Tire Selection for the Continental Divide Trail

[sspeed]

The ones I just did recently were Mavic 717 rims with 2.35 Maxxis Ignitors, but they were UST tires.    They pumped right up with a hand pump, almost like it was simply a tubed tire.  I ride them at 30psi (I'm 190 lbs) and they seem to lose about 5-6 psi every couple of weeks.

I've seen friends work hours on non-UST tires trying to get them to seal though. I was thinking I had good luck only because I used a UST tire?  My next experiment is some Rhyno Lite rims with some Nokian studded non-UST tires.

[newfydog]

Most of my non-UST tires sealed pretty quickly with a compressor.  A few were a real fight, and I've since developed a two compressor rule----two tanks of air and they get thrown out!

The Geax Saguaros have been pretty good, and the non ust Schwalbe Racing Ralphs have been great.   I've heard some UST tires can be a bear just to get on the rim, but have not seen it yet.

[sspeed]

I like the two tanks of the air compressor rule, how big is your tank?

[newfydog]

My compressor is Home Depots cheapest, a three gallon Husky.  It will blast air fast and long enough to see if you can get a bead to catch without wanting to chop up the whole bike.

While tubeless tires are nice anywhere, you have to experience a goathead patch to fully appreciate them.  We're talking 15 flats a day.  I had a Geax Saguaro which had been poked full of holes on the New Mexico section of the Great Divide, so many goatheads we had to leave them in because the thorns were plugging the leaks.  I made that tire tubeless, and all the pinholes spurted Stan's sealant for a second, then stopped.  We rode in the cactus country of the Arizona Trail with that tire without a flat.

Here's a youtube on how to make a tire tubeless.  There are many others, if you get tired of stupid pet tricks and moose tramplings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q--iWFpTjg

[sspeed]

Ahh, I have the Home Depot 30 gallon, going through two tanks of that would be quite the debacle.  Goatheads in the Southwest make tubeless a must, sharp rocks are a good reason as well.   I mentioned that I got 4 or 5 pinch flats while running tubes on the Monarch Crest portion of the Divide Trail.  I was ready toss my bike off a cliff by the time I was done.  If I were touring that whole way I probably would have called home to end the ride.

[dbbcpa]

I know this sounds kind of stupid, but I would contact Glacier Cyclery in Whitefish and ask them. I rented a bike to do part of the Divide Trail this summer with an ACA group and they were great. They really know what they are doing and are very eager to help. I am sure they could reccomend the correct tires.

[irwin7638]

That doesn't sound stupid at all.  Being there certainly should give them more experience and credibility.

Thanks,

Marc