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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I've recently found a wee cut in the sidewall of my Veloflex. Is this repairable and if so, how?
@Nate
I find it to be the best on the sidewall. Let air out of the tubular, apply thinly, let it dry and pump up normally. In some cases a bit of air left in a tubular helps, depending on how or where the cut is.
https://www.mcnett.com/gearaid/seam-grip#10510
@TommyTubolare just the man I was hoping would chime in! Thanks mate.
@Buck Rogers I'd love to be able to claim them as my own but taking photos whilst riding generally ends in tears or pictures of my thumbs. They're Brett's.
@rfreese888
Negative. Nashville, Tennessee, USA. We have a surfeit of idiots here that think nothing of chucking their empties on the streets. Not unlike the Scots, who are the worst litterbugs I've ever seen. I ride over broken glass and shit pavement on a daily basis.
@rfreese888
Yes. They were awful, like riding a pair of bricks. Don't do it.
Notably, Conti tires don't fit on Golden Tickets worth a damn. I had blood-blisters on my thumbs to prove it. Vittorias? Easy as pie.
Ah, tubulars. Yes, I remember my first set. Mavic rims Vitorria CXs 28h Campy hubs 15g double-butted spokes = V ready wheels. Light, strong, and smooooth as buttah. For sure tubbies are the way to go for a lot of performance riding. But to get the most out of them you sort of need to know how to really glue them on. For the dreaded squirm is a killer, which is likely why the PanzerWagen rides clinchers for time trials. He doesn't give a damn about the weight penalty. He probably pummels the weight penalty with his large manly thighs before he pummels the poor miserable bastards who have to ride against him. But, I digress.
Yes, youngsters, do try a fast set up tubulars at least once. You may not go back. But make sure you seek out an old crusty mechanic to learn how to really glue on a tire before you do.
@Bruce Lee
Very, very true. The 1st few times, it's messy and weird, and you will fuck up. Don't let this scare you off. Once you've learned the technique, it's easy as pie. If you're worried about trashing a $100 tire, go buy a cheap Vittoria Rally and learn with it. Just don't ride it much - you'll not enjoy it.
Hey all, re: Vittoria Pave's...when I first started riding 'em they had the green stripe down the middle. Now they come with the green sidewall. And, I've recently noticed, they also care available in all black. That's news to me 'cause if they've always been available in all black then I've not noticed. I just figured Pave's were green and didn't matter if the green looked a little odd on the bike because they were Pave's and Pave's were green. So, the question I'm asking myself is, is my next set of Pave's gonna be all black ? or is that like dressing Santa Clause in black or something like that ? Just not meant to be ?
@Haldy
Ha!, awesome