Tubulars, and how to not roll them

There have been some reports of rolled tubulars recently. With crit season squarely upon us, let's not have any of us be tubie rollers.

First if you have tires glued on, bump the pressure down to maybe 50 or 60 psi and have a check. Try to roll the tire off. It should be a challenge to get the tire unstuck with your thumbs. Keep in mind that winning this challenge means regluing the whole thing so be cautious, but be thorough. If you tires have been glued since last summer, be a bit suspicious. The glue does dry out.

If you are using new wheels, remove ALL stickers from the tire bed. Use a solvent that is not paint thinner to clean the tire bed. Naptha and acetone are good. This gets rid of oils etc that may be left from building and handling.

Stretch new tires well. I go 100psi on a rim for at least one day.

I go two coats on the rim and one on the tire before they go together. The two coats on the rim are thin. Thin thin. Thick is bad, bare spots are bad. Thin and complete is your goal. To glue the tire, pump it up until it turns inside out, then glue the tire tape. I use my finger (in a glove) for the rim and a plumbers flux brush (about $5 for a lifetime supply) for the tires.  The finger technique let's me get thin and even on the rim but it doesn't work for me on the tire. Allow a day of drying btwn coats on the rim, and again before you install the tire.

When installing the tire, I put the glue on the rim. This makes it easier to not get glue where you don't want it. Ymmv. The glue will tack up pretty quickly, but if you've stretched your tire well, you'll be able to finagle the tire straight with no problem.  Then pump the tire to about 80psi and leave it for a day to dry completely.

Other techniques might work but I don't know because I've never used them.

You can get suspended by USAC for rolling a tire.  Don't be that guy.