Tubular tyres

MattL30 · April 2011

Something I've been wondering, how do you repair a puncture on a tubular tyre?

I don't use them (and don't intend on switching really), but to me, aren't you simply screwed if you get a puncture unless you're carrying glue and the like to fit a new tyre?

Second question, what's the advantage of going tubeless?

Wooliferkins · April 2011

Second first lighter and more flexible.
First, just carry a spare pre glued tub in your pocket or there are tubular saddle packs.

danowat · April 2011

MattL30 wrote:

Something I've been wondering, how do you repair a puncture on a tubular tyre?

Either unstitch a repair the tube yourself, or send them away.

MattL30 wrote:

Second question, what's the advantage of going tubeless

Tubular aero wheels are cheaper and lighter than clinchers

stevec205gti · April 2011

Another advantage is you can keep riding them once you puncture - handy if you're racing / TT'ing

danowat · April 2011

stevec205gti wrote:

Another advantage is you can keep riding them once you puncture - handy if you're racing / TT'ing

I am not convinced by this, I punctured a rear on the way to the startline of a TT, there is noway I could have ridden on it flat without buggering up a £50 tub and a £XXX Carbon wheel.

MattL30 · April 2011

cheers all. you make it sound simple!! Maybe I'll consider it properly for my next set of wheels.

markos1963 · April 2011

Tubs are repairable but be careful which ones you buy, ie Conti GP4000s can't be repaired due to their construction but Sprinter/giros are very easy. There are plenty of 'how to' vids on You Tube to show you how. Just take your time doing it.
Out on the road you can use Pitstop sealant or carry a preglued spare.

When someones mentions that you can ride on a flat tub what I think they mean is the tub won't fly off the rim at speed like a clincher might so it's safer. A mate of mine did flat in the last mile of a TT and he completed the course(sub 24m !!!) to no ill effect. But bear in mind that was a straight, smooth and flat run in.

I ride tubs for TTing and racing as I like the feel they give and as Danowat mentions the wheels are cheaper/lighter. Also I love the sound they make on deep section carbon rims!! Whooooosh!

Pokerface · April 2011

danowat wrote:

stevec205gti wrote:

Another advantage is you can keep riding them once you puncture - handy if you're racing / TT'ing

I am not convinced by this, I punctured a rear on the way to the startline of a TT, there is noway I could have ridden on it flat without buggering up a £50 tub and a £XXX Carbon wheel.

No - but if you had flatted 5 miles into the TT - you could have ridden home SLOWLY and not had to walk back - and done so without damaging the wheel. Not sure about the tyre :oops:

I don't think anyone thinks you can continue to RACE on a flat tub.

danowat · April 2011

I couldn't ride the 1.5 mile back to the HQ, I tried, it was horrid, so I ran back, in cleats, not very clever!!!

Pokerface · April 2011

danowat wrote:

I couldn't ride the 1.5 mile back to the HQ, I tried, it was horrid

Not doubting you - but why not? I mean - I've ridden several miles on a flat clincher and also on flat tubs. Never easy - but doable.

What was the problem with yours? Just curious.

oldwelshman · April 2011

These days not much advantage at all over clinchers as clinchers have improved much over the years whereas the roads have got worse so I never use tubs on the road only for the track.
You can carry a spare tub and if you use tub tape easy to change.
The advantage of a punctured tub is only really relevant for track as your "slightly" less likely to come off as you can ride off the track but with clincher if you puncture it is easy to roll the tyre off the rim which makes it hard to stay on bike.
I have har tubs repaired for the track but to be honest they never last and the tape of the tub comes loose. I used to repair them years ago but not the new ones, much harder to do now.

danowat · April 2011

Pokerface wrote:

danowat wrote:

I couldn't ride the 1.5 mile back to the HQ, I tried, it was horrid

Not doubting you - but why not? I mean - I've ridden several miles on a flat clincher and also on flat tubs. Never easy - but doable.

What was the problem with yours? Just curious.

Because I felt the rim running on the road, and I didn't want to destroy my carbon rims!

markos1963 · April 2011

danowat wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

danowat wrote:

I couldn't ride the 1.5 mile back to the HQ, I tried, it was horrid

Not doubting you - but why not? I mean - I've ridden several miles on a flat clincher and also on flat tubs. Never easy - but doable.

What was the problem with yours? Just curious.

Because I felt the rim running on the road, and I didn't want to destroy my carbon rims!

I've done it Dan, but it sounded like the rim was on the road but upon inspection it was clear.

bramstoker · April 2011

Had a tub pop this morning, no spare

Rode 6 miles home at 9mph no real problems.

danowat · April 2011

Yeah, but for the sake of walking/running a couple of miles, I'd rather not risk a couple of hundred quid wheel!

dennisn · April 2011

bramstoker wrote:

Had a tub pop this morning, no spare Rode 6 miles home at 9mph no real problems.

Don't take this wrong, but why wouldn't you carry a spare tubular? I've noticed more than a few people, on this forum, talk about riding(or walking) home with a flat because they didn't have a spare. With the knowledge that ANY bike tire could flat at ANY time, and everyone knows this, what possible reason could anyone have for leaving home without one? Other than forgetting? :? :? :?

bramstoker · April 2011

dennisn wrote:

bramstoker wrote:

Had a tub pop this morning, no spare Rode 6 miles home at 9mph no real problems.

Don't take this wrong, but why wouldn't you carry a spare tubular? I've noticed more than a few people, on this forum, talk about riding(or walking) home with a flat because they didn't have a spare. With the knowledge that ANY bike tire could flat at ANY time, and everyone knows this, what possible reason could anyone have for leaving home without one? Other than forgetting? :? :? :?

I sold my ultegra wheels and i Was waiting for a new set of wheels to be delivered (clinchers) and just slung a set with tubs on to be able to ride today, havent got a spare tub for the racing wheels yet so i knew there was a risk, but after reading about how you could ride tubs flat i thought it was worth taking the chance.

dennisn · April 2011

bramstoker wrote:

dennisn wrote:

bramstoker wrote:

Had a tub pop this morning, no spare Rode 6 miles home at 9mph no real problems.

Don't take this wrong, but why wouldn't you carry a spare tubular? I've noticed more than a few people, on this forum, talk about riding(or walking) home with a flat because they didn't have a spare. With the knowledge that ANY bike tire could flat at ANY time, and everyone knows this, what possible reason could anyone have for leaving home without one? Other than forgetting? :? :? :?

I sold my ultegra wheels and i Was waiting for a new set of wheels to be delivered (clinchers) and just slung a set with tubs on to be able to ride today, havent got a spare tub for the racing wheels yet so i knew there was a risk, but after reading about how you could ride tubs flat i thought it was worth taking the chance.

I know what you're saying. I've read some posts on this forum where people have talked about riding them while flat and while I agree that you SORT OF can, I'm confused as to where people ever got the idea that this was anything you'd want to do or even consider
seeing as how a spare change on the road is much simpler than clinchers? I like tubulars
but no spare out on the road? How did that ever get to be "optional"?
:? :? :?

Tubular tyres

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