From: mackinto@oasys.dt.navy.mil (David Mackintosh)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Questions on Sew-ups
Date: 30 Jul 92 12:38:11 GMT
Reply-To: mackinto@oasys.dt.navy.mil (David Mackintosh)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

In rec.bicycles, sgg5e@galen.med.Virginia.EDU (Stephen G. Graber) writes:

>Thought I'd toss my 2 cents worth your way as well!  I've been hooked
>on tubulars for years,IMHO there biggest advantage is by way of
>comfort- they have more ability to deform (since they don't bulge out
>into the sides of the rim) than clinchers and hence really soften the
>road by comparison.  In terms of rolling resistance they may not
>perform any better than good clinchers unless you buy good tubulars
>and glue them on carefully.  In that regard I've found that the better
>tubulars are worth the extra $ in terms of longevity and performance.
>I use the Vittoria CG and CX tires- they last 2-3 times longer than
>the cheaper ones, ie. Vittoria Mondiales, Wolber NeoPro SP1s etc.  I
>haven't used any Continentals but have heard good things about them.
>I had one set of Wolber Criterium Setas- marvelous.  Now I stick to a
>CX on the front and either a CG Pave (training) or CG (performing!) on
>the rear.  Since switching to these "good" tires flats have ceased to
>be a problem and they seem to last 5000+ miles.

I, too, ride almost exclusively on tubulars.  The more expensive Vittorias
certainly mount straighter and are more puncture resistant than the
cheaper ones listed above.  I have been using a Mondial Kevlar on the back
wheel and have found it to be quite durable.  I have also had a couple
of Continental Sprinters and find that they are harder to mount than
Vitorias, have more durable sidewalls (not cotton), possibly not as
good cornering as CX/CG.

I would never ride a wet criterium on clinchers.  Nothing sticks in
the wet like a set of Vittorias.  I'd love to try their special rain
tires.

>Gluing is the down side though not as bad as trying to patch the damn
>things!  All the available cements seem to work well, I used to use
>Wolber but now use 3M "Fast-Tack" (available at automotive stores,
>intended for gluing carpeting to metal).

I have only used tubular cements myself.  I have heard people say that
Fast-Tack is good for guing the night before or morning of a race, but
that it seems to disintegrate the base tape over time.  I have not seen
this myself.

>... I deflate my tubulars after every ride.

I did this while I was only racing on the tubulars but now leave them
inflated.  The only tires I have ever blown the sidewalls out of
were Performance tubulars (the heaviest model).  Both blew within
30 seconds of each other after inflating to about 120 and braking
down a short but steep hill.  I took them back and got credit towards
some Vittorias.

Most tubulars I have ridden hold pressure very well (a week or more)
except for a Vittoria CX I had.  This model may have had a latex tube
or I may have just developed a very slow leak, but I needed to pump
it up every day.  In fact, it seemed to lose a little pressure over
the course of a long ride.  I weigh about 180 lbs and find that if the
pressure in my front tire (whatever type) drops below about 110 psi,
it tends to squirm while cornering hard.

I have ordered some Continental Grand Prix 23 clinchers and hope they
perform better than other clinchers I have tried (Super Sport Ultras
and Michelin SCHDs).  I really would like to find some satisfactory
clinchers to cut down on the cost of tubular replacement.

David Mackintosh