Moving to tubular - any regrets
gbr236
Posts: 393
Thinking of a new set of wheels and have a really good deal on a set of ffwd tubular carbon rims.
Has anyone moved from clinchers and regretted their decision?
Thanks
Has anyone moved from clinchers and regretted their decision?
Thanks
0
Comments
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I made the switch to tubs at the end of last year and couldn't be happier actually. Go for it0
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None. I moved to Tubs at the beginning of last year (FFWD wheels also!). No more hassle than clinchers except that initial mounting takes a little bit longer/effort to get perfect. The ride on tubs is superb and of course the weight (or lack of is great too).
Edit: I should say that only worth doing if you are a going to run decent tubs on there to get the all the advantages (e.g. Vittoria Corsa, Veloflex etc) which invaraibly means that you won't get mega mileage out of them. For winter I still use clinchers. I assume these are going on your summer/best bike.0 -
I must admit that I just don't get the whole tubular thing for amateurs. Sure, nice supple ride and all that but there are some great clincher tyres out there so getting a nice and supple ride is not exclusive to the world of tubs.
Then, if you are unlucky to puncture riding tubs (and you see this quite often in pro races) then you are fecked unless you have a support car carrying a spare wheel with tyre already glued. Plan B would be to carry a spare tyre (so bang goes any weight saving when comparing two clincher tyres/three tubes against three tubular tyres) and then limp home whilst waiting for the glued tyre to set. That would scare the life out of me given the lumpy routes I normally travel on.
Am I missing something, as in sticky rim tape not needing to cure, etc???0 -
funny...I don't get the tub aversion...I think it's because some magazine writers don't really know what they are on about and insist that tubs are too much hassle for mere mortals.
a) The ride on tubs is better than clinchers. If you've paid n thousand for a top end bike why the heck are you then fitting it with less than perfect wheels and tyres?
The ride is better, even at the top end of the tyre spectrum. Open Corsa vs Corsa, the bike is livelier etc. The wheels are also much lighter.
b) Puntures are no more hassle than clinchers! You have two simple choices, either use a can of sealant and see if that seals the problem (if it does, you are done in about a minute!) OR simply remove the tub and fit a new one. It's very easy to carry a tub in a tub bag or strapped under the saddle. Takes no more time than changing a clincher. The old glue on the tub and rim will reactivate and at 120psi it ain't going to fall off the rim unless you go nuts.
c) You don't get pinch punctures with tubs so there is less chance of a puncture in the first place
Carrying a tub probably weighs less than two tubes and tyre levers (and don't forget you need two tubes because you will have left that second thorn in the tyre when you fitted the first tube)
You don't need a spare wheel or support car just because you ride tubs!0 -
magliaceleste wrote:funny...I don't get the tub aversion...I think it's because some IT Directors don't really know what they are on about and insist that tubs are too much hassle for mere mortals.
Fixed that for you
Interesting response, btw.0 -
I certainly have no regrets moving to tubs for racing(TT and crits) It was the cheapest way for me to get both lightweight and aero wheels for under £500 (wheelsmith.co.uk) I often go out training on them anyway just for the fun of it, the extra weight of a strapped on tub isn't really a penalty as the weight isn't a rotating mass.Norfolk, who nicked all the hills?
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Tubs may give a slightly better ride than Tyres but it's marginal for me.
I used to use tubs until tyres got better. Now they're so advanced that the worlds TT was won on them. My conti tyres haven't let me down for a long time. Unlike the tubs where a short 50 miler flatted two un-repairable tubs at a cost o £120 !0 -
I have been on tubs for a good two years now and have no regrets. However, I feel that in the next year I am going to migrate back to clincher such is the quality of the tyers out there now, including vitorria and mavic. I fully intend to bin deep section wheels in the next year too as the benefit of free speed, despite my valiant efforts to ride fast are actually out weighed by the way a nice small section wheel flies up small inclines and hills.
Though this may sound like a contradiction in terms, I do see something like the Shimano C35's as the ideal wheels for me as whilst I have owned Zipp and Fast Forward, I have yet to find a wheel as lively as a Shimano set up.
The other thing age has taught me is that I am dont really like descending at massive speed and deep section tubulars just enhance the fear going down in excess of 40 miles an hour.
The paradox is that as a consumer, I will have come full circle and end up back where I started0 -
I used tubs for a couple of years,and to be fair imo they were nice,but carrying sealant or a spare tub i have
gone back to clinchers.
I have mavic wheels with the tyre system (mavic tyres) and they dont feel any different,in fact i think
they are superb.Colnago c60 Eps super record 11
Pinarello F8 with sram etap0 -
In the 70's and early 80's I rode Tubs exclusively and if I'm truthful can never remember a p*ncture and I was riding 7-8000 miles a year then.
Returning back to cycling again 4 years ago, I chose clinchers, they were good, but missing something even with quality tyres like Pro 3's.
A couple of years ago I started using my fixed with tubs on for the odd TT, the old zip was back.
I built some Chinese 50mm's with Conti Sprinter Gatorskins and wow, what a difference, better than the 70's for rolling.
Bought some Campag Bora's with the same tyres and they are unreal, do I ever want to go back to clinchers....NO! but will do when the roads are shite and the weather is poor.
I ride my tubs at 130-140 for the rear and 120 for the front.
I carry sealant and a spare tub strapped under a mini Fizik Bag with nothing other than tools and tape in.
It's almost like the old comparison of tubs vs. 27 1/4 HP tyres of years gone by, well it is for me anyway!0