Gluing Cyclocross Tubulars

There is no question that tubular tires have a distinct advantage in cyclocross racing. I had a pretty good experience racing the Michelin Mud 2 during my first cross season but this year I couldn't resist the urge to go tubular. I wanted the full experience so I took it upon myself to do some homework on gluing cyclocross tubulars and then have a go at it. The first thing I found out was that every expert has their own expert way of doing it. I consulted three trusted sources, Leonard Zinn, Sheldon Brown and my local bike shop mechnic Josh, whom I trust more than the other two combined, and found no strict concensus on any part of the process other than one thing. You MUST use belgian tape!

After soaking in all the good advise I decided on my technique. 2 layers of cement on the basetape of each tire (cured for 24 hrs in between applications). 2 layers of cement on the rim with a layer of belgian rim tape applied after the second coat is applied. This is where I am as of tonight. Finally I will apply one more coat of cement over the tape and stretch on the tires. One great tip that I employed was to mask off the brake track on each rim with electrical tape. This makes applying cement to the rim much less tedius and makes for a much cleaner edge. So far, no disasters. If all continues to go according to plan I will have these bad boys fitted on tomorrow night and ready to ride by Thursday. The final step will be to add 50ml of Caffelatex sealant to each tire (just in case). I know it will add a little weight but I dont have Stu Thorne waiting in the pit with countless sets of wheels and a fresh bike every lap so the insurance is worth a little peace of mind. With a brand new set of custom hand builts (Shimano Dura Ace 7800 32h hubs, Velocity Major Tom 23mm wide rims, and Sapim CX-Ray 3x spokes) fitted with a fresh pair of Vittoria Cross EVO XG tires I will have no excuses. Its time to go fast and put these puppies to the test!