Comments on: Are you still using inner tubes? http://adventuresonabike.com/2009/06/03/are-you-still-using-inner-tubes/ My Cycling Journal Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:54:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Scott http://adventuresonabike.com/2009/06/03/are-you-still-using-inner-tubes/comment-page-1/#comment-1038 Scott Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:35:37 +0000 http://www.adventuresonabike.com/?p=1379#comment-1038 Good to know. I might try this on my next tire change. Good to know. I might try this on my next tire change.

]]> By: Arlyn http://adventuresonabike.com/2009/06/03/are-you-still-using-inner-tubes/comment-page-1/#comment-1037 Arlyn Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:29:45 +0000 http://www.adventuresonabike.com/?p=1379#comment-1037 Sure Scott, I'll keep you posted. I've got enough miles on the MTB tubeless to know I'd never go back, mainly because of the low pressure factors. Lower pressure is just way, way better. I've replaced the tires on my MTB and the sealant is in there - I just hosed it out and wiped my rims down with a rag. There was also a little strip of dried sealant around the old tire to deal with, but neither of these things were serious impediments. Sure Scott, I’ll keep you posted. I’ve got enough miles on the MTB tubeless to know I’d never go back, mainly because of the low pressure factors. Lower pressure is just way, way better.

I’ve replaced the tires on my MTB and the sealant is in there – I just hosed it out and wiped my rims down with a rag. There was also a little strip of dried sealant around the old tire to deal with, but neither of these things were serious impediments.

]]> By: Scott http://adventuresonabike.com/2009/06/03/are-you-still-using-inner-tubes/comment-page-1/#comment-1036 Scott Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:17:21 +0000 http://www.adventuresonabike.com/?p=1379#comment-1036 This is intriguing. Flats are definitely a part of cycling I could do without. Will you do a follow-up after a few thousand miles of road riding? For that matter, trail riding too! This could be huge for my commuter bike. It's a mountain bike fitted with road slicks. Conti and Panaracer make some ok flat-resistant tires but I haven't found anything to ward off those pesky Michelin wires that work their way through the Kevlar and are close to impossible to find once they've been sheared off. I'd like to know how messy it is to change a tire after it's worn out - what happens with all that sealant? This is intriguing. Flats are definitely a part of cycling I could do without. Will you do a follow-up after a few thousand miles of road riding? For that matter, trail riding too!

This could be huge for my commuter bike. It’s a mountain bike fitted with road slicks. Conti and Panaracer make some ok flat-resistant tires but I haven’t found anything to ward off those pesky Michelin wires that work their way through the Kevlar and are close to impossible to find once they’ve been sheared off.

I’d like to know how messy it is to change a tire after it’s worn out – what happens with all that sealant?

]]> By: Arlyn Asch http://adventuresonabike.com/2009/06/03/are-you-still-using-inner-tubes/comment-page-1/#comment-1033 Arlyn Asch Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:29:13 +0000 http://www.adventuresonabike.com/?p=1379#comment-1033 The good (and bad?) thing about doing tri's is that there are a lot of things you can focus on to improve your overall time - like how fast you can change your socks :) You inspire me cause I can barely manage to ride my bike, much less run and swim all in the same day. Enjoy your upcoming off-season :) The good (and bad?) thing about doing tri’s is that there are a lot of things you can focus on to improve your overall time – like how fast you can change your socks :)

You inspire me cause I can barely manage to ride my bike, much less run and swim all in the same day.

Enjoy your upcoming off-season :)

]]> By: Andrew http://adventuresonabike.com/2009/06/03/are-you-still-using-inner-tubes/comment-page-1/#comment-1032 Andrew Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:24:33 +0000 http://www.adventuresonabike.com/?p=1379#comment-1032 Cool. I guess by "afar," I meant I wasn't barely paying any attention at all; or at least not near enough. Thanks for the clarification and good info. Very interesting. It's really a shame how little upgrading/maintenance I've done on my bike. I have the best of intentions, but the least of spare time (at least, spare time that I don't want to devote directly to training). I shutter to think of the calamity (and bill) that awaits me as a just reward for my negligence, but I guess I just figure that "they'll be time for that" after Nicole gives birth and my season effectively ends in a few weeks. Cool. I guess by “afar,” I meant I wasn’t barely paying any attention at all; or at least not near enough. Thanks for the clarification and good info. Very interesting. It’s really a shame how little upgrading/maintenance I’ve done on my bike. I have the best of intentions, but the least of spare time (at least, spare time that I don’t want to devote directly to training). I shutter to think of the calamity (and bill) that awaits me as a just reward for my negligence, but I guess I just figure that “they’ll be time for that” after Nicole gives birth and my season effectively ends in a few weeks.

]]> By: Arlyn Asch http://adventuresonabike.com/2009/06/03/are-you-still-using-inner-tubes/comment-page-1/#comment-1031 Arlyn Asch Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:09:50 +0000 http://www.adventuresonabike.com/?p=1379#comment-1031 Tubeless is different from "glue on's" or "sew ups". In a tubeless system, you have a tire, just no tube. The magic is that the tube is a little different (thicker with a better rim bead) and the rim is sealed to prevent leaks around the spoke holes. If your tubeless gets a hole that the sealant doesn't seal for some reason, the fix is straightforward, you just put a tube in and inflate it. From what I can tell though, the hole that can't be sealed by the sealant is probably a game-ender for the tire. I actually carry a piece of rubber from an old inner tube for just this sort of calamity. I once got a sidewall tear in my tire from riding over a broken road turtle (reflector). Anyways, I do a lot of long-distance backcountry rides and you need to be a boyscout to get yourself home. An additional benefit of road tubeless for the tri-guy is reduced weight. If you run a pair of really lightweight tubeless tires, you can save several hundred grams of rotational weight - which is the most significant weight, right on the outside edge of your rotating wheel. My general, non-tubeless rule of thumb on flats (for road tires) is to buy quality tires (Conti!!!) and replace them often. You'll avoid most flats this way. Tubeless is different from “glue on’s” or “sew ups”. In a tubeless system, you have a tire, just no tube. The magic is that the tube is a little different (thicker with a better rim bead) and the rim is sealed to prevent leaks around the spoke holes.

If your tubeless gets a hole that the sealant doesn’t seal for some reason, the fix is straightforward, you just put a tube in and inflate it. From what I can tell though, the hole that can’t be sealed by the sealant is probably a game-ender for the tire. I actually carry a piece of rubber from an old inner tube for just this sort of calamity. I once got a sidewall tear in my tire from riding over a broken road turtle (reflector). Anyways, I do a lot of long-distance backcountry rides and you need to be a boyscout to get yourself home.

An additional benefit of road tubeless for the tri-guy is reduced weight. If you run a pair of really lightweight tubeless tires, you can save several hundred grams of rotational weight – which is the most significant weight, right on the outside edge of your rotating wheel.

My general, non-tubeless rule of thumb on flats (for road tires) is to buy quality tires (Conti!!!) and replace them often. You’ll avoid most flats this way.

]]> By: Andrew http://adventuresonabike.com/2009/06/03/are-you-still-using-inner-tubes/comment-page-1/#comment-1030 Andrew Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:58:53 +0000 http://www.adventuresonabike.com/?p=1379#comment-1030 Huh. That tells you how long it's been since I've been on a mountain bike. Didn't even know that had tubeless for those. I've sort of paid attention to the tubular/clincher debate from afar for my tri bike. I get the pros, but they frankly seem like too big of a pain in the ass. Glue, wait, meh. I also don't like the idea of being basically totally screwed if I flat during a race. Of course, I've been lucky so far. No flats in any tri. Actually, very few flats at all while riding. That doesn't mean it doesn't haunt me as I continue to stick with my 2 month old "lucky" tubes, but I guess it's something. Huh. That tells you how long it’s been since I’ve been on a mountain bike. Didn’t even know that had tubeless for those.

I’ve sort of paid attention to the tubular/clincher debate from afar for my tri bike. I get the pros, but they frankly seem like too big of a pain in the ass. Glue, wait, meh. I also don’t like the idea of being basically totally screwed if I flat during a race.

Of course, I’ve been lucky so far. No flats in any tri. Actually, very few flats at all while riding. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t haunt me as I continue to stick with my 2 month old “lucky” tubes, but I guess it’s something.

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