The divisive nature of Rule #29 is not to be underestimated. It is but a humble satchel, but our rejection of its use sends people completely out of their minds. One fine gentleman even threatened my editor at Cyclist Magazine with cancellation of his subscription on the basis that they published an article wherein I espoused the virtues of going EPMS-less. If I recall correctly, the reader felt my writing was, “a black eye on an otherwise flawless magazine.” Some people, it appears, really love their saddle bags.
Nevertheless, the truth remains: they are ugly and there is no need for one if you choose your tools carefully and maintain your bicycle appropriately. Granted, if you prefer an al fresco lunch mid-ride and therefore require room for a baguette, some brie, and a nice bottle of Burgundy, you may require more than a jersey pocket. Similarly, if you are of the mechanical inclination that requires you carry a press for on-the-road headset replacements, you might also require some additional storage. That said, if your mechanical skills are at a level that your bicycle is in such a state, I might argue that carrying a cell phone and an emergency contact list is really all you need because the tools are unlikely to help.
But I digress. Ugly though the EPMS may be, it is obviously perfectly acceptable to tie a spare tubular tire under your saddle. This is for the obvious and irrefutable reason that riding tubs is for the more cultured Velominatus and strapping a tire under the saddle is the traditional way the Europeans have handled carrying a spare tire ever since they stopped carrying them strapped over their shoulders. Do not allow yourself to be distracted by the fact that a European Posterior Tubular is often mistaken for an saddlebag. One is a nod to our heritage, the other an abomination sense and style. Trust me on this.
But carrying a spare tub does pose a challenge: how do you roll it up into a small enough package that it (a) doesn’t sway (b) doesn’t rub the insides of your pistoning guns and (c) doesn’t fall off and get tangled up in your wheel.
The first two are a matter of what style of tire to carry. The natural inclination is to carry a spare tire identical to the ones you are riding on your wheels, but that is likely to be a 23 or 25 mm tire and will be rather bulky when rolled up. Instead, the spare should be considered an emergency tire intended to get you safely through the rest of your ride; you’ll be pulling it off and gluing it on properly when you get home, so it can be chosen for its folding size and weight rather than to match it to the tires you normally ride. Then comes the question of how to roll it up into a tiny package which can be neatly strapped under the saddle (see photos). Finally – and I learned this the hard way – if the tire does come loose over some unusually rough roads (say, washboards on a high speed gravel descent), you will want it to stay in the small bundle rather than unwinding and getting tangled in your back wheel.
European Posterior Tubular Guidelines:
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Folding a Tub/”/]
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One piece of advice... if you have multiple wheel sets with tubs on (low, mid and deep section) never assume you have a 'universal' spare tub with you. Make sure you have a small range of extensions. One is the one that screws on, and you leave the valve open. This is very useful for being able to pump up tub on a mid section rim, when you have a 'short' valve, or adding to any tub in any random circumstance.
Two a) is the Vittoria extension which screws on to the tub at the base. This allows you to swap the valve with a longer one, pump it up, and , critically, shut the valve once pumped up.
Two b) is the Continental extension which screws in to the tub at the top of the valve. Here, you take out the schraeder, screw it in, then add back the schraeder.
And with those, you will feel much more relaxed if you take the little tiny plastic 'spanner' that allows you to remove and add them much more easily to a level of tightness that stops leakage.
As you can imagine, I have learnt this through personal experience.
In total - 10g of accessories to make your tub life complete.
VLVTubitatus.
Having one of my main events coming up in June where "failure is not an option" I'm struggling with what to fit and what to carry. The route is allegedly 25% Strade Bianche of UK variety courtesy Beaching's Cuts of the 1960s out of 170 km total. Currently have Vittoria Corsa Evo and planning on carrying 2 x Continental Gatorskins plus Pitstop. This is based on having to bail a ride the other week when I double punctured on cheaper Vittoria Rally where I only had the one spare with me. Kinda feels overkill but nervous of the gravel sections and won't have an opportunity to check them out beforehand.
A-Merckx.
@Teocalli Last time I did a big ride I took two spares. Do you have something a tad tougher than a Vittoria Corsa to fit in the first instance? Say, Paves or Veloflex Arenberg/Roubaix? I hope your Contis are well stretched for spare duty.
I love cycling heritage as much as the next guy, but I'll go back to tubulars when I raise my hand after a flat and a minion hops out of a Skoda,changes it, and pushes me off.
The tub era was done for me when Big Mig showed up at the 1992 Tour sporting Michelin Service Course clinchers. Soon after, I brought out my Nisi Countach/Croce d'aune's for races only, and purchased a new device called a Mavic Open Pro.
@fignons barber
I hear ya! I haven't reverted to tubs either and so far I can't make up my mind. But just in case I did just cut the spokes out of some old six speed box section tubular wheels so I can stretch some tire on them .
OK, at least I was not actually named in this article. EPMS vs EPTB, and a folding lesson too. It does look mighty pro, no one can argue that.
May I inquire what tools shall be carried and where, when one is sans saddlebag?
I tape a Park MT1 and a spoke wrench to the saddle rails, and slip a mini pump into the NDS jersey pocket.
Reasoning: tools in the jersey pocket invite an Allen key to the vertebrae in event of an off-bike event, the spoke wrench makes a lousy nose ring, and while an elegant color-matched frame pump is a worthy accessory to a frame, a squat mini pump looks like a swelling pimple. CO2 fits better in the jersey but we need all the upper body exercise we can get.
@Nate
After wrestling with Conti's, both clincher (GP4000) and tub (Competition) onto rims, I'd have them on the wheels to do/start the ride with. Definitely wouldn't use Conti's as spares.
@fignons barber
Time and place. Personally I run clinchers on my training wheelset but it's tubulars all the way for racing. Around here I go through something in the order of 200 tubes a years. Yes, the roads are just that shit when it comes to debris, and no, none are pinch flats. No way I can justify using singles at that rate of consumption. On the other hand, I only suffered one flat whilst on tubs last year, on one so far this year so no problems justifying it there.
you have nothing better to do with your time than deride the epms? get a life