If the wheel has already had a tubular tyre, the glue will have to be removed, which can take some time and involve certain difficulties. We'll take you through the steps, but if you don't feel comfortable with this operation, don't hesitate to take your wheel to a professional for fitting.
1 - To be done 24 hours before assembly
The diameter of the tubulars is small compared to the diameter of the wheel so that they securely stay on the rim once mounted. To stretch it up a little, we recommend that you pre-inflate the tubular 24 hours before fitting the tubular tyre so that it starts to stretch, giving it more elasticity when you lay it down.
2 - Remove the tubular
Always start removing your tubular from the opposite side to the valve.
Start by peeling off the edges of the tubular as much as possible by hand.
Repeat this operation on both sides to remove the entire tubular from the rim. Using a flat-head screwdriver can make the operation easier but is not recommended, since there is a high risk you will damage the rim and tubular.
When you have succeeded in peeling off part of the tubular from the rim, you simply need to pull on it to remove the rest entirely.
3 - Remove glue residues
The next step is to remove the glue residues from the rim. If you don't do this, it could create an imperfection that could cause the wheel to jump when it turns, due to the extra thickness.
The professionals use a screwdriver to remove the first layer, taking great care not to damage the wheel. This is not recommended for beginners as it could scratch the carbon of the wheel and damage it.
You can finish off by using adhesive paper to remove any remaining glue. The idea is to obtain an even surface all around the rim.
4 - Stretch the tubular
Before mounting a tubular, you must stretch it. Inflate the tubular to the max recommended pressure, close the valve and let it sit overnight.