CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

My first tub

(12 posts)
  • Started 11 years ago by kaputnik
  • Latest reply from Charterhall
  • This topic is not resolved

  1. kaputnik
    Moderator

    So I've finally ordered the tubular tyres, cement, sealant and valve extenders to go with the Planet X aero rims I got in a sale about 18 months ago and have never left the box. I think I've done all my research correctly and ordered all the right bits (correct cement, correct length of valve, that type of thing)

    Anyone have any experience of installing tubs? There's plenty of advice online, but nothing quite like having pointers from a real person.

    (And before anyone asks what on earth posessed me to buy tubular rims, compare the price of tubular and clicher equivalent in deep-section carbon wheels, and observe the >50% difference in price. )

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. DaveC
    Member

    No idea about Tubulars... looks far too complicated. What is the benefit? I only see problems when coming to fixing a puncture.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Depending on who you ask;

    Advantages

    less likely to puncture
    far less likley to pinch flat
    corner better
    lighter
    higher pressure
    mount onto cheaper (potentially lighter) wheels

    Drawbacks

    Faff of installation
    cost of tyres (c. twice the clincher equivalent)
    Modern clincher tyres are now almost equivalant in terms of rolling resistance and lightness
    Potential to roll-off in extreme lateral forces or when incorrectly mounted

    They are generally only used in pro and track racing, by people with oldschool wheelsets or people like me trying to save a bit of cost in buying bling wheels.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. Darkerside
    Member

    Nope, but I'll confess to having just googled 'does tubular cement bond skin'.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. Cyclops
    Member

    It can be a bit of a long drawn out process especially with new rims as they'll need 3 to 4 coats of cement.

    I'm not going to go through every step of the process as I'm guessing you've read up on that. My tips would be use a good solvent to remove any oily traces from you new rim. Take your time and let all the coats of cement except the last to dry fully. Do it somewhere clean and uncarpeted - almost anything will stick to tubular cement and it can messy to get back off again.

    Taking your time is probably the most important - it'll be at least 36-48 hours after you've started the process before you can ride the tub.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. wee folding bike
    Member

    I used to use tape to hold them on but I think it's more expensive than cement.

    It's not terribly hard to fit them but make sure you have them on straight because you're not going to want to take them off once they are stuck.

    I stopped using them about 12 years ago because they were a bother to mend.

    I had a few of them come unstitched at 175 psi. That makes a bit of a bang.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. Charterhall
    Member

    Put them on the rim without cement first, pump to full pressure and leave overnight. Stretches them a bit and makes life a whole lot easier the next day when trying to stretch them over a horrible mess of cement.

    But before you do this you need to find a nice cool but dry cellar in which to mature them for a few years. Improves the puncture resistance. Allegedly.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. Charterhall
    Member

    NB If tempted to use tape instead of cement, it's certainly far less messy. The downside is that if you need to replace the tyre during a ride, ie with the spare that you will have rolled up and strapped under your saddle, when removing the tyre the tape comes away with it so there's nothing left on the rim to hold the spare. Unless you carry more tape with you.
    I've also found that in the wet even if using cement sometimes the spare won't stick.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. Charterhall
    Member

    Does anyone still use shellac ?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. DaveC
    Member

    You varnish your tyres?!?! Won't that make them less grippy??? ;0)

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I've gone for cement as it both seems cheaper in bulk, and also I'm paranoid enough to not want the faint chance of them rolling off on a corner (even through I'll probably only be cycling them in straight lines!)

    Fortunately have wooden floors in 3 rooms.

    My biggest worry is changing one on the road if it goes. I've bought an extra tube and valve neck, having agreed with advice that it's best to carry a prepared spare tyre rather than one in the packet.

    Have also invested in sealant as I'm advised by reading on other forums that it's pretty effective in stopping a tub from deflating.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. Charterhall
    Member

    What are your plans for repairing them if/when you puncture ?

    Posted 11 years ago #

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