You're right about Vittoria Rallys - I use them too, and bought them on sale even cheaper. My point was, who wants to be bothered with a 3 day ritual of gluing on sewups? I usually just spread a good layer on the rim, install the tire, inflate to full pressure and let sit overnight. Per the discussion here, I may put a layer of glue on the base tape as well as the rim, although this tends to get more glue on one's hands. Also, if one is going to let them sit overnight, may as well inflate to moderate pressure, then fully inflate the next day. Anything more complex than this will drive one to use clinchers. As I said, I suspect in the pre-WWII Tour de France, riders descended terrifying Alpine passes on spares secured by air pressure and old glue. One of the things I love about the tales and photos of pre-WWII racing is that those guys didn't give a damn about a lot of stuff that modern riders are absolutely anal about. BTW, even when I was young and broke, I didn't repair sewups, just threw them away and bought another. The few times I tried a repair, the tire had a tumor worthy of the Elephant Man.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
jackieosullivan@worldnet.att.net wrote:
> Jerry,
>
> In spite of what apers to be laborious technique, decent tubies (except
> things like Condors--yech) give one a feel for the road like nothig else.
>
> I cannot speak to performance on bikes made of modern materials, but
> a classic steel road frame with decent wheels and sew-ups is a dream.
> Plus, it is very quick and easy to change a flat--faster than a clincher.
>
> And the really weird thing is now they are cheaper. I am presently riding
> Vittoria Competition Rally 21mm tires. They only cost 16.95 at my local
> bike emporium. They DO NOT ride like a cheap tire--they popped on
> nice and straight, and so far have proved their Kevlar mettle on nasty
> city streets. They have one piece valves, but at that price they are
> disposable! (I don't even really mind fixing good tires--it used to be
> something of a cult badge of honor ;-)) Decent clinchers will run 25.00+
> for the tire and another 5 for a tube. This is 180 degrees of what the
> situation was even 10 or 12 years ago.
>
> My 2cents, but I'll take sew-ups for my good bike any day. And I have
> never found gluing to be especially difficuly.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Jackie