Tubular Wheels - Glue or Tofu Tape?

Im about to pick up a set of carbon tubulars.

Has anyone tried tofu tape? are they any good? or should i just stick with traditional glue?

also, which tires do you guys recommend?

 

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My advice is not to buy tubular wheels. There are plenty of awesome carbon clinchers out there.

 

As someone who has quite a bit of experrience gluing and racing tubulars over the years here are my observations.

1. Tufo tape by itself isn't a good idea, combined with glue and used in the Belgium method works great for cross tires and for road wheels where you really, really , really don't want the tire to come off, that goes for when you want to change tires. I personally glue tires ONLY with glue and ONLY with Vittoria Mastik glue, nothing else comes close for strength and durability.

2. Carbon clinchers really are a waste of money. The reason to go tubular is because tubular rims are appreciably lighter than clinchers (carbon clincher rims are no lighter than aluminum clinchers yet cost WAY more, why?) and you get the great ride of tubulars.

3. Do you REALLY want tubulars. At this point in my cycling life tubulars are way too much of a pain in the ass for anything but race wheels, for training or just cruising around the positives just don't come close to outweighing the negatives, but that's just me.

4. Tires, well if I can't dissuade you from running tubulars tires go something like this,
A. Money is no object - FMB or Dugast silk tubulars
B. Gotta pay the bills - Vittoria Corsa, Veloflex, Gommitalia.

 

Have you tried Stan's, they say it's better with glitter.:?:

 

There are good carbon clinchers, no doubt about it. My reason for the tubulars is that they're cheaper (i hate it when i have to say that).

The tubulars that I'm planning on getting is half the price of the cheapest carbon clinchers that I can find.

I guess the tofu tape isn't a bad idea after all then. I just wanted to make sure that there aren't any obvious fatel flaw to them.

What are some good tubular tire choices?

 

thanks for the complete reply! the tubulars will be race wheels with some training rides. They're actually not even for me to ride on really, i'm buying them for my girlfriend to do triathlon races with (and i'm stealing back the wheels i got her before so i can use for cx).

sounds like tubulars are a pain in the ass when you dont have a pro team machanic taking care of everything for you but to my gf, i am her pro team machanic. i'm definitely staying with tubulars though as oppose to clinchers and will be looking into those tires that you recommend.

 

Someone a few days ago posted a cool photo of a guy riding with no tire on his front rim. Here is the link: http://www.socaltrailriders.org/for...-xcer-rides-rough-downhill-no-front-tire.html.

If you go to the website mentioned in the link he mentions that it happened because he taped the tubular tire on and from now on he will only use glue.

Just found the second link: http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171359&page=3

 

Since we're talking triathlons, I assume we're talking about deep aero wheels. If this is the case, carbon tubular wheels are going to be heavier than a box shape rim anyway. Something else to consider in regards to cost; figure the cost of the entire wheel setup (tire and wheel). American Classic, whom by the way has EXCELLENT customer service, has a deep section carbon clincher for about 1300 bucks. They are not light, but once again, deep section carbon wheels are not light...it's not wha they're made for. Good luck either way you go.

 

Gotta disagree, ZIPP 808 tubulars are 1460g, ZIPP 808 clinchers are 1890g...that's a pound more. ZIPP 404's which are still very deep and aero are 1250 grams, I use mine for ALL types of racing, as they are the most aero and the lightest wheels I own. If you can get aero and light why not?

 

Since we're talking Tris, look here: http://forum.slowtwitch.com/Slowtwi...1/Tufo_Tubular_Tape_-_pros_and_cons_P1728755/

Some folks argue that (a) glue results in a faster tire and (b) on-road tire changes are far easier with glue.

If you haven't glued up a set of tires before, you might want to consider placing masking tape on the outside of the rim surface -- to prevent the mastik from gumming up your pretty carbon rims.

 

404s cost how much? But you're absolutely right, if you've got unlimited income, buy it all.

 

I would agree on masking tape on outside of the rim, seems like no matter how carefully you are you are bound to get glue on the braking surface especially your first few times. I have used both the tape and glue and prefer the glue but have used tubulars for decades.

Scott

 

Electrical tape is super for taping the brake surface during gluing and when mounting too. It takes time to tape them but clean up time = none.

I've used the tufo tape a bit for road but am back to just glue. Tried the tape/glue for CX but also am back to just glue there. Tubs are now a CX race only route for me.