FMB Roubaix tubulars may be €110 each, but in the eyes of our reviewer they represent many of the iconic elements of the sport of cycling.
Review: FMB Roubaix tubulars
By Myles McCorry
If you’ve ever watched Paris-Roubaix and longingly glared at Tom Boonen’s bike milling along the crest of the pavé you could, if you had enough cash, easily go and buy his bike. Well most of it.
In the 1990s this was not the case. Rarely were the bikes the professionals rode the models claimed, regardless of the stickers on the frames.
The actual team-issue gear was whispered to be as light as a barrel of feathers and handmade by virgin clock makers in a secret cave in the Italian Alps.
Now with bike manufacturers back as primary investors in the pro game, top riders are paid to use the bikes we see them on and they are available in shops everywhere.
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But one thing that might prove slightly harder to lay your hands on is tubulars, even for the pro teams.
Mechanics working with the larger squads are dispatched to France to source them. They have to follow a treasure map to a small, four-man company and swap bags of cash to bring back some special rubber.
Founded by François Marie, FMB is the last remaining tubular maker to use the traditional handmade process.
Using cotton or silk for the casing, and making each stage by hand results in the highest performance tyre.
Such a simple piece of kit evokes everything wonderful in cycle sport.
They smelt amazing. The side walls felt like Julia Roberts' underwear on Valentines night. The herringbone rubber was made from mixing Freddy Maerten’s sofa and Fausto Coppi’s socks.
If you hold these up to your ear and listen very carefully, you can hear the commentary from the 1976 Tour of Flanders.
I removed Victoria CX's (has an unpunctured one ever been replaced before?) to test the 25mm Roubaix version from FMB.
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The base tape absorbed nearly a whole tube of tub cement. And when I went back next morning to fit them on they looked dry and yelled for more glue. Another light stretch and they rolled on to the rim with a sigh.
Do they work? Does it matter?
The tub’s supple and tight weave means these tubulars can be ridden at a lower pressure for the same drag.
This means more comfort and less energy used when hitting sections of cobbles at 50 kilometres an hour. And they are pretty.
The extra puncture resistance is legendary and five out of the last six editions of Roubaix have been won on FMBs.
Says Marie of his manufacturing process: “It normally takes two full weeks to complete one tubular. We work in batches, but with the drying time between each different phase of production it is a slow process.
“That is why I have never spent one centime on advertising. If I have a higher demand then quality will be affected.”
The zing of a new tub is a lovely thing. The handmade FMB stamp looks like the soul of cycle sport through my eyes.
With eight bar tapped into them, they were simply fantastic on a trip into the mountains. It is a strange thing to long for an empty car park to do figure of 8s.
And that is it. I really couldn’t see any difference in the CXs they replaced. And they do cost a really daft amount of money at €110 each. But the added value to a spin is nearly priceless.
The only danger is getting lost in the fantasy they evoke. For Tom only.
- For: Stunning looks
- Against: Not for us humans to use.
- Score: 10/10
- Check them out: fm-boyaux.fr
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