Tubular tyres- How to repair?

Kona21

Hi all,

Picked up my new bike today, very pleased with it ! I wouldn't class myself as a beginner to cycling but I am a beginner when it comes to tubs.

If i get a puncture on a ride is there a way of fixing the punture at the side of the road well enough to get me home? Or is it a taxi home jobbie ?

I wont be using the tubs all the time, but it is nice to use them now and again!

Thanks
Pete

danowat

Its an acquired (and seemingly quite uncommon) skill these days, you need a few special items (needle, thread, glue to stick the backing back on), there is no way to fix it at the side of the road, so you'll need to carry a spare, or a can of "pitstop" and hope the hole is small enough for it to fill.

I send mine away to be repaired, because I am lazy, and don't have the time to faff about fixing them.

Kona21

Lovely, thanks

Ill get that pitstop stuff, just in case !

If i use that can the tyre still be sent off and repaired or will it be full of foam?
Cheers

Monty Dog

Depends on the make of tyre - some e.g. Tufo are irrepairable, but are pretty robust if you use sealant. Doesn't work every time however and you should carry a pre-glued spare just in case.

Lillywhite

Kona21 wrote:

I am a beginner when it comes to tubs.

If i get a puncture on a ride is there a way of fixing the punture at the side of the road well enough to get me home? Or is it a taxi home jobbie ?

They're impossible to repair at the roadside. If you must ride tubulars for any other purpose than in a race then you should take a spare used tub with you that already has some sticky tape on it to allow you to get home safely.

If you want a tub repaired then Peter Burgin is your man near Rotherham.

cougie

Dont buy the conti GP400 tubs though - as apparently they cant be repaired. Mr tubman send me a fantastically detailed document illustrating why - and attaching samples of different tubs.

Best saved for racing really.

Chip \'oyler

Send them to this fella.

http://www.tubular-repairs.com/

Monty Dog

Yup, Conti GP tub is like Tufo and doesn't have a conventional inner.

Lillywhite

Chip \'oyler wrote:

Send them to this fella.

http://www.tubular-repairs.com/

What I said above.

Peter does an A1 job but unless you have a quality tubular that needs repairing then, IMHO, cheap tubulars just aren't worth repairing.
For leisure riding/training you're much better using high pressure wire on tyres which if you puncture at the roadside they're very easy to repair with a spare innner tube or even a patch if you have a bit more time to allow the glue on the patch to dry.

secretsam

Simples - get regular wheels and tyres and you need never fix a tub again

Kona21

Ok looks like im going to have to get a saddle bag :oops: :shock: to carry a spare tyre in
So the weight and aero advantage i gained with the tubs has all been lost ! obvs wont use the saddle bag in a race!

Lillywhite

Kona21 wrote:

Ok looks like im going to have to get a saddle bag :oops: :shock: to carry a spare tyre in
So the weight and aero advantage i gained with the tubs has all been lost ! obvs wont use the saddle bag in a race!

Just out of interest, did your new bike have tubulars fitted as standard or was this a special request?
Most people who have tubulars usually use these on a set of 'sunday best' wheels reserved just for racing. Many old school cyclists who ride tubulars will have a spare used one tied up beneath their saddle and not in a saddle bag or in a cut down bidon..

danowat

I know many people do, but I certainly wouldn't train on tubs, infact, I don't even do club TT's on tubs, I use my training wheels, my tubs only ever see the light of day on open events.

Kona21

Well the plan was i build a race bike up for next year over the year, and i did plan on having tubs on this as it would be a race only bike. But then i saw this bike and couldn't say no to it. It came with tubs on.

I don't want to keep it as a race only bike this year as im not racing this year... and I do want to use it once a week or so. So trying to think of ways to get me home just incase it does puncture.

Im not sure how big a tubular tyre is, would it fit in my back pocket or in one of them tool bottles? Its a good idea just having it tied up underneath the seat
Or use 'pitstop' to get me home


Cheers

Kona21

Bugger, i have valve extenders on...that pitstop out

markos1963

Kona21 wrote:

Bugger, i have valve extenders on...that pitstop out

If you use the Mavic valve extender you can still use Pitstop

Anonymous

Does no one else on here have their wife follow them in the car loaded up with spares when they go for a ride? :?

Kona21

NapoleonD wrote:

Does no one else on here have their wife follow them in the car loaded up with spares when they go for a ride? :?

Yes but the girlfriends car is full of fit nurses to come to my help just incase I fall off or cramp up. I spose I could fit one spare wheel in there

Lillywhite

Kona21 wrote:

Im not sure how big a tubular tyre is, would it fit in my back pocket or in one of them tool bottles? Its a good idea just having it tied up underneath the seat.
Or use 'pitstop' to get me home

Yes they're pretty bulky and look a tad ugly under the saddle. This is better than trying to stuff a spare tub in a back pocket which will be uncomfortable. If I were you,
I would use a set of other wheels with HP's for general riding and save the wheels with tubulars for race only days.

I have no experience of pitstop. :oops:

Kona21

Well, to be honest I have two other bikes with clinchers.. but my new bike is just to nice not to ride.

Lillywhite

Kona21 wrote:

Well, to be honest I have two other bikes with clinchers.. but my new bike is just to nice not to ride.

I take it then you havn't got a spare used tub with sticky tape on it. You won't be able to take a brand new tub as a spare because it won't adhere to the rim and be dangerous to ride.

Can't you use a pair of wheels from one of your two bikes or isn't the cassette etc,. compatible?