VeloNews is a generally great publication with excellent editorial control, but then they publish garbage like this. In this case, there’s lots of legitimate sounding terms in the article, yet it’s nonsense.  Sophmore engineer is a derogatory term to describe the “if a little is good then more is better!” mindset.

First, it’s true tubulars are better for the dedicated cyclocross racer.  Tubulars provide much lower rotational weight and reliability is improved in some conditions.   You can build lighter tubular wheels for much less money than clinchers too.  But damn they are a whole lotta work.

The article at VeloNews from a writer that claims the physics of riding clinchers are so different from tubulars that the laws of physics are altered.  To which he would reply, “Of course not!  ….”  and then alter his premise to be more specific and conveniently ignore the original ridiculous statement.

1. Somehow, tubulars offer ‘more traction’ in a way that requires clinchers to be knobbied.

This is a Sarah Palin argument.  It is purposely vague as to always be true.     But I’m just being a ‘big bummer’ by you know, collecting boring observable facts about these things.

2. Somehow a deep tread pattern is more important on a clincher.

The writer’s thinking is because one runs clinchers harder than sewups, somehow a deep tread becomes more important.  But there’s a bunch of clincher mountain bike tires/racers/history that says otherwise.  But that’s boring history.  It doesn’t promote the author’s position at all, so it isn’t relevant.

3. ‘If there’s no tread, generally, there’s not much traction.’

So, where does that leave most cross tubulars?  If we’re using the physical world as the reference point this statement is nonsense.  Last time I rode a bike, I was doing it in the physical world, not some logical construct that satisfies this statement.

The physics of bicycling suggests the clincher treads should be just like high-end not-mud tubulars and less like dirt motorcycle tires.  Clinchers are not special in this regard.

Please, don’t fall for his sophmore engineering logic.

Train better, race faster.