Tubs

there was some kind of double-sided tape you can get for putting on tubs instead of cement, used to be available when I was a kid riding in the 80s - easier if you got punctured on a ride, but dunno what its like in the wet.

Anyone used the challenge volcano - http://www.inmotionproducts.com/shopexd.asp?id=246
looks like it might be a street skidders alternative to the rally or giro - handmade too!!

I've no evidence either way, but I'd imagine skidding on tubs with any regularity is a bad idea. Skidding would weaken the bond between tub and rim, no ?

If you're talking about tubs for commuting etc, both the Rally and Giro (and I'd imagine the Challenge Volcano) are poor. I've been commuting on tubs for the past year, and not had either last for longer than a month. Both don't deal with glass cuts very well, especially if under 'load' (carrying a bag on your back).

By far the best are Conti Sprinters and Gatorskin Sprinters. Both are cut resistant and grip well in the wet. I've been running a Gatorskin on the back and a regular Sprinter on the front for the past six months and I'm very happy with them

Agree with the Sprinter - it's a good tyre - I've not tried rally's or Giro's yet, but I've only been riding tubs for sunday best - I'm planning to start using them for everyday use and thought that the volcano looked to be quite a robust construction - rubberised all round!

Not sure about the tub-skid-paranoia - I've only ever done skids on wolber silks on the track so my experiences are not transferable to the street.

I think some form of experiment is called for unless there's anyone out there riding brakeless on tubs...
( I guess it's down to how much better the glue grips the tyre than the tread grips the road)

Anyone know where i can get some 650c tubs? So far all I can see is some pricey vittorias and more reasonably priced conti podiums in 19mm, which is a bit skinny.

Anything else out there?

Tracksupermarket.com

You can get the rim tape too, have to pay shipping (from Japan :s) but other than that they have soo much want want want stuff!

Conti Podium
Conti sprinter
Conti tempo,
Conti Comp
Tufo s3-lite
Veloflex record
Vittoria Corsa Evo CX

Assuming your not looking for anything too glam, I'd recommend 22mm Conti Sprinters at £25.50 - http://www.zepnat.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,595/category_id,86/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,48/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=595&category_id=86&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=48&vmcchk=1

and if you don't mind crap tyres there's also a vittoria Junior - which is basically a 650c Rally,

you can find reviews of some of the above here - http://www.handbikescotland.co.uk/reviews/tubs.html

Hope that helps

Cheers mate very helpful, sprinters look like just the ticket.

The ride that I did at the weekend involved a lot of cobbles.

I had 28c Maxxis Refuse tyres, initially at ~90 psi each.

Both of them pinch flatted, and after I changed the tubes they were at ~60 psi, mainly due to my little pump as the accepted wisdom is that low pressure=pinch flat.

However, they were so much more comfortable at this pressure that I left them there even when we hit a check point with track pump, and I did not get another pinch flat so it looks like that choice was vindicated.

However- if I had been running tubs would I have got those pinch flats in the first place?

I cracked a Velocity A23 rim last week hitting the trench on Waterloo Bridge southbound whilst absentmindedly drafting a bus @ 30mph but tyre and tube were fine. Fuckin magnets

^^ Some people say you don't pinch puncture tubs because of the smooth shape of the rim, but Jobst Brandt, who's usually pretty reliable on such subjects says that tubs do snakebite - read all about it here http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/snakebites.html

Interesting- I'd read that tubs are the default choice for Cyclocross due to their much higher resistance/immunity to pinch flats.

They are, because they are.

Snakebite punctures may happen in tubs, but they are very rare in cyclocross. Plus the lower pressures you can run allow for substantially more grip than you can get with clinchers.

What I'm wondering is whether tubs are a better choice for Roubaix due to the (possibly) much lower chance of pinch flatting.

If I ever do it again, which is open to question.

^ I'd say yes - most of the pro's do it on tubs (although they do use "boutique rubber" - FMB, Dugast etc)

One reason tubs are preferred over clinchers for cyclocross is that the low pressures you run often aren't enough to hold a clincher on the rim. Remember that tubs use glue to stay on the rim, clinchers use the pressure in the tyre.

One reason tubs are preferred over clinchers for cyclocross is that the low pressures you run often aren't enough to hold a clincher on the rim. Remember that tubs use glue to stay on the rim, clinchers use the pressure in the tyre.

I have a clincher fat bike wheel in my workroom running 9 PSI. No amount of bashing about has caused the bead to move. So I'll be using it at that pressure.

The reasonings are lighter rims, and reduced pinch flats.

I would have loved to have your Fatbike (in finished form) last Sunday.

I would have loved to have your Fatbike (in finished form) last Sunday.

Its about to be started on. I spent my B'day money on a some fat skis instead of fat forks though.

Should have gotten one of these.

Better still - the GB MG Team Paris Roubaix bike from 1994....

Pave is a very tricky surface to isolate with suspension though- too little damping and you will boing around like a 'roo with inner ear problems, too much and the shocks will hammer down until locked up.

Then if you get it right for one kind of cobble, it might be wrong for another.

I think (if I ever do it again) larger volume tyres at a lower pressure, and padded bar tape of some description.

I do wonder if the Zertz things that Spesh use are any good.

Had my first tub-commuting puncture last night after 2 months of daily use - sod's law I'd forgotton my spare - luckily it was the rear so I had a rather rough 10miles out of the saddle home in the rain - impressed with how easy they are to ride when flat! - bike seemed reasonably stable - good enough for heavy traffic - and the tyre (conti giro) doesn't look to be permanently damaged!! I'll be getting the needle & thread out tonight though!!

So, 140 miles on my Continental Sprinter Gatorskins, and both front and rear have punctured- flints, in the case of the front quite a large bit of flint.

Both tyres are (touching wood) holding pressure after I used PitStop on them.

Having read through this thread the Sprinter Gators seem to be the best in test when it comes to puncture resistance- have things moved on at all, or is this still the case?

You’re probably already convinced of tubular tires superiority over clinchers in terms of performance. Maybe you’ve been riding tubular for years and never looked back, or perhaps you’ve only just joint the club, in which case you’re about to find out that tubular tires possibly is the most significant upgrade you will ever make.

What tires are you using? What works better, tape or glue? What are the best rims for any particular style of riding? Where do I get the best deal? Whether you’re a newbie or a tubular black belt, this is your opportunity to ask questions, or share your knowledge and experience.

Disclaimer:
Needless to say this thread may overlap other threads to certain extent; a quick search reveals that many questions regarding tubular rims, tires and wheelsets have already been asked and answered a hundred times. However, along with helpful “how to tutorials” which are great, most threads seem somewhat outdated or focused on the same old clincher vs. tubular tire bigotry. In any event, it is only right that the tubular enthusiasts got a thread of their own.

Currently riding with a Campagnolo Pista wheelset mounted with a pair of Vittoria Triathlon Evo tubular tires as recommended by lbs, or rather the only tubular tires in stock at the time. Pricy though at about £150 for the pair, the tires that is, but can’t complain really, they ride beautifully and corner like on rails.

I have been out of the game for a few years and this is my first fixed gear bike for road use. In my day, before online retail really kicked off, choice was very limited and often, like at my lbs, you simply had to take what you could get. Today we’re basically spoiled for choice, and come winter I’ll probably be looking for something a little more affordable, as I foresee that punctures may become an issue regardless of using top quality tires.

And yes, I do have a clincher wheelset, which is currently setup for off-road use. However, for road use I find the difference in terms of performance between tubular and clincher so significant that I’m reluctant to change if I can find a viable tubular alternative. Can anyone recommend a good all-round tubular tire for road use over the winter period i.e. a tire with the best possible wet road performance, durability, price, and puncture protection ratio?

Also, I have never used tape (current tires are triple-glued); sounds really easy though, but is it safe?

Cheers, Lynch