Well, I do have some small-flange hubs for extra wheels (large flange 36's are $100+/pair - ouch - small flanges are $40-$50 on a good day downhill with the wind.)
What had me hesitating was the following :
- these are arguably some of the worst tubular rims in history. probably won't last long once laced up anyway.
- a very humbling experiencing mounting my first 2 tubulars. wobble, wobble, wobble. Even if the rims last, the tires are high-risk in my hands ...
- to truly preserve this bike, i would want to restore it in a way that allows maximum usage and preserves the bike as much as possible in the hands of a future owner. clinchers definitely will keep the 1973 hubs on the bike. tubulars ... on a very popular part-out-bike ... even with beautiful paint ... probably not.
- I have some very nice quasi-tubular cotton pseudo-italian tires (in name at least - clement ventoux with tan sidewalls) that could go onto clincher rims, giving a "tubular, squeegee" type of ride.
A friend has offered me some tutoring on tubular installation. I guess I'd better take him up on it.
- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA