Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!
Moderator: robbosmans
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AJS914
- Posts: 5397
- Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:52 pm
by AJS914 on Fri Nov 19, 2021 3:37 pm
PoorCyclist wrote: ↑Fri Nov 19, 2021 4:11 am
I used to see people riding high end rim brake frames when road bikes were pretty much rim brakes only. Now I don't see them any more, all bikes have disc brakes, I wonder what happened to them? Crashed or sold to a less frequent rider?
I think we are in the period where these bikes are the N+1 for those riders. They are sitting on a trainer or in garages collecting dust for now.
I've been looking for a deal on a rim brake 56cm Tarmac SL6. Most SL6es I see on ebay are disc brake and the few rim brake models that get offered are often over priced (for me) or an ugly color.
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usr
- Posts: 889
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2021 5:58 pm
by usr on Fri Nov 19, 2021 10:42 pm
Singular wrote: ↑Fri Nov 19, 2021 9:33 am
The inability to change tyres (swiftly)
The added hassle of potential flats - with clinchers I can stuff a tube in (also on TL), and if all evil aligns and things get really bad I can patch tubes and put in a wrapper/tyre boot (if cutting the sidewall) to limp home. And I'm not really keen on lugging a complete spare tub around effectively offsetting any weight savings in addition to the fiddly nature of it
I keep wondering if there might be a tubular renaissance built on innovations from the tubeless sector like improved sealants and dynaplugs. Perhaps even some sewn-in emergency foam donuts for those who'd prefer to have them. Rims that need to withstand neither the expansion forces of clincher/tubeless nor the tweezing of a brake caliper should be able to be built far more radical than rims that can only ignore one of those requirements.
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Singular
- Posts: 537
- Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2020 8:59 am
by Singular on Fri Nov 19, 2021 11:28 pm
Challenge is the last real holdout for tubulars (along with Dugast and FMB, but they're not as vocal) and make a case for its value in a modern setting (with things like a tubeless-ish tubular). Will that keep the technology alive?
To be honest...nopes, I don't think so. Like rim brakes, high-end mechanical shifting and titanium it is moving into boutique, connoisseur, custom and enthusiast territory.
Even now, getting hold of a (new) wheel is tricky enough with practically all major players leaving tubs behind for tubeless/clinchers. The performance oriented customer is more focused on rollling resistance and aerodynamics than weight now, meaning that those 200ish grams one used to save with a pair of tubs (which meant the world once) is quickly overshadowed by a slightly higher RR (and a lack of contemporary shaped rims/wheels).
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choochoo46
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 4:19 am
by choochoo46 on Mon Nov 29, 2021 4:32 am
Thanks for all the good insights. I will monitor the pricing for rim-brake WTOs as they seem like the bees knees.
If I can't find a good deal for the WTOs in the next 12 months I think I'll get the Lightbicycle 55mm deep Falcon Pros. At 1334g (with Carbon Ti hubs) and 21mm internal and 28mm external they'll be a good aero fit for 25mm tires (as a road racing wheelset). They seem to hit the price / performance sweet spot to me.
https://www.lightbicycle.com/700C-road- ... elset.html