Tubular noob questions

ROK ON

I have purchased a pair of deep section wheels with tubular tyres. As I have not used tubs before I have some questions.

I have seen tyre sealant on websites - is this worth buying?
How does it work. Is it as simple as assuming that unless I get a blowout or large gash in the tyre that sealant will prevent enough airloss from a normal puncture that should allow me to GT home.

In the event of a puncture what does one do?
Do people carry spare tyres and tape - how practical is this to fit on the roadside?

Any other considerations that I should be aware of.

Thanks

Eamonnator

Your team car will always be right behind you, with spare wheels.
Your mechanic will change the tubs, no need for you to worry.

AstraMonti

It is worth buying the sealant, but I wouldn't put it in wheels that you won't use often. Otherwise it will dry up and it will become a dead weight inside the tyre. Personally I carry with me a caffelatex espresso, so if I get a puncture this thing will hopefully fill it. I don't carry a spare tyre in the races, but again I 've never done any long ones. I 've taken my tubs though in long spins without a spare tyre.

If the sealant doesn't work then you have to use the spare tyre. It's fairly simple to do it in the side of the road, I have practiced home and its fast enough. You just pull the tyre of the wheel, If the glue bond is too strong then you might need a tyre lever to lift up and unglue it. The remaining glue is good enough to hold the tyre until you get home. Then you only need a layer of glue to set it back properly. Also the tyre that you carry with you must be preglued.

I wouldn't do tape on the side of the road, actually after I learned how to glue the tyres I am not using tapes again.

Tubs are amazing to ride (if you have good tyres) and there is a lot of scaremongering around them. I am expecting my 3rd set of tubs in a couple of weeks, if you want come over and we ll go through the gluing process together (p.s. I am not an expert!).

ROK ON

Thanks for the offer - by come over you mean to Athens where the weather is :-)

But yes, you make the souvlaki and I'll bring the beer and a bag of glue (I am from Limerick after all, we carry glue everywhere).