Categories: Accessories and GearEtiquetteNostalgiaThe RulesTradition

European Posterior Tubular (EPTB)

EPMS." width="620" height="465" /> The European Posterior Tubular, tied on by a toe strap. This ain’t no EPMS.

The divisive nature of Rule #29 is not to be underestimated. It is but a humble satchel, but our rejection of its use sends people completely out of their minds. One fine gentleman even threatened my editor at Cyclist Magazine with cancellation of his subscription on the basis that they published an article wherein I espoused the virtues of going EPMS-less. If I recall correctly, the reader felt my writing was, “a black eye on an otherwise flawless magazine.” Some people, it appears, really love their saddle bags.

Nevertheless, the truth remains: they are ugly and there is no need for one if you choose your tools carefully and maintain your bicycle appropriately. Granted, if you prefer an al fresco lunch mid-ride and therefore require room for a baguette, some brie, and a nice bottle of Burgundy, you may require more than a jersey pocket. Similarly, if you are of the mechanical inclination that requires you carry a press for on-the-road headset replacements, you might also require some additional storage. That said, if your mechanical skills are at a level that your bicycle is in such a state, I might argue that carrying a cell phone and an emergency contact list is really all you need because the tools are unlikely to help.

But I digress. Ugly though the EPMS may be, it is obviously perfectly acceptable to tie a spare tubular tire under your saddle. This is for the obvious and irrefutable reason that riding tubs is for the more cultured Velominatus and strapping a tire under the saddle is the traditional way the Europeans have handled carrying a spare tire ever since they stopped carrying them strapped over their shoulders. Do not allow yourself to be distracted by the fact that a European Posterior Tubular is often mistaken for an saddlebag. One is a nod to our heritage, the other an abomination sense and style. Trust me on this.

But carrying a spare tub does pose a challenge: how do you roll it up into a small enough package that it (a) doesn’t sway (b) doesn’t rub the insides of your pistoning guns and (c) doesn’t fall off and get tangled up in your wheel.

The first two are a matter of what style of tire to carry. The natural inclination is to carry a spare tire identical to the ones you are riding on your wheels, but that is likely to be a 23 or 25 mm tire and will be rather bulky when rolled up. Instead, the spare should be considered an emergency tire intended to get you safely through the rest of your ride; you’ll be pulling it off and gluing it on properly when you get home, so it can be chosen for its folding size and weight rather than to match it to the tires you normally ride. Then comes the question of how to roll it up into a tiny package which can be neatly strapped under the saddle (see photos). Finally – and I learned this the hard way – if the tire does come loose over some unusually rough roads (say, washboards on a high speed gravel descent), you will want it to stay in the small bundle rather than unwinding and getting tangled in your back wheel.

European Posterior Tubular Guidelines:

Find a light, 19mm tubular tire. I use one by TUFO; it has no inner tube so it is skinny and light and rolls up tight.
Pre-glue the tire and follow the below procedure to roll it up (photos).
Wrap an industrial strength rubber band around the tire. This will keep it in its rolled up bundle with or without a toe strap, meaning it will stay in said bundle even as it tumbles from your saddle.
Us a leather toe-clip strap and a leather toe-clip strap only to affix said tire to saddle. No pouches, not fabric straps. Make sure it is tight and secure the loose end of the strap.
Respond to all accusations of violating Rule #29 with a defiant but tempered disgust which subtly hints that the accuser is an unsophisticated clincher rider who doesn’t understand the greater nuances of our sport.

[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Folding a Tub/”/]

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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ClydesdaleChris says:

May 20 2014 at 7:37 am

@Cogfather

Being a Velominatus, I am inherently keen on tradition & cycling history. However, I cannot see why one would run tubs unless blessed with a support vehicle. I personally detest tubes with all that is in me. Traditional clinchers or tubs are both subject to failure of frail tubes. Why everyone does not go tubeless defies logic to me. Any clincher rim can be setup tubeless. It does not require tubeless rims. After seething with anger at having to buy another $.50 tube for $8 at the LBS a couple of years ago, I took the plunge. I've not had a puncture or bought another cursed tube since. Tubeless are superior in every way. To wit: cheaper than tubs, possess/require sealant which virtually eliminates punctures, permit much lower (& more comfortable pressures, the list goes on. In the event of a catastrophic sidewall tear, you can always throw in a cursed tube to complete your ride. I've been carrying a single, solitary tube for 2 years. The only time I've needed the spare in that time was to give it to a mate who had punctured, yet again, one of his standard clinchers. Tubeless rule. Full stop. Here endeth the lesson

A-Merckx, my man.
Ron says:

May 20 2014 at 8:51 am

Even at the local group rides that bring out some strong legs, I'm still shocked at things like the number of EPMS. It's bonkers.

One should be able to find local rides which include only Rules adherent cyclists. Alas, even in a niche sport (in the U.S. at least) and when nearly ensconced in the deepest regions of the niche, there are still folks who don't get it.

Since we're talkin' tires. I need some new commuter tires. I've been riding 28mm Gatorskins. This bike is almost exclusively for commuting and grocery gettin', but I sometimes ride it on road rides in really awful weather (full fenders, don't care about road grit, etc.). Would 32's be overkill? Or that much nicer of a ride.
Ron says:

May 20 2014 at 9:11 am

Cogfather - I run tubeless on my CX race bike. I have some Ksyrium wheels that are happy with Vittoria tires, pretty easy setup. What are you doing on non-tubeless ready road rims? Using a pre-made rim strip? Using a strip you've made from an old tube? I'd be curious to hear more.

And Frank, you mention needing to carry a baguette and brie. Well, that is why we have our ol' trusty n+1, right? You don't ride your road race bike for a weekend picnic ride. You ride the commuter. Or the Picnic Bike. I'm always baffled when people buy a road bike and then set it up in Sit Up and Beg position with a rising 80mm stem, a saddle with a gel cover, and a rack. Why bother with the road bike? (and don't tell me money! Get a $100 commuter at the local LBS that has trade-ins or a garage sale, and then get a used road bike. You can have both for less than your new Sora equipped road bike.)
El Mateo says:

May 20 2014 at 9:19 am

Now that this subject has been thoroughly hashed out, and properly so, we need to turn our attention to Rule #41. The other day, as I perused the Giro photos on CyclingNews.com, I was flabbergasted to find that the Movistar team bikes had the rear QR closed beneath the chain stay (pointing forward) instead of the customary bisecting of the seat and chain stay as is clearly stated in Rule 41. It makes sense in that on my bike the seat & chain stays are of sufficient diameter to cause a bit of interference with my HED QR's. You have to dial it in perfectly or the QR will be touching the frame or, worse yet, not tight enough. Of course I've always taken the time to dial it in perfectly but by clamping below the chain stay all this fussing is eliminated. There is nothing wrong with the original rule but sometimes the rules need amending...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/giro-ditalia-race-tech-its-all-in-the-details/305107
Dr C says:

May 20 2014 at 9:29 am

So has anyone actually changed a flatted tub on a ride? I have yet to try to strip a tub of a rim, but looking t the Zipp video, it looks like the sort of thing you can only do after a hearty breakfast on a sunny morning off

I have three sets of tubulars on the go, and a can of Zefal 100ml - if I flat on a club ride, my plan is to dive headfirst into a hedge and feign a neck injury - I live quite close to the local A+E, so reckon having made a spontaneous recovery en route, the ambulance drivers will drop me off at the house to save the paperwork

Otherwise I like your tyrigamy @Frank
Dr C says:

May 20 2014 at 9:30 am

So has anyone actually changed a flatted tub on a ride? I have yet to try to strip a tub of a rim, but looking t the Zipp video, it looks like the sort of thing you can only do after a hearty breakfast on a sunny morning off

I have three sets of tubulars on the go, and a can of Zefal 100ml - if I flat on a club ride, my plan is to dive headfirst into a hedge and feign a neck injury - I live quite close to the local A+E, so reckon having made a spontaneous recovery en route, the ambulance drivers will drop me off at the house to save the paperwork

Otherwise I like your tyrigamy @Frank

....or is it tubigamy?
Haldy says:

May 20 2014 at 9:31 am

@Cogfather

Tubeless are superior in every way. To wit: cheaper than tubs, possess/require sealant which virtually eliminates punctures, permit much lower (& more comfortable pressures, the list goes on.

I beg to differ. While tubeless may have some advantages, they can never, NEVER, match the comfort and cornering ability of tubulars. Period. Clinchers and tubeless( since it is just a modified clincher) have to hook into the bead of the rim for that system. As such it causes a sidewall deflection in the tire both when just rolling up right and when cornering that tubulars do not suffer from. As such a tubular can compress in a more cushioning way, as well as grip better in a turn since there is much less sidewall deflection. They are also lighter!

While I am not contesting some of the benefits of tubeless that you mention...they are not superior in EVERY way.
Dr C says:

May 20 2014 at 9:33 am

I felt my comment to be so fascinating, that I posted it twice
therealpeel says:

May 20 2014 at 9:54 am

@Cogfather

Being a Velominatus, I am inherently keen on tradition & cycling history. However, I cannot see why one would run tubs unless blessed with a support vehicle. I personally detest tubes with all that is in me. Traditional clinchers or tubs are both subject to failure of frail tubes. Why everyone does not go tubeless defies logic to me. Any clincher rim can be setup tubeless. It does not require tubeless rims. After seething with anger at having to buy another $.50 tube for $8 at the LBS a couple of years ago, I took the plunge. I've not had a puncture or bought another cursed tube since. Tubeless are superior in every way. To wit: cheaper than tubs, possess/require sealant which virtually eliminates punctures, permit much lower (& more comfortable pressures, the list goes on. In the event of a catastrophic sidewall tear, you can always throw in a cursed tube to complete your ride. I've been carrying a single, solitary tube for 2 years. The only time I've needed the spare in that time was to give it to a mate who had punctured, yet again, one of his standard clinchers. Tubeless rule. Full stop. Here endeth the lesson

A-Merckx, my man.

You know the saying about everyone having ab opmouths I think it applies here. I do think the Velomintae speak out of both sides of their mouths. On one side we embrace most things "old school" but on the other we lust the latest greatest laterally stiff but vertically compliant ride possible. Thus we cast off steel in exchange for glorified plastic. We hope to look Pro, but do we have any real idea how a pro rides 90% of the time, while training? Do we really desire to be such poseurs, that every time we kit up we want to look like we are heading to the start line of a pro-tour race?

Regardless of my ramblings and questions- I recognize that I must Rule 1 and Rule 5.
cognition says:

May 20 2014 at 9:54 am

@Ron Yes, going from 28's to 32's will be noticeable. I often run 28's (on wide rims) for my commuting bike. I've tried some 33.3mm "Jack Brown"'s (by Rivendell). If you run the appropriately-lower air pressures, you'll definitely notice the ride difference. I also felt they were a little more sluggish, so your local conditions will dictate which one is better for you. If my local roads were even a touch crappier than they already are, I'd go with 32's.