sunday outside in the cold distance

[TLW1]

Hounds walked, hedges done properly (inc ladders and a chain saw for parts), now some food before a longish run. Pub later and then Sunday dinner

 

[oxoman]

Morning peeps, lumpy 10k done under the hr so I'm happy ish. Not my best by a long way but I'll take it as a win. Bejesus it was cold when I went out at 7am, car windows had to be defrosted.

 

[briantrumpet]

Bjr.

Chilly-ish (15C indoors), but still not in full winter mode for a while yet. That's November's job. Getting peed off by the habitual moaners about GMT as if we've lost an hour of sunlight: we lost 3'36" and tomorrow 3'35", and the evenings start getting lighter in just seven weeks. Just get up at the same solar time as you would have, miserable minnies!

Anyway, I've been into town for a gastroscopy (on a Sunday!), and as I only had the throat spray, the rest of my day is whatever I want it to be. Which will probably indoors with an oodie on if needs be.

 

[sungod]

OK morning with some sunshine, but rubbish afternoon of wind and rain. Out and about for a while, then tinkered about re-installing some switches removed to do some new plasterwork. One less job on the list.

Contemplating some proper tubular wheels again, been quite a few years since my last set (which were great). Should I?

imo tubs are best

only problem i find is the reduction in tyre options over the last few years, plus the fashion for fat tyres/rims

i've a bunch of veloflex stored in cool/dark, use those on wheels for places without glass-strewn roads, for london i use conti sprinters, ride isn't as good, but great wet grip and they're toug enough to survive cuts that'd ruin a lightweight tub

i've got two sets of obermayers, plus campag bora ultra, and ambosio nemesis, really only ride the obermayers (swapping for the others means fiddling with the brakes/pads), one set has veloflex, the other sprinters

 

[Wheelspinner]

imo tubs are best

only problem i find is the reduction in tyre options over the last few years, plus the fashion for fat tyres/rims

i've a bunch of veloflex stored in cool/dark, use those on wheels for places without glass-strewn roads, for london i use conti sprinters, ride isn't as good, but great wet grip and they're toug enough to survive cuts that'd ruin a lightweight tub

i've got two sets of obermayers, plus campag bora ultra, and ambosio nemesis, really only ride the obermayers (swapping for the others means fiddling with the brakes/pads), one set has veloflex, the other sprinters

I've been looking for some nice rim brake wheels locally for a fair while and the only options that regularly turn up are tubs, presumably the former race wheels for weekend warriors who now run disc group sets. So far some Dura Ace carbon options, and the inevitable Enve or Reynolds. I couldn't care less about aero and speed but they need to be reliable hubs and spin true.

Pretty hard to get Veloflex out here - Conti, Vittoria, Schwalbe and Challenge are the main options. Only hassle is I'll have to find a spare rim for stretching new tyres as well. Is that still a requirement!?

Tape, or glue?

 

[VinSumRox]

First proper winter ride, 2c , windy, wet and hilly, all the cold weather gear on. Enjoyed it though!

 

[sungod]

I've been looking for some nice rim brake wheels locally for a fair while and the only options that regularly turn up are tubs, presumably the former race wheels for weekend warriors who now run disc group sets. So far some Dura Ace carbon options, and the inevitable Enve or Reynolds. I couldn't care less about aero and speed but they need to be reliable hubs and spin true.

Pretty hard to get Veloflex out here - Conti, Vittoria, Schwalbe and Challenge are the main options. Only hassle is I'll have to find a spare rim for stretching new tyres as well. Is that still a requirement!?

Tape, or glue?

afaik veloflex ceased production, i picked up a few nos on ebay

i've tried vittoria and schwalbe (though actually they were rebranded veloflex carbons with schwalbe labelling) in the past, they were ok

not tried challenge, had some dugast silks but the tread came off in hot weather, never again

conti competition are pretty much a thinner version of the sprinters, a better ride but i found them far less durable due to cuts - btw whatever you do, don't touch conti gatorskin tubs with a bargepole, their lack of wet grip is appalling and they still cut/puncture easily, the sprinters are far better in both respects

glue for me, vittoria mastik'one, fortunately they still produce it

on some rides i carry a pre-glued tufo lightweight tub as a spare, folds up to about the size of an inner tube, the glue retains enough residual 'tack' under pressure even after years, just peel off the dead tyre and fit the tufo, with tape you can't really do that - one home, peel off, refold/wrap and it's ready for next time, reglue every few years

the only tubs i've tried that really needed stretching are the conti ones, the sprinters are a fight to get on a rim even after stretching, to get them on the stretching rim i use the old trick of first putting a foot in and pulling up with both hands, going right around the tyre until it's eased a bit (i wouldn't do that with a more delicate tub)

 

[Pinno718]

OK morning with some sunshine, but rubbish afternoon of wind and rain. Out and about for a while, then tinkered about re-installing some switches removed to do some new plasterwork. One less job on the list.

Contemplating some proper tubular wheels again, been quite a few years since my last set (which were great). Should I?

Sungod will say yes and I will say no. Then it's up to you.
Latex inner plus a decent tyre (Schwalbe, Vittoria, Conti) rolls like a tubular. Now a Specialized bike with clinchers and inner tubes won Paris Roubaix. So there must be some efficacy in that combo.

 

[sungod]

Sungod will say yes and I will say no. Then it's up to you.
Latex inner plus a decent tyre (Schwalbe, Vittoria, Conti) rolls like a tubular. Now a Specialized bike with clinchers and inner tubes won Paris Roubaix. So there must be some efficacy in that combo.

with my joy of fast/twisty descents in the volcanoes, i'd never be as brave on clinchers - i've had a clincher flat and come off the rim at low speed, never want to find out what it's like going fast - flat tubs stay on and still can be ridden many km with a bit of care

afaik the roubaix clinchers were those very thin turbo cottons, not really an everyday tyre unless the roads only have blunt edges, for general riding i doubt there's much in it clincher/tub

as i'm a grumpy old man, i prefer the safety and lightness of tubs, not fussed about a few watts either way