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ASK RBA: ASK RC: PATCHING TUBULAR TIRES
Richard Cunningham
May 3, 2010
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

How do you patch a tubular tire?
– Terry

Mark the hole when it flats so you can find it later. Peel back the base tape just where the hole is. Cut the threads with a razor blade until you have a one-inch hole in the tire casing – leaving a half-inch of the stitching intact on either side of the hole. Then push aside the felt liner and pull the tube through the hole in the casing Patch with a small glue-type patch, stuff it back in and tuck the felt liner in place.

Use two needles to sew the casing back together on one length of high-strength thread (leather repair shops sell it) – like you are lacing your shoes through the existing holes. Begin by overlapping the intact stitching by a fourth of an inch – finish a fourth inch over the opposite side and tie off. Spread latex glue (call industrial carpet suppliers if you have trouble finding some at your local shop) on both the liner and the tire casing, let it tack up for a few minutes and then, stretch the tire level and press the base tape onto the casing. It will have stretched, so you may have to pull on the tire to get the kink out of the base tape.

I wrap the tire loosely with a plastic sheet (saran wrap) and then clamp it between a folded towel and a short piece of wood to get the base tape anatomically bonded to the casing.

Done – your fix may cause a little wiggle, but the tire will live to race again.

Plan B: There is a guy in Florida who fixes tubulars for as little as $17.00. www.tirealert.com. I say: "save them up until you have ten and it will be the cheapest $170 you have ever spent."

Contact Richard Cunningham for questions or comments, or just to talk bikes at: askRC@roadbikeaction.com
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