Re: tubulars vs. clinchers

[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Mike Krueger) writes:

>>> On my Sunday club rides, it's always the clincher guys who hold up
>>> the group when the have to change a flat, sometimes suffering
>>> multiple flats in the same tire because they don't find the thorn
>>> or shard of glass after the first one.
>
>> You can't blame stupidity on clinchers. ;- >>
>
> Don't know if it's stupidity, but I have seen guys slice their
> fingers feeling for that shard of glass in a clincher casing. And if
> you can't find it easily, you figure it fell out, but sometimes end
> up with another flat tire right away.  I'm embarrassed if the group
> has to stop because I get a puncture. I want to get going again
> quickly. The beauty of a tubular is you can tear off the old tire,
> slap on the pre-glued spare, gas it up to 120 psi with a Co2
> cartridge, and be on your way in a minute flat.

Huh.  Back in the day, it took way longer to get the danged tub off
the rim than it did to get a clincher off.  It the tub is properly
glued on, it don't come off in under 1 minute flat.

> Tubulars have a few drawbacks, but I don't understand the vehemence
> some people have for them. Then again, I ride an old-school *lugged
> steel* frame with a *quill* stem, fitted out with inferior *Dura
> Ace* parts and non-boutique *standard 32 spoke* wheels. Maybe I
> should just lay low around here...

Heh, me too.  Lugs (or fillet brazed).  Quill stem.  Polished silver
rims.  32 spokes each. Brooks saddle.  Friction shifting.  Freewheels.
Mish-mash of old Sun Tour, Ritchey, etc.  Why not?  It's riding the
bike that really counts!