Tubular tires risks?

[Ian H]

These days they use sticky tape strip instead of actual glue. Sounds faffy.

Tape is not an option for track use. Too much danger of the tub rolling off.

 

[rogerzilla]

Proper track tubs are stuck on with many layers of shellac. You can use soft rim cement but it's not as good.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

These days they use sticky tape strip instead of actual glue. Sounds faffy

Would probably take me about 4 minutes and have done in a race. Wheel off, old tyre pulled off, new one replaced and pumped up. A CO2 pump , which I didn't have would make it quicker.

Usually, there is enough glue on the rim, to enable the new tyre to stick.

Same here.

Back in the day sprints and tubs were so far ahead of the available clinchers they were everybody's first purchase when they started racing.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Do modern track riders still all/mostly use tubulars? Or have clinchers taken over there too?

Just curious.

 

[Sharky]

Tape is not an option for track use. Too much danger of the tub rolling off.

When I watched the racing at Kirby track night, I used to see the riders use electrical tape, round the tyre and rim, after replacing a tub.

I thought this was a good idea and tried on my own bike, but realised in about 200yds, that it doesn't quite work with rim brakes.

 

[Sharky]

Do modern track riders still all/mostly use tubulars? Or have clinchers taken over there too?

Just curious.

No expert, but I think this answers the question ....

Safety in high-speed crashes: If a tubular tyre punctures or deflates, it stays glued or taped firmly to the rim base. A clincher can potentially unhook or "roll off" the rim under high lateral G-forces or steep banking transitions, which is catastrophic in a group sprint.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Tubular and tubeless are not the same. Tubular have inner tubes and are complete tyre and tubes in a sewn up "sausage", which are glued to a different shaped rim. In the event of a puncture, replacing a tubular can be done in ultra quick time.

Aha, of course. Thanks for the clarification. I was pretty sure I was missing something. I've come across these once or twice at work but generally on an ancient racing bike or similar.

 

[rogerzilla]

The other reason to use tubulars on a track is that, since they're faster and there's nothing to cause punctures, why wouldn't you? They are especially fast on a smooth surface because high pressure wins, and tubs can go to 200psi or more.

 

[mickle]

The only time in my adult life that my mother ever saw me lose my temper was @ a failed repair of a 24" tub off the front wheel of a low-pro bike. I repunctured the inner tube whilst sewing it back up. I'm glad they've disappeared, they long overstayed their welcome.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Sungod who mainly posts on the ex Bikeradar daily thread, uses them all the time even riding round London. He has sealant in them.

Where does the sealant go, inside the tire casing and around the tube?

 

[palinurus]

They were used in professional racing until very recently (sometimes with fake decals for wired-on tyres, if they were sponsored by a firm trying to sell mass market tyres). Main reason is the light weight of tub wheels, although they also roll better under some circumstances, and can be ridden flat while waiting for the team car.

SOP seems to be to use tub tape, or to use sticky rim cement (not shellac) and to rely on the residual cement to stick the replacement in the event of a puncture.

Still used widely in cyclocross (for the ability to run at low pressures, down to and even below 20 psi in some conditions)

 

[DCLane]

No expert, but I think this answers the question ....

Safety in high-speed crashes: If a tubular tyre punctures or deflates, it stays glued or taped firmly to the rim base. A clincher can potentially unhook or "roll off" the rim under high lateral G-forces or steep banking transitions, which is catastrophic in a group sprint.

+1 to this which is why I use tubs on the track.

You've a chance of staying upright. With clinchers you, and those around you, are probably going down.

 

[Webbo2]

Where does the sealant go, inside the tire casing and around the tube?

Inside the latex inner tube that’s in side the tyre.

 

[Once a Wheeler]

This is what the real cyclists did .......

…and here they are doing it:

Ferdi Kubler and team-mate at the tough end of 1950s road racing. The team-
mate has the arm muscles to wrench off the old tub, and Kubler seems to be fishing
in his back pocket for a CO2 pump. It looks as if there is plenty of glue to hold the new tub.

 

[Webbo2]

Back in the day you bought your tubular tyres months before you needed them. Then put them in the airing cupboard to season and make the rubber tougher.