Re: [CR]Restoration : Clincher or Tubulars ??

<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Tuesday, December 26, 2006 10:49 PM Subject: Re: [CR]Restoration : Clincher or Tubulars ??

> When it comes to keeping bikes as made vs. riding now, we have to be
> practical.
> I think for every day riding clinchers may be more practical, but to
> display, keep the ORIGINAL wheels and keep it authentic.
> Using fragile old equipment is not the best choice in my opinion, unless
> for short promenade type rides.
> I personally use sewups on any bike I have, never having used clinchers
> other than on a test ride.
> I'm comfortable with sew-ups, but it's not everybody's bag.
> When I see a great vintage bike violated with an abomination of parts
> trying to be passed off as restored, I'd like to give the miscreant a good
> swift kick in the ass.
> But that's me.
> It's difficult for many people to work with and use sew-ups.
> So, make it easy on yourself, show the sews and ride the wires.
> It's a win-win for preservation and ease of riding.
> That's my take.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <greytaylor@att.net>
> To: "Donald Gillies" <gillies@cs.ubc.ca>; <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 26, 2006 9:43 PM
> Subject: Re: [CR]Restoration : Clincher or Tubulars ??
>
>
>> Personally, I am a user of bicycles more than a collector. As such I
>> would go with the clinchers. Your decision may rest with whether the
>> bikes will be riders or museum pieces. Sew-ups can certainly be ridden,
>> even on a day-to-day basis, but for general practicality I vote for
>> clinchers.
>> Guy Taylor, Anaheim CA
>>
>> -------------- Original message from Donald Gillies
>> <gillies@cs.ubc.ca>: --------------
>>
>>
>>> I have two newly repainted bike frames from 1974, and they are very
>>> close to "perfect" restorations (Raleigh International(s) - undoubedly
>>> they look better than original, and the colors are great, with not-too
>>> thick of a clearcoat). I just got the much-hoped-for truing stand for
>>> Christmas. Time to build some wheels.
>>>
>>> In the garage, I have some used original AVA wheels and rims, which
>>> are quite possibly some of the _crummiest_ tubular rims that existed
>>> in 1974 (these are the dreaded "washer" rims with no eyelets.) And I
>>> have learned that my skills at mounting tubulars are so poor that i
>>> could quite possibly go through all 14 of my budget tires before I get
>>> just one tire mounted straight ...
>>>
>>> So here are the choices for the wheels :
>>>
>>> - Campy High-Flange Original Hubs, and
>>>
>>> AVA Rims +
>>> Panaracer Practice Tubulars ( = Raleigh Nylon Extra 270gm, circa 1974)
>>>
>>> - or -
>>>
>>> MAVIC Open Pro Rims +
>>> - stripped of anodizing & polished
>>> - modern logo removed, maybe a retro "MAVIC" logo applied
>>> Clement (Thailand) Ventoux Clinchers, 220 grams +
>>> Michelin 70 gram tubes
>>>
>>> =====
>>>
>>> My goal is to have a good bike, and imho the campy hubs are more
>>> likely to get used by the next owner if the wheels are clinchers.
>>> Nobody is making new AVA washer-rims. I've noticed that on the
>>> vintage san diego rides, EVERYONE is riding clinchers, i.e. on the
>>> Colnagos, the Raleighs, the Cinellis, etc. I was the only one with
>>> tubulars (my Carlton PRO last month on our ride to Solana Beach ...
>>>
>>> - Don Gillies
>>> San Diego, CA