Bicycle Tech/Gear Discussion Thread

Mar 23, 2015 at 08:19 PM

Tubular tire question for you guys.

I bought a used set of track race wheels, and they came with a set of Panaracer tires glued. First day trying them out for a quick spin on the street and I got a cut in the tire, sealant leaking everywhere.

Eventually the sealant held, and I raced on the tires a couple of weeks later.

Today I set out to do a sprint workout, and got another flat on the rear. Not sure if it’s the same one as before, or a new tear.

In all of my riding on clinchers, I’ve never seen anything like this level of fragility. I need a set of tires I can, at the very least, ride a few miles on the streets without worry of flatting.

Any recommendations?

eloy

Mar 23, 2015 at 08:41 PM

tubulars are not any more or less fragile to cuts than clinchers. but, well, you bought used tires. probably no more explanation needed. just get new tires.

PatrickGrehan

Mar 23, 2015 at 10:13 PM

Jesse

I agree with Eloy.

Not sure if you got your flats lately or last season, but the small rocks and debris on the roads lately is terrible for tires. We had several flats on Sunday's group ride. These were clinchers. I don't know what kind of tires they were but I suspect they were not tough winter tires.

Tubulars are not inherently more fragile, but a good tubular is usually a good race tire, and you generally don't want to ride your fastest clinchers in winter weather as they are not as tough as a gatorskin or other all season tire with heavy duty puncture protection.

If you got your flat on clean roads in the fall then... What Eloy said.

jesselash

Mar 23, 2015 at 10:25 PM

Ya, @eloy and @PatrickG... it seems as though I just ended up with old used tires that need to be replaced.

Any tire recommendations?

mugwump

Mar 24, 2015 at 12:51 AM

What is the purpose of said wheels? Where will you be riding them? 23mm at least, perhaps 25mm if you're riding on rough tracks. For track racing, some folks love silk tires. But they are really fragile and need lots of care. Vittoria Corsa tires and Zipp Tangente both test well, and are durable enough to ride on the road--which is good if you're riding at a track like Kissena. I'd skip the really expensive tires unless you're only racing them on a great track. Whatever you choose, race tires should have latex tubes; they really are faster than butyl.

ian ellis

Mar 24, 2015 at 01:44 AM

Continental Steher

A great tire for roughish tracks and even for TT on decent roads. The usual problem of getting a conti onto the rim applies.

jesselash

Mar 24, 2015 at 03:58 PM

@Mugwump, sorry for the lack of context. Outdoor velodrome will be their primary use, but getting to the track requires riding a few miles on the road to my office, as I'll drive from work to the track.

Looking at the Continental Sprinters. Any opinions?

Thierry Bonnaire

Mar 24, 2015 at 04:08 PM

I ride a pair of Conti Sprinters on my carbon tubulars and they provide smooth riding, however you have to stretch them for a good amount of time before the gluing process.

vlad

Mar 24, 2015 at 06:24 PM

I've used Conti Sprinter tubbies for years and they have been very good to me. The only time I flatted was when I broke the wheel.

eloy

Mar 26, 2015 at 10:14 AM

Disc brakes to be permitted in peloton in 2017
http://road.cc/content/news/146616-disc-brakes-be-permitted-peloton-2017

ugh...

mugwump

Mar 26, 2015 at 02:24 PM

so glad they're moving forward on this after no effort to evaluate effectiveness, safety, etc. I wish some manufacturer would step up and show us stopping distances, and the improvement thereof with discs.

Marc Bertucco

Mar 26, 2015 at 07:28 PM

Coolio...

http://www.hexoskin.com/

eloy

Mar 26, 2015 at 09:16 PM

Marc Bertucco said:
http://www.hexoskin.com/

While I don't know that they solved it just yet, that is how it should work. Your jersey is able to communicate all vitals to your cycle computer -- the computer could aggregate other data, like power from your crank.

Once done with a workout, it should upload to the analytics site (strava/peaks like) automatically. Without requiring any user interaction whatsoever.

Rick Perner

Mar 28, 2015 at 02:26 AM

I pulled the trigger on ebay for some 50mm taiwanese (Matrix T50) tubulars. While I've had a set or two in my possession for a couple blinks of an eye, I've never really owned/used tubulars before. I will definitely be putting these to good use probably starting next weekend. I want to use them for park races that I ride to from my place in Greenpoint along with races that I drive too.

It's a 5.4 mile ride basically along Driggs Ave, Kent, Flushing and Vanderbilt. I was wondering what sort of precautions I might take regarding punctures and associated repairs…..eg sealant, a spare already glued tubular etc?

The tires will be 22mm Schwalbe Ultremo HTs, a choice stemming from brand loyalty after having mostly positive experiences w some of their high end clinchers

twoyacks

Mar 28, 2015 at 03:55 AM

Lately I've been riding with a can of pressurized sealant under my saddle bag. The sealant actually works better with latex tubes (I ride those in my clinchers & that's what is inside my tubulars). You could pre-treat both those tubulars and likely be flat free for the duration of their lifespan (unless you tear a tire). Sealant can be a bit wonky though, so maybe use the sealant only after you flat. At a rainy Prospect race last year...I double flatted my tubulars and used the pressurized sealant to plug both tires. I'm pretty confident in the stuff...so much so that I often use my tubs on training rides...
http://www.cambriabike.com/Caffelatex-Sealant-Tubeless-Sealant-EMESP75.asp?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=100114437&gclid=Cj0KEQjw_9OoBRChj9vMo5CHrdUBEiQAJ6YRPbphMWFmZx6tmauLEn1q_Tlu4hpwapUkgWWg6D0VDv0aAmaE8P8HAQ

ian ellis

Mar 28, 2015 at 04:57 AM

@Rick I ride 25mm Ultremo HT Tubulars as all purpose tubs, as in I have raced on them and also ridden up to Piermont, etc on them too. They exhibit an excellent combination of suppleness and robustness that I have not found in other tubs.

I have never tried sealant, so I cannot comment, but I do ride with a spare pre-glued tub, etc.
Just be aware that if you flat on the way TO the race and you change your tire for a pre-glued spare - that is great for riding gently to get home or continuing to PP to watch the race. But please do not actually race on it as there will not be enough adhesion to prevent rolling the tub off the rim in certain race situations.

twoyacks

Mar 28, 2015 at 09:01 AM

jamming a can of sealant in is way safer and easier than changing a tub on race day

JohnMalcolmson

Mar 31, 2015 at 06:48 PM

Demoing the new Specialized Power saddle. On the first ride it lived up to its name, felt like you could really lay down the power while maintaining comfort. No problem on the tops, and surprisingly there was a fair amount of fore/aft movement available, so you can move around a bit. Oddly it seemed like there were more places to sit comfortably than the Romin. A longer ride this weekend and we'll see how it performs, but initial take is best saddle I've ridden. It does take a bit of getting used to the snub nosed look.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5019667/uploads/editor/wo/61ngdi9nh08q.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5019667/uploads/editor/eo/n4wqr9lnxh6n.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5019667/uploads/editor/1w/j8y635ikql6d.jpg

Bruce van-Schalkwyk

Mar 31, 2015 at 07:07 PM

That's a damn good looking bike. I think that every time I see it. It's too nice to be ridden. Polish it, stick it on the wall, get another one for the road.

twoyacks

Mar 31, 2015 at 07:47 PM

Does it come in white??? #dealbreaker

Adam

Mar 31, 2015 at 08:18 PM

I just get the feeling that since they got on the electric gear scene first with by all accounts their top quality Di2 products, that Shimano have been top of the groupset game. This latest offering blows my mind. Awesome groupset and it is going to be at an incredible price: http://road.cc/content/news/147338-shimano-launch-shimano-tiagra-4700-groupset. Also, it makes an incredible contribution to the market. For all of those of us still on 10sp, this is a legitimate option and source of parts for years to come.

Campag are done. Mark my words, by 2020 they will go bust- just plain and simply not a feasible company in today's world. If SRAM's electric gears are really cool, with their wireless system they will have a decent product. If they piss on their own chips like they did with their v1.0 hydraulic brakes they'll really struggle in the next few years.

Adam

Mar 31, 2015 at 08:19 PM

PS: I am aware that Shimano were not technically "first" with electric gears. Yes I am aware of Mavic's wireless effort in the 90's, but they were the first company to make it stick.

JohnMalcolmson

Mar 31, 2015 at 08:37 PM

Thanks Bruce.
Yacks, yes it does...

ian ellis

Mar 31, 2015 at 08:47 PM

@Adam I don't think Campagnolo can compete with Shimano and SRAM globally. They have almost zero OEM presence and little penetration in the US, LAM and other developing markets. However if they play to their strengths and focus on specific markets then there is no reason that they cannot continue as a strong and viable company, albeit a niche player.
There are plenty of riders, and builders in the traditional European markets that would not have anything other than Campagnolo on their bikes.

twoyacks

Mar 31, 2015 at 11:19 PM

JohnMalcolmson said:

Thanks Bruce.
Yacks, yes it does...

John I was talking about the saddle....I don't ride plastic bikes = GROSS !!!

vlad

Apr 01, 2015 at 01:04 AM

I've got two of those Spesh power saddles on order. They're saying early April now.

Cannondale rep showed me one of these today. It looked pretty fucking slick. He said that this Fabric brand is going to be all in on the cockpit & seatpost scene. He also said the the Cannondale pros have been riding them for about two years now.

Image: http://fabric.cc/wp-content/themes/fabric/img/ALMheader.jpg

http://fabric.cc

Bikes man.

Mark Taylor

Apr 02, 2015 at 12:20 PM

Anybody have any experience with these tubulars

VITTORIA ISO SC SERVIZIO COURSE 320 TPI TUBULAR

A

Jeffrey White

Apr 02, 2015 at 03:59 PM

Yes. They are delicious. You will be sad when you inevitably puncture. This model has the honor of being the last tubular road tire I ever used.

vlad

Apr 02, 2015 at 04:13 PM

is that the one you rolled Somerville weekend?

twoyacks

Apr 02, 2015 at 04:20 PM

Jeffrey White said:

Yes. They are delicious. You will be sad when you inevitably puncture. This model has the honor of being the last tubular road tire I ever used.

I've been riding the Corsa's for years with only 3 flats...two of which I quickly repaired with a can of sealant, never to flat again. Currently have my rear wheel pre-treated with sealant and I've been doing training rides on them all winter...pot holes and all.
Yacks