I had the identical experience with latex tubes in clinchers. I had thought the combination of Veloflex Paves and latex tubes would be great. It sounds like a good idea but they were too delicate for me.
Paul Raley Leonardtown MD
Raymond Dobbins <raydobbins2003@yahoo.com> wrote:
>one thing that i do know from experience is that the latex tubes for
>clinchers are easily pinched/punctured during mounting. they are too
>delicate for clincher mounting, in my opinion. no matter how careful i
>was, i couldn't avoid pinching them a little, and that was enough to
>puncture them. after ruining 2 or 3 in a row during mounting attempts,
>i gave up forever. it just didn't seem that the ride benefits were
>worth the extra care and skill during mounting that they required.
>
>ray dobbins
>miami florida
>
>-- Tom Sanders <tsan7759142@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> I know that the thread count on silk tubular tires is often cited as
>> the
>> major source of their vaunted riding qualities. It occurs to me that
>> these
>> tires all had latex tubes in them. Michelin makes some fairly
>> expensive
>> latex tubes that weigh in at only 65 grams each.
>> I am one who religiously pumps up his tires before riding every time
>> anyhow
>> and I am wondering... could some of the ride qualities of these silk
>> tubulars be due to the latex tubes and could I recapture some of that
>> by
>> springing the extra few dollars for latex tubes with my high quality
>> clinchers and get an improved ride? Would the savings in rotating
>> weight be
>> significant?
>> I think I will try it and see, but I am curious if similar thoughts
>> had
>> inspired any list members to try this same thing and if they might
>> report
>> their experiences and wither a conclusion could be drawn on whether
>> it might
>> be worthwhile to shell out for some latex tubes. I have also been
>> told they
>> are somewhat less prone to flatting, too, but that seems questionable
>> to me.
>> Can anyone say with reasonable certainty?
>> If this could result in nearly any ride quality improvement for the
>> few
>> dollars involved, it would really not be much of an expense after all
>> the
>> money already invested in stuff for many of my bikes. Ya, I know
>> someone
>> will say "Why not just get the silk tubulars, then?" My answer
>> would be
>> "Cost, and not needing the dreaded and evil glue or the adhesive rim
>> tapes."
>> Thanks,
>> Tom Sanders
>> Lansing, Mi
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>
>_______________________________________________
>
__________________________________________________________________
Switch to Netscape Internet Service.
As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/
Netscape. Just the Net You Need.
New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups.
Download now at http://channels.netscape.com/