Getting a flat on the track with a clincher would be quite the feat in itself. if you really try hard, of course possible :
1. low inflation pressure, and you pinch. easily prevented.
2. a freshly installed tire and tube that was done wrong (twisted or ? ) easily prevented...
3. you have embedded glass that finally gets the tube. easily prevented...
4. act of God or other?

As someone who usually rides to the track on my track bike, I check for cuts and embedded glass when i get up there. Usually carry a spare folded tire just in case... (note embedded glass and cuts are typically only a problem when raining.. whenever i check any of my tires in the winter there is at least a couple glass slivers in a high quality tire say GP4000, and up to 10 or so in lower quality thicker rubber tire.. most small, but nonetheless. )

I have always had a problem with the glue-squirming-theory on affecting the rolling efficiency of tubulars. the guys who did the testing though swear up and down that its there and that they did the test correctly... Of course for hard glue there is no squirming, but then the tire is on the rim for the life of the tire (or said anther way, if you try to take the tire off, the tire's life is over). The ride of a tubular is nice though, still remember a crit in 89 downtown detroit on cobbles , someone crashed, i flipped, got a free lap and a tubular front. Whoa so nice, more secure on the bumpy corners, so faster.. I would think ride quality has to be worth a whole lot, especially the reduced shock and vibration fatigue on very long pro races..

I won't mess with tubulars anymore, just not worth my time or trouble at my level. (But there is no denying the nice ride especially on bumpy surfaces and lighter weight.) Even as a notorious DIYer, i would now have Bike Central or someone else do the mounting for me, then they are done for the next year or two ... but then i would need to get a locker at the track or drive to the track, obviously no way i would ride these on the road and chance a flat. i use get out the needle and thread and repair tubulars, it has to be done perfectly and those tubes are so thin or latex, and i wouldn't race on a repaired tubular anyway...

----- Original Message ----
From: Erik Voldengen
To: OBRA
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 11:53:04 AM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Tubulars vs. clinchers

Well, consider this:

The track is banked at something like 43 degrees. As someone who's
fallen from the VERY top, I can attest that it's a long ways down.

If you get a puncture on that banking, odds are a clincher will come
off. Riding a bare rim on the 43 degree banking would probably suck.

If you puncture with a tubular, it will at least stay on the rim,
giving you enough traction to make it to the infield.

-Erik
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