Any recommendations for tubs for spring road races? The races I do in the spring in the UK are always damp, gritty, lots of flint, poor surfaces etc… I’d rather race tubs as I’ve blown out a clincher on a descent racing before and it’s no fun.
Currently thinking Veloflex roubaix or arenberg, any other make/models I should try out?
Man I have to admit it but, I miss riding tubulars. To slim down the wheel sets I moved to 100% clincher a year or two ago… When I rolled them I was pretty loyal to Vittoria and really liked the Corsa Competition. Don’t make the mistake of buying the Corsa Speed as that is a very fragile tire and you’ll likely get a flat rolling out of the parking lot.
FWIW I’ve found using clinchers with latex tubes to be remarkably close to the full tub feel, worth trying it if you haven’t already.
Tufo Hi Carbons are cheap durable and handle well. Also tend to take sealant repairs much better than other brands because they’re more akin to a tubeless tire with a thin air tight butyl layer bonded to the carcass rather than a floating latex tube.
I’ve always raced vittorias but got a fresh set of Tufos on some cheap used wheels and plan on racing them at least until my first A race in May.
Why wouldn’t you set the tires up tubeless? So much easier and lower maintenance that tubular…
(Unless your rims aren’t tubeless compatible)
Probably because if he’s/she’s like a lot of us, our racing wheels are tubulars and training wheels/group ride wheels are clincher. I may grab some easton ec90 aero55s this spring though. That would solve the tubular deal - probably wouldn’t train on them still.
You didn’t specify the width.
Challenge Paris Roubaix 700x28. They’re 300 TPI, latex tube. Wear well. Have OK flat protection. Won’t break the bank.
Michelin Pro4. 700x25s. 290TPI Sticky grippy. My favorite descending tire. They’re race tires (tyres) so they’re prone to flat. I used them in a few wet crits back when I was racing … dramatic improvement over the Vittoria Evo Corsa CX.
**Vittoria Rubino Pro G-**something. 700x25s. They’re inexpensive. But why ride Rubinos when you can ride Corsas?
Vittoria Corsa G+/Vittoria Corsa Control/ Vittoria Corsa Speed. Buy the Corsa Controls. You’ll thank me. 320TPI 700x25-700x30. High in protection better in traction. Really, just send me a thank you card now.
What I wouldn’t buy:
Continental GP4000s – WTF doesn’t continental offer anything over 700x25?
Anything Schwalbe Road – Maybe I had a bad batch but at least 4 of these tires dry rotted on me in under 3 months. Warranty people were not responsive. I’m not the only one to experience this.
What I’d try:
Challenge Strada Bianca – because you’re a baller if you’re racing 700x30s
Veloflex Vlaanderen – because I’m American and we think foreign words that contain a double a look rad.
Veloflex Roubaix – Because why not compare 1 roubaix vs another roubaix?
What’s Mythic:
Dugast
FMB PARIS ROUBAIX PRO THE SIDE WALLS ARE EFFIN GREEN!
Seriously just buy the Vittorias.
+1 to this
The 700x28 Vittoria Corsa G+ Control tires paired with a latex tube is the best ride I can get on my bike. I always start out with this set up in the spring and keep it until I’ve put in ~1200 miles.
Then I switch to 28c Schwalbe Pro One Tubless for the rest of the summer almost exclusively because of ease of flat repair. FYI - @Nate_Pearson uses A 25c in front and a 28c in back with this set up. I might give that a go this year.
I’m also considering using the S-Works Turbo Cotton 700x26 w/latex tube as a race-specific tire this year – but I won’t roll it for more than 500 miles. It’s the grippiest tire I’ve ridden in my life, but it will flat pretty easy.
Sorry – I know that OP was specifically asking about tubulars…but I have sort of a tire fetish and love swapping and testing new ones. Hopefully some of this is helpful.
Cheers! 
Vittoria Corsa G+/Vittoria Corsa Control/ Vittoria Corsa Speed. Buy the Corsa Controls. You’ll thank me. 320TPI 700x25-700x30. High in protection better in traction. Really, just send me a thank you card now.
I’ll second the Corsa controls for early season, lovely tyres. Though my favourites for training on are the Vittoria Open Pave 27mm , just roll beautifully on 28mm wide, 58mm deep rims.
I’ve got a set of racing tubular wheels and a set of clinchers. Don’t really want to commit to another tyre standard, plus I’m yet to be convinced about the benefits and convenience of tubeless for racing. I’ve seen a number of tubeless messes in the past couple of years and think the technology is a couple of years out from being good enough as a race tyre.
Anyway, a discussion for another topic…
Thanks for the advice. Ideal world would be 25mm I think. Surfaces aren’t awful round here, it’s more the grit and road debris that’s the issue.
I found Corsa G+ to be dreadful in those conditions when I rode them last year. Punctured every second week racing I think, plus a couple on the ride home. I am tempted by the Corsa Control though, thanks for the heads up.
Side note, my GP4000s consistently size up to 27mm on a 19mm internal rim!
My spring tubular is the same as my summer tubular. I’m not glueing another tubular on when the spring is over @Unrelentinghate
For crap UK roads you’d have to say Conti
If I can add one more bit of advice with tubulars: Lower your tire pressure even more.
@ 74.8kg / 11.8 stone for the better part of the past 2 years I’ve been running ~ 70/75psi (700x26 - 27) Some days I’d commute to work and found that the ride home was even better b/c of the air loss with latex tubes. I probably lost 7psi.
At first downhill switchbacks were a little sketchy but I ended up being able to push more speed through the turns b/c of upped confidence (larger contact patch). I found that I was able to PR some descents even though I was using “antiquated technology” (28h Nemesis - they’re box shaped rims). When I switched to wider tires and lower PSI on my aero hoops (Boyd 44mm) shiz got ridiculous!
–
@batwood14 bruh . . . different rim types they’re not compatible. Also, if you’re rocking rim brakes . . . /shudder/ CF sidewall failure.
FWIW, once there’s a legit standard for mfgs to follow I’ll probably convert to tubeless on the road. Until then love me some tubulars.
PS. Tufo. Friends don’t let friends ride bad tires.
Too right - I rode about on a set for a few years just because they were repairable with sealant and a plug. Terrible in every other way. Like riding around on garden hoses.
Mike
Dugast Strada Cotton’s in 23mm are my tub of choice in the lake district (UK). So far managed to avoid the puncture fairy for the last 2 years running them from April through to September/October. Once worn out I cut the inner tube out of the tub and have the smallest spare inner tubes going!
I’m contemplating getting an old school set of box rims for winter and trying out the Dugast Paris Roubaix in a 24mm or 25mm.
That’s too precious:)
I guess I’m just doing this whole “bicycling” thing all wrong… Better go out and buy more new kit;)
In all seriousness Tufo tubular tyres, IMO, feel slow rolling and very wooden to ride. Dropping the pressure improves the feel but feels even slower.
If I were asked to give an opinion I can think of two reasons to reccomend them.
I havent run every brand of tubular but of those I have (Tufo, Continental, Vittoria and Dugast) I would rank Tufo a distant last and only use them if there were no alternative. YMMV
This. I’ve never bought a pair, but having gotten some new Tufos on a used wheelset, they’re not so bad I’d tear them off and toss them in the trash. I’d say for early season training/crits they’re a good deal at $40-50 online.
Vitoria is always the answer if performance is the only consideration.