clincher v tubular

ravey1981

Ok so can anyone tell me the pros and cons of both? Looking into getting some aero rims but they all seem to be tub compatible...

Monty Dog

You want carbon rims - get tubs - it's that simple

ravey1981

Ok...but why? Are tubs a pain to live with? What if you get punctures etc etc...

hopper1

I have clinchers for training and tubs for racing.

Chip \'oyler

Tubs aren't a pain to live with. Puncture wise you could run them with sealant, or take a spare tub like we used to in the old days. They're not that hard to fit either (plently of tutorial video's out there) - but are definately a better ride than a clincher.

Wheelspinner

Tubulars:
Pros: Light, fast, nice handling and ride (when installed correctly!)
Cons: Expensive, requires glue, almost unrepairable in many circumstances, not as puncture resistant as clinchers, can come unglued unexpectedly with prolonged braking heat build-up in the rim, and did I mention expensive??

Clinchers
Pros: Relatively cheap cf: tubs, easy to fix roadside, replacement tubes are VERY cheap and can be repaired if necessary quite easily, much more choice available.
Cons: Relatively heavier than tubs, harder ride characteristics, lack the bragging rights of using tubs.

@ Chip \'oyler above, using a sealant in a tubular would rather negate the benefits of lighter weight and therefore fast feel, which leaves them not much benefit overall??

Tubulars ARE very good to ride, and you certainly notice the difference, but they're a race day only proposition for anyone short of sponsored pro or lottery winner..

ravey1981

Wheelspinner

Thanks, thats the kind of answer I was looking for...looks like tubs aren't for me then...

Smokin Joe

Wheelspinner wrote:

Tubulars:
Pros: Light, fast, nice handling and ride (when installed correctly!)
Cons: Expensive, requires glue, almost unrepairable in many circumstances, not as puncture resistant as clinchers, can come unglued unexpectedly with prolonged braking heat build-up in the rim, and did I mention expensive??

Clinchers
Pros: Relatively cheap cf: tubs, easy to fix roadside, replacement tubes are VERY cheap and can be repaired if necessary quite easily, much more choice available.
Cons: Relatively heavier than tubs, harder ride characteristics, lack the bragging rights of using tubs.

@ Chip \'oyler above, using a sealant in a tubular would rather negate the benefits of lighter weight and therefore fast feel, which leaves them not much benefit overall??

Tubulars ARE very good to ride, and you certainly notice the difference, but they're a race day only proposition for anyone short of sponsored pro or lottery winner..

Wouldn't agree with that comment at all, in fact tubs are more puncture resistant as there is no danger of pinch flats.

Wheelspinner

See if you can borrow a set of tubs for a ride one day, and go for a decent ride. That will tell you whether the benefits are worth the expense and hassle. You might get hooked on the ride experience though!

They are the choice of racers for good reasons - but I know I gave up using them because I simply get too many flats, and the costs and nuisance of having to fit a tyre, then wait 24 hours for the glue to set properly before using the wheel again was just too much. I'm not fast enough any more for tubulars to make a real difference in my finishing position in the peloton anyway!

Chip \'oyler

There is a guy in Rotherham who repairs tubs. I sent one to him years ago, came back looking like new - you couldn't tell where he'd had it open and stitched it back up

markos1963

Whats all this talk of glue and stuff, hasn't anyone heard of tub tape? Much easier to use than glue. If you flat on a tub then its LESS likely to come off the rim than a clincher so its safer and its the same for tubs as well as clinchers you get some tyres that are more puncture prone than others. The reason most aero rims seem to be tubulars is agian if you puncture you're less likely to damage the rim. How ever I would go by the addage of clinchers for training and tubs for racing

Anonymous

Or, as i was reccomended, buy these. They are clincher but behave like tubs. Givvem a go. i was very pleased.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/prodpage. ... resfilter=

Monty Dog

The point that no one has mentioned that if you do puncture, it is far safer to run on a deflated tub and not likely to damage a rim. With a carbon clincher - not an aluminium rim - get a puncture and run flat, or hit a pothole and the rim can be wrecked. Punctures are inevitable - broken rims aren't. Tubular rims are lighter and stronger too. In terms of puncture resistance - Tufo sealant weighs all of 20g or so and gives piece of mind and is imperceptible in use.

markos1963

Monty Dog wrote:

The point that no one has mentioned that if you do puncture, it is far safer to run on a deflated tub and not likely to damage a rim. With a carbon clincher - not an aluminium rim - get a puncture and run flat, or hit a pothole and the rim can be wrecked. Punctures are inevitable - broken rims aren't. Tubular rims are lighter and stronger too. In terms of puncture resistance - Tufo sealant weighs all of 20g or so and gives piece of mind and is imperceptible in use.

Ummmm..I did mention that tubs are safer in the event of a puncture

Lig

Hi ravey1981

I would say it depends on how 'handy' you are. If you fix your own bike then tubs are the way to go.

They ride much better and you can inflate them to near 200psi so they really are quicker. Puncture wise I was told they are the same as clinchers. I ride my best bike all summer on tubs and my winter bike with clinchers.

When I was investing in a decent set of Carbon wheels (Zipps) I came to the conclusion that if you are going to do it you may as well go the whole hog as they cost the same to buy (clincher Zipps v Tub Zipps).

I had one puncture last year, a piece of glass. I am sure this would have gone through the clincher also.

There is a chap who repairs tubs. I think for about £17. That is worth it if you run expensive tubs like vitorria Corsa Evos or Conti Competition, but not if you run cheap tubs.
Like people are saying you really have to try some. I didnt and just took the plunge and have never looked back!! It makes your best bike even better!!! Hassle if you only have one bike as you will have to change the brake pads (if you go with carbon tubs)!!

I did 300K in France last year Galibier/Alpe DHuez etc - Took 4 extra tubs with me and didnt have a single flat - No probs!! I just think if you are going to invest in aero wheel s go tubs. Otherwise I would go with a decent pair of non aero clinchers like Mavic R-Sys....

Lig.

desmosedici

I run tubs, clinchers and tubeless (not all on the same bike).

I find that tubs give me a better ride overall. The handling feel is something that neither tubeless nor clinchers can match.

I run Hutchinson tubeless on Fulcrum Racing Zeroes, and I find they come close, but still not as good, as the Vittoria Corsa Evo CX I sue on my Edge carbons.

As other posters have said, the costs of tubs can be prohibitive. Personally I prefer the feel and am willing to pay the cost.

giant_man

Tubs are waaay too much hassle for me, my carbon wheels will be clinchers, I guess it depends how serious a cyclist you are really, not that I'm not serious you understand, but I don't race and I can't be bothered with sticking rubber to rims etc. and all the faff that goes with tubs.

Crankmeister

Tubulars are straight forward to fit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUlFn4lp ... r_embedded

There are lots of videos to watch like this to help.

softlad

Lig wrote:

They ride much better and you can inflate them to near 200psi so they really are quicker.

why would running them at 200psi make them quicker...?

chrisw12

softlad wrote:

Lig wrote:

They ride much better and you can inflate them to near 200psi so they really are quicker.

why would running them at 200psi make them quicker...?

Saw that, i suppose the poster has done numerous roll down tests at various pressures and discovered that higher pressures are faster or he was just told it was so...

Crankmeister

Higher pressures on a completely pure flat surface will make a tyre roll faster.....but with all the irregularities on our roads it doesnt pay to have your tyres at to high of pressure as they can make your bike more jittery over irregularities on the road slowing you down.
I read about this somewhere the other day but i cant remember where ??