Tubeless tyres

[markcalv]

Sorry, yet another tyre discussion!

Anyone had any experience of using tubeless rims for the race? I have some stans iron cross rims that I am looking to use tubeless for the race. It's my first race so no experience of the terrain. The obvious choice normally is something like a heavyweight Landcruiser, I tried setting some up tubeless but they are too loose on the rim. The question is am I right to go tubeless anyway? Friends that have done the race say stick tubes in and pump them up rock hard but surely that defeats the purpose and benefits of tubeless? Any views?

[vdubdes]

Good question and something I would like a sub 4 hour rider to answer please!
In fact I would like to know do sub 4 hour riders use Land Cruisers?

Des

[dph]

I'm a big LC fan - pb of 3:40 @90kg.

Only one visit from the puncture fairy in 8 events.....

[richpips]

Two years ago I ran some ghetto tubeless tyres.

They held up for weeks in the rocky Peak District in testing. I felt confident they were up to the job.

On the first offroad section at Gillgarth, I hit a lump of limestone hard and the front burped and went flat. Sealant everywhere, it was a messy time consuming job to fit a tube. I was last before I hit Simon Fell.

In theory you can run them softer, though in practice on such a rocky course you can't, unlike MTB tyres they don't hold sufficient air if you burp them to reseal quickly.

Even though I have proper tubeless rims on my wheels this year, I'll be running them with tubes (29er tubes).

[lanterne rouge]

Landcruisers - and pump them up like a rock! (Though I weigh rather more than your typical Three Peaks rider!)

[wullrich]

I used ultegra 6700 wheels set up tubeless with a Panaracer Cinder X in front and a Maxxis Locust on the back last year. Worked great. Ran 45 front, 50psi rear, may go a few PSI lower this year. (I'm 73kg) So no, you can't run pressures you normally would in a playing-field cross race, but still significantly lower than with tubes. Even with tubulars I doubt anyone is running much less than 40psi since the risk of bottoming out on the rim on Whernside is pretty significant. I at least felt more confident descending whernside thanks to lower pressures and grippier tyres than the Land Crusiers.

There is a risk of burping if you are not using tubeless ready wheels or tyres, but this can be avoided with proper set up. This is a good how to article:
http://www.cxmagazine.com/going-tubeles ... mendations

The key concern is making sure the bead is tight, and having a low bead-to-rim bed distance.

I actually punctured my Cinder X on the front this weekend- something cut a 5mm hole in it, but the Stans fluid sealed it up- though it took a minute to standing with the hole at 6 o'clock since it was about the largest hole that fluid will normally seal and it takes time for the fibres in the fluid to build up. But still much faster than changing a tube. I had 40psi in them when I started, and lost about 10psi.

I think the more people try tubeless and see the benefits- more people will use them. The only drawback really is burping, which can be avoided with proper setup. You also will not be flying around corners at 3PCX like you would in a 'normal' cross race, which is where burps usually happen.

[simonbowns]

I've got Landcruisers on Iron Cross, have set up really well tubeless - usual couple of rides to settle them in, they've been fine. Crappy, heavy and worn quickly, but fine! I'll be using them for the 3 peaks, at 40psi. This has been fine for me around the Peak/Sheffield, plenty of clouting into things and lots of situations that would have been a pinch puncture. Fingers crossed...