Shop Talk 29 Nov 2007 07:21 pm

Tubular Report: Greg Reain Method

Well, Croutch just won the provincials on the last set of tubulars that I glued, and they held up just fine through the last half of the season racing in dry, snow and mud. They were glued using the Greg Reain method plus a little extra:

  • Vittoria Mastik One glue (this glue is a lot firmer than the Gommitalia)
  • Three layers on the rim – the middle one quite thick
  • Two layers on the base tape, one thick
  • A last think layer on the rim
  • Mount the tire when the glue is wet
  • Mask the tire sidewall and the rim braking surface, deflate the tire, run a bead of glue in the crease between the rim and the tire

All told, 5.5 tubes of glue and four days for two wheels – Grifo tires on Ambrosio rims. I still don’t think the Ambrosio Excellence rims are the best rim for CX tubulars, but it all worked out. Croutch ran the tires around 35psi, and gave them rave reviews.

4 Responses to “Tubular Report: Greg Reain Method”

  1. on 27 Jun 2008 at 12:49 am 1.Rod O said …

    With you up to the bead down the crease, but you lost me on the masking. Good idea, thanks!

  2. on 27 Jun 2008 at 10:33 am 2.David said …

    Stick electrical tape on the braking surface of the rim and on the side walls of the tire. I did this before gluing anything. It lets you get the glue right to the edges of the rim and the tape on the tire, without making a mess. When you mount the tire, the tape gets pulled off and there is a bit of a mess, but if you put electrical tape back on the braking surface and the sidewall, you can run a nice thick bead of glue down the crease, and then let it dry and peel off the tape – no glue on the braking surface….

  3. on 27 Jun 2008 at 10:34 am 3.David said …

    Maybe I should take some pictures….

  4. on 26 Sep 2008 at 12:35 pm 4.rod o said …

    Jeez – I forgot about the masking. Hence all of the squeeling brakes for the last couple of weeks. Luckily I get to try again – a few more times I’m sure.

    Also have this stuff now – Goo-Gone I think it is, seems to work well after the fact.

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