Tubeless tyres - puncture repairs/worries?

[ED209]

Ive just got a new bike which came with tubeless tyres fitted on carbon rims. I know they aren't as prone to punctures as normal clincher tyres. - A good thing however I am now concerned what will happen if I puncture during the Lakesman which i am attempting next month.
How easy will it be to fit a tube into the tyre during the race? I have heard there an bit of a nightmare! Any advice/tips?

Will something like this work? They seem to get good reviews


http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Genuine-Innovations-Tubele...

[Johno]

In over 5000 miles on tubeless road tyres I've not needed to plug a tyre. I do have a set of plugs like that hidden in the handlebar jic....

I've had punctures where sealant has sprayed out, stopped, leak to bottom, let it seal, then carried on, topped up if necessary. At this years Amstel in atraucious weather there were hundreds of punctures, I got one, spotted by one of our group, stopped, checked it'd sealed and finished the next 50 miles with a quick top up.

I have a saddle bag with tyre lever, CO2, spare tube etc and not needed it yet.... Only ever had to put a tube into a MTB tyre when I cut one where a plug wouldn't have worked anyway, no issue to get tyre off rim with one lever.

[ALawson]

I have had a few punctures which all sealed. Only major problem was a failed sidewall on a new tubeless tyre >5mm hole, so had to drain sealant, and use a gel wrapper and then inner tube to get me home.

Malcolm Borg is seriously into Tubeless read his thoughts here.

https://thecycleclinic.co.uk/blogs/news/living-wit...

One thing you do need is decent technique, strong hands and special levers to get tubeless tyres on and off.

[anonymous-user]

As above really, I use Stan's Race Fluid, slightly better than his No Tubes sealant.

Just remember to spin the tyre so the puncture is at the bottom to help it seal. If you don't then you may end up cursing the sealant, run out of co2 cartridges and have a 3 mile walk home.

Ask me how I know this...

It seems so obvious now, but I kept looking at the hole in the tyre waiting for it to seal. It didn't occur to me that the fluid would be at the bottom of the tyre until I'd used by last canister.

[johnxjsc1985]

we used to have to remove the rim tape unpick the stitching and repair the puncture and put it all back a horrible job.

[ED209]

Insert Coin said:

As above really, I use Stan's Race Fluid, slightly better than his No Tubes sealant.

Just remember to spin the tyre so the puncture is at the bottom to help it seal. If you don't then you may end up cursing the sealant, run out of co2 cartridges and have a 3 mile walk home.

Ask me how I know this...

It seems so obvious now, but I kept looking at the hole in the tyre waiting for it to seal. It didn't occur to me that the fluid would be at the bottom of the tyre until I'd used by last canister.

I established this today, checked my tyre pressures with the valve at the bottom of the wheel! squirted sealant out ! whoops.

[Gruffy]

I'm not sure you want to be using CO2 with tubeless. I don't think the sealant reacts well to the sudden cold temps.

[Johno]

Gruffy said:

I'm not sure you want to be using CO2 with tubeless. I don't think the sealant reacts well to the sudden cold temps.

It causes the latex to drop out of solution and set, but it does get you sorted and home, then deal with it later. Prefer to have the convenience and speed and not had an issue with it yet, although I concur completely that it can make the sealant react spending on which sealant you are using.

The article linked below is good on this point as well.

[ED209]

Gruffy said:

I'm not sure you want to be using CO2 with tubeless. I don't think the sealant reacts well to the sudden cold temps.

Ive gone off CO2 recently anyway, now got a pump attached to my bike.