Tubeless Blues

[PedalUma]

I had one rim that would just not behave. Even with a compressor. So, giving up something that is not working, like a bad relationship, smoking or over drinking is the best approach. Westerners are trained not to be quitters. I would rather quit early and often.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

You have way too wide of tape. It should just be wider than the flat part of the rim. So far, only a few tires needed a tube; otherwise, my regular compressor or even my Makita cordless compressor have been fine. I have some Schwalbe tires that could be inflated with a hand pump and hold air for a month between fillings. I like the DT-Swills tape, it has a little stretch to it, so it's easier to apply. So far, I have not had to replace any.

Nah. Park Tool clearly said the tape should be 2 mm wider than the internal rim width. The tape installed earlier by the bike mechanic was of the same width as mine.

This video shows what I did wrong. There is a technique to manually seat both tyre beads near to the rim sides and then the final seating the beads should be easy.

 

[fooferdoggie]

This is what it should look like the tape should just touch the sides of the rim. Yours looks like its over 1/2 the way up.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@fooferdoggie: Reconsidering, you might be right. The tape should certainly not cover the channels by the rim edge.
Still, my main issue is both tyre beads tend to meet each other in the central channel. I will replace the tape with the 21 mm one and try installing a brand new tyre.
Thank you for your input!

 

[stompandgo]

@fooferdoggie: Reconsidering, you might be right. The tape should certainly not cover the channels by the rim edge.
Still, my main issue is both tyre beads tend to meet each other in the central channel. I will replace the tape with the 21 mm one and try installing a brand new tyre.
Thank you for your input!

If the beads are meeting each other, then I think your rim isn't wide enough for your tire.

 

[fooferdoggie]

@fooferdoggie: Reconsidering, you might be right. The tape should certainly not cover the channels by the rim edge.
Still, my main issue is both tyre beads tend to meet each other in the central channel. I will replace the tape with the 21 mm one and try installing a brand new tyre.
Thank you for your input!

I have had a couple tires do that. I had to put a tube in inflate it then take the tube out leaving one side of the tire seated on the rim. then it would inflate.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

If the beads are meeting each other, then I think your rim isn't wide enough for your tire.

Nay. A 21 mm rim and a 42 mm tyre are OK, it is the Specialized specification.

I have had a couple tires do that. I had to put a tube in inflate it then take the tube out leaving one side of the tire seated on the rim. then it would inflate.

Thank you! A sound advice!

 

[fooferdoggie]

Nay. A 21 mm rim and a 42 mm tyre are OK, it is the Specialized specification.


Thank you! A sound advice!

the bad part is you ahve to remove the valve and then reinstall it. I have really lucked out with tires that are easy to seat.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

the bad part is you ahve to remove the valve and then reinstall it. I have really lucked out with tires that are easy to seat.

Your advice tu use the inner tube to seat one side of the bead has really worked @fooferdoggie! Thank you!
Now, I will ride the e-bike with this setup for a while, and I may later do the work on the wheel again using a narrower tape and a new Rhombus Pro tyre for the front.

 

[Chazmo]

Motor Doping is a real and proven thing.

Just catching up on this… Definition? Sorry, pure ignorance here, and I can’t figure it out from context.

 

[Chazmo]

Two weeks ago, I deflated my tubeless tires to replenish the sealant. Front reinflated just fine with my Ryobi electric pump (looks kinda like a cordless drill).

View attachment 188760
But the rear bead wouldn't seat with either the Ryobi or my neighbor's bicycle floor pump. Ended up taking it to Cadence Cyclery, where they got it to reseat first try with their compressor while I waited. They're the best!


Have one of these on order now.

Lingering concern department: Several months ago, I hit a deeply recessed drainage grate at speed. (It was hidden in deep shade on a bright sunny day — never saw it coming.) Launched me right off the seat and pedals but somehow didn't fall!

Rear wheel took the brunt of it. No external rim damage on close inspection, and the wheels miraculously stayed true. But I wonder if the groove for the rear tire bead might have been distorted in the process. We'll see how it reseats with the new reservoir pump.

View attachment 188761
BTW, between the ultra-high-end bikes they sell and the bikes that come in, Cadence Cyclery is definitely the go-to place for bike porn around here. A customer's totally aero Pinarello Dogma.

Is that Dogma an ebike or is that just the funkiest bottom bracket of all time?

 

[stompandgo]

Just catching up on this… Definition? Sorry, pure ignorance here, and I can’t figure it out from context.

It means racing a pedal bike in a pedal bike class using a hidden motor and battery buried in the frame. In other words, cheating. The UCI caught on to this early, and started equipping commissaires with iPads loaded with FLIR devices and software. A number of riders got caught and were kicked out of the sport. This was mostly at the UCI level. Sponsors rejected the public humiliation and pretty much stopped their teams from doing this.

 

[stompandgo]

Is that Dogma an ebike or is that just the funkiest bottom bracket of all time?

It's designed to be aero. Pinarello carbon bikes have always had their own "flair" that set them apart visually.

The Dogmas are pedal bikes. The e-bike line is called Nytro.

 

[PedalUma]

hidden motor and battery

One method of detection is the heat signature.

 

[stompandgo]

One method of detection is the heat signature.

FLIR does essentially that.

 

[PedalUma]

FLIR does essentially that.

I get the IR part but not the FL.
I wonder, if a bike used pneumatic braking, for example, to compress air stored in the frame, would it be cheating to reuse it as regen, if it started with zero charge. It would not be like going out there with a supplemental charged battery. You could tell who is using it when bike frames that look like scuba tanks start explode coming down the Alps.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

FLIR is a company that makes thermal sensors at varying price points.

 

[stompandgo]

I get the IR part but not the FL.
I wonder, if a bike used pneumatic braking, for example, to compress air stored in the frame, would it be cheating to reuse it as regen, if it started with zero charge. It would not be like going out there with a supplemental charged battery. You could tell who is using it when bike frames that look like scuba tanks start explode coming down the Alps.

Cheating by who's measure, the UCI? In general, technology used on UCI race bikes must be generally available. In other words, homologated into a production bike.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

My Tubeless Blues Seem To Be Over

The culprit was the old tyres that must have become rogue by a long contact with the inner tubes, or whatever.

First, I replaced the 23 mm tape for the front wheel with a 21 mm one, and installed a tubeless valve. Then, I installed a brand new Specialized Rhombus Pro 2Bliss tyre on the rim. As soon as the tyre was pulled on, it sealed dry with an ordinary floor pump! Then I deflated the tyre, poured 65 mm of liquid sealant into the tyre, gave a good blow from the compressed air tank, installed the valve core, inflated the tyre to the max allowable pressure (actually, half bar above), and put the wheel onto my Vado SL to be able to roll it often to distribute the sealant evenly.

Rhombus Pro is the most aggressive gravel tyre made by Specialized. I tried it before on a demo Diverge EVO bike ridden in a sandy terrain. It is a true Tubeless tyre: its interior is lined with a black airproof material.

The rear wheel holds one of the old Tracer Pro tyres, that was as cooperative as to eventually seal on the rim. I expect issues with that tyre. In case of deflation, the tyre bead will surely pop off the rim hooks. I consider a purchase of the second Rhombus Pro, and installing it tubeless for the rear wheel for the race of 28th July. The race is to be ridden in Varmia, and I expect gravel with patches of shallow sand there.

Checking the setup on this Saturday on gravel and forest trails south of Warsaw.

 

[Chazmo]

My Tubeless Blues Seem To Be Over

The culprit was the old tyres that must have become rogue by a long contact with the inner tubes, or whatever.

First, I replaced the 23 mm tape for the front wheel with a 21 mm one, and installed a tubeless valve. Then, I installed a brand new Specialized Rhombus Pro 2Bliss tyre on the rim. As soon as the tyre was pulled on, it sealed dry with an ordinary floor pump! Then I deflated the tyre, poured 65 mm of liquid sealant into the tyre, gave a good blow from the compressed air tank, installed the valve core, inflated the tyre to the max allowable pressure (actually, half bar above), and put the wheel onto my Vado SL to be able to roll it often to distribute the sealant evenly.

View attachment 194813View attachment 194814
Rhombus Pro is the most aggressive gravel tyre made by Specialized. I tried it before on a demo Diverge Comp bike ridden in a sandy terrain. It is a true Tubeless tyre: its interior is lined with a black airproof material.

The rear wheel holds one of the old Tracer Pro tyres, that was as cooperative as to eventually seal on the rim. I expect issues with that tyre. In case of deflation, the tyre bead will surely pop off the rim hooks. I consider a purchase of the second Rhombus Pro, and installing it tubeless for the rear wheel for the race of 28th July. The race is to be ridden in Varmia, and I expect gravel with patches of shallow sand there.

Checking the setup on this Saturday on gravel and forest trails south of Warsaw.

Wow, that is one aggressive off-road tire, Stefan. Good for you! I presume this will not be used on the road much, right. Just thinking it’ll be squirmy.

Good luck with it, and good luck when you (eventually) do the back.