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:
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Folding a Tub/”/]
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
@El Mateo I don't qualify to be passing judgement on modifying the rules, but keeping the rear wheel secure is more important than anything else. Don't have the lever backwards, though -- don't risk getting someone else's front wheel trapped in there. Weirdly oversized tubes or an odd dropout might force something else, but that something else still looks wrong.
The proper location for the QR lever is bisecting the chainstay and seatstay.
@Dr C
Yep, tubulars were all we rode in the 80's. We didn't have EPMS's then: all you had was the tubi under the seat and a frame pump. It isn't as hard as you think to get that sucker off. Of course that was on aluminum rims so you could be as rough as you wanted.
That said, I have yet to pry the buggers off my cross wheelset and the Belgian tape is causing me some regret.
@fignons barber
I've got some Open Pros on my rain bike, and I'll keep them; in fact, they are the only clinchers I intend to keep.
For me, the ride quality is far superior to clinchers, and the wheels themselves ride better because they don't have as much weight around the rim, which is the part of the wheel that is moving the fastest.
I especially notice the difference in tires when climbing and cornering.
And, it goes without saying, their romanticism is a huge part of the fun for me, as well as the process of gluing them on which I love (and have gotten much better at).
@therealpeel
Wait...who says we have to cast off steel? Both these baby's are modern steel and wonderfully fast! Equipped with Tubulars as well. ;-)
@John Liu
Why are you bringing a spoke wrench? Maintain your wheels, check of loose spokes regularly etc and no need for the additional baggage. (I do take one gravelling where a taco's wheel could mean dying in the mountains.)
Also, I'd be more worried about the tarmac during on off-bike event than the tools in your pocket, but that's just me.
I use a Lezyne V5 multitool, a Lezyne patch kit, a Lezyne Carbon Drive (its lighter than C02 - I only use C02 for races) and a spare latex inner tube (when I ride clinchers). Goes in the middle pocket with no sag and room to spare.
@frank, a little harsh calling us clincher riders unsophisticated (especially if we are riding cotton clinchers) but I suppose the path to enlightenment is about the journey not the finish line. Looks like a couple of nice little tips in there, especially pre-bundling it in case of it falling off.
Maybe I should consider some tubs, having taken delivery of my Park Tools PRS20 today, I am looking forward to significant amounts of fettling. Baste me in Dumonde Tech and call me in a week!!
@Ccos
Pitstop works great and when I train around town, I only take that with me, no spare tire. On longer rides and with company, I always take the spare. Good point though.
@pistard
Gatorskins are only good at keeping something from going directly through the tire - everything else sucks about them; they are not supple enough to roll over things and deflect objects, so they wind up being more flat-prone.
By far the most common tire we have punctures with on the cobbles is the Gatorskin. For a durable winter tire, the GP4000 4-Seasons (all seasons?) are the best choice, which is what I use on the rain bike.
Interesting on the Stans suggestion; I'll try that. The nozzles on the Pitstop pop right back on, by the way.
@Gianni
That, and the glue holding the other two tires to the rim.
@Dr C Yes, and it's a piece of piss.
@Haldy
Hell no we do not have to cast off steel. Those are hawt.