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Tech letters for June 10, 2003 - Questions

Edited by John Stevenson

Confounded by carbon fiber? Need to sound off about superlight stuff? Tech letters is the forum for your gear-related questions and opinions.

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Tech mail. It's huge. Here's this week's batch of questions for all the helpful tech experts out there to get their teeth into.

Answers to previous questions start here and continue here.

Gluing tires
Train on tubulars or clinchers?
Saddles on pave
Which saddle?
D-A 10 and Record
Hard to find bits
Short axle Time Equipe pedals
OCLV creaks
New Ksyriums
Carbon wheels at the Giro
Chain slipping
Campagnolo Pro-fit pedals
Kinky tubulars
Nexave alternative

Gluing tires

The Park articles are very good but I shuddered when I read the most recent article on gluing tubulars. These type of articles are written by people who did not grow up with tubulars when clinchers were not available. If, in the 50's and 60's, we spent as much time with a gluing ritual recommended by Park, we wouldn't have had time to ride.

Every time a new rider reads something like the Park article, they vow never to ride tubulars. I've read even more lengthy articles too. I'll match my method with anyone. Get some 3M Fastack from your local auto supply store, put a healthy bead on the rim strip of the tire, another healthy bead on the rim, go back and put a lighter coat of the rim strip (good rim strip absorbs most of the first coat) and glue the tire on. Attempt to center the tire but don't worry if it isn't exact. Put 160 psi in and a good tire will usually go where it belongs. I've watched mechanics trying to center a tire with 40psi and struggle. It will be ready to ride in an hour. If the rim has a lot of old glue, rough it up with a wire brush attached to a drill, and follow the same instructions as above.

If you want to avoid all of this, use the new Tufo tubular tape. It is a double-sided pressure sensitive tape that is ready to use as soon as the tire is inflated and ridden a 100 meters. The trouble with the tape is that it works too well and the tire can be difficult to remove. This problem can be partly solved by leaving a inch opposite the valve stem free of tape. So far, no mechanic has been able to roll a tire off (even a deflated tire) a rim when this tape is used. I still use glue but carry a couple of rolls in my tool box for emergency use.

I've ridden on tubulars since 1964 and still train and race on them. I rolled one back in the 60's in a spring race because I didn't check my wheel after it hung in my garage all winter. Since then, I've never rolled a tire. I've seen more clinchers blow off rims than rolled tubulars. My wife rides tubulars too and at 60 years old, she can change a tubular out on the road quicker than anyone can change a clincher and she has yet to pinch flat her tubulars.

Jim Cushing-murray
USA
Thursday, June 5 2003

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Park's technical author, Calvin Jones, is currently on holiday so he's unable to respond, but it seems fair to make a couple of points. Park's technical features have to be as broadly applicable as possible, so recommending Fastack, which can be too aggressive and can remove the base tape from some tubulars when they're taken off for repair, isn't appropriate. Similarly, not all rims will tolerate cleaning with a wire brush - it's probably not a good idea on some carbon rims, for example.

Train on tubulars or clinchers?

Are low-end tubular tires more or less effective as training tires than similarly priced clincher tires? I am currently using Panaracer Stadius TTs clinchers and Rolf Vector Pro wheels. Also, I will use tire sealant and gluing tape (both from TUFO) while riding on tubulars.

Greg Michalak
Texas, USA
Saturday, May 31 2003

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Saddles on pave

What type of saddles do racers use at Paris-Roubaix or other cobbled classics? Something with a bit of dampening like a Selle Italia Pro Link?

Thomas Zander
Sacramento, Ca
Thursday, June 5 2003

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Which saddle?

Which saddle is more worth the money: the Fizik Aliante or the Selle Italia SLR? I have just removed a Selle San Marco Aspide Arrowhead (which has a nose cut-out) and would like advice on either saddle.

Greg Michalak
Texas, USA
Saturday, May 31 2003

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D-A 10 and Record

I have just heard a 'rumour' that the UCI had requested that the new D-A 10 speed should be compatible with Record 10 speed. The reasoning being the convenience of neutral service. I think this would be great. Has any one else heard this?

Dean Swindell
Bangor, UK
Thursday, May 29 2003

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Hard to find bits

Can anyone tell me where to buy two slightly odd and unrelated items.

1. Replacement elastomers for a pair of Answer Manitou ProX forks

2. Replacement front caliper spring for a Campagnolo Chorus (from 8 speed group) brake.

These are hard to find and not feasible items for most Australian bike shops to carry. I assume I wiil have order on line.

John Caskey
Brisbane, Australia
Monday, June 2 2003

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Short axle Time Equipe pedals

Does anyone know of a place that still sells or has a stock of short axle Time Equipe pedals? These are the axles without the wrench flats, which permits the pedal to sit closer to the crank arm. Thanks for any advice.

Darrel Stickler
San Mateo, CA USA
Wednesday, June 4 2003

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OCLV creaks

I have a seven year old Trek OCLV carbon frame and the frame creaks. It is the frame that creaks not the cranks, pedals etc. If you have ever come across this and know how to fix it could you please let me know.

Michael Martin
Thursday, June 5 2003

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New Ksyriums

I was just told by my local cycle shop that Mavic is releasing a new Ksyrium to commemorate their 30th anniversary on the tour. It is an enhanced Ksyrium SL, 40 grams lighter, silver in colour and one yellow spoke. I of course ordered a set right away, sight unseen.

Has anyone seen any press release or photos of these great wheels. I am told only 50 sets are coming to Canada and they will be here before the beginning of the tour. I'd love to see a shot.

Richard D. Wile
Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada
Wednesday, May 28 2003

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Carbon wheels at the Giro

What brand of wheels are being ridden in the Giro by the likes of Garzelli, Scarponi, and even Pantani? They're deep dish carbon with no sponsor decals. They almost look like the HED Alps. Any other info on them would be great.

Rich Straub
Friday, May 30 2003

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Chain slipping

I have an Ellsworth Truth full suspension MTB with XTR components. My problem is chain skip in low gear when I climb under pressure. It is starting to skip in the higher gears. The chain is newer and well lubed, the gears have one season on them as does the derailleur. Is the problem the jockey pulley? Chain length? The problem has developed recently.

Steve
Tuesday, June 3 2003

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Sounds to me like you need new sprockets as well as a new chain. The two wear together and if your old chain was worn, a new chain won't mesh properly with the old sprockets. - JS

Campagnolo Pro-fit pedals

Has there been a product review done on Campagnolo Pro-Fit pedals. I have searched the archives and been unable to find one. I would like to weigh up the pros and cons of most of the pedals available.

Geoff Duke
Australia
Thursday, June 5 2003

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Kinky tubulars

Can someone explain a problem that has occurred to me a couple of times? Yesterday I noticed a thump, thump, thump in my front tubular tire. So when I got home I checked out the tire and noticed a pretty good kink in it. I seem to remember having this problem before but at the time the tire was old so I just replaced it. This time the tire was fairly new so I am kind of puzzled by this. My thinking is that since I do a lot of hard downhill cornering that inside the sidewall of the tire some threads may have broken. There is no external damage to the tire. Could this cause that effect.

Greg Dillon
Japan
Thursday, May 29 2003

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Nexave alternative

I recently got a new and quite unusual bike with a Shimano Nexave C-600 rear derailleur. I use it for rough road riding and touring and am having troubles with the Nexave because it bounces a lot over bumps, continually throwing the chain out of gear and making me worry about its durability for long tours over rough terrain. When I'd had enough and went to change it, I noticed there was no braze on for the cable casing to fit into on the chain stay as the Nexave system doesn't use one. What to do? Is there a better derailleur around with the same casing-less system? Any other options?

Scott Fernance
Japan
Sunday, June 8 2003

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