Going tubeless offers improved puncture proofness and unrivalled ride quality. Popular for years in the off-road world of MTB and CX, it is quickly gaining traction to the realms of road cycling. But, is it all that it is cracked up to be?
What better way to find out than through real-life experiences of London Baroudeur members. Let’s find out:
The Experience
Glen: Well I might look at something different after the rattle concerns.
Matthew: Tobi has it (setting up tubeless) down to a fine art.
John: I got a valve core stuck in my carbon rim. Tried a magnet to get it out, but it’s not magnetic Ended up pouring glue in there to fix it in place 🤷🏻♂️
Tobias: I use a similar plug and anchovies like Karolis, I also have the Lezyne capsule that Jesse has but I found it too big for road and gravel.
Charlie: Tubeless not sounding so fun after all.
Matthew: Don’t get me wrong: I love my tubeless tires.
Tobias: Tubeless is awesome, instead of carrying a tube you just have the plugs with you.
Glen: I have decided to go with tubes.
John: They’re worth the faff!
Rob: I must be paranoid because I carry tubes too!
Tobias: Haha, on long rides I do so, too but it’s paranoia really more than anything, I have had 2 punctures in 2 years none of them needed a tube
Only early on I got caught out when I put brittle tubeless TT tyres on my road bike
Karolis: There are few important thing to note, to have a good experience with tubeless. The fix that Tobias, me and a few others are using is very quick and easy but is dependent on pressures you are trying to achieve. I ride 28/30 mm tyres at 60 PSI, Tobias rides 25 mm at 60/65 PSI and this fix with anchovies works just fine. When I tried it with 25 mm tyres and 75/80 PSI the success rate was nowhere near the 100% and not permanent as it would blow out after a while. But with lower pressures/bigger tyres in most cases it is a permanent fix. I have not carried a tube with me for the last 3 years.
Glen: I know I am old fashioned, but with tubes, I know what I’m doing, and I have never had a puncture take longer than 15 minutes to sort out, I hope I haven’t just jinxed myself 😉
Tobias: But that’s potentially 15 minutes standing in the wet and cold with the whole chain gang waiting, I just rather avoid that.
And as Karolis has said, lower pressure is key (and anyways faster 💨)
Glen: I have had 3 experiences now where a tubeless set up had taken far longer to fix than 15 minutes, Nick, John and an MTB friend were witnesses 😉
Tobias: YMMV of course
John: I think it was my sealant all over your face that put you off 😓
Steve: Glen, I completely agree with you! Can’t be bothered with it.
Nick: Ha ha – having abandoned them i have gone back to them- when they work they are great and following Karolis’s points around pressure and width of tires helps.
Glen: I remember my mates mtb tyre getting a gash that wouldn’t seal, if only I had had a swear jar and a video camera, I could have made some money that day!
Charlie: The tubeless debate continues!
Stay tuned as we post more on the hot topic of tubeless tyres.
:: Associated post: Latex Tubes
