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How you can do something different-to vastly reduce flats

Harvey Miller
 

If you've been reading the latest comments on this HBC io group you saw the tubeless tire thread. Here I propose a corollary to that discussion, one that was inspired by the fact that the last club ride I took had two flats happen in tubed tires, costing a total of around 20 minutes of added wait time for all. 

Okay, you want tubes. No problem, to each their own. But...if you're going to use tubes why not use tubes that the valve core can be removed from? The reason: fill the tube with some sealant which can only be done with tubes with removable valves. One to two ounces will do. 

You don' t believe that it will work? Check out the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_phPq3uzUtU&ab_channel=CyclingWeekly
Brian Fallon
 

Another option for tubes are the new Schwalbe Aerothan inner tubes.  “Aerothan is a material that completely redefines the bicycle tube: extremely light, highly puncture resistant and designed for lowest rolling resistance. Find your new Aerothan tire now and benefit from the lightness, puncture resistance and many other advantages.”  Originally designed for MTB, they’re now available for road bikes.  

Brian Fallon 
--
Brian Fallon
Head Coach, AquaTerra Coaching, LLC
646-549-7743

David Hirsch
 

Very cool!!

David Hirsch

On May 22, 2022, at 6:59 AM, Harvey Miller <hmiller@...> wrote:



If you've been reading the latest comments on this HBC io group you saw the tubeless tire thread. Here I propose a corollary to that discussion, one that was inspired by the fact that the last club ride I took had two flats happen in tubed tires, costing a total of around 20 minutes of added wait time for all. 

Okay, you want tubes. No problem, to each their own. But...if you're going to use tubes why not use tubes that the valve core can be removed from? The reason: fill the tube with some sealant which can only be done with tubes with removable valves. One to two ounces will do. 

You don' t believe that it will work? Check out the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_phPq3uzUtU&ab_channel=CyclingWeekly
Harvey Miller
 
Edited

The Schwalbe Aerothan is interesting but I, personally, wouldn't state that it redefines bicycle tubes.., yet. These tubes sell on Amazon for $36 each and, basically, can not be permanently patched according to many sources. A puncture still requires stopping and repairing/replacing and the jury is out regarding its resistance to punctures. It also, at this time, only comes in 40 mm valve lengths so a valve extender may be needed, especially on aero rims. Note also that the valve is made from plastic and requires increased handling care. Its real advantages lie with reduced weight, better ride feel and possible increased puncture resistance. 

If you don't mind the possible negatives it may be worth trying but bring a backup tube anyway. 
Bruce Feinberg
 

I have been on 3 rides in which riders using tubeless tires have experienced a puncture.  One went flat with out self sealing taking about 30 minutes to get rolling again after resorting to using a tube.  Another rider experienced a flat on a remote ride, where the tire also did not self seal.  The rider was not carrying any repair equipment with them, (very confident in tubeless tires), after 45 minutes and two riders lending tubes and CO2 and air pumps we were on our way.  And on the ride in which you had a  flat,  which self sealed, however your run low tire pressure.  Tubed tires are much more puncture resistant today and flats do not occur that often.
Bruce


-----Original Message-----
From: Harvey Miller <hmiller@...>
To: main@HBCRiders.groups.io
Sent: Sun, May 22, 2022 6:59 am
Subject: [HBCRiders] How you can do something different-to vastly reduce flats

If you've been reading the latest comments on this HBC io group you saw the tubeless tire thread. Here I propose a corollary to that discussion, one that was inspired by the fact that the last club ride I took had two flats happen in tubed tires, costing a total of around 20 minutes of added wait time for all. 
Okay, you want tubes. No problem, to each their own. But...if you're going to use tubes why not use tubes that the valve core can be removed from? The reason: fill the tube with some sealant which can only be done with tubes with removable valves. One to two ounces will do. 
You don' t believe that it will work? Check out the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_phPq3uzUtU&ab_channel=CyclingWeekly
Saad Marghoob
 

I’ve been riding with tubeless on my mountain bikes (at least 15yrs), and road bike (2 years). Yet to have a flat on these systems. There is more maintainance needed - you have to refill your sealant at least twice during the riding season. I also carry a plug repair tool to help seal larger holes in the tire , and a spare inner tube if the puncture cannot be sealed. 
On the whole going tubeless has meant less flats and allowed me to run lower tire pressures, which increases comfort and improves handling and traction on the mountain bike. 

Saad Marghoob.


On May 23, 2022, at 7:21 AM, Bruce Feinberg via groups.io <bzfeinberg@...> wrote:


I have been on 3 rides in which riders using tubeless tires have experienced a puncture.  One went flat with out self sealing taking about 30 minutes to get rolling again after resorting to using a tube.  Another rider experienced a flat on a remote ride, where the tire also did not self seal.  The rider was not carrying any repair equipment with them, (very confident in tubeless tires), after 45 minutes and two riders lending tubes and CO2 and air pumps we were on our way.  And on the ride in which you had a  flat,  which self sealed, however your run low tire pressure.  Tubed tires are much more puncture resistant today and flats do not occur that often.
Bruce


-----Original Message-----
From: Harvey Miller <hmiller@...>
To: main@HBCRiders.groups.io
Sent: Sun, May 22, 2022 6:59 am
Subject: [HBCRiders] How you can do something different-to vastly reduce flats

If you've been reading the latest comments on this HBC io group you saw the tubeless tire thread. Here I propose a corollary to that discussion, one that was inspired by the fact that the last club ride I took had two flats happen in tubed tires, costing a total of around 20 minutes of added wait time for all. 
Okay, you want tubes. No problem, to each their own. But...if you're going to use tubes why not use tubes that the valve core can be removed from? The reason: fill the tube with some sealant which can only be done with tubes with removable valves. One to two ounces will do. 
You don' t believe that it will work? Check out the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_phPq3uzUtU&ab_channel=CyclingWeekly
Harvey Miller
 

Hi Bruce,
The question for the first example you gave where the tubeless tire went flat, didn't self seal and had to be "tubed" is, did that person have a tubeless tire puncture kit which would include at least 2 and as many as 4 items (plugs, a temporary leak stopper, a small bottle of sealant, and a pump or CO2 (CO2 used in a "special" way)) ? Probably not. And, if not, that simply confirms my supposition that many of the problems seen are due to the rider not being equipped and/or trained for a a relatively speedy recovery. The other question concerns whether the rider periodically maintained the sealant, another possible issue that makes a speedy recovery more problematic. 

Note, I'm not pushing tubeless but, rather, am trying to inform the club about its possibilities. For me the jury is still out when it comes to high pressure (above 80 lbs) tires though I believe that a superior plug kit (the "Stan's Dart" kit for instance) can handle them well, and quickly. I think that tubeless will become increasingly popular because of its advantages, especially as the technology improves along with the know how concerning how to handle punctures. 
Harvey Miller
 

Just to bring it back, recall that the original message in this thread was to simply state that a tubed tire can use sealant if the tube has valves that can be removed and that the sealant will further reduce the likelihood of experiencing a flat. This is a sort of "compromise" between tubes and tubeless. ;) 
Fredric Itkin
 

I cannot imagine a tube worth $36.
Fred


On Sun, May 22, 2022 at 2:51 PM, Harvey Miller
<hmiller@...> wrote:

[Edited Message Follows]

The Schwalbe Aerothan is interesting but I, personally, wouldn't state that it redefines bicycle tubes.., yet. These tubes sell on Amazon for $36 each and, basically, can not be permanently patched according to many sources. A puncture still requires stopping and repairing/replacing and the jury is out regarding its resistance to punctures. It also, at this time, only comes in 40 mm valve lengths so a valve extender may be needed, especially on aero rims. Note also that the valve is made from plastic and requires increased handling care. Its real advantages lie with reduced weight, better ride feel and possible increased puncture resistance. 

If you don't mind the possible negatives it may be worth trying but bring a backup tube anyway. 
Art Causin
 

There was a day when I couldn't imagine a tube priced at $12

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