Originally Posted by
Paul Waque
Last year I purchased a modern endurance bike that would accept 35 mm tires. These are the advantages It had for me over my drop bar mountain bike with 3x7 gearing and my Raleigh Competition:
1. Tubeless rims allowed for lower pressures and a better ride.
2. Docs brakes were more reliable in wet and muddy conditions.
3. Quick gear changes and lots of range in the cassette.
4. N+1
5. It was used and cheaper than upgrading existing bikes to a similar level.
People keep trying their darndest to sell me on tubeless. If I lived in goathead territory, I acknowledge that it would be a sensible option. There are a handful of reasons why I don't live there though. Not saying it's a bad thing, but I feel no motivation to even attempt them. I concede your other points, but #3 and #5 are both relative.