Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: canuckystan on 05 April, 2017, 09:34:35 pm

Title: [LEL17] Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: canuckystan on 05 April, 2017, 09:34:35 pm
Using LEL as an excuse to build a new set of tubeless ready wheels with an SV9 dynamo for the first time.  Going with 30mm at about 60psi or so.  Hopefully this will avoid flat repairs at 1AM amongst the sheep. 

Anyone else going tubeless? 

Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Alex B on 06 April, 2017, 06:51:17 am
Yes, will probably use 28mm Schwalbe Pro Ones, and would likewise expect (on balance) not to have to repair a puncture. Still, on the only two longish audaxes I have done, a 400 and 600, I *have* had punctures which needed attending to - so will also not be surprised to need to use my emergency kit which includes: 2 x inner tubes, patch kit, anchovies and a spare (clincher) tyre!
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: DrMekon on 06 April, 2017, 07:37:04 am
Yes, I'm using compass bon jons. My tubeless spares pack is a co2 inflater, a tiny bottle of sealant, some mini pliers to remove the valve core, some tubeless repair caterpillars, and a couple of spare tubes. I've always taken that lot on my MTB, and it's gotten me out of a hole before. However, I've not had a problem for 18m.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: jon.pavelin on 06 April, 2017, 07:50:15 am
I'm running Schwalbe S-One 30mm on my Kinesis GFTi disc for LEL. Puncture free after 2000km. Will take a spare tube, duct and
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: PeeJay on 06 April, 2017, 08:04:39 am
Yup, been audaxing on tubeless for a couple of years now.  I'll probably be running 25mm hutchinson fusion 5's.   Though I might try panaracer race a evo 3 if my bank balance will stand it.  I'll have some stans sealant in the tyres for any small stuff & a tube and boot for a failure that doesn't seal.   Rims are velocity a23
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Chris N on 06 April, 2017, 08:57:10 am
I'm tempted.  Using 32mm Panaracer Gravel Kings on Stans Alpha 340 rims at the moment with tubes.  AFAIK the Gravel Kings, while not officially rated for tubeless use, are suitable (and they're certainly a bloody tight fit on the Alphas).  Need to get some new sealant, but I've already got the valves and tape needed.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: The French Tandem on 06 April, 2017, 09:43:30 am
If I remember correctly, Mr Bikey Mikey of this parish completed LEL 2013 on tubeless tyres, and posted many positive comments about that. There's a "Tubeless for dummies" somewhere on this forum which contains probably all you need to know!

Pedant note: You are very unlikely to get flats on British roads. You are more likely to suffer from punctures  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Bunker22 on 06 April, 2017, 10:33:56 am
Yes. I am running Sector 28's tubeless. No punctures since I converted in september last year. I will take spare tubes and a spare tyre etcthough.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Hot Flatus on 06 April, 2017, 10:40:55 am
I've been riding tubeless for 18 months, and for a long ride like LEL, where you really don't need the hassle of punctures, I'd say it's a no brainer.

Were I riding, I'd stick new Schwalbe Pro tyres on. I'd carry one inner tube and a tyre boot. That would be it. In my experience trying to use the repair plugs out on the road isn't wise.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: PeeJay on 06 April, 2017, 11:12:37 am
One of the reasons I went tubeless was because of a double pinch puncture (front & rear) when I hit something in the road on LEL 2013
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: tippers_kiwi on 06 April, 2017, 12:55:52 pm
I won't be! I've had nothing but trouble with Tubeless. One ride over 100km that went without a hitch and all the others I have ended up with cuts (one in the sidewall) that will not seal.

Luck of the draw and I seem to have had several others bad luck so for now I will stay tubed running some sealant in the tubes. I am planning on getting some of the Compass Bon Jon's though (if they become available again) so I should have the option if I decide I want to try again.

I definitely don't think it is bad idea, I know loads of folk who have switched and never had an issue. I just can't handle riding along wondering if that is another puncture.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: jiberjaber on 06 April, 2017, 01:22:09 pm
I'm probably tubeless for LEL (G-one, 30c) but having seen the grief Nik has had ^^^

I am slightly worried, so was considering taking a folding tyre and couple of tubes as a backup.I'm hoping to get a few 400's in before hand to give me confidence beforehand through :)
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: frillipippi on 06 April, 2017, 03:26:54 pm
40,000 km without a single puncture on Schwalbe Marathon 700x28, mainly on Italian cracked roads.

We have a proverb that sounds more or less like "you won't change a winning team", so tubeless can wait for me!
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: postrestant on 06 April, 2017, 07:44:14 pm
I'll run tubeless Schwalbe Pro Ones because they've the best rolling resistance (more or less). They seem to pick up punctures more than the Schwalbe Ones I used to use. Quite often -- four times this year? -- I've had a puncture that won't seal without a plug / anchovy. This is quick to do -- 2 minutes from start to finish? The psi will be down to about 40, and most of the latex will be gone in such cases. On something like LEL I'd imagine that, if that happened, I'd be needing an inner tube if another puncture came along.

If you haven't read this page, it should be interesting:
https://ridefar.info/bike/speed/rolling/

The author's stopped using tubeless.

IME, tubeless doesn't really save weight, but it can save time -- and time in the dark / rain / cold.

Milkit is handy if you're running tubeless
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: thing1 on 07 April, 2017, 05:26:47 am
I won't be! I've had nothing but trouble with Tubeless. One ride over 100km that went without a hitch and all the others I have ended up with cuts (one in the sidewall) that will not seal.

Luck of the draw and I seem to have had several others bad luck so for now I will stay tubed running some sealant in the tubes. I am planning on getting some of the Compass Bon Jon's though (if they become available again) so I should have the option if I decide I want to try again.

I definitely don't think it is bad idea, I know loads of folk who have switched and never had an issue. I just can't handle riding along wondering if that is another puncture.

Very similar experience to what we had on the tandem. We did do PBP with hutchenson intensives without problem, but overall the speed with which they get cuts just makes really bad value for money

We put it down to 130kg combined weight being too much (doesn't explain it really but it's something). Don't expect we'll try them again for LEL
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: vorsprung on 07 April, 2017, 10:23:54 am
I won't be! I've had nothing but trouble with Tubeless. One ride over 100km that went without a hitch and all the others I have ended up with cuts (one in the sidewall) that will not seal.

Luck of the draw and I seem to have had several others bad luck so for now I will stay tubed running some sealant in the tubes. I am planning on getting some of the Compass Bon Jon's though (if they become available again) so I should have the option if I decide I want to try again.

I definitely don't think it is bad idea, I know loads of folk who have switched and never had an issue. I just can't handle riding along wondering if that is another puncture.




Very similar experience to what we had on the tandem. We did do PBP with hutchenson intensives without problem, but overall the speed with which they get cuts just makes really bad value for money

We put it down to 130kg combined weight being too much (doesn't explain it really but it's something). Don't expect we'll try them again for LEL


The 30mm Schwalbe S-One are very much better than Hutchinson Intensive.  If your bike can take these bigger tyres they are worth a try.  They are fast, don't cut as much
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Somnolent on 07 April, 2017, 11:02:49 am
We put it down to 130kg combined weight being too much

I've put my issues with tubeless down to pressure rather than weight per se
This is based on almost complete lack of deflations on the front (75 psi) but several, apparently very small holes, which just wouldn't seal on the rear (90psi)
Pressures chosen based on 100kg all-up weight split 45kg F/ 55kg R, and looking for the supposedly ideal 15% tyre drop, on 28mm 

I've been wearing my first set out with inner tubes in over the winter but will probably try again before LEL
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: tippers_kiwi on 07 April, 2017, 12:03:18 pm

Very similar experience to what we had on the tandem. We did do PBP with hutchenson intensives without problem, but overall the speed with which they get cuts just makes really bad value for money

We put it down to 130kg combined weight being too much (doesn't explain it really but it's something). Don't expect we'll try them again for LEL
I agree that the weight thing is an issue, likely only in my mind. I'm aournd the 115kg on top of the bike and luggage so probably similar to your all in weigh  :facepalm:

The 30mm Schwalbe S-One are very much better than Hutchinson Intensive.  If your bike can take these bigger tyres they are worth a try.  They are fast, don't cut as much
I ordered a set of these when they first came out and I looked at them for ages knowing they would be the answer to my problems. They made it around a 200 and I thought 'that is it, I'm away and rolling' 10k later the latex ejaculation came back to haunt me. My biggest issue now is not being confident in it and spending a lot of time thinking...'is that a puncture I can feel'? If I can't get hold of the Bon Jon tyres I may well run the S-Ones with tubes for LEL....they are lovely tyres!

For the record, I have tried the following
IRC Formula Pro RBCC - Side wall cut after 5km, another one after 15km, Glass slash at about 50 before I pretty much gave up
Hutchinson Sector 28 - Slashed after 28km just as I got to the start of the Santa Special. Rode the SS with it tubed. Then another slash at about 250km
Schwalbe S One - Slashed after about 210km

That last slash just ruined my confidence in the system for now not to mention it was getting to be a rather expensive experiment and because I was still carrying everything with me I would when riding tubed it seemed a but pointless.

Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Duckfoot1606 on 07 April, 2017, 01:07:54 pm
40,000 km without a single puncture on Schwalbe Marathon 700x28, mainly on Italian cracked roads.

We have a proverb that sounds more or less like "you won't change a winning team", so tubeless can wait for me!

I use marathons on my training bike, there is a feeling of unstoppability about them but they do weigh a tonne and the ride is not so comfortable so I'm going to try the Michelin pro 4 endurance over the next few weeks before I make a decision for LEL, tubed all the way with me 👍
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: thing1 on 07 April, 2017, 05:09:48 pm
We put it down to 130kg combined weight being too much

I've put my issues with tubeless down to pressure rather than weight per se
This is based on almost complete lack of deflations on the front (75 psi) but several, apparently very small holes, which just wouldn't seal on the rear (90psi)

...

Yes this sounds much more plausible.

I'd like to try the S-one. But we tried the One (partly because they sponsored Steve HAMR ) and it was the worst of them all... Got about 100km before a giant cut that wouldn't seal.

Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Hot Flatus on 07 April, 2017, 06:02:23 pm
It's a race tyre.

Not sure how that translates to the demands of tandem usage
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: maxap on 08 April, 2017, 12:32:36 pm
I've been testing out the tubeless S One 30mm, though the name seems to have changed for 2017. I think they are now G One Speed.

Anyway, they are pretty fast and I have been fairly happy with them. I wonder how long they will last though. The rear tire seems a bit worn already. At a guess, I've probably done 600km. Should have kept track of my riding a bit better after I put them on the bike. Anybody else have  milage info on them?

My other option for LEL (with tubes) is the 32mm Vittoria Hyper. Bit more weight but should be comfy and reasonably fast so I am told.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: GPS on 11 April, 2017, 09:35:55 am
I've had similarly disappointing wear on S-Ones. They're great in terms of grip, roll resistance & punctures, but they wear quickly. Not a good commuting tyre !

I'm surprised at the range of experiences you lot have had with tubeless. I've been using tubeless for 2 years, and have had punctures that took a while to seal, but found that they would seal if I rotated the wheel so that the puncture was at the bottom and I pressed a finger against it to slow the loss of air. Slits in the side wall are another story. I carry tubes and a boot in case of those.

When I switched to Conti 4 Seasons for a winter because I felt more confident in their tread, I kept getting punctures. Schwalbe Marathons weigh a ton, but haven't punctured. I use them for commuting in winter now, although they also feel like wagon wheels and have much less grip.

What sealant, rims and tyres (pressure) you use clearly make a huge difference - as does tyre pressure and overall weight. So here's a round up of my set up.

Tyres - Schwalbe S-One  (30mm) (started with the first 28mm Schwalbe One tubeless, which were also fine)
Pressures - 70psi front, 80psi rear
Rims - Stan's A400 (disc brakes)
Sealant - Stan's Race Sealant (more, bigger particles)
My Weight - 62kg
Bike - 10kg
All my crap - depends on the ride, but 5-ish kg (?)
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: jon.pavelin on 12 April, 2017, 02:48:48 pm
We put it down to 130kg combined weight being too much

I've put my issues with tubeless down to pressure rather than weight per se
This is based on almost complete lack of deflations on the front (75 psi) but several, apparently very small holes, which just wouldn't seal on the rear (90psi)
Pressures chosen based on 100kg all-up weight split 45kg F/ 55kg R, and looking for the supposedly ideal 15% tyre drop, on 28mm 

I've been wearing my first set out with inner tubes in over the winter but will probably try again before LEL
These seem to be very high pressures for tubeless i think. 1800km of mixed scottish roads for my 30mm S-ones (now known as G-one speed i believe) no cuts, no punctures. 40 psi front, 60 psi rear. This seems to be a pretty standard setup for other folk i know running 'large volume' road tyres tubeless.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: jon.pavelin on 12 April, 2017, 03:00:15 pm
I've had similarly disappointing wear on S-Ones. They're great in terms of grip, roll resistance & punctures, but they wear quickly. Not a good commuting tyre !

I'm surprised at the range of experiences you lot have had with tubeless. I've been using tubeless for 2 years, and have had punctures that took a while to seal, but found that they would seal if I rotated the wheel so that the puncture was at the bottom and I pressed a finger against it to slow the loss of air. Slits in the side wall are another story. I carry tubes and a boot in case of those.

When I switched to Conti 4 Seasons for a winter because I felt more confident in their tread, I kept getting punctures. Schwalbe Marathons weigh a ton, but haven't punctured. I use them for commuting in winter now, although they also feel like wagon wheels and have much less grip.

What sealant, rims and tyres (pressure) you use clearly make a huge difference - as does tyre pressure and overall weight. So here's a round up of my set up.

Tyres - Schwalbe S-One  (30mm) (started with the first 28mm Schwalbe One tubeless, which were also fine)
Pressures - 70psi front, 80psi rear
Rims - Stan's A400 (disc brakes)
Sealant - Stan's Race Sealant (more, bigger particles)
My Weight - 62kg
Bike - 10kg
All my crap - depends on the ride, but 5-ish kg (?)
I think the pay off with the immediately grippy S-one is the higher wear rate. Still, on the center of my rear tyre the tiny knobbles are about halfway worn down i'd say and that only constitutes 1mm of rubber maximum that has been worn off on rough roads around Edinburgh and the borders. Total system weight is ~90 kg.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Darren Franks on 13 June, 2017, 02:55:19 pm
I've ridden 10,000km on Pro-One 28s and Orange Sealant, including a 4,000km TCR with several gravel sections. I've had 2-3 nicks that sealed themselves and that's it. They're very grippy and seem durable for 4,000-5,000km on fair roads, plus the rolling resistance figures are very good. It's easy to be a fan if you've never had a problem, but that's a reasonable amount of testing to develop confidence in some tyres.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: jiberjaber on 13 June, 2017, 03:03:22 pm
Another  :thumbsup: for tubeless though it hasn't stopped me carrying a set of tyre levers, a boot, spare inner and pump  :facepalm: LOL

1400km in on pro-one 28c running doc blue and they seem to be going fine.  I'm a lightweight 94kg with 17kg of iron bike so it's a fair load but they seem fine at 60 psi.

I've got another 3 tyres I picked up for £28 each and the N+1 (if it ever turns up in time for LEL  ::-) ) has g-one's fitted (plus I have a spare for that too..)

They seem quicker though that could also be the LEL training effect also :D
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Somnolent on 13 June, 2017, 05:59:23 pm
Probably will after all.
I think my previous poor experience may be due (at least in part ) to inflation with CO2 which I read elsewhere renders the sealant ineffective.
Running a 28 mm pro-1 on the front at the moment, (fitted with the help of Schwalbe's copy of the airshot)
Not sure I can get adequate clearance under the mudguard with a 28 on the back, so may have to get a 25 for that.

Still carrying spare tyre (after a catastrophic sidewall failure beyond the capacity of any boot some years back), tubes, levers, patches, pump, kitchen sink etc. :facepalm:
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Darren Franks on 13 June, 2017, 06:06:50 pm
Sealant doesn't like the shock cold temps created by the CO2.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 14 June, 2017, 09:16:37 am
Sealant doesn't like the shock cold temps created by the CO2.
It is supposedly the alkali PH that will cause the sealant to semi-set and then be ineffective at sealing holes.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Darren Franks on 14 June, 2017, 10:03:42 am
That's interesting. I wonder if it's possible to produce (or buy?) a sealant-friendly inflation cartridge?
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: tippers_kiwi on 14 June, 2017, 10:47:03 am
Apparently the Effeto Mariposa Caffelatex sealant doesn't suffer from the issue.

I'm now also considering the tubeless options again after all my woes. A switch to 650b wheels and 47mm tyres mean much lower pressures so has to be worth a try.....all to be confirmed yet as I am still waiting on the wheels to come.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Darren Franks on 14 June, 2017, 11:04:39 am
Apparently the Effeto Mariposa Caffelatex sealant doesn't suffer from the issue.
Good to know, but I think it'll take a lot to woo me away from Orange now. That stuff seals really well and lasts twice as long as the next best gloop I've tried too.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Shell on 19 June, 2017, 10:58:09 pm
Not for me.  I've ridden tubeless for the last 18 months, and covered approx. 10,000 miles and while I was initially convinced, I have now concluded that it is not the right choice for multi-day rides on a road bike.  I have ridden a pair of Hutchison sector 28s and three pairs of Schwalbe Pro-Ones.  The latter being used on the TCR and the Indy-Pac.  The Sector 28s proved durable nut were sketchy in the wet and quite heavy.  The Pro-Ones were initially a joy to ride, light, low rolling resistance, good grip and lovely cornering (they hold a nice shape on most rim widths).  However, they are not durable.  They are soft and wear rapidly and I have also concluded that there is an ageing of the rubber over time.  Pro-Ones that I bought less than 12 months ago have recently become badly cracked and have lost small chunks.  I think this could be a consequence of the bonding process that secures the air-tight lining.  There is no doubt that some potential punctures have self-sealed and I was able to run a lower, more comfortable pressure with less concern about pinch-flats.

However, I have suffered three separate failures where the tyres have not self sealed (or have self sealed only once almost flat and then leaked again as soon as I have put air back into them).  On two of these occasions I have tried unsuccessfully to repair with the Genuine Innovations Tubeless repair kit and have then resorted to a tube.  Fitting a tube in the field is not as easy as you might think due to the remaining latex on the tyre and wheel and the sealing tape which make it very difficult to get the tyre properly seated up on to the shoulders of the rim (a lot of pressure is required).  I have been using a Lezyne Road Drive pump to inflate but despite pumping as hard as my biceps and the burning heat of the pump can tolerate, the tyre has struggled to fully climb onto the rim.  I've ended up inflating, deflating and rocking and rolling the tyre and even then struggled to get it properly fitted (on both Mavic Open-Pro and DT Swiss RR511 rims).  This might be resolved if you carry a CO2 pump but for a multi day ride you would also still need a pump or several gas cannisters as back up.

So, given the problems I have experienced, I just don't feel the advantages outweigh the problems that can arise.  I'm therefore back running tubes and carrying a pump and patch kit.  I know I can keep rolling reliably with this set-up.

Incidentally, I am convinced that tubeless has a place on my CX bike.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Alex B on 20 June, 2017, 09:45:19 am
...  not the right choice for multi-day rides on a road bike.

Interesting. What clinchers are you going to use?

I have ridden approx. 20,000 km on tubless tyres, a mixture of Sector 28's and Schwable Ones/Pro Ones/G One Speed (formerly S Ones)

In this time I have had 4 incidents where roadside attention was required. 3 I fixed successfully using the Genuine Innovations anchovies (I just poke a single "strand" through the hole and trim to around 5mm protruding). The other time the hole was too large and I cut my losses and fitted the spare clincher I carry (A GP 4Seasons "28mm"). I think carrying a spare tyre is wise with tubeless .. but then I think carrying a spare tyre is wise for everybody  :)

Agree about the Pro One longevity, my rule of thumb is 2,500 km lifetime for a rear; 5,000 for the front. I had success with the Sector 28s and am probably too cautious a rider to have discovered their sketchiness.

One big surprise I had was when switching from Pacenti SL rims to H Plus Sons "The Hydra" - a quite different experience. The HPS rims are easier to mount the (Schwalbe) tyre onto but when deflated the tyre will always ("pop") demount from the rim, unlike on the Pacentis. With the G One Speed there seems to be a really good rim/tyre affinity. The tyre goes on with thumbs alone and "gapes" open in just such a way the bead is already sneaking into position. A roadside pump is enough to get it to ("pop") seat onto the rim. For this reasons I have changed my mind and am going to use these tyres (and not Pro Ones) for LEL - in the event of a demounted tyre there's a good chance of reseating it on the road (and if not, I have my clincher/tubes to hand). In general I think this illustrates an aspect of tubeless use: you need to be really familiar with the precise set up you have: the way the tyres, rims, sealant, tape, valve cores, repair kits and pumps work together. This is quite an overhead.

Tubeless: when it's good it's very very good, but when it's bad it's horrid.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Carlosfandango on 21 June, 2017, 07:52:40 am
Tyre choice is important when going tubeless. I`ve found the Schwalbe S ones superb for Audax, they`re 30mm wide, I can run the front down to 45 psi which has cured any hand discomfort or hand numbness after rides, they`re supple and fastish and the pimply tread has been good over the winter on gravel tracks or muddy lanes.

They`re quite robust and I`ve only suffered one big puncture caused by a 2mm flint, sealant was spraying over my head as the wheel rotated but the hole eventually closed.

The rear S one is pretty worn now and I have some 28mm pro ones I intended to use for LEL, superfast, but as Shell has explained these are really racing tyres and may not be durable enough for long distance, multi day events.

First world worries eh?

Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Bunker22 on 05 August, 2017, 09:00:58 am
I was very happy with my tubeless set up for LEL. H Plus Son rims, Stans tape and sealant and Sector 28 tyres. 1443km with no problems, and the ability to run a lower tyre pressure for some relief on the terrible road surfaces in parts.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: jon.pavelin on 05 August, 2017, 09:58:08 am
Schwalbe G-One speed on DTSwiss 370b rims made it round LEL with no incidents. Must have passed 60 odd folk fixing tubes on day . I'm now on my second set of S-One/G-Ones and after 8000km still no punctures (that i'm aware of). There were at least 3 clangers into potholes during LEL when i was running in groups that would have resulted in pinch flats as well so they saved me a chunk of time and effort

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: jiberjaber on 05 August, 2017, 11:14:43 am
Well after the last 200km before LEL I now know what a visitation sounds like on tubeless - thinking I had some mud stuck on my tyre hitting the guards, I stopped after the third time of hearing it to clean off the offending mud... that's when I found my rear mud guard dripping in sealant!

(https://5-t.imgbox.com/XYgTc58N.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/XYgTc58N)

I popped off the tyre when I got home to replace it in advance of LEL and this was what had caused the issue, it had worked it's way through the tyre and in to the rim space!

(https://2-t.imgbox.com/Mk6Fm8kT.jpg) (http://imgbox.com/Mk6Fm8kT)

I think I only lost about 5 PSI

So on the basis of the above I recognised perhaps one visitation during the whole LEL ride - quite happy with that!!
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 05 August, 2017, 03:11:45 pm
I had 3 hissy punctures on my Shwalbes and 1 on my hutchinson.  I used some flexible superglue on a couple of cuts and the outside of the punctures after they sealed.  Never had to stop riding or use the emergency CO2.

I think there is a place for some emergency sealant bottles as i suspect my front tyre with three punctures would be empty of sealant.  A little squirt bottle of 50-60ml with  an inserter nozzle could easily be carried.  A sealant that does not react to CO2 would also be helpful.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: billyam998 on 08 August, 2017, 08:43:36 pm
I rode LEL tubeless with (surprisingly) absolutely no issues, the previous months setting up and, using road tubelesss had been fraught with negative experiences but, instinct told me that I should continue to give it a try. A new schwalbe one pro on the rear a week before the event and, a top up with orange endurance was the only prep, I did, despite severe provocation and, an occasional bit of cyclo cross, the tyres / set up were perfect and, really required no attention for the whole event, fantastic averages and, minimal numbness in hands tells me this was the right thing to do.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Somnolent on 08 August, 2017, 08:47:50 pm
I ran nearly new Schwalbe Pro Ones and suffered punctures that failed to seal on both F & R (one on each)
Both needed tubes to sort. 
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: postrestant on 08 August, 2017, 11:52:01 pm
It would be really helpful (well, I think it might be) if people said whether the punctures were on the centre of the tread or the sidewall.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Alex B on 09 August, 2017, 06:28:29 am
Schwalbe G-One Speeds with Caffélatex Effetto Mariposa sealant made it round LEL for me with zero incidents. These are *the* tyres for UK roads/weather so far as I am concerned.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: jsabine on 09 August, 2017, 03:52:38 pm
I used tubeless Schwalbe Ones (28mm) with no significant problems: the front (on a newly built A23 rim) lost pressure between every control on the way to Moffat (going from approx 70 to 40psi) but had decided to stay up by the time I got to Edinburgh, while the rear (on an Open Pro) showed no such misbehaviour.

No punctures that I noticed, though I was still carrying three tubes just in case ... Tyres had probably done about 2000km before I started, and still look barely worn-in.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Hing on 09 August, 2017, 05:01:44 pm
Schwalbe Pro Ones 23mm or wide rims. Started with 4 bar front and rear for rider + bike weight of 155lb. Lost may be 0.25 bar per day. Lowered to ~ 3 and 3.5 bar at Innerliethen for smoother rolling, no noticeable increase in resistance. Now down to 2bar, feels hitting the rim a little bit when hopping onto curbs  :P
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Zed43 on 09 August, 2017, 08:38:53 pm
Compass Jon Bon Pass (35mm) with Schwalbe Blue at 2.4 / 2.8 bar. Front wheel felt a bit soft on two occasions; when I checked at the next control, pressure was down to a bit below 2 bar. Front wheel was about 7000km old, rear about 400km.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: Aidan on 09 August, 2017, 09:38:36 pm
I was seriously considering it , but held off until my dynamo wheel arrived. As I didn't get it fitted until about a week before the start I decided to run tubes, rather than set something new up with little settling in / testing time.  I got a puncture on the way to Louth , which fixing helped end my ride as I pulled my back slipping on a damp road in cleats. However, reading this thread makes me wonder if tubeless is worth the bother. You need to carry the same stuff just in case, it's messy, and lots of reports of losing pressure.  I fixed mt puncture in a few minutes quite easily.  Can't see that benefits outweigh the negatives really


Schwalbe G-One Speeds with Caffélatex Effetto Mariposa sealant made it round LEL for me with zero incidents. These are *the* tyres for UK roads/weather so far as I am concerned.

Alex , just in case I change my mind  ;D what flavour of speeds where these?
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: jsabine on 09 August, 2017, 10:39:42 pm
For me, the jury's still out on them. I got going with tubeless before last year's Wild Atlantic Way, and (as well as mileage beforehand with one significant puncture) did about 1500km of that route with one puncture that I noticed on the rear (sealed no problem en route), but had to put a tube in the front after about 800km - I hit a pothole, think I spilled some air (it would almost certainly have been a pinch flat on clinchers), and didn't add air when I got to that night's sleep control. Running on an Open Pro probably didn't help, and by the morning, the tyre was flat and in a puddle of sealant.

REASONS meant that I finished the route on a different bike and in fact didn't ride this one again until registration day for LEL: I'm very happy with a couple of minutes of pump faff at each northbound control considering the tyres didn't pick up any punctures that I noticed, and are still at a rideable pressure. I'll top them up next time I use the bike, but after a few days I'd probably do that on clinchers anyway.
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: postrestant on 20 August, 2017, 11:38:56 am
Interesting article on tubeless from Jan Heine.  Takeaway: ride at no more than 60 psi and, on narrow tyres, at no less ...

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2017/05/29/the-trouble-with-road-tubeless/
Title: Re: Anyone else going tubeless for LEL?
Post by: dim on 20 August, 2017, 07:52:40 pm
Interesting article on tubeless from Jan Heine.  Takeaway: ride at no more than 60 psi and, on narrow tyres, at no less ...

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2017/05/29/the-trouble-with-road-tubeless/

I think that the problem is that there is no current manufacturing standard for rims  for tubeless tyres ....

I spent a long time researching before upgrading my wheels and I opted for HED Belgium plus rims .... from what I have read, these rims work well with most tubeless tyres (aswell as with tubes)