tubtastic mate!

[Snoop Doug]

OK - I haven't asked a dumb question for a couple a days.

Tubs v not tubs - what's the difference(s)? Please? Been reading stuff on the hainault TT results (or not ) thread and I'm wondering....should I have tubs..? Dunno - Hellllllppppp.

Snivelsnoop - damn bl00dy cold

[Jon H]

Pros:
Tub wheels are lighter. For example Zipp 404 clinchers are 1660g for the pair and the tubulars are 1252g.
A comparable tubular is lighter than a clincher & tube.
You can run tubs at higher pressure for low rolling resistance.
You don't get snake-bite punctures.
You can ride them when they're flat if you really need to.

Cons:
You have to faff around sticking them on the wheel.
If you carry a spare tubular it's bulkier than a spare inner tube.
Tubs are hard to repair and/or expensive to replace.

[Wal]

[quote]You can run tubs at higher pressure for low rolling resistance.

[Mike I]

[quote]You have to faff around sticking them on the wheel.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

I was brought up using tubs, and have my share of clinchers and in drawing a comparison, favour tubs for a better ride at all pressures - faster maybe, maybe not, but better as they will deform over bumps better than clinchers, and a lot lighter so QED must need less watts to make it move.

There are the obvious disadvantages, which are quite valid and the reason why I don't use them all the time.

My advice therefore would be: if you can only afford one decent pair of wheels - go clinchers, if you have a dedicated pair of racing only wheels, go tubs.

Looking at all the 'pros' bikes on the cars at the Tour - I think all of them were using tubs - a number of teams have 'clincher' sponsors i.e. Michelin, yet they use tubs with the cunning use of a HP logo on the sidewall.

[Snoop Doug]

This is great stuff folks - even better than all that toaster feedback I got t'other week (decision not yet made info overload burned circuits). So - how do I sell this to Mrs Snoop - it would appear that tub wheels ain't cheap...

[Dominic]

Not sure you do sell it to her Snoop. By that I mean if she is like my wife she doesn't care/know if I am buying tubs or not she just sees the amount of money being spent on wheels. If you need another set of wheels then that is what you are selling her. However I can quite clearly hear her saying "What about those other wheels you bought from Pearsons a little while ago, will they not do?"

When you have got over that, get a set of Planet X 50s. About £500 and you can use them for any TT you want and put them on your road bike when you are feeling a bit bling!

[Snoop Doug]

nice suggestion Dominic. Their website says they're Shi(*)mano only - I'm afraid I'm old skool tractor me. Pardon my ignorance folks but is it easy to make a
Shi(*)mano wheel convert to campag?

Snoop

[Andrew G]

Planet X 50s are also Campag Snoop - trust me .
You can sometimes (but rarely as most are a Shimano freehub) get a good 2nd hand deal where the wheels are actually brand new and never had tubs fitted to them - trust me .
If you go for Planet X 50s get them from GBs. They are the only UK dealer for Planet X but you can wave your ACC membership card and ask for a discount.

[Ian A4size]

Take it from me sno(t)op, you can get the planetx 50's in about 2 days from good old GB's. They are a little reluctant to give a 10% discount on PX stuff. Price was about 520, including tubs and carbon friendly brake blocks.

[Snoop Doug]

luvvly jubbly chaps - I don't have a membership card will see what I can wangle

[Andrew G]

Wasn't sure if yo got the discount at GBs on Planet X as they just order it as you would, just makes your life easier than dealing over t'internet. I think they are the only dealers as they know the PX guys.

[Mike I]

[quote]how do I sell this to Mrs Snoop

[Ian A4size]

Good thinking Mike!

If we all lend snoop a few wheels, frames,etc then he is bound to get away with it.

[tel]

Just ordered a pair of carbon tribars from Pearsons-£260 I think, told the old woman they were £60. She thought that they were far too expensive.

Tubs for racing, clinchers for training.

Terry