Re: [CR] bulletproof tubulars? best glue? (non-sniffing!)

(Example: Framebuilding:Brazing Technique)

To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:47:13 -0700
From: donald gillies <gillies@ece.ubc.ca>
Subject: Re: [CR] bulletproof tubulars? best glue? (non-sniffing!)


For glue I use Vittoria Mastik One. I decided to follow the advice in this research report comparing tubular glues :

//www.engr.ku.edu/~kuktl/bicycle/Part6.pdf

I bought a large $24 tub of Vittoria Mastik One. I consider the biggest danger with tubular glue to be this sad event : You run out of glue during mounting and therefore, do not lay down enough glue to get a tight seal. By purchasing a large supply, I minimize the chances of this disaster.

My giant tub of glue dried out after a year. Thankfully, the glue solvent for Mastik One is turpentine, "Nature's Solvent" which is made form pine-tree sap. I was able to reconstitute my glue and lay in a great supply of turpentine for only $3 at the local hardware store. I was also able to use my tubular tire glue to recover a Taiwanese saddle in red leather :

http://www.ece.ubc.ca/~gillies/raleigh/international/pb260072.jpg

I ride on Panaracer Practice 270gm vintage tires with gum sidewalls. As far as Andy Muzi is concerned at Yellow Jersey, these Thailand tires are the only ones widely available that are both low cost and work well. I have had a few that were lumpy (in particular, around the valve stem), but generally I have been very happy with my supply. If you shop around or wait for sales, you can procure these for less than $25/ea. With tubulars, save money on innertubes, however, any savings on innertubes is cancelled out by a need to purchase glue.

Now, the only threat I face in riding my tubular tires is a desire to use too little glue, in order to mount them cleanly and beautifully. I have NEVER been successful at mounting tires perfectly cleanly or evenly, so far. I am still looking for a "grand slam" in terms of tire mounting tubular success ...

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA