Going Tubeless
Last year I gave going tubeless a shot. Conventional wheels. Bontrager Race X-Lites, with a spoke tape, rim strip, Maxxis Raze Tires and Stan’s tire sealant. I’ve had good luck on my mountain bike running this type of set-up, so why not for cross? Well it worked OK. The tires were prone to burp every once in a while, when taking on a good size rock or root. Letting out a spit of the tire sealant, but still holding air. No problem for cross country training rides through the trails and roads I ride from my house. After a dozen rides or so I felt it was time to put them to the test of a race. Pre-riding the Iron Cross Light course, I hammered into some of the grass corners and could feel the tire sticking to the grass and bending, I increased the speed and sure enough they stuck so well that it ripped the tire off the rim, instantly flat. Prognoses, to weak of a tire bead and side wall.
I gave up on them.
Last year I gave going tubeless a shot. Conventional wheels. Bontrager Race X-Lites, with a spoke tape, rim strip, Maxxis Raze Tires and Stan’s tire sealant. I’ve had good luck on my mountain bike running this type of set-up, so why not for cross? Well it worked OK. The tires were prone to burp every once in a while, when taking on a good size rock or root. Letting out a spit of the tire sealant, but still holding air. No problem for cross country training rides through the trails and roads I ride from my house. After a dozen rides or so I felt it was time to put them to the test of a race. Pre-riding the Iron Cross Light course, I hammered into some of the grass corners and could feel the tire sticking to the grass and bending, I increased the speed and sure enough they stuck so well that it ripped the tire off the rim, instantly flat. Prognoses, to weak of a tire bead and side wall.
I gave up on them.
This year I am giving it another shot. I’m trying out the new Piranha, one of Hutchinson Tubeless cross Tires. http://www.hutchinson-pneus.com/en/catalogue.php?cat=route&sub=cyclo-cross Running the same set-up, Bontrager Race X-lite wheels, nylon spoke tape, rim strip, and Stan’s tire sealant. They went on the rims quick, and grabbed right away with a blast of air from my compressor. The tire seems to be made a different way, a side wall section and a tread section. The side walls are short and stiff; the treads are smooth in the center, with bigger knobs on the edges to bite into corners. I got a couple of rides in on them with the pressure up in the 50’s lbs. They have great acceleration and good feel of consistent traction, just a little harsh at that much pressure. Yesterday I rode them at 33 lbs, and was hitting the rim on some of the bigger bumps; seem so far like a great set-up for faster dry days. Will try to run them at the low 40’s lbs. If these ride nice for the next few rides I’m going to order the Bulldogs, the bigger treaded tire, I think running this tire at lower pressure will be where the tubeless will make the biggest difference. Could be a great traction, fast mud tire.
http://www.hutchinson-pneus.com/en/pneu-route/bulldogcx.pdf
http://www.hutchinson-pneus.com/en/pneu-route/bulldogcx.pdf
1 comment:
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