Phil (ascentale)

@edd considers going tubeless:

Q2. How annoying is tubeless setups for commuters? Had a real comedy of errors with tubes during daycare pickup, including the mini pump pulling out the valve core on the spare, that I'd like to not repeat ever again.

#BikeNiteQ #BikeNite #BikeTooter #Cycling #MastoBikes cc @bikenite

Mar 20 at 11:08pmWeb
Show threadPhil (ascentale)1d ago

@edd @bikenite A2. I've never tried tubeless; it looks messy. But I am curious what others think!

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Show threadRaccoons1d ago
@ascentale @edd @bikenite #bikenite #bikeTooter A2 I have been commuting on tubeless tires on gravel roads for a couple of years now and have not experienced any problems. The fatbike especially benefits from a tubeless setup because fat tire tubes are so big.
Show threadSam Whited1d ago

@ascentale @edd @bikenite A2. I tend to find tubeless more annoying for commutes. Valve core coming out shouldn't really be possible unless someone didn't tighten it enough, so that probably won't happen again and was a rare fluke. In general tubes "just work" and when they don't you hopefully carry a new one and put it in. Sealant, on the other hand, is messy and only sometimes works. Then when it doesn't you have to have a spare tube anyways, and now also have to deal with mess. I love it for mountain biking where I want lower pressure, and it makes sense (in my mind) for racing if you have someone in a van to hand you a new bike if you get a flat, but not for commuters. Not to mention that it's more maintenance to keep it working, and leaks air faster normally.

#BikeNite

Show threadDemian1d ago

@sam Some mini-pumps screw onto the valve, and will unscrew the valve core pretty easily when unscrewing the pump. I've got a Lezyne that is quite prone to this, tho I otherwise really like it.

@ascentale @edd @bikenite

Show threadSam Whited1d ago
@dgodon @ascentale @edd @bikenite ahhh, interesting, I've never seen one that screwed on (EDIT: shock pumps aside, of course). That does indeed seem like a disaster waiting to happen!
Show threadedd17h ago
@dgodon @sam @ascentale @bikenite Yea, I think this event was compounded by a spare tube that saw too much rain under the seat, as well. Super annoying, but probably a freak accident.
Show threadevn1d ago
@ascentale @edd @bikenite A2: I find that tubeless setups lose air more quickly than tubes, so you might have to top up the air more frequently. Also the sealant that tubeless setups use will dry out over time. I have to put fresh sealant in about once a year. It can be hard to install a tire tubeless without an air compressor because you have to pump a lot of air quite quickly to make the initial seal. I think you'd find these inconveniences of tubeless more worthwhile if you get frequent small punctures. Tubeless setups are good at dealing with those. The valve core problem, though, will probably happen with tubeless valves too.
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Show threadgene x1d ago
@evn @ascentale @edd @bikenite somewhat related how much air do your tube tires lose? i feel like when I am away for work and don't ride my bike regularly they lose air more but that might just be a misperception. I feel like I need to add air somewhat frequently (like every 2.5-3 weeks?) #BikeNite
Show threadevn11h ago
@genex @ascentale @edd @bikenite I would estimate I lose something like 2 PSI per week. On a mountain bike where I run low pressures (~25 PSI) I top up the tires once a week. On a commuter bike where exact tire pressure is less critical I inflate to ~40 PSI and top up about every 3 weeks. #bikenite
Show threadevn11h ago
@genex @ascentale @edd @bikenite This will vary with tire type, temperature, sealant type, and maybe humidity.
Show threadgene x9h ago
@evn @ascentale @edd @bikenite interesting - thanks for the info!!!
Show threadrand3h ago
@genex @evn @ascentale @edd @bikenite Two bikes 700c x 28 and 26” x 28. The 700s have TPU tubes which I pump up to 82 psi before “every” ride, losing about 5 psi a day. The 26”s (butyl tubes, same pressure) lose about the same, but I only ride that bike once or twice a week, so again I pump them up before every ride. #BikeNight
Show threadajft [SEC=continvoucly morged]1d ago

@ascentale @edd @bikenite #BIkeNite A2 spouses bike came with 28mm tubeless road tyres. They have been nothing but trouble their entire life, they seem to go soft quicker than tubes and need pumping for every ride ... except the valve is forever glued shut and needs pliers to open. We've seen no signs that they've ever stopped a small puncture, and the three times they have had a puncture it has mean an unrideable bike while out, then a new tyre $$, and new sealant $ -- and we've never been able to put a tube in at the side of the road because you can't get the tyres off the rim with tyre levers and slimy crap everywhere, or the valve out of the rim to get a tube in

Maybe they work well for large volume/low pressure tyres, but our experience with them on 700x28 road tyres has been woeful

Show threadGudroot1d ago
@ascentale @edd @bikenite I am not using tubeless on my commuting bike, but if I did and I had any problems with the setup, I'd just take the bike with me in the underground.
Show threadGudroot1d ago
@ascentale @edd @bikenite addition: I use tubeless on the other bikes. No problems so far.
Show threadJer 🚲1d ago
@ascentale @edd @bikenite
A2. I have tubeless on gravel, mtb, and fat bike. Often forget to refresh sealant but they’ve all been dependable. Gravel tire got big hole on last 60 miles of GAP/C&O trail, put in bacon strip and topped off air during breaks and made it to DC without putting tube in.
#BikeTooter #bikenite
Show threadDemian1d ago
@ascentale @edd @bikenite A2. There are pros and cons to both. And both can also be just fine for commuting. That said, my preference is to stick with tubes but with very flat resistant tires since I ride in the winter when there's a lot of crap on the roads and I'd rather not deal with flats when it's cold and wet. Of course a flat resistant tubeless tire will provide similar benefits and may be a bit less prone to some puncture flats.
1/2
Show threadDemian1d ago
@ascentale @edd @bikenite A2 cont. But as others have pointed out, if the sealant doesn't do its job, then you've got an ugly mess and still need a tube. And, you've got to put new sealant in every yeah or so, which I prefer to avoid. But, I've heard from many folks that they get many fewer flats with tubeless. If you're not comfortable changing out a tube, the benefits of tubeless may be worth it. I'm pretty quick at it so it doesn't leave me stranded.
#bikenite
Show threadDoug Cutting1d ago
@ascentale @edd @bikenite I'm tubeless on all my bikes. Sealant needs a topup every six months or so. I get a flat every couple of years, usually from a sidewall tear, and put a tube in to get home. I used to have trouble with Lezyne mini pumps removing the valves until I learned to unscrew the hose from the pump before unscrewing it from the valve stem.
Show threadedd1d ago
@ascentale @bikenite Thanks for all the replies! I'll be reading them tomorrow because I am sleepy.
Show threadMoz21h ago

@ascentale @edd @bikenite A2: had tubeless on my MTB for about a month, did not enjoy. Had a bead seat blow out, tyres kept going flat, mess did not impress.

Have been running tubes in it since. Unlikely to go back.

#BikeNite

Show threadSam H (he/him)20h ago
@ascentale @edd @bikenite
#bikeNite #bikeNiteA
A2.
I've not had an issue so far, but I'm running 2.5" gravel tires at low pressure.
I've previously tried running tubeless on 32mm and that has not ended as well, as the higher pressure makes the sealant spray out everywhere.
I'm currently trying to set up some new wheels with 43mm tires, but there's a whole saga of issues there.
Show threadLovesTha🥧20h ago
@v_perjorative @ascentale @[email protected] @bikenite #bikenite I wonder what pressure the optimal setup switches at....
Show threadmarkn🚲19h ago

@LovesTha @v_perjorative @ascentale @bikenite

About 60psi & 32mm tyres is my experience of the tube / tubeless benefits border.

Above that it's a no brainer. Below (EDIT I mean below 32mm, so with higher psi) that it can work, but I've found it's often unreliable.

Obviously the boundary depends on your rims/tyres/sealant mix and just good old fashioned luck.

Show threadDavid S19h ago

@ascentale @edd @bikenite

A2:

I've seen too many people have to catch trains home because tubeless
  A. Doesn't seal
    i. sealant pissing out
    ii. Dried sealant
  B. Seals but still keeps losing air requiring lots of pumping
  C. Used a tube anyway, but tube then punctured from all the thorns that did seal still in the tyre
  D. Couldn't get the tyre off to put a tube in
  E. Couldn't ride because bike was in the LBS having sealant changed.

Tubeless is amazing right up until it isn't.

Show threadPete18h ago
@ascentale @edd @bikenite A2 #BikeNite In my experience, a tubeless setup is great for commuting: The kinda puncture you’re most likely to get is gonna seal; and you get to ride on nice tyres everyday rather than godawful ‘puncture resistant’ things!
Show threadPete18h ago
@ascentale @edd @bikenite … with the caveat that I’d perhaps not if I were running skinny tyres. Say ~30mm minimum. #bikeNite
Show threadWilma_Wein17h ago
@pete @ascentale @edd @bikenite
Oh, I ride a road bike with tubeless tires—it's perfect.
Show threadPete17h ago
@daumenlutscher @ascentale @edd @bikenite I do have my old road bike set up with 25mm tubeless. It’s never sealed without losing pressure, but will inflate and hold afterwards, so I guess that’s still beneficial. 👍
Show threadSam H (he/him)16h ago
@pete @ascentale @edd @bikenite
My leccy bike has Schwalbe Marathon MTB 2.1" tires. They're 'ok' on the few occasions the battery has run out, but yeah... There's definitely some rolling resistance.
Absolutely bulletproof though.
Show threadJon Roach15h ago

@ascentale @edd @bikenite A2. I've commuted for 6 years on tubeless, road/bike path 50km round trip. I have Opinions. 😃

I've had most of the pros and cons other people have tooted. My main coping tools are

(1) a small bottle of sealant and a syringe in the saddle bag, and a dust cap that has a valve removal tool. If sealant is low you can top it up.

(2) Vittoria Airliners. I've tooted before about these; they stopped me giving up tubeless. They cater for the use case of "too cold and wet to spend 20 mins changing a tube" and also the use case of "gah, puncture 5k from the end". I've ridden on a flat tyre and Airliner for 20k with no damage to tyre, rim, or Airliner. And then once home or at work I can take more time to fix the problem, in shelter. Usually the problem is not enough sealant!

(3) Hutchison Overide 35c tyres. A lot of tubeless tyre designs don't have much puncture protection, which on the gritty glassy shared path right next to the road isn't much use.

#BikeNite

Show threadMatthew Newell9h ago

@ascentale @edd @bikenite

I was an early road adopter of tubeless - but three or four incidents ending with me walking miles with shouldered bike led me back to tubes.

When it's good it's amazing - but generally tubes are the least worst.

I ride with standard tubes in, two tpu spares, tpu patches x 6, latex/butyl patches x 6; so even nightmare scenarios are just delays rather than catastrophes.