I know all those descriptions of setting up and mounting tubulars sound complicated and arcane, but it really isn't. It just boils down to a couple of common sense steps:
1. Stretch your tyres beforehand. I store every spare tyre I own on a rim - used ones are pretty cheap on eBay, and I'm always in the market for a few extra used, especially beyond daily use, rims.
2. Multiple glue layers. I've never found one way to be more critical than another. Maybe more superstitious, but not more critical.
3. Once glued, allow 24-48 hours curing time - which shouldn't be a problem as I seriously doubt that anyone on the list is limited to one bike.
4. Watch your tyre pressures! To me, this is the most critical of all. I've always worked with a 5-9lb pressure range, and would never think of leaving the garage without checking pressures and topping off if necessary.
If you haven't ridden tubulars before, you should really try them. Actually, I've always believed that someone cannot really call humself a cyclist unless he's done at least one season on tubs.
Back in 1977, when I took my 'last' bicycle ride, it was on a tubular equipped World Voyageur. 28 years later, when I got back on, it took me three weeks to get the Raleigh rebuilt, reliable, and find the hubs and rims to build up a set of tubular wheels. Boy, I missed them as soon as I restarted riding, and haven't looked back.
By the way, I've yet to ride a set of modern 700c clinchers. Three of my four bikes are on tubs, and only the Raleigh has clinchers, Weinmann rim 27x1's - temporarily most likely, as the wheeels originally built for it were transferred to the TdF to get it on the road quickly.
Finally, a thought on all these roll-off horror stories: I classify those alongside 'uncontrolled accidental wheelie' motorcycle stories - something that can happen if you're not careful (or are deliberately careless/stupid), but for the most part are way overblown in a manner to scare the average beginner.
In my accident last week, when the rear wheel locked up, I was doing just under 25mph. The bike fishtailed while continuing forward for about 25 feet before swinging right and spitting me off. Now, that's a fair bit of force to put on a rear tyre - yet, had I not broken my wrist, I could have just picked the bike up and ridden the remaining distance home. The glue mounting was unscathed, and the tyre still holds air as I write this.
This from a guy who's method of tyre care and mounting would probable be considered slipshod by the members who have already posted long arcane gluing techniques on this thread.
Tubulars are no big deal, but they're still the best bicycle tyre.
George R. "Syke" Paczolt Montpelier, VA USA
Syke Deranged Few M/C
"France backed off its pledge to send seventeen hundred troops to Lebanon Thursday and offered to send two hundred. No wonder we keep testing positive in their bicycle races. Everyone looks like they're full of testosterone when they're surrounded by Frenchmen." ---Argus Hamilton
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