Tubs for the lazy?

jonny_trousers
jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
edited July 2014 in Road general
Does anyone here pay for a professional to sort their tubular needs? I ask because it occurs to me that most people opt for clincher race wheels due to the convenience factor only. I know some workshops offer a fitting/repair services at a not too outrageous price, so would it not make sense for the lazy amongst us to go tubular and pay for help when we need it. Just a thought, as I've not seen it addressed here.

Comments

  • JackPozzi
    JackPozzi Posts: 1,191
    I'm not very organised so only ever buy a new tub to replace one that's worn out or punctured and normally need it fairly quickly so I'll go to the LBS rather than order online and have to wait for it to arrive by post.. As I'm there anyway I normally take the wheel and get it fitted...
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    JackPozzi wrote:
    I'm not very organised so only ever buy a new tub to replace one that's worn out or punctured and normally need it fairly quickly so I'll go to the LBS rather than order online and have to wait for it to arrive by post.. As I'm there anyway I normally take the wheel and get it fitted...

    Makes good sense to me.
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    I use tape as this way it takes 10 minutes to take off old tub, re tape rim, fit new tub, unpeeled backing, ensure central ness and pump up.

    Further five minutes to set fire to old tub and open celebratory bottle of Barolo.

    Job jobbed.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • DavidJB
    DavidJB Posts: 2,019
    Professional or not I'd much prefer to glue my own tub to know it's been done correctly. Its my face which will plant the floor at the end of the day ;)
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    DavidJB wrote:
    Professional or not I'd much prefer to glue my own tub to know it's been done correctly. Its my face which will plant the floor at the end of the day ;)

    Wow! Are they really that treacherous?
  • DavidJB
    DavidJB Posts: 2,019
    DavidJB wrote:
    Professional or not I'd much prefer to glue my own tub to know it's been done correctly. Its my face which will plant the floor at the end of the day ;)

    Wow! Are they really that treacherous?

    No, you just need to make sure you put on plenty of glue, there's a good guide by park tools. I personally wouldn't use tape as it's been known to allow the tub to roll.

    Once you try and get one off that's been glued well you'll see why you use glue and after a bit of practice it's not that much fuss.
  • StillGoing
    StillGoing Posts: 5,211
    Tubs aren't that difficult to manage. Sure, the initial gluing takes a while but it isn't rocket science. I have 3 spare tubs all the time; 1 always pre-glued and packed in the saddle bag and 2 at home ready to go. Unless it's a serious puncture, you can seal most of the small pin prick ones with sealant and a dab of superglue on the outer having got the offending article out. Swapping a tub at the side of the road, should you ever need to isn't that difficult once you break the glue seal. Having said that I've yet to experience a puncture since swapping to them late last year and have ridden along plenty of lanes with freshly mown Hawthorn hedges and loose chippings. My experience is your much more likely to suffer a puncture with clinchers than with tubs.
    I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 16,431
    ^^^ pretty much this

    a properly glued tub is way better than a clincher, the difference in handling with a flatted tub vs. clincher is dramatic, tubs seem to fail much safer and remain rideable with a bit of care (though on uk's crappy roads it's probably best not to risk your rims doing it for too long)
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    Thanks chaps. I just read one of Ugo's articles on it too. I wonder why we're all so scared of them. I'm a way off buying new wheels, but I think I would certainly consider tubs.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,166
    Not all shops will have the "expertise" to fit tubulars these days, but I expect the good ones will. They can charge quite a lot, up to or even more than 20 pounds, which in the end is fair, considering the amount of work involved to do the job properly.

    Tubulars are good in the mountains and they are good for racing on the track and on the road, because they are safer... they also feel very good, so if you are after the ultimate riding experience, that's a good reason for tubs too.
    The full RRP is very high, so you end up having to rely on offers and stock up when they are on sale.
    left the forum March 2023
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    'm liking the Mavic Grip/Power link tubs at the moment. Nice and grippy and are wearing well, and you can get them quite cheap if you look around.

    My best tip for mounting tubs; once you've got it fairly well seated, give it full beans on the pump, up to 160psi or so - this tends to straighten it out nicely!
  • earth
    earth Posts: 934
    philthy3 wrote:
    Having said that I've yet to experience a puncture since swapping to them late last year and have ridden along plenty of lanes with freshly mown Hawthorn hedges and loose chippings. My experience is your much more likely to suffer a puncture with clinchers than with tubs.

    I've experienced two now. Both were slow punctures that remained inflated until I got home and only went flat hours after. Is it the case that tubs are less puncture prone that clinchers and why should that be?
  • StillGoing
    StillGoing Posts: 5,211
    Maybe because most flats with clinchers are pinch flats which you don't get with tubs?
    I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    If anything, I would think tubs will puncture more easily than clinchers (pinch flats excluded) due to their generally more delicate construction. A slow puncture may be caused by a flint making a cut to the rubber but not going through, then over time the cut opens to expose the inner tube which then gets abrased and eventually forms a tiny hole. I had this happen on a clincher tyre (Vittoria Open Pave) which is essentially the same [delicate] tyre as the tubular version.
    WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
    Find me on Strava
  • earth
    earth Posts: 934
    philthy3 wrote:
    Maybe because most flats with clinchers are pinch flats which you don't get with tubs?

    I've never had a pinch flat with a clincher.
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    DavidJB wrote:
    DavidJB wrote:
    Professional or not I'd much prefer to glue my own tub to know it's been done correctly. Its my face which will plant the floor at the end of the day ;)

    Wow! Are they really that treacherous?

    No, you just need to make sure you put on plenty of glue, there's a good guide by park tools. I personally wouldn't use tape as it's been known to allow the tub to roll.

    Once you try and get one off that's been glued well you'll see why you use glue and after a bit of practice it's not that much fuss.

    And in five years of only using tubs every day on three different bikes with three different wheel sets, I've never had one even think of rolling.

    And come to think of it, never has anyone I know. And generally they are Euro/world class tri lads and elite roadies.

    Never heard of it either.

    Tape recommended 100% from here. But that's just me.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    In addendum, Planet X also only recommended tape over glue for their 50mm carbons. So tape can't be that bad really.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • earth
    earth Posts: 934
    DavidJB wrote:
    DavidJB wrote:

    .
    .
    .

    And in five years of only using tubs every day on three different bikes with three different wheel sets, I've never had one even think of rolling.

    And come to think of it, never has anyone I know. And generally they are Euro/world class tri lads and elite roadies.

    Never heard of it either.

    Tape recommended 100% from here. But that's just me.

    I haven't used them for that long but I have not had one roll off either. I'm no longer worried about it but to be pedantic, there is a uTube video of I think Chris Hoy racing another guy on the track when the other guy crashes and his tub rolls off.

    I can't spend the work time looking for the clip.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,166
    A few thoughts re. tape... there are two on the market: Jantex and Tufo. I did use Jantex for a while, until I found the front valve bent at 45 degrees at the bottom of a steep descent (5 Km at 9-10%) and moved to glue. I have never used the Tufo one, which seems a bit stronger adhesive (only installed it to a customer), but at 6-8 quid a pop it seems a rather expensive strip meant to go on a tyre that will not be taken off... essentially tape and sealant go together... Tufo phylosophy.

    Re. the practicality of tape: while Tufo tape peels off easily and it is easy, quick and hassle free to install, Jantex has a paper strip that keeps breaking while you peel it off. The result is that it takes actually longer to tape a tyre with Jantex, than it does to glue it in place, hence the advantage is none.

    Finally, in my experience every time I removed a taped tyre, the tape went with the tyre, which means you need a new strip... which again points in the direction of sealant as a way to fix a puncture, rather than a new tyre... it might be different with carbon rims, maybe the adhesion to tape is stronger than it is to aluminium, or maybe not...
    left the forum March 2023
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    drlodge wrote:
    If anything, I would think tubs will puncture more easily than clinchers (pinch flats excluded) due to their generally more delicate construction. A slow puncture may be caused by a flint making a cut to the rubber but not going through, then over time the cut opens to expose the inner tube which then gets abrased and eventually forms a tiny hole. I had this happen on a clincher tyre (Vittoria Open Pave) which is essentially the same [delicate] tyre as the tubular version.

    My experience is quite the opposite; 15 000km per year and on average 1 puncture in that time if unlucky.

    Tubs. (Vittoria and Mavic).
  • mm1
    mm1 Posts: 1,063
    Tubs are very easy to fit and look after, you just need to well organised and methodical. Having not used them for 30 years it all came back very quickly when I got back on them. I have 2 pairs of sprints (one carbon) which are saved for special occasions (I.e. TTs when I'm fit enough to justify using them). Even the lightest tubs don't puncture if you look where you are going.
  • trooperk
    trooperk Posts: 189
    earth wrote:
    philthy3 wrote:
    Maybe because most flats with clinchers are pinch flats which you don't get with tubs?

    I've never had a pinch flat with a clincher.


    Me neither, all the years on mountain and road bike and I run quite low tyre pressure on the mountain bike, do people who say comments about pinch flats actually had a pinch flat them self or they just passing the gospel on.
    Specialized-The clitoris of bikes.
  • jonny_trousers
    jonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    trooperk wrote:
    earth wrote:
    philthy3 wrote:
    Maybe because most flats with clinchers are pinch flats which you don't get with tubs?

    I've never had a pinch flat with a clincher.


    Me neither, all the years on mountain and road bike and I run quite low tyre pressure on the mountain bike, do people who say comments about pinch flats actually had a pinch flat them self or they just passing the gospel on.

    I've not commented on them, but I've certainly had them. Pretty rare occurrence, though, to be fair.
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    A few thoughts re. tape... there are two on the market: Jantex and Tufo. I did use Jantex for a while, until I found the front valve bent at 45 degrees at the bottom of a steep descent (5 Km at 9-10%) and moved to glue. I have never used the Tufo one, which seems a bit stronger adhesive (only installed it to a customer), but at 6-8 quid a pop it seems a rather expensive strip meant to go on a tyre that will not be taken off... essentially tape and sealant go together... Tufo phylosophy.

    Re. the practicality of tape: while Tufo tape peels off easily and it is easy, quick and hassle free to install, Jantex has a paper strip that keeps breaking while you peel it off. The result is that it takes actually longer to tape a tyre with Jantex, than it does to glue it in place, hence the advantage is none.

    Finally, in my experience every time I removed a taped tyre, the tape went with the tyre, which means you need a new strip... which again points in the direction of sealant as a way to fix a puncture, rather than a new tyre... it might be different with carbon rims, maybe the adhesion to tape is stronger than it is to aluminium, or maybe not...

    I use Jantex - the trick is to put tape on rim, fit tub, deflate tub completely and pick up the tyre as you unpeeled the tape then reseat tub - in ten or so I've done doing this takes 5 minutes and no backing tearing. Job jobbed.

    Agree that tape stays on the tub but the flip side of this is that when you carry an old one as a spare it's pre taped for emergency use.

    Jantex in my LBS is also £3.50 a reel (two tubs worth) so I have no problems with that.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,166
    I use Jantex - the trick is to put tape on rim, fit tub, deflate tub completely and pick up the tyre as you unpeeled the tape then reseat tub - in ten or so I've done doing this takes 5 minutes and no backing tearing. Job jobbed.

    I know the trick, but the trick never worked really well for me. I only taped a few, before giving up as I didn't think they were safe. They are probably OK round here, as there are no descents
    left the forum March 2023
  • herzog
    herzog Posts: 197
    A few thoughts re. tape... there are two on the market: Jantex and Tufo. I did use Jantex for a while, until I found the front valve bent at 45 degrees at the bottom of a steep descent (5 Km at 9-10%) and moved to glue. I have never used the Tufo one, which seems a bit stronger adhesive (only installed it to a customer), but at 6-8 quid a pop it seems a rather expensive strip meant to go on a tyre that will not be taken off... essentially tape and sealant go together... Tufo phylosophy.

    Re. the practicality of tape: while Tufo tape peels off easily and it is easy, quick and hassle free to install, Jantex has a paper strip that keeps breaking while you peel it off. The result is that it takes actually longer to tape a tyre with Jantex, than it does to glue it in place, hence the advantage is none.

    Finally, in my experience every time I removed a taped tyre, the tape went with the tyre, which means you need a new strip... which again points in the direction of sealant as a way to fix a puncture, rather than a new tyre... it might be different with carbon rims, maybe the adhesion to tape is stronger than it is to aluminium, or maybe not...

    I use Jantex - the trick is to put tape on rim, fit tub, deflate tub completely and pick up the tyre as you unpeeled the tape then reseat tub - in ten or so I've done doing this takes 5 minutes and no backing tearing. Job jobbed.

    Agree that tape stays on the tub but the flip side of this is that when you carry an old one as a spare it's pre taped for emergency use.

    Jantex in my LBS is also £3.50 a reel (two tubs worth) so I have no problems with that.

    Or the pencil trick - insert a pencil between the taped rim and the tyre, roll it around the rim as you're pulling the tape off (pulling a few cm behind the pencil). Works a treat with no more snapped tape.
  • StillGoing
    StillGoing Posts: 5,211
    trooperk wrote:
    earth wrote:
    philthy3 wrote:
    Maybe because most flats with clinchers are pinch flats which you don't get with tubs?

    I've never had a pinch flat with a clincher.


    Me neither, all the years on mountain and road bike and I run quite low tyre pressure on the mountain bike, do people who say comments about pinch flats actually had a pinch flat them self or they just passing the gospel on.

    Strewth. :roll: The point was he was asking why you'd get more flats with clinchers than tubs. Tubs don't get pinch flats but clinchers can and do. Me, I've had pinch flats with clinchers which was reason why I moved to tubs.
    I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,166
    Herzog wrote:
    Or the pencil trick - insert a pencil between the taped rim and the tyre, roll it around the rim as you're pulling the tape off (pulling a few cm behind the pencil). Works a treat with no more snapped tape.

    That sounds like a better trick.
    left the forum March 2023
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    I've not commented on them, but I've certainly had them. Pretty rare occurrence, though, to be fair.

    I've had two pinch flats in 2 years - one caused by going over a small rock at high speed (front wheel), and the other from a pot hole that I simply didn't see (rear wheel). So yes its rare and I run my tyres at fairly high pressure too (25c at 100/110psi). Pinch flats are avoidable if you look where you're going :oops:
    WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
    Find me on Strava