nick_h.-
Pneus Dourdoigne
As you can see, my first attempt at spelling the name was wrong - this is the correct version.
I'm afraid my information is of purely historical interest since the firm has long since ceased to exist.
These tubs were best described as 'artisan made'. I understand there was one quite small and very old fashioned workshop where the tyres were handmade by a small workforce. I believe Ken Ryall was the only importer.
We (the users) all thought these tyres were the best we'd ever used for speed. As you may be able to see from the photo below the tread was hand glued (colle main) onto the body on the tyre. I don't really know why, but this seems to be the hall mark of excellent tyres (Veloflex use this method today). It is said that only hand glued tyres need to be matured - vulcanised tyres don't benefit.
Sadly, at some point around 1980 something went wrong in that little workshop and the quality deteriorated. Nobody seems to know what happened - maybe there was just one key person who really knew what he (or she) was doing, or perhaps the ancient machinery just wore out. The end result was that the tyres became unreliable, and therefore useless for racing.
The tyre photographed below may well be the only one still in existence - I had to rack my brain to remember why I'd kept it. If you haven't heard enough (and I expect you have) there are two other, mildly interesting, anecdotes connected with this.
Other Historic Tyre Brands
Barum - also in the KR ad below were also popular at that time. They were fast but also very robust and hard wearing. It's interesting to note that these were Czechoslovak made, so a product of the Soviet empire. One of the very few consumer products that could compete as equal or better than most western products.
Dunlop - the British contribution. As a very young person I did have a few Dunlops that were handed down to me (punctured, naturally) be senior clubmates. They were excellent quality, but there was a problem - they were so expensive you would have thought they were sewn up personally by the managing director!
The Ken Ryall ad. was published in Cycling in March '79.
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clubman
I'm not sure that cheap tubs are more puncture prone - it's lightness that you pay for with the expensive ones, so they are inevitably more fragile.
If you're going to ride any distance I suggest you need to carry two spares, and these should not be brand new (may be difficult to stretch onto the rim in a hurry at the roadside, and pre-used tubs generally have some glue still on the base tape which will help adhesion. Be careful how you carry the spares - many have been ruined by chafing. Fold spares with the tread on the outside.
Unless you're rich (or very lucky) you will need to be able to repair punctures. I could give a tutorial on this subject, but this isn't the time or place.
Remember punctures are more common in the wet, and water affects the adhesion of whatever sticky method you are using.
I agree with Harman Mogul the tubs are worth the effort, although only if you've got plenty of energy and enthusiasm. If I could specify a bike to ride in heaven, it would be fitted with Dordogne Grand Prix des Nations (silks, naturellement)