Tubulars are just Cooler then Clinchers

[Matt Cahill]

I was reading through the latest incarnation of the tubular/clincher debate and I think people
totally missed a huge point...tubulars are just cool. There are all kinds of people that have never
even seen them before and are amazed that I'm riding on a tire that looks and weighs like their
inner tube.

To top that off I have my tubulars installed on a retro looking fixed gear bike with chrome lugs,
fork, and stays. There probably isn't another bike like mine in the whole city wheras anybody can
have some ritzy-glitzy off the shelf stuff.

 

[S. Anderson]

"Matt Cahill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was reading through the latest incarnation of the tubular/clincher debate and I think people
> totally missed a huge point...tubulars are just cool. There are all kinds of people that have
> never even seen them before and are amazed that I'm riding on a tire that looks and weighs like
> their inner tube.
>
> To top that off I have my tubulars installed on a retro looking fixed gear bike with chrome lugs,
> fork, and stays. There probably isn't another bike like mine in the whole city wheras anybody can
> have some ritzy-glitzy off the shelf stuff.

Now there's an argument for tubulars that I can't argue with! Nothing wrong with cool. Even if ya
just like'em better, that's alright.

Cheers,

Scott..

 

[Werehatrack]

On 4 Dec 2003 09:18:28 -0800, [email protected] (Matt Cahill) may have said:

>I was reading through the latest incarnation of the tubular/clincher debate and I think people
>totally missed a huge point...tubulars are just cool. There are all kinds of people that have never
>even seen them before and are amazed that I'm riding on a tire that looks and weighs like their
>inner tube.
>
>To top that off I have my tubulars installed on a retro looking fixed gear bike with chrome lugs,
>fork, and stays. There probably isn't another bike like mine in the whole city wheras anybody can
>have some ritzy-glitzy off the shelf stuff.

I prefer un-ritzy, anti-glitzy off-the-back-shelf stuff myself. It's cheaper, and in the main, I
find it to be at least as reliable.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy. Words processed in a facility that
contains nuts.

 

[Sergio Servadio]

On 4 Dec 2003, Matt Cahill wrote:
> To top that off I have my tubulars installed on a retro looking fixed gear bike with chrome lugs,
> fork, and stays. There probably isn't another bike like mine in the whole city wheras anybody can
> have some ritzy-glitzy off the shelf stuff.

Probably there isn't another bike like that in my area, as well. However all my (many) bikes are of
that age and appearence. So, as it happens, some of them have tubulars while others enjoy clinchers.
My only trouble is that, to play safe, I always carry spares for both in my little backpack.

Which is better? Which do I prefer, and why?

It's hard to say. One thing I would be sure about. Probably because I trust tubulars more than
clinchers, when I know the tubulars are in very good shape I inflate them very well, at a slightly
higher pressure. Then I feel it.

I feel the shocks from the pavement and the sound. Yes, the sound! I believe a tubular sounds
differently than a clincher, even when inflated at the same pressure.

Don't ask me to measure it, nor to prove it. Take my word that I feel that it sounds differently.
And I like it.

Sergio Pisa

 

[Squid-In-Traini]

"Matt Cahill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was reading through the latest incarnation of the tubular/clincher debate and I think people
> totally missed a huge point...tubulars are just cool. There are all kinds of people that have
> never even seen them before and are amazed that I'm riding on a tire that looks and weighs like
> their inner tube.

Wow... you must meet some bored and sheltered people.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

 

[Mike S.]

"Werehatrack" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 4 Dec 2003 09:18:28 -0800, [email protected] (Matt Cahill) may have said:
>
> >I was reading through the latest incarnation of the tubular/clincher debate and I think people
> >totally missed a huge point...tubulars are just cool. There are all kinds of people that have
> >never even seen them before and are amazed that I'm riding on a tire that looks and weighs like
> >their inner tube.
> >
> >To top that off I have my tubulars installed on a retro looking fixed gear bike with chrome lugs,
> >fork, and stays. There probably isn't another bike like mine in the whole city wheras anybody can
> >have some ritzy-glitzy off the shelf stuff.
>
> I prefer un-ritzy, anti-glitzy off-the-back-shelf stuff myself. It's cheaper, and in the main, I
> find it to be at least as reliable.
>
>
There's a couple of kinds of cool. There's the old-school "I don't need no stinkin' brifters, tube
sock, wool-wearing" kind of cool, and there's the "I gotta have the newest and bestest" cool.
Tubulars lean towards the former without giving in, but also lean towards the latter without giving
in. Its the best of both kinds of cool.

So sez Mike,

Mike

> --
> My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
> don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy. Words processed in a facility that
> contains nuts.

 

[Wle]

"Phil, Squid-in-Training" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> "Matt Cahill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I was reading through the latest incarnation of the tubular/clincher debate and I think people
> > totally missed a huge point...tubulars are just cool. There are all kinds of people that have
> > never even seen them before and are amazed that I'm riding on a tire that looks and weighs like
> > their inner tube.

ok but, um, how long does it take to fix a flat on the road??

wle.

 

[Raymo853]

I agree tubies, are very much cooler to us bike geeks. Yea there are plusses and minus for tubies,
clinchers and tubi-clinchers. I run clinchers all around but know tubbies are cooler.

 

[Jay Beattie]

"wle" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> "Phil, Squid-in-Training" <[email protected]> wrote
in message news:<[email protected]>...
> > "Matt Cahill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > I was reading through the latest incarnation of the
tubular/clincher
> > > debate and I think people totally missed a huge
point...tubulars are
> > > just cool. There are all kinds of people that have never
even seen
> > > them before and are amazed that I'm riding on a tire that
looks and
> > > weighs like their inner tube.
>
> ok but, um, how long does it take to fix a flat on the road??

About 60 seconds, if you define fixing a flat as changing a tire. You do have to carry a relatively
bulky spare, of course, and you have to have faith in the old glue on the spare, and ultimately you
do have to un-sew, patch tube, re-sew, glue rim tape, etc. the flat tire. But apart from these
things, sew-ups are very convenient.

This and the other sew-up threads made me sentimental, so when I was working on my bike last night
(to replace a fender that had been broken off when a fallen tree branch attacked my wheel), I pumped
up an old pair of sew ups, fully prepared to give them a whirl. Then I noticed that the casings on
my Czchechoslovakian wonder tires were in worse shape than the bandages on the mummy. I guess my
rendezvous with sew-ups will have to wait until I accumulate enough Performance rebate coupons to
buy some new tires. I will also have to buy a new tube of FasTac because I used the last one gluing
rubber base molding (works great!). -- Jay Beattie.

 

[Carl Fogel]

"Phil, Squid-in-Training" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> "Matt Cahill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I was reading through the latest incarnation of the tubular/clincher debate and I think people
> > totally missed a huge point...tubulars are just cool. There are all kinds of people that have
> > never even seen them before and are amazed that I'm riding on a tire that looks and weighs like
> > their inner tube.
>
> Wow... you must meet some bored and sheltered people.

Dear Phil,

Howdy! Pleased to meet you!

Carl Fogel

 

[Chalo]

"S. Anderson" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "Matt Cahill" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > I was reading through the latest incarnation of the tubular/clincher debate and I think people
> > totally missed a huge point...tubulars are just cool.
>
> Now there's an argument for tubulars that I can't argue with! Nothing wrong with cool. Even if ya
> just like'em better, that's alright.

I agree. It's not only a valid reason to favor tubies; it's actually true.

Not that I believe I'll be pasting my own tires on with frog snot anytime soon! (But if some
foolhardy manufacturer offers some 650g tubie rims and 45mm wide "Camion del Mondo" tires for them,
I'll give 'em a try.)

Chalo Colina

 

[Tim McNamara]

"Phil, Squid-in-Training" <[email protected]> writes:

> But you can't possibly state that tubulars are MORE convenient or less time-sucking than
> clinchers...

As a clincher user, I don't think I can argue against the "tubulars are cooler" statement. I think
that from all practical perspectives, clinchers rule over tubulars. But in the cool sweepstakes,
that's a different issue altogether.

 

[Squid-in-Traini]

> > Wow... you must meet some bored and sheltered people.
>
> Dear Phil,
>
> Howdy! Pleased to meet you!

But you can't possibly state that tubulars are MORE convenient or less time-sucking than
clinchers...

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

 

[Greg Hall]

"Phil, Squid-in-Training" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> But you can't possibly state that tubulars are MORE convenient or less time-sucking than
> clinchers...

I would. They are more convenient and less time-sucking than clinchers when you're on a group ride
and everyone is waiting for you to change a flat tire. Of course assuming that you have a spare
tubular in the tire bag to swap out and not a needle and thread to perform an on-the-road repair.

I been on group rides where it took multiple tube changes or patching to effect a single
clincher repair.

Greg Hall

 

[David L. Johnso]

On Mon, 08 Dec 2003 07:48:43 +0000, Greg Hall wrote:

> I would. They are more convenient and less time-sucking than clinchers when you're on a group ride
> and everyone is waiting for you to change a flat tire. Of course assuming that you have a spare
> tubular in the tire bag to swap out and not a needle and thread to perform an on-the-road repair.
>
> I been on group rides where it took multiple tube changes or patching to effect a single
> clincher repair.

And I've been on group rides where the sole tubie-rider quit after he had his flat, rather than risk
the rest of the ride with no spare.

To counter the multiple-flats claims against clinchers, I often carry a spare tire, just like in
the tubular days. Swap the tire out, and no problem with that bit of glass. Figure it out when
you get home.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win you're _`\(,_ | still a rat. --Lilly
Tomlin (_)/ (_) |

 

[Tim McNamara]

[email protected] (Greg Hall) writes:

> "David L. Johnson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:<[email protected]>...
>
>> To counter the multiple-flats claims against clinchers, I often carry a spare tire, just like in
>> the tubular days. Swap the tire out, and no problem with that bit of glass. Figure it out when
>> you get home.
>
> You would definitely be a minority of 1 on the rides I do David as no one carries spare tires. I'm
> happy for your fellow riders that don't have to wait on you. Another frequent time consumer is a
> pinched inner tube during the remounting or reinflation process. In theory, tubular riders carry
> spares that hold air and are not subject to this or the missed glass pack delaying problems.

Doncha just love how the pro-tubular people tend to confuse shortcomings in competence at changing
tires with the "inferiority" of clinchers? I've been held up just as long by tubular riders who
properly glued their tires on, which makes them hard to get off, and then had to spend time getting
the replacement to lie straight on the rim and track properly. It's all ********. If you can get
your tub off the rim in under 1 minute, you didn't use enough glue and I don't want you riding to my
inside on corners.

When I get a flat, which is rarely with my 25 mm clinchers, those who don't want to wait 2-3 minutes
are welcome to ride on without me. If they're that anxious, they should just keep riding. Come to
think of it, I avoid riding with people like that.

 

[Greg Hall]

"David L. Johnson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> To counter the multiple-flats claims against clinchers, I often carry a spare tire, just like in
> the tubular days. Swap the tire out, and no problem with that bit of glass. Figure it out when you
> get home.

You would definitely be a minority of 1 on the rides I do David as no one carries spare tires. I'm
happy for your fellow riders that don't have to wait on you. Another frequent time consumer is a
pinched inner tube during the remounting or reinflation process. In theory, tubular riders carry
spares that hold air and are not subject to this or the missed glass pack delaying problems.

I won't include patching clincher tubes on the road as it certainly falls into the realm of bad luck
given that one is not riding a paper thin tire or carrying insufficient spare tubes.

Greg Hall

 

[David L. Johnso]

On Tue, 09 Dec 2003 05:59:12 +0000, Greg Hall wrote:

> "David L. Johnson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:<[email protected]>...
>> To counter the multiple-flats claims against clinchers, I often carry a spare tire, just like in
>> the tubular days. Swap the tire out, and no problem with that bit of glass. Figure it out when
>> you get home.
>
> You would definitely be a minority of 1 on the rides I do David as no one carries spare tires.

Poor planning is not a fault of the tire design.

> I'm happy for your fellow riders that don't have to wait on you. Another frequent time consumer is
> a pinched inner tube during the remounting or reinflation process.

Poor technique is not a characteristic of clinchers.

> I won't include patching clincher tubes on the road as it certainly falls into the realm of bad
> luck given that one is not riding a paper thin tire or carrying insufficient spare tubes.

Patching a clincher tube is much less of a hassle than trying a field repair of a tubular tire.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | It doesn't get any easier, you just go faster. --Greg LeMond _`\(,_ | (_)/ (_) |

 

[A Muzi]

>> On Tue, 9 Dec 2003, Tom Nakashima wrote:
>> as I had my share of uneven mounts
>>>and messy glue jobs.

> On Tue, 09 Dec 2003 16:44:15 +0100, Sergio SERVADIO wrote:
>>I just heard that this is going to be overcome, in a short while. A bi-adhesive tape is starting
>>to be commercialized.

David L. Johnson wrote:
> These tapes have appeared before. Not good, from what I have heard.

The 2d generation Tufo tape really is different. First it isn't French*. Secondly, it isn't cotton
mesh. Looks like a 3M double sided clear tape, sticks quite well. Not decided yet if we like it but
it is pretty nice on first impression.

*OK, that was gratuitous but that Jantex **** really was awful.
--
Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April, 1971

 

[B. Lafferty]

"Tim McNamara" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Phil, Squid-in-Training" <[email protected]> writes:
>
> > But you can't possibly state that tubulars are MORE convenient or less time-sucking than
> > clinchers...
>
> As a clincher user, I don't think I can argue against the "tubulars are cooler" statement. I think
> that from all practical perspectives, clinchers rule over tubulars. But in the cool sweepstakes,
> that's a different issue altogether.

Having used both, tubulars are, IMO, "cooler" but more problematic. I can't imagine spending what it
now costs for a quality tubular. The gluing was never a real problem once you knew the proper
preparation and technique of getting them on. But today's wired-ons are very nearly as good, far
less expensive (if you buy carefully on closeout) and not a mess to mount. Lastly, if you have a
really bad run of luck on a ride as a friend did this summer with five flats over 75 miles, having
extra tubes and a patch kit is a blessing compared to riding with perhaps two spare tubulars.

Back in 1992, I reacall a guy at the side of the road on Rt. 9W about 5 miles north of the GW
Bridge, begging riders for a tubular as he had flatted all of his. Hope he still isn't there
waiting.........could someone please check on him?