Yeah, because they didn't do it correctly.
I starting racing in the '40s with shellacked tires.
Never rolled one during my racing career while using shellac, which includes
motorpacing as a professional in Europe at speeds over 60 MPH on some very
steep tracks.
If one doesn't adjust the derailleurs properly they mis-shift, if one
doesn't tighten a brake cable, one could crash, and if one doesn't shellac
properly, one could roll a tire. Duh..
I've got to lace a few wood rims, and an old nos pair of Nisi's. When I get
a litttle extra time and feel loquacious enough, I'll try to dispel some of
the old wive's tales and medieval necromance surrounding the mystique of
shellac.
Ted Ernst
Palos Verdes Estates, Ca
When I first heard of using shellac on tires, I got the impression that once bonded, they were really on there good, and were not coming off.
A couple of weeks ago I was talking to a track racing friend of mine who's knowledgeable about cycling. He said they rolled more tires when they used shellac.
Does anyone know this to be true or not?
Tony Welch
Indianapolis, Indiana
USA