Tubeless?

[Huli]

Just a few days ago I converted my CX bike to tubeless. I am in love with it.  Anybody tried touring with tubeless?   My initial thoughts are that it may not be good due to the sealant hardening over time, but I was able to get a good seal without any.   Still not sure about the long haul.  I guess if needed one could just put in a tube.

[RussSeaton]

Not familiar with tubeless.  But don't you need an air compressor to seal the tire against the rim when inflating?  You need a lot of air blown into the rim very quickly to seal the tire against the rim and inflate.

[Huli]

I did mine with a regular floor pump.   Should not need to mess with seating the bead out on a trip unless it's a major blowout.  At that point, could just jam a tube until reaching a rest stop.

[indyfabz]

I have been riding tubeless on my road bike for close to two years. Love the ride quality. Don't think sealant drying out is much of an issue unless you are touring for a long period of time. According to my mechanic, you don't need to replace the sealant for at least six months, if not longer. One issue could be  durability over a long trip. And you would be wise to always carry at least one tube as not all punctures can self-seal satisfactorily. I was on a week-long supported trip last year when I ran over a sharp rock and punctured. The tired eventually sealed but would not hold more than 60 psi. Anything above that would cause the puncture to re-open. Had to put in a tube for the remained of the trip.

[Huli]

Thanks Indyfabz!
I was thinking of tube plus a tubless repair kit would be sufficient for a problem like you encountered.

[hyegeek]

Last year, I did the John Wayne Trail on a fat bike converted to tubeless tires. All of the blogs I had read before the trip talked about flats being a large problem. I completed the trip without noticing a single puncture. My friend, also using tubeless, had 3 punctures two of which needed tire plugs to seal up, the other eventually sealed with the sealant. None of his flats required removing the wheel from the bike and the delay to put the plugs in was far less then patching a tube.

The reason he had problems was due to older softer tires. After the trip, there was evidence that I had been punctured as well, I just never noticed before it sealed.

I'm planning on going tubeless on my 29er when I do Ride Idaho this year.

[Huli]

Excellent info Hyegeek! Thank you!

What tires are you using?  Special tubeless or regular tires with conversion kit?

[hyegeek]

I'm using the origin8 4" tires. They seated very nicely on the rims. My friend used the Nates that came with the bike. They also did well.

My wheels are not drilled out, but my friends were. In both cases, the rims were sealed up with gorilla tape and they sealed fine.

[Nicolai Michel]

I rode the GDMBR with DT Swiss non-tubeless rims, the Stan's tubeless kit, and Continental Race King 2.2 ProTection tires. The weather was extremely hot in Montana, and perhaps I didn't have enough sealant, especially because I was losing some on the rim-tire connection, so I ran out of sealant on one wheel and had to pump up the tire several times a day. Eventually put in a tube until I got a bike shop to add sealant. I had mailed my small bottle of sealant home, which would have solved my problem.
No flats, and I really like the ride (and weight savings.)
Definitely bring a tube and some patches though. I also had the Park Tool TB-2 tubeless tire patch.

[Huli]

I rode the GDMBR with DT Swiss non-tubeless rims, the Stan's tubeless kit, and Continental Race King 2.2 ProTection tires. The weather was extremely hot in Montana, and perhaps I didn't have enough sealant, especially because I was losing some on the rim-tire connection, so I ran out of sealant on one wheel and had to pump up the tire several times a day. Eventually put in a tube until I got a bike shop to add sealant. I had mailed my small bottle of sealant home, which would have solved my problem.
No flats, and I really like the ride (and weight savings.)
Definitely bring a tube and some patches though. I also had the Park Tool TB-2 tubeless tire patch.

The sealant issue is a worry of mine, not sure if I want to carry that AND a tube, or just put in tubes and carry just one tube.

Always have the TB-2 kit... required!

[hikes along rivers]

One thing to consider  "touring" is your tire size and psi for ideal roll resistance
Where as MTB its nearly a given and skinny road tires , set tubeless can take some decent air the big fat typical common middle ground touring trekking tire size approx 38-47mm , if set up tubeless,one can't reliably air up over 45psi with out risk of burp hitting a pot hole
I had a good talk with Stans about this, there recs
I continue to air town dirt and up pavement with tubes and dont really have a problem
Currently using 47s and on smooth pavement about 55 rear rolls fastest.  Dirt - mid 30s - no pinch flats, 180 pounds

If interested touring tubeless on pavement and you use approx 35-45mm tires aired to 50 psi or higher at times I suggest you have a talk with Stans No Tubes - good people

[Huli]

Thanks "Hikes" I never thought about that aspect.  Totally changes my view!

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[Nicolai Michel]

One thing to consider  "touring" is your tire size and psi for ideal roll resistance
Where as MTB its nearly a given and skinny road tires , set tubeless can take some decent air the big fat typical common middle ground touring trekking tire size approx 38-47mm , if set up tubeless,one can't reliably air up over 45psi with out risk of burp hitting a pot hole
I had a good talk with Stans about this, there recs
I continue to air town dirt and up pavement with tubes and dont really have a problem
Currently using 47s and on smooth pavement about 55 rear rolls fastest.  Dirt - mid 30s - no pinch flats, 180 pounds

If interested touring tubeless on pavement and you use approx 35-45mm tires aired to 50 psi or higher at times I suggest you have a talk with Stans No Tubes - good people

Burping happens when the pressure is low, not high.

On fat tires you don't want very high pressures. This article explains why:
http://www.bccclub.org/documents/Tireinflation.pdf

[Huli]

Sent a few emails back and forth with Bob Nunnink at Stan's.  The main problem with touring tubeless is load rating and rolling resistance.   Basically, too much weight at too low of a pressure.  Higher pressure will blow the tire off the rim.

Should be fine for ultra light touring, not for me and my pack mule ways.

Possibly if the load is all on a trailer though.... Hmmmm.
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[staehpj1]

Basically, too much weight at too low of a pressure.  Higher pressure will blow the tire off the rim.

That doesn't make sense to me, but maybe I am missing something.  How much weight and how much pressure are you thinking of using with what sized tire?  I don't see wanting or needing to run enough pressure to "blow the tire off the rim".  At the lower pressure end of the scale I don't see going low enough for burping to be a problem.

Just trying to understand...