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I hate tubeless wheels so much!
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I get that tubeless are all the rage, tires must be as wide as possible and pressure as low as possible.
It may be more blasphemous than slamming Lionel, I may be kicked out of TS for saying this, but I fuckin' hate tubeless wheels.

(I used tubeless extensively with MTB, so no stranger. I do all my bike maintenance, so its not like I've never worked on a bike before)

I needed new wheels and tubeless are the only thing you can practically get. I didn't have anything against it, its just that I'm on the trainer for all my rides except for a few pre-race and race rides, so silly to deal with dried sealant and such. "No problem," I figured, "I'll just pop a tube in and not worry about it". But the wheels had a different idea altogether.
The damn tires would not set properly into the rim all the way, causing the ride to be bumpy.
As one might expect, the manufacturers go to great lengths to tell you absolutely nothing about this issue (I had this issue with both Zipp and Hunt), so I foolishly wasted good time and money replacing tires, tubes and rims. Finally I found some dark corner of the internet (e.g. Reddit) where some MTB folks discussed the issue of tire setting into the rim. Ironically, it should not happen with a tube!

And so started my tire setting adventure.

I started gently: I played some nice soothing music, dimmed the lights, lit scented candles, caressed and massaged the tires, whispering sweet nothings. The tires wouldn't budge.
I got angry and decided to teach it a lesson; I drowned it in soap water, pumped it to 5,000 PSI and waited for the blissful pop. Nada.

After many hours and dollars wasted on this stupidity I am still stuck with almost but not quite round wheels.
The wheels won, I give up. I'll sell all my triathlon equipment, leave my family and society behind, go live in a cave somewhere and try to forget about the shameful defeat. I'm done.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [DoronG] [ In reply to ]
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šŸ¤£šŸ¤£šŸ¤£ I've been there brother. Fortunately I was able to get GP5000 TL TdF tires to seat on Vision Metron 81 wheels after extensive cleaning under the rim hook. PIA!
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [DoronG] [ In reply to ]
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And still it is your fault LOL

Jeroen

Owner at TRIPRO, The Netherlands
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [DoronG] [ In reply to ]
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You forgot KY lube, thatā€™s why you got a NADA.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [DoronG] [ In reply to ]
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im genuinely interested in how you can have a bumpy tire. Iā€™ve done this hundreds (thousands, maybe?) of times and never had the experience you had

Can you take to the shop to see if they can fix it, Iā€™m under 3 minutes?
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [mvenneta] [ In reply to ]
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Ironically, I was very skeptical of tubeless for quite some time when I first heard about the idea. But I went through the months of October and November unable to complete a single training ride without having to swap a tube out on the side of the road. Decided to give tubeless a try. Absolutely sold.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [VegasJen] [ In reply to ]
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Your username may give it away, but where or what types of roads do you ride? Getting flats every ride, or nearly every?
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [PBT_2009] [ In reply to ]
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PBT_2009 wrote:
Your username may give it away, but where or what types of roads do you ride? Getting flats every ride, or nearly every?
It does, more or less. I don't actually live in Vegas anymore. Still close, but I am outside of Vegas. I was picking up a lot of goat heads or mesquite thorns. And yes, pretty much at least once a ride. Occasionally twice in a single ride. Beyond frustrating.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [DoronG] [ In reply to ]
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 I was an early road tubeless adopter, e.g. doing it with old Stan's tubeless conversion kits with regular non-tubeless-ready rims and tires (sketchy AF in retrospect, but worked at the time). More than 10 years ago?

All the way to using the latest generation of rims and tires. Including Hunt (MTB and road).

I've never experienced what you're talking about.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [DoronG] [ In reply to ]
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I think you just got unlucky. Some combinations can be finicky. I've been riding American Classic Argent tubeless for ages, many many thousand miles on pretty much the worst roads in the U.S. Every hole has sealed up without me having to stop, except for one in all these years. I've spent thousands on other wheelsets and always come back to these. They just work.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [DoronG] [ In reply to ]
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Can't you just run tube and clincher on tubeless wheels? I have HED wheels that are tubeless but have had no issues with latex tubes G5k clinchers on them.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [mvenneta] [ In reply to ]
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mvenneta wrote:
im genuinely interested in how you can have a bumpy tire. Iā€™ve done this hundreds (thousands, maybe?) of times and never had the experience you had

Can you take to the shop to see if they can fix it, Iā€™m under 3 minutes?

Maybe I have no talent (my wife enthusiastically approves this theory).
Maybe I am unlucky and the combination of zipp 404/808 with conti gp 5 as well as hunt with vittoria corsa both somehow failed.
Or perhaps its a stupid design that depends on high precision between tire and rim to seal the tire using air pressure, and any imperfection or dust/dirt creates friction between so that the tire is stuck by the air pressure and can't move all the way up to the hook.

But forget rationality, I suspect there's a higher cosmic power involved. Tonight I will sacrifice a small goat to Lucifer inside a burning pentagram, then try again to reseat the stupid tires. If it works I will happily denounce all my beliefs and join the tubeless religion. Then all I'll need is a slightly bigger flat kit that could fit a small animal.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [DoronG] [ In reply to ]
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Itā€™s tricky to ā€œfigure it outā€ the first time w tubeless. Do you have a friend that can mount a tire w you to teach you?

Or (gasp!) go to the shop and have them do it w you for the first time. No shame in learning from someone whoā€™s done it before

If youā€™re having the issue on multiple rim / tire combo, then definitely user error ;)
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [DoronG] [ In reply to ]
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GP5000 TL? If so, yeah those tires suck for anyone to mount. The newer GP5000 S TR are much much easier.

blog
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [DoronG] [ In reply to ]
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"I would not use it here or there

I would not use it anywhere."

--Dr Seuss, probably
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [mvenneta] [ In reply to ]
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If the tire doesn't fully seat properly, the tire will be a bit wobbly on the wheel causing a bumpy ride. The OP doesn't mention whether an air compressor is being used rather than a floor pump. The only other tip I'll add is to put the tires in the sun for a few minutes before mounting. It really helps to make them more flexible and easier to install.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [DoronG] [ In reply to ]
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I JUST went tubeless a couple weeks ago. Bought HUNT wheels and could not get them set up, but then took them to a respected local mechanic who showed me tricks of the trade how to do it properly. Even the YouTube videos weren't that great--but seeing it first hand, yeah, it is quite easy once you get the hang of it. I have bought Fillmore Valves and regular tubeless universal valves. I'm having mixed feelings about each one. I can say I'm really enjoying the HUNT wheels. There is a 20-25% off their wheels on the site right now...so I nabbed a pair and no issues so far. They are holding air quite well.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [Rocky M] [ In reply to ]
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To anyone

Do you think I am a good candidate for tubeless tires?

I ride in the road 4 - 6 times per year. Approx 2 - 3 months between each ride


All other training rides (4 - 6/week) are on the trainer
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [MrTri123] [ In reply to ]
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From my limited scope of using Tubeless the last few weeks, if I were only on a trainer most of the time I would not use Tubeless. No need, nothing to really roll over & puncture.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [mvenneta] [ In reply to ]
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mvenneta wrote:
im genuinely interested in how you can have a bumpy tire. Iā€™ve done this hundreds (thousands, maybe?) of times and never had the experience you had

Can you take to the shop to see if they can fix it, Iā€™m under 3 minutes?

I've got nothing for the OP but I haven't been under 3 minutes since I was 22.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [DoronG] [ In reply to ]
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About two years ago, I was in the same boat, hating tubeless anyway, for several reasons. Now I've got the hang of it.

Your specific problem was discussed on this forum a little over a year ago. Some people didn't believe the issue existed. (I posted links to park tools videos explaining the issue.)

Problems getting a tire up on the bead shelf is a issue involving both the tire (mostly imo) and rim. For me on aluminum rims, I've had no problems at all with panaracer, tufo, and continental gravel tires. However, 34mm schwalbe g-one rs (really a road tire) are very difficult to seat. With them I know that if I flat and I have to put in a tube, I will likely not get tires fully seated unless I bring Co2, which I usually don't carry.

________
It doesn't really matter what Phil is saying, the music of his voice is the appropriate soundtrack for a bicycle race. HTupolev
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [AchillesHeal] [ In reply to ]
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AchillesHeal wrote:
Can't you just run tube and clincher on tubeless wheels? I have HED wheels that are tubeless but have had no issues with latex tubes G5k clinchers on them.

This - just don't use a TLR tire if you're going to run tubes all the time. Heck, if you're riding inside as you say, don't even use your good wheels have crappy wheels for the trainer and then just setup your carbon wheels tubeless for your race?

Tubeless since 2018 and sure we all hate having to seat a new tire the first time, but my lord is it worth many times over.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [MrTri123] [ In reply to ]
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MrTri123 wrote:
To anyone

Do you think I am a good candidate for tubeless tires?

I ride in the road 4 - 6 times per year. Approx 2 - 3 months between each ride


All other training rides (4 - 6/week) are on the trainer

Iā€™m the same. Tried it. But it dried out. As the wheels didnā€™t move.

Sold the TLR tyres and got standard ā€˜tube neededā€™ tyres of similar spec and Iā€™m back with TPU tubes. Even thou the TLR tubes would take tubes. They just didnā€™t seat properly.

My only thought if I was to stay tubeless was to empty / clean the tyres after racing season and leave them empty and refill come race week. But for all that hassle Iā€™m still with tubes.

Regards, Richard
3D Bits and Pieces - https://www.printables.com/@thetrickster_793480
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [thetrickster] [ In reply to ]
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That's why you need something like this..



Really as much a I like my tubeless, I wouldn't recommend them for occasional use.
Last edited by: INVALID REQUEST: Apr 27, 24 23:51
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [VegasJen] [ In reply to ]
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VegasJen wrote:
Ironically, I was very skeptical of tubeless for quite some time when I first heard about the idea. But I went through the months of October and November unable to complete a single training ride without having to swap a tube out on the side of the road. Decided to give tubeless a try. Absolutely sold.

in my case it's the opposite: roads are silky-smooth where i live. in the past decade i think i've had one or two flats, and at least one (a giant woodscrew) i'm not sure tubeless would've prevented. in my case, tubes are cheap and easy, they work with the tools i have, and tubeless still sort of feels like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

____________________________________
https://lshtm.academia.edu/MikeCallaghan

http://howtobeswiss.blogspot.ch/
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [iron_mike] [ In reply to ]
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I get that. I ride in Vegas, and when I visit family back in Florida, I ride there as well. I can count on one hand, with fingers left over, the times I've had punctures on those rides. But where I live right now, I can't count the number of punctures I've had this year alone. It's been horrible.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [VegasJen] [ In reply to ]
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VegasJen wrote:
I get that. I ride in Vegas, and when I visit family back in Florida, I ride there as well. I can count on one hand, with fingers left over, the times I've had punctures on those rides. But where I live right now, I can't count the number of punctures I've had this year alone. It's been horrible.

i also have to admit that i'm just really lazy.

the idea of re-learning how to change an 'effin tyre in my 40s is positively exhausting to me, so . . . clinchers it is!

____________________________________
https://lshtm.academia.edu/MikeCallaghan

http://howtobeswiss.blogspot.ch/
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [iron_mike] [ In reply to ]
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I totally get that. I certainly didn't want to learn this but the shear number of punctures I was getting was exhausting. Not just the expense of replacing or patching tubes (which I have become quite adept in repairing) but the frustration of spending 10 or 15 minutes sitting on the side of a busy road replacing a tube every time I went out. I was at the point of finding a solution or giving up cycling. It was that bad.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [VegasJen] [ In reply to ]
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It shouldn't take 10 minutes to replace a tube.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [jimatbeyond] [ In reply to ]
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Good for you.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [VegasJen] [ In reply to ]
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I came here to say I think 10 minutes is a pretty good estimate to change a tube if you're saying from puncture to rolling again (which I think by the context that's what you're saying). By the time you stop, get your tools/tube/inflator out, remove the wheel, change, then do everything in reverse, 7-10 minutes seems like a good estimate.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [ttusomeone] [ In reply to ]
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You're leaving out the 2-3 minutes I spend cursing and kicking rocks that I'm doing this shit again.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [VegasJen] [ In reply to ]
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VegasJen wrote:
You're leaving out the 2-3 minutes I spend cursing and kicking rocks that I'm doing this shit again.

for me it's +30 seconds of exhaling deeply and questioning my life choices. "why am i doing this again? why is the universe so indifferent?"

____________________________________
https://lshtm.academia.edu/MikeCallaghan

http://howtobeswiss.blogspot.ch/
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [DoronG] [ In reply to ]
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I don't care what anyone else says or does... I put tubs to all my wheels. Although, flats are rare, in no rush, under 70.3 race conditions, I can replace a tub in well under 5min with high degree of certainty and go on my marry way ;-)
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [ In reply to ]
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Replying to no one specific....

If you happen to be one of those riders that ride mostly indoors, and only outdoor rides are 3-4 races over a 4-5 month period....

Is it still better to use tubeless from a flat prevention POV? The last 3 WTC races I've been at, I flatted on tubes. Several friends with tubeless never seem to have flats. Am I stupid for making the switch, and either add a little sealant before each next race, or remove the tires after each race and clean them out (is it really that hard??) and add new sealant??
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [SBRcanuck] [ In reply to ]
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My very limited experience so far, and I'm planning on refreshing sealant about 2 weeks prior to IMAZ. I figure this will give me plenty of time to make sure the tires are properly sealed and the sealant is fresh.

But I'm still a tubeless n00b. Others might have more experienced opinions with better recommendations.
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Re: I hate tubeless wheels so much! [DoronG] [ In reply to ]
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So going back to my favorite bitch about cycling. Today I went on a 68 mile ride. I only have one bike set up for tubeless, and it wasn't the bike I was riding today. Anybody wanna guess what happened?
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.
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I managed to get TWO flats within a mile of each other. YGTBFSM.

First one was the back tire. I felt it getting low so I stopped. Found a staple in the tire. Not like a paper staple but one of those big staples, like a carpentry staple. Kicked rocks and cursed, then popped in one of my spare tubes and hit it with my CO2 inflator and back on my way.

Then, about a mile down the road, I notice the front feels sloppy. Stop and give it a pinch test. Sure enough, I'm way low. I found a mesquite thorn in that tire. Fortunately, I had a second spare tube this time and my inflator actually still had some CO2 left in it. Not enough for a full charge, but maybe 40psi. I was only about four miles from the house so I just rode the front tire soft the rest of the way home.

Now, I'm only posting this because if it had been my tubeless tires, I wouldn't have found either of these punctures until I got home. I probably would have noticed the staple when I put the bike on the work stand. But the mesquite thorn, I probably wouldn't have found that until I pulled the tire off for routine maintenance.
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