My journey toward becoming a winter commuter has suggested to me a point I never considered before. Could it be that tubulars (nice wide ones of course) may have some advantages for winter riding? My struggle to find adequate gloves has made it obvious that hands can get pretty cold, even in the 30s F. With partially numb hands, I think it would be a lot easier to change a tubular that to change a tube in a clincher - particularly a wire bead one. Could it be that this was part of the reason that racers used tubulars for most of the 20th century, particularly the early decades when there was no or little support? Races were often run in brutal conditions, and hands could become all but frozen. The story of Tullio Campagnolo's frozen hands on the Croce d'Aune and the subsequent invention of the QR is legend. Can you imagine him trying to get a wire bead clincher off the rim with a tire lever under those conditions?
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Dave Feldman wrote:
> This is from doing safety checks at races: Deflate or inflate tire to about
> 75-80psi and try to twist off the rim. Another is the type of glue; Wolber
> and the red Clement/Vittoria "gutta" dry out slower than Fastack, I'd think
> that a 3 year old Fastack job would automatically be suspect as it dries
> completely whereas the tubular-specific glues are intended to not dry out so
> thoroughly such as staying a little tacky on that used tire you've got as a
> spare.
> My $0.02, here
> David Feldman
> ----------
> >From: "Larry Strung" <strungl@pathcom.com>
> >To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> >Subject: [Classicrendezvous] Tubular Tire Question
> >Date: Tue, Oct 31, 2000, 7:08 PM
> >
>
> >Hi Gang,
> >
> >Here is one for the group to debate, as I'm sure opinions would be varied.
> >
> >How does one judge the safety of a tubular tire? I am thinking in terms of
> >bikes we own that may be ridden only on occasion that have old tubulars on
> >them. When does the glue dry out and the tires become a danger to rider
> >(or followers) by potentially rolling off the rim? Some of my bikes only
> >get exercise on special sunny days. Tubulars on such bikes may have been
> >mounted 2 or 3 years ago. The tires are otherwise in fine shape, but what
> >is the risk?
> >
> >It certainly would take away the spontaneity if the safe routine would be
> >to re-glue the tires on these machines 24 hours prior to riding. Then
> >there is the additional problem (I've experienced with the Clement
> >Paris-Roubaix tires made in the far east in particular) where the base tape
> >can separate from the tire when removing it from the rim. Presumably that
> >indicates that the tire was still adequately adhered to the rim, but by
> >then it is too late.
> >
> >I have a vested interest in this discussion, as last summer I was taken
> >down in a track bike race when the rider whose wheel I was following rolled
> >a tub of his rear wheel. The resulting crash left me with a fractured hip.
> > You may imagine that I am a little gun-shy regarding tubulars at the
> >moment. I dearly love the ride of tubulars, and even like the ritual of
> >mounting them. However, with the winter maintenance season upon us, my
> >thoughts are towards converting some bikes from tubs to clinchers. Advice
> >from the experts on our list would be appreciated.
> >
> >Best regards,
> >
> >Larry Strung