Commuting tubeless
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Commuting tubeless
Hey,
How "confident" would you be when commuting in tubeless set-up?
I have a wheelset with ZTR rims, tubeless tyres, and sealant in.
I ride 30mm tyres, and inflate to ~4 bar.
I have a daily 2x10 km commute.
I naver had a flat in 3 months, but how confident would *you* feel in this set-up?
Enough not to carry spare tube and pump?
Enough not to carry spare tube and pump but have one at the office so that in the worst case I only have to walk 5km to get to a repairing place?
Not confident enough to ride without repairing gear?
How "confident" would you be when commuting in tubeless set-up?
I have a wheelset with ZTR rims, tubeless tyres, and sealant in.
I ride 30mm tyres, and inflate to ~4 bar.
I have a daily 2x10 km commute.
I naver had a flat in 3 months, but how confident would *you* feel in this set-up?
Enough not to carry spare tube and pump?
Enough not to carry spare tube and pump but have one at the office so that in the worst case I only have to walk 5km to get to a repairing place?
Not confident enough to ride without repairing gear?
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so lets say you decide to carry the tube and co2/pump. what happens if you do get a flat? now you have to clear out the liquid inside the tire and insert a tube and pump it up? seems messy but also, i dont run tubeless so i'm not really even sure how it works. i just go with the pump and tube method and i run gatorskins
if someone else wants to comment though, i'd be curious as to their experiences were.
if someone else wants to comment though, i'd be curious as to their experiences were.
#4
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I have generally found, commuting tubeless, that the sealant patches a hole before it loses enough air to need to refill it, so I just keep riding on a slightly squishier tire and top it off when I get home.
That said, I definitely ride with a tube and CO2. In general I hate CO2 so a situation where I won't have to use it is the best... My frame pumps are full-sized and not a great fit for this bike and the backpack I wear while commuting on it.
After 2 summers of commuting tubeless, with a 3rd coming up, I am still on the fence about it. Spraying sealant all over the bike while it seals up is a pretty spectacular sticky mess. But it is totally cool when it works (which is almost always).
That said, I definitely ride with a tube and CO2. In general I hate CO2 so a situation where I won't have to use it is the best... My frame pumps are full-sized and not a great fit for this bike and the backpack I wear while commuting on it.
After 2 summers of commuting tubeless, with a 3rd coming up, I am still on the fence about it. Spraying sealant all over the bike while it seals up is a pretty spectacular sticky mess. But it is totally cool when it works (which is almost always).
#5
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I wouldn't commute without a spare tube and pump, but I also ride my commuter long distance on the weekends, and my commute home might turn into a 35 mile ride. I have a plug kit and tire boots on the bike also, because I hate walking. My standard commute is 12 miles, for 10 KM, I probably would think of ditching the tube and pump.
#6
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I still use inner tubes. My rule for myself is that I have to be prepared for at least one flat if I'm going more than three miles. I generally am ready for two or more flats.
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A few years ago I considered it. I looked for people's stories about getting a flat or needing a tube. Generally it happened when they let their sealant dry out. And that's why I ultimately didn't convert, because I am lazy about that kind of thing. Occasions where the tubeless sealant failed to work were rarer and usually involved serious damage to the tire.
Tubeless is getting better all the time. Schwalbe's line improved with the Snakeskin/Microskin Tubeless Easy, and will improve again this year with their new tread compounds (they hired the rubber chemist who developed the Black Chili compound for Continental).
Tubeless is getting better all the time. Schwalbe's line improved with the Snakeskin/Microskin Tubeless Easy, and will improve again this year with their new tread compounds (they hired the rubber chemist who developed the Black Chili compound for Continental).
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I ALWAYS bring flat fixing stuff on any ride outside easy walking distance.
Has nothing to do with trusting the tires. The world is a random place, and flats can happen anytime.
Has nothing to do with trusting the tires. The world is a random place, and flats can happen anytime.
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If tubeless goes flat, it will usually be catastrophically so, like a big sidewall gash, so you would need a boot as well as a tube and pump/c02.
Although if you do put a tube in, you don't have to clear out the sealant. Some will leak out of its own accord, you can pour/shake/wipe out as much more as you want, but you won't get it all so there's not much point trying. Just slap the tube in, it won't care that it's wet.
I think after 3 mo, I would have the confidence to not carry anything. Sure, maybe the risk is once/year you have to walk 5km and end up late for work. People that drive cars also sometimes have car trouble and are late to work. Depending on your work, judging the impact of that risk is up to you.
What's the point of tubeless if not to free you from carrying the extra gear? BUT, if you're carrying anything at all, it's not much more to have a road pump on the bike and carry a tube, so...
How about this option: get a small road pump and fresh tube, put them in a ziplock baggie, and hide/bury them under a bush about halfway along your commute.
Although if you do put a tube in, you don't have to clear out the sealant. Some will leak out of its own accord, you can pour/shake/wipe out as much more as you want, but you won't get it all so there's not much point trying. Just slap the tube in, it won't care that it's wet.
I think after 3 mo, I would have the confidence to not carry anything. Sure, maybe the risk is once/year you have to walk 5km and end up late for work. People that drive cars also sometimes have car trouble and are late to work. Depending on your work, judging the impact of that risk is up to you.
What's the point of tubeless if not to free you from carrying the extra gear? BUT, if you're carrying anything at all, it's not much more to have a road pump on the bike and carry a tube, so...
How about this option: get a small road pump and fresh tube, put them in a ziplock baggie, and hide/bury them under a bush about halfway along your commute.
#10
Senior Member
A few years ago I considered it. I looked for people's stories about getting a flat or needing a tube. Generally it happened when they let their sealant dry out. And that's why I ultimately didn't convert, because I am lazy about that kind of thing. Occasions where the tubeless sealant failed to work were rarer and usually involved serious damage to the tire.
Tubeless is getting better all the time. Schwalbe's line improved with the Snakeskin/Microskin Tubeless Easy, and will improve again this year with their new tread compounds (they hired the rubber chemist who developed the Black Chili compound for Continental).
Tubeless is getting better all the time. Schwalbe's line improved with the Snakeskin/Microskin Tubeless Easy, and will improve again this year with their new tread compounds (they hired the rubber chemist who developed the Black Chili compound for Continental).
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If you check the product page, they do list one evolution model (27.5x3.25) that doesn't say "TL Easy", but I bet that's a typo. However, I think it was only this year or last year that Schwalbe started calling their road/touring tires TL Easy, it's possible that you bought old stock. Then again, I don't know if Schwalbe actually made changes to the tires, or if they were generally tubeless-able before, and they just guarantee/advertise it now.
In other words, I don't know much...
In other words, I don't know much...
#12
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I am commuting tubeless right now (28mm tires ~80 psi), definitely with tube and CO2. I hate CO2 though. Need to just put a frame pump in my backpack.
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Well, you always need a plan B.
I have been commuting tubless about a year, and have commuted with tubes for decades. That said, most of my tubed flats were pinch flats, and that doesn't happen with tubeless. On the very rare occasion when I get something imbedded into the (rear) tire, its always something that sealant would work well on.
I can think of once where a rock scuffed up my sidewall and caused a flat with tubes. With Tubeless sealant wouldn't fix that (due to location and size). That would require an inner tube or a plug.
Tubeless sealant won't fix anything but a tiny hole. Leaving the debris in the tire until I get home has helped the sealant work (i.e. if it is a nail, don't pull it out).
I have a plug kit to plug up holes that are too big for sealant. I've used it dozens of times on automotive tires, but haven't had the need to use it yet on the bicycle.
I have been commuting tubless about a year, and have commuted with tubes for decades. That said, most of my tubed flats were pinch flats, and that doesn't happen with tubeless. On the very rare occasion when I get something imbedded into the (rear) tire, its always something that sealant would work well on.
I can think of once where a rock scuffed up my sidewall and caused a flat with tubes. With Tubeless sealant wouldn't fix that (due to location and size). That would require an inner tube or a plug.
Tubeless sealant won't fix anything but a tiny hole. Leaving the debris in the tire until I get home has helped the sealant work (i.e. if it is a nail, don't pull it out).
I have a plug kit to plug up holes that are too big for sealant. I've used it dozens of times on automotive tires, but haven't had the need to use it yet on the bicycle.
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Considering ghetto tubeless again today, after I found my flat fix last night must have gotten the worst hole but there's another smaller one somewhere.
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have you guys seen the new, i think, mavic tires that are supposed to be tubeless. i guess you can pump them up with a regular pump, nothing special required.
i wonder if that would be to any benefit to commuting tubless. i got a flat the other day in the pouring rain and sucked and now i'm considering going tubeless also...
i wonder if that would be to any benefit to commuting tubless. i got a flat the other day in the pouring rain and sucked and now i'm considering going tubeless also...
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#17
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have you guys seen the new, i think, mavic tires that are supposed to be tubeless. i guess you can pump them up with a regular pump, nothing special required.
i wonder if that would be to any benefit to commuting tubless. i got a flat the other day in the pouring rain and sucked and now i'm considering going tubeless also...
i wonder if that would be to any benefit to commuting tubless. i got a flat the other day in the pouring rain and sucked and now i'm considering going tubeless also...
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That's a really cool video, I enjoyed it. Very impressed by the ease of mounting and inflating.
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I went tubeless about six weeks ago with 700/40 Schwalbe Almotions on Dyad rims. So far so good and I must say these are the nicest tires I've ever ridden on. Very smooth and energy efficient with good traction. I was steered in this direction by www.rollingresistance.com which tests tires and gave their top rating to Almotions, way ahead of many smaller, lighter tires.
I still pack a pump and tube as I really hate to be stuck on the road and it's a small price to pay for the knowledge I can fix it. The day I leave it behind is the day I'll need it.
I still pack a pump and tube as I really hate to be stuck on the road and it's a small price to pay for the knowledge I can fix it. The day I leave it behind is the day I'll need it.
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Interesting. I ride Dyads, I bought the wheelset in 2012, when tubeless was less of a thing (or at least I was less aware of it). Are your Dyads new and/or officially labeled as tubeless-ready?
Sadly, my brand new tires are not marked with Schwalbe's "Tubless-easy" endorsement, but someday soon I'll be mixing up some homebrew sealant, and may give them a try (after I get the mountain bikes situated)
Sadly, my brand new tires are not marked with Schwalbe's "Tubless-easy" endorsement, but someday soon I'll be mixing up some homebrew sealant, and may give them a try (after I get the mountain bikes situated)
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Interesting. I ride Dyads, I bought the wheelset in 2012, when tubeless was less of a thing (or at least I was less aware of it). Are your Dyads new and/or officially labeled as tubeless-ready?
Sadly, my brand new tires are not marked with Schwalbe's "Tubless-easy" endorsement, but someday soon I'll be mixing up some homebrew sealant, and may give them a try (after I get the mountain bikes situated)
Sadly, my brand new tires are not marked with Schwalbe's "Tubless-easy" endorsement, but someday soon I'll be mixing up some homebrew sealant, and may give them a try (after I get the mountain bikes situated)
The tires are "tubeless easy" but the rims are a similar age as yours and were not labeled for tubeless use. I picked up some valves, Joe's sealant and tubeless tape from Chainreaction and that was about it. I did have to take them to a tire shop to get them blown on with a compressor and it was a bit messy for a few seconds but other than that no problem.
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FWIW it's only the initial tire seating that requires a good blast of air, just as it does with car tires. After that, the sealant does its thing and the tires only need normal pumping unless they come right off the rim.
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If you have a tubeless rim, yes. The ghetto tubeless setup probably won't seat as securely or easily.
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#24
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Right but watch the video, these mavic tires/wheels only need a regular floor pump for the initial seating
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Also, in case it wasn't clear, I didn't go the ghetto route (i.e. an inner tube stretched over the rim to act as a seal) but just taped up the dyad rims and used them as-is with tubeless valves.
Last edited by asmac; 07-27-17 at 09:07 AM.