BenBoozer

Picked up a new bright red Domane SL 5 last month for my 59th birthday and with the proceeds from selling my Domane ALR 5 I decided to order a Light Bicycle WR45 (32mm width x 45mm depth) carbon wheelset to go along with it because hey... they're carbon. I made sure to buy the tools needed to exchange the cassette and rotors. Wheels and tools arrived today, those carbon rims are beautiful and perfectly round. I just wish I would have given a bit more thought about the inner tubes. Mine only have 42mm stems.

Oh well, Amazon should be delivering some 60mm long ones tomorrow. In the meantime, did I mention these wheels are beautiful AND weigh 1.3lbs less than the stock wheelset? Will they make me faster? Doesn't matter to me, they look awesome and at 6'3" 225lbs I will never be that red mustang passing you up the next rise. I prefer to think of myself as that bright red Peterbilt model 579 gaining on you down the mountain.

Hopefully I can get a picture of the bike with wheels and tires up tomorrow.

Ben

MinnMan

If your tubes have replaceable cores, then...valve extenders

smashndash

I don’t recommend the conti ones if you have a press-on chuck. These have a slightly oversized diameter, and since there’s no lockring, it’s *quite* the pain to put on and take off the chuck. I cut my knuckles multiple times on my bladed spokes.

fujidon

Congrats on the new bike. I took a look at the SL5 myself. I was very interested in a "comfort" bike since I already have a performance-oriented road bike (Fuji SL1 Pro).

I am also thinking about the Trek 520 which could my comfort bike and double as a touring bike or even a gravel bike.

I test rode the SL5 and found the steering a bit heavy. The sales person said it was due to the tires (32c), but I must admit it was very comfy. If I did buy it, I would want to keep fat tires on it. What do you think about the bike?

MinnMan

Fair enough. I didn't mean to boost any particular brand. I was just highlighting the concept.

noodle soup

I'd be giving tubes less thought, and be thinking more about tubeless tires/sealant + valves..

woodcraft

This sounded odd, so I measured a bunch (~20) of stems and extensions, and did not get that result. 5.83mm- 5.95mm, w/ threaded stems being the biggest, & Conti extensions on the smaller end.

smashndash

Huh. Not sure what to say then. I assumed it was because of the diameter but I guess I was wrong.

The issue is that if I press the chuck onto the conti valve extension as lightly as I would a regular stem, it leaks or just doesn’t stay on. So I have to press it on super hard. That’s not a massive issue. But pulling the chuck off is a much bigger problem, especially if you have bladed spokes.

I guess it could be that the conti valve extensions require deeper insertion to form a seal? Am I the only one?

BenBoozer

Finally got the correct tubes and wheels mounted. I’m loving how it looks! Will follow up after my first ride.

RiceAWay

I used tubeless for about 5 years and grew more and more disenchanted with them. They STILL get flats by getting a cut too large for the sealant to seal. You can carry "bacon" or a tubeless "plug" and tool but these are normally so large that it destroys the cord of the tire and the tire is a throw away. If you try to simply put an innertube in them the sealant is really yucky. Also, the latest tubeless tires are EXTREMELY difficult to put on. I broke 2 carbon wheels even with the latest "tire jacks" which are supposed to prevent this and allow you to install even stubborn tires. They don't. I have gone back to clinchers and innertubes and the joy of being able to mount both tires and tubes in 20 minutes was indescribable.

swifty

You must have rims on the larger end of the ERTO tolerance scale. Both brands of road tubeless tires I've used could be fitted by hand without even using tire levers (Pirelli and Schwalbe) The only tlr tire that seems a very tight fit on almost all rims, and impossible to fit on some, is the Conti 5000 as reported by many.

To add to that: The Schwalbe Pro One I had to plug with a Dynaplug could be patched just fine. Not that I needed to patch it per se, the Dynaplug did its job. But the metal "bullet" of the Dynaplug detached from the cord after a while, and rattled around in my tire and I could not stand that

August West

If you want to spend a little more money you might want to look into getting a Bontrager Flare RT taillight and using the mount that goes on the top knuckle on the seatpost (if you don't use a seat mounted bag). It really cleans up the look getting the light off the seatpost and you almost don't know there is a taillight there unless you look closely.

fujidon

That's a really clean spot for a tail light and the SL5 does have storage in the down tube for basic tools and a tube...

But, I do like to carry a bit more than I could fit in the down tube so if I were to buy the SL5, I would end up with a seat bag anyway.

BenBoozer

I already have the multitool, spare tube, co2 and tire lever plus some money stored in the down tube. I love that feature for when I want to travel light. I have a seat bag if I really need to carry additional items. As far as the tail light, that is the original Flare R in the photo, I will get an RT when this one dies but it would block the use of a seat bag and I don‘t think the RT has the amber side flashers that the original has.

Now as far as the bike is concerned, I have never ridden a more comfortable bike than this and with the new wheels, the ride is even better with the same tires. They expand about 2mm wider and I am running at 5psi less pressure which combines for dare I say, a lush ride experience. I don’t need a bike that will leap out of the gate or be as nimble as a deer, not entering any races at 59 years old. It moves when I move and goes where I point it PLUS, it looks good standing still. It holds a straight line, no twitching at all. I can say that the Light Bicycle wheels are amazingly precision made and you really notice the difference once over 15mph, they want to go fast! I predict an even better ride once I put some better tires on it but for less than $3600 total spent, I really feel I got my money’s worth. Your mileage may vary.

Ben

August West

No, it is Flare RT.

noodle soup

Well tubeless isn't for everyone.

If your technique is weak, you're gonna have a bad time.

August West

I do too so I purchased a Lezyne Caddy Sack - Small that I carry in my jersey pocket for a couple of extra CO2 cartridges, patches, tire boots, quick links etc, etc. It has worked out quite well and is waterproof so it isn't getting soaked through in sweat every day

noodle soup

@RiceAWay if you need a tire jack, you don't have your technique down.

Using a tire jack to mount a tire, is like using a prosthetic to please a woman. If you need one to get the job done, you probably need some work on your technique.

GlennR

It's not the size of the ship but the motion of the ocean.

Sweet bike. Glad you have the tire logos at the valve stem

noodle soup

Exactly

It's all about technique.

GlennR

You must be Irish (j/k)

JW in AK

That is a damn fine looking machine. Congrats!

noodle soup

English arriving here in 1626, and Dad was right off the boat from Lithuania in 1926. There's probably some Irish in there, but we don't admit to that.

noodle soup

I concur

woodcraft

Goes with your screen name.