Login
Register
Follow us on

6 Do’s and Don’ts of Gluing Tubulars

As the mechanic for the women's pro cycling squad Team Colavita, Andrea Smith spends a lot of time gluing tubulars—tyres that consist of an inner tube enclosed in a casing, which is then glued or taped onto the rim.

Caitlin Giddings |
As the mechanic for the women’s pro cycling squad Team Colavita, Andrea Smith spends a lot of time gluing tubulars—tyres that consist of an inner tube enclosed in a casing, which is then glued or taped onto the rim. – By Caitlin Giddingsgluing-tubularsHome mechanics are often reluctant to install the tyres themselves, she says, but these six tips will go a long way toward demystifying the process.

 DO

• Prestretch the tubular prior to applying glue: Put the tyre on the rim, inflate to 8bar, and wait 24 hours. This will make it easier to install.• Wear gloves when working with acetone or other rim cleaners, and make sure the area is well ventilated. “Once I was doing it for eight hours and woke up the next morning with a headache,” Smith says. “I thought, I shouldn’t have drunk so much…Wait! I wasn’t drinking—I was breathing glue fumes.”• Be patient. Let the tubular adhesive cure as long as you can—Smith waits 24 hours—so you get a strong bond. Don’t rush a process that you’re relying on to keep you upright.

 DON’T

• Apply too much glue. Use a thin layer on the rim and base tape of the tyre. Don’t apply it too thickly or let it ball up.

• Store extra tubulars in the garage. They’re sensitive to temperature changes. Choose a storage area that’s cool, dry, and dark.

• Be intimidated! “It’s really a fairly easy step-by-step process—just give yourself time,” Smith says.

READ MORE ON: bike advice maintenance road Skills

Copyright © 2024 Hearst
..