One of the things that strikes me most about the English is they don’t appear to have developed any sort of “inner dialog”. It seems anything that passes through the brain is parlayed directly to the tongue; if the thought being expressed is an insult to you, it will generally include a query for confirmation: “You’re not terribly clever, are you?” At least the English have developed the sophistication to keep their voices down which is a skill English children apparently don’t develop until adolescence. I recently spent some time on a small aircraft sitting opposite a young English girl who loudly narrated the progress of her camera’s zoom functionality which, due to the plane’s low cruising altitude, meant it was pointed out the window and in constant operation for the duration of the two-hour flight.
While I don’t consider myself a savage, I also don’t possess the dignity of soft speech; my voice carries as it is, let alone if I’m enthusiastic or angry, which between the two covers about 99.93% of my existance. I’m not sure why people place value on speaking quietly or, for that matter, having any sort of inner dialog. I think this is why I get on well with the English: I spend most of my life trying to sort out what the living beings around me are thinking; if they all had a readout on their forehead or spoke every thought that ever crossed their mind out loud, it would save me loads of time which would free me up for riding my bike.
Riding tubular tires is kind of like riding the tire equivalent of the English, except less cold. Riding tubular tires on deep-section rims is like riding the tire equivalent of English pre-adolescents. (I realized during proofing that I am getting dangerously close to pedaphile territory; this analogy isn’t as clever as it seems, is it? New paragraph, then.)
A well-made, hand-stitched tubular tire is a revelation to ride. The first time I rode tubs, it was aboard a set of Vredesteins which are excellent tires. I was immediately struck by how responsive they were, and how well they cornered. Then I rode a set of FMB Paris-Roubaixs and was struck by all those same things except they also felt like two cushions under my rims, carrying my smoothly from one imperfection to the next as I floated over the tarmac. The most striking thing was the sound: a hypnotic hum that brings the mind inexorably closer to becoming One with The V, the hum sooths and makes you more alert in equal measure; its pulsation reveals the smoothness or imperfections of your stroke with every revolution of the pedals. Clinchers can do much of the same, particularly when ridden with latex tubes, but nothing compares to a well-made tubular to sing the praises or holler the frailties of your stroke.
The Hum whispers to me when I’m climbing well; it shouts at me when I’m suffering worst (read: climbing badly), reminding me to stop pedalling squares and focus on the fluidity of the stroke. The more V is channeled into the pedals, the more difficult it becomes to achieve a Magnificent Stroke. It also hints that its easier to push round smoothly at a low cadence than it in in a high cadence; track racers who can turn round at 160rpm while delivering full power astound me.
The Hum has brought me closer to a Magnificent Stroke. It calls out when I stray, it soothes when I am near. I seek it, I embrace it. Always.
Vive la Vie Velominatus.
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View Comments
@Bruce Lee
One of these days, I'll get my hands on some tubs....
@wilburrox
Try getting your hands on the all black version. They are listed on inventory sheets, rps claim that they have seem them, but as yet..I have never laid eyes on the all black version of the Pave. My current ones have the green on the side. Vittoria moved the color from the center stripe to the side as it was difficult to perfectly center the color on the tread and people complained that the tires were defective and "out of balance" because the color wasn't perfectly straight....
@Haldy
Huh, very interesting. I am due to buy some new Pave' tubs and I am sorry to hear this. I started on tubs when I started seriously riding at age 14 in '86. I loved, and still do, the center green stripe. That was the essence of "Pro" to me back then.
@markb
I'm in phase on everything except the speed to change the tire - I can change a tub faster than a clincher and there's actually less muss and trouble by avoiding having to fit the tub back into the tire.
@Chris
That might have been the best ride of the week; so surreal in the cold, and we were all so tired from the previous day's soul-crushing.
Except Alex took us over more cobbles, the pisshead.
@Buck Rogers -
To be honest...I like the green on the side better than on the center stripe. The green becomes more visible from all directions. Then more folks( assuming they are educated enough..I know..big assumption) can see you are rolling on Pave's
@Gianni
Close. It was the kid plus the English ex-pat car driver who brought us to said airport.
@TommyTubolare
Wherethefuckyoubeen?
Missed you my friend, good to see you around again.
@Deakus
No, it has to do with how supple the casing is and how well it can flex and adjust to rocks and other debris.
@teleguy57
These are the sorts of problems you genuinely need to cherish. Much beer and wine will also be required to find the right answer.
In other news, my 27 PRs just showed up at the shop (Branford Bike); the owner's been aging them for a year.
@frank
Indeed, I believe pro mechanics know that the pressure is right for le pave when the rim kisses the stones through the tub on the roughest patches. Must be hitting the rim with free abandon at 60kph into the Arenberg..