tiny pocket knife in my repair kit. A $.50 razor blade works too. If things are so bleak that I have to replace the tire, a single cut with that knife will have the tire off in 60 seconds - it's super easy to peel if you stick your finger into the tire's carcass. No need to compromise your glue job.
Ron says:

Sep 7 2014 at 5:11 am

Hmm, I'll have to store this article and return to it the next time I am in the market for a wheelset. Two questions:

It's been around 35*C here, with full-on humidity, for the past two weeks. Without gloves my hands get so damn slippery on some of my tape and on the hoods as well. Some days I can just wipe my hands on my hips periodically, but I've been sweating clear through my bibs lately, and I'm not a fat sweaty hog either. Also, I use my gloves to wipe my brow to keep it from tumbling down onto my Witte Sunnies. My V-jersey is too tight to allow drying of the brow.

How do you sans gloves blokes deal with the slipper hood syndrome? And sweaty brow too. I like riding without gloves, but generally find them useful.

Also, Frank...you Lezyne MT looks to have a bit of corrosion. Mine too. I've scrubbed it with a small wire brush, but not pristine. Shouldn't they be making this corrosion-proof? Ideas on how to clean up/proof them? I don't want a rusty hex tip causing a stripped bolt.