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Road Bike Wheels Selection Guide

Do you want to run your wheels with an inner tube (regular clinchers), without an inner tube (tubeless), or with tubular tyres?

Clincher is the rim form that can only be used with inner tubes. The advantage is that you can always change the inner tube if you have a puncture. The disadvantage is that you have to stop to change the inner tube. The risk of getting a blowout is higher during a descent or in warm weather. Tubeless (without inner tube) is the latest trend. Tubeless tyres have a lower rolling resistance and offer more comfort. A tubeless tyre has to be used with tubeless valves, latex fluid and sometimes tubeless rim tape to fit the tyre onto the rim in an airtight way. If you have a puncture, the latex fluid fills it so that you can keep riding without having to stop. Tubular tyres are glued onto the rim. Tubular wheels are lighter so they react faster. The riding experience is optimized because of lots of comfort, a low probability of punctures and ideal grip in all circumstances. Tubulars are more difficult to replace when you have a puncture though.