Thanks Mitch. These testomonies, although anecdotal, totally confirm my suspicions that tubulars are noble and good while clinchers are self serving, parasitical, know-nothings. And I'm not just saying this because clinchers foreclosed on the family farm and drove us into the streets. Billy [gluing isn't all that hard] Ketchum; Chicago, IL; USA.
Following the descriptions over the weekend of the various superiorities of tubulars over clinchers, and being a long-time fan (however unworthy) of tubulars and rider of both clinchers and tubulars, I thought I'd share two more examples of tubular abilities:
A recent note in Scientific American described how a tubular (a Corsa CX, I think) recently formulated a theorem for squaring the circle. When I pointed this out to a pair of Vred. Fortezzas on a nearby bike and asked if they had any interest in theoretical math, the clinchers avoided eye contact and muttered, "math is for chumps."
Recently I witnessed a scene on the towpath where a toddler had fallen into the canal as a small group of cyclists approached. Two of the tubular tires (vintage PRs, I think) immediately detached from rims and dove into the canal to rescue the child, while another tubular (a Hutchinson) comforted the distraught and noticeably attractive mother.
Meanwhile, a pair of Michelin clinchers, who'd been sucking wheel at the back of the group, merely watched the proceedings with minimal interest while finishing their cigarettes.
Mitch Harris
Little Rock Canyon, Utah, USA