Tubulars: To age or not to age

I know this has been hottly debated in the past, but on an episode
entitled "Chasing Lance" on FitTV this week Julien DeVriese, Discovery
Team's chief mechanic said that he ages all the tubulars the team uses.
I don't recall the reason -- I only had the tube on for background
noise at the time -- I thought he said something about releasing oils
in the rubber. Also, I think he said something about aging for a year
before use.
Sorry, I don't remeber exactly. Maybe someone who saw the show can
correct me.

dale b

dale b wrote:
I know this has been hottly debated in the past, but on an episode
entitled "Chasing Lance" on FitTV this week Julien DeVriese, Discovery
Team's chief mechanic said that he ages all the tubulars the team uses.
I don't recall the reason -- I only had the tube on for background
noise at the time -- I thought he said something about releasing oils
in the rubber. Also, I think he said something about aging for a year
before use.
Sorry, I don't remeber exactly. Maybe someone who saw the show can
correct me.

Oh, Jobst is going to love this one ;-)

Apparently they mature best if aged in a darkened room, on a rim at half
pressure. I think this came about because Dugast et al want their
products to be considered like fine champagne...

dale b wrote:
I know this has been hottly debated in the past, but on an episode
entitled "Chasing Lance" on FitTV this week Julien DeVriese, Discovery
Team's chief mechanic said that he ages all the tubulars the team uses.
I don't recall the reason -- I only had the tube on for background
noise at the time -- I thought he said something about releasing oils
in the rubber. Also, I think he said something about aging for a year
before use.
Sorry, I don't remeber exactly. Maybe someone who saw the show can
correct me.

dale b

in terms of absolute speed, age. rubber continues to polymerize over
time and therefore hardens. harder = less hysteresis loss.

in terms of grip, use immediately. opposite logic applies.

I thought the main practical reason for aging tubular tires was to harden the casing and the tread in the desired round profile shape so as to reduce the chances of getting punctures. This is particular true for the less expensive tires that are made not with cold vulcanizing techniques, but using a technique where a flat tread is applied to the casing. These tires have a flat profile when new. When these tires are first inflated, the tread is under tension making them highly susceptible to cuts and punctures. Aging them, I thought, reduces the tension on the tread by reshaping the tread into the round profile. I would think that the same theory would apply, to a lesser degree, to the more expensive, cold-vulcanized tubulars. Was I wrong to believe this theory for the last 15 years that I have been riding tubular tires?

JC


dale b wrote:
I know this has been hottly debated in the past, but on an episode
entitled "Chasing Lance" on FitTV this week Julien DeVriese, Discovery
Team's chief mechanic said that he ages all the tubulars the team uses.
I don't recall the reason -- I only had the tube on for background
noise at the time -- I thought he said something about releasing oils
in the rubber. Also, I think he said something about aging for a year
before use.
Sorry, I don't remeber exactly. Maybe someone who saw the show can
correct me.

dale b

dale b wrote:
I know this has been hottly debated in the past, but on an episode
entitled "Chasing Lance" on FitTV this week Julien DeVriese, Discovery
Team's chief mechanic said that he ages all the tubulars the team uses.
I don't recall the reason -- I only had the tube on for background
noise at the time -- I thought he said something about releasing oils
in the rubber. Also, I think he said something about aging for a year
before use.
Sorry, I don't remeber exactly. Maybe someone who saw the show can
correct me.

dale b

Teehee...I won't even jump into this one.

Jee Chung writes:

I know this has been hottly debated in the past, but on an episode
entitled "Chasing Lance" on FitTV this week Julien DeVriese,
Discovery Team's chief mechanic said that he ages all the tubulars
the team uses. I don't recall the reason -- I only had the tube on
for background noise at the time -- I thought he said something
about releasing oils in the rubber. Also, I think he said something
about aging for a year before use. Sorry, I don't remeber
exactly. Maybe someone who saw the show can correct me.

I thought the main practical reason for aging tubular tires was to
harden the casing and the tread in the desired round profile shape
so as to reduce the chances of getting punctures. This is
particular true for the less expensive tires that are made not with
cold vulcanizing techniques, but using a technique where a flat
tread is applied to the casing. These tires have a flat profile
when new. When these tires are first inflated, the tread is under
tension making them highly susceptible to cuts and punctures. Aging
them, I thought, reduces the tension on the tread by reshaping the
tread into the round profile. I would think that the same theory
would apply, to a lesser degree, to the more expensive,
cold-vulcanized tubulars. Was I wrong to believe this theory for
the last 15 years that I have been riding tubular tires?

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/tubular-fables.html

Quoting dale b :
I know this has been hottly debated in the past, but on an episode
entitled "Chasing Lance" on FitTV this week Julien DeVriese, Discovery
Team's chief mechanic said that he ages all the tubulars the team uses.
I don't recall the reason

He's paid by the hour?
--
David Damerell Kill the tomato!
Today is Teleute, Presuary.