A tubular tyre, referred to as a tub in Britain, a sew-up in the US, a single in Australia, or just a tubular is a bicycle tyre that is stitched closed around the inner tube to form a torus. The combination is then glued onto a specially designed rim, referred to as a "sprint rim" in Britain, and just a "tubular rim" in the US, of a bicycle wheel.
Cross section of a tubular tyre: The inner tube (red) is completely enclosed by textile casing (white). A layer of rubber (black) provides grip while riding. The inner tube is covered with white talc powder to prevent it from sticking to itself.
Tubular tire rolled from rim to show glue between them
André Leducq and Georges Speicher in the 1933 Tour de France carrying spare tubular tyres on their shoulders
Wooden bicycle rim with tubular tyre and a Presta valve
A bicycle tire is a tire that fits on the wheel of a bicycle or similar vehicle. These tires may also be used on tricycles, wheelchairs, and handcycles, frequently for racing. Bicycle tires provide an important source of suspension, generate the lateral forces necessary for balancing and turning, and generate the longitudinal forces necessary for propulsion and braking. Although the use of a pneumatic tire greatly reduces rolling resistance compared to the use of a rigid wheel or solid tire, the tires are still typically the second largest source, after wind resistance, of power consumption on a level road. The modern detachable pneumatic bicycle tire contributed to the popularity and eventual dominance of the safety bicycle.
A clincher bicycle tire mounted on a wheel
A cross section of a clincher tire with a puncture-preventing layer (in blue) between the casing and the tread
An inner tube rolled up for storage or to be carried as a spare
New Mail Ladies Safety bicycle, circa 1891, with solid rubber tires
