No Mavic behind you?
This was not going to be the Race of Truth. My wife and I were descending different routes to our vehicle. I was on the route with the tooth jarring pavement and tight corners, she was not. BAM! Oh scheiße, I’ve got flat rear! The tire exhaled air and water vapor in one great blast. This race was going to be either riding back to meet my wife on a completely flat tubular tire or racing to tear off a blown tire, fitting on the spare and pumping it up. The blown tire, a Veloflex Arenberg 25mm tubular, had been reborn three times and it’s center tread was worn off. I had already been thinking about replacing it so it was without too much remorse I rode it, flat as flat can be, to our rendezvous.
The next day I peeled the tire off the rim and performed an autopsy. The casing was quickly incised and the innards were laid out on the workbench. The pathology was interesting; riding a completely flat tubular tire does not shred the latex inner tube. Nowhere was the innertube stuck to itself. Looking at the tire in cross-section, there were still many miles of rubber left. I found seven discolored places on the inner casing and corresponding spots on the inner tube. I assumed these were all punctures that had been sealed. I eviscerated further and found only four actual penetrations of the latex tube. Each seal looked like a tiny stalagmite on the inside of the inner tube, who knew? The pathology report might say the patient died too young. Had the owner bothered to keep fresh sealant in the tube, it might still be glued on the rim.
I prepped for Keepers Tour 2012 by fitting some 28mm clincher tires with removable core butyl inner tubes and sealant. I did not get a flat on the Roubaix secteurs. I was probably running the tires at higher pressure than I should have so I don’t know if the sealant ever had a chance fix a pinch flat, but I was ready for it.
I was an advocate of tubeless tires before I had ever used them (?!). Then I spent too much time cleaning dried Caffé latex spew off my frame and gruppo. A puncture would seal but only after spraying latex down to 50 psi. I was not impressed until I switched to Orange Seal, which has solid bits in it, and never have I been so happy to get a puncture on a wet road and watch it seal itself in a few revolutions. There is something deeply thrilling about seeing a puncture seal while riding. There is no stopping, no sweating on the side of the road, no man handling of tires, tubes and pumps. When it works, it’s brilliant.
I switched back to tubular tires so I could ride bitchin’ carbon wheels but I didn’t use any preemptive sealant. After noticing a slow leak one morning and I added 30 mls of Orange Seal and it was fixed, tire saved. Sealant and tubular tires are a good match. If one decides to go down this road, removable core inner tubes are a must and a nice core remover will be useful. @Mauibike treats his tubulars like tubeless; preventative sealant and ride like crazy. This same argument could be made for clincher tires, especially if a person feels like they are spending too much time on the side of the road, sweating, switching out tubes and inflating. Is it a puncture panacea? No, but these new sealants work, especially when actually in the tires.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
I'm about to start testing the Wickens & Soderstrom No.8 sealant. Designed for MTB, but I'm running 28C at 65psi max so it's been OK'd. Speaking with the founder, I have very high expectations.
When you performed the pneu-topsy did you smoke cigarettes and speak into a recording microphone like Quincey then run all angry-like and yell at your clueless administrator?
The image of @Gianni hunkering over the dismembered and disemboweled remnants of his tubular, the scene both illuminated and shadowed by the barely shrouded 60W incandescent that hangs over the table just in front of his forehead...
"No, but these new sealants work, especially when actually in the tires."
That's the key, innit?
@DeKerr
It's Franken-SHTEEN!
Mate of mine used an old tub to make a video for his bike shop feed on tub field-fixes using Vittoria Pit Stop (CO2 and latex in a can for those who haven't come across it). Tub inflated, two holes pierced, can of Pit Stop on... Two curly latex extrusions and no seal. Disappointing and a little worrying as VPS is my get-me-home card on tub rides. Looks like I might have to find a better backup.
I was going to try Caffe Latex in my MTB, although the comment above puts me off a bit. I had a front puncture seal in a race recently using Stans, but only once it got to 8psi, so the rest of the lap was a bit sketchy.
Still considering road tubeless although I'm liking the look of the new Schwalbe One Pros - lighter than a tubed setup and should be faaaast...
But doesn't having 30ml of goop rummaging around your 320tpi tubular detract something from the ride quality?
Doesn't the stuff squirt all over the bike until low enough pressure is reached - as with the tubeless?
Why not just apply if a flat occurs?
@Fausto
If your MTB tyres end up too low pressure, when they start at what, 30psi, how are road tubeless with their massive bead locks going to be any better at 100psi?
Just carry a spare tub, enjoy everyone thinking how hard core you are running tubulars, and ride on. Save the latex for use in the garage where its effectiveness to seal that particular hole can be determined easily, cleanly, and at your leisure and comfort?
@Puffy
I commend your tubs philosphy and agree that sealant is useful for ensuring repairs stay repaired - but 'm with GIanni; in tubs, clinchers or tubeless, theres not much to be lost and lots to be gained by running with sealant all the time. I can't feel the difference (even in Corsa EVO CXs) and have seen it work. Mostly without the need for more air. Not uncommon for me to discover a (sealed) puncture at the end of my ride while cleaning the bike down - and sadly, there is a lot of glass on the road around my 'hood so punctures are a regular occurance.
In my humble view, if you're going fast enough to worry about the effects of the sealant on your tyres' performance then you probably have a Mavic/Vittoria Service Course following you anyway.
Latex sealant is a mess. No ands, ifs, buts or doubts about that. I put up with it on my mtn bike but the experiment didn't last long on my road bike. And I won't even bother with the CX set up. A better use for latex:
Cheers all