Tubular Tires

LDuensing

I think I am one of the greenest on the endurance nation team,...so I apologize if this is a dumb question - searched the equipment wiki and could not find the answer.   



OK. So we just spent time looking at the tubular zipps a friend sent me. So light!  But that is just it, tubular. 



Is this a dumb idea? If I flat, then I am toast for the race, correct?

Dino Sarti

Some guys do it. But, a lot of others wished they never did.



I have a set tubular on one of my many road bikes. I wanted to try it. 

 

 It's cool, but it is a commitment to a lifestyle. The gluing, the worry about said gluing, fear of flats. It's not a deal breaker, but a commitment to an entire process. To do it right and let glue cure, with multiple coats can take 2 days to fix a flat properly once you get home. 

I have changed them on the road many times in very little time with little hassle, but I worried until I got home and did it right.



If cycling is real hobby and want to experience all facets, I say go for it. That's why I sometimes ride tubular on local rides (never extended routes in the forest or remote areas). But, clinchers have come so far and are so good I would say save yourself the hassle.



Also, go to Youtube and search "changing a tubular tire" and "gluing a tubular tire". After a 1/2 dozen videos, do the same thing with "clincher tires" and then decide.

novaavant

I love tubular tires. I ride them all the time, rode the whole Tour of California camp on them on all kinds of crazy descents reaching over 50 miles an hour, BUT I agree with everything that Dino said above. I don't think they are for most folks these days. I happen to enjoy the "lifestyle" as Dino calls it and it is that, a time consuming lifestyle choice. I also race Cross in the fall so I glue tires quite a bit and am comfortable on them and especially cross tires can take an ungodly amount of abuse at super low pressures and never flat

For a newbie for a race I wouldn't recommend them. You can flat with them and recover but it's more involved than changing a clincher. I use a sealant in mine prior to gluing plus carry a spare tubular and sealant with me in case I flat. For a flat course you can leave a small section unglued so it's easier to rip off during a race or cut them off if you can't tear them off. When you flat especially in a race your heart rate is all jacked your hands are shaking and everything becomes much more difficult to manage adding to that stress is probably not what you're looking for, especially if you're riding them fearing a flat in the first place.

LDuensing

Thank you Dino and Attlila, very helpful.

Stephanie Hartmann

Thanks for posting this. I've wondered as well.

Scott Alexander

I had a set of tubulars in 08/09, and loved how they felt on the road. But I totally stressed about my own gluing, as well as changing the flats on the road. Luckily never had to during a race, but the anticipation of a flat in a race stressed me out. Not to mention that the spares were $$$ compared to clinchers.

If you're new to the game, I'd say save yourself the stress and expense and stick with clinchers.

Not to mention I dislocated a rib when pulling a new tire on a day prior to a race. That sucked! Luckily my chiro was at the same race and popped it back in. That didn't feel good either.