Just currious if anyone here knows the stats or percentages on how many guys/gals run tubeless vs tubes on the circut. PB did it for the UCI DH'ers, so currious to see if there's anything similar for XC.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Tubeless and Pro XC racing
- Thread starter atrokz
- Start date
Dunno anything official, but from what I saw at windham it was a clear mJority on tubeless
This weekend I raced with a Geax sponsored rider, a Chammy Butt'r sponsored rider, and an Orbea sponsored rider... all pros... all WAY, WAY faster than me... also... all run Stan's.
Not-So-Secret pro-tip.
Most elite racers use tubular cement to glue at least one of their beads to the rim.
Most elite racers use tubular cement to glue at least one of their beads to the rim.
What does this accomplish (only 1 bead glued)? Lowers chance of burp by 50%?
It helps a lot since one bead has a hard time moving it goes a long way. It's 100% necessary on UST setups as far as I'm concerned. 90% of people have no problem keeping air in UST setups.
The other 10% can't make them work at all.
Pro XC racers absolutely hate UST. I know some of them must be beyond the moon now that Mavic makes pro-issue tubular wheels.
Tubeless has definite performance advantages, but there isn't any real reduction in flat risk- especially with race weight tires with thin sidewalls.
It's like tubulars- the rewards outweigh the risks.
Very interesting on the tubulars and contact cementing the once side. Thanks guys.
Tubular cement is not contact cement. The former stays a bit tacky.
That does not make sense. There is a huge reduction in flat risk as pinch flats are largely eliminated. Every one that I know that runs tubeless has experienced that elimination of pinch flats.
Some people don't seem to be able to use tubeless though. Often due to their higher weight and harder riding style. Or they refuse to put enough air in.
When you say Pros hate UST do you mean the heavier tires or tubeless in general?
You can certainly pinch flat a super high tpi race tire, slice right through the casing. Race stuff is fragile, that just the way it is. The main failure you see with tubeless race tires is sidewall cuts.
As far as disdain for UST the tires are phenomenally heavy and stiff and the probability of burping is real high, especially on the 29" setups. Glue needed by many of the riders I know. These are national top 10 guys who ride with vigor and abandon.
Ok I read it right then. I don't use UST tires anymore either. I tend to use Tubeless ready because i always run sealant anyway. I haven.t pinch flatted a tire or burped anything significant but I am lighter than many riders. I have torn through the tread on a few tires and I can sort of remember doing in a sidewall a long time ago. The local North Shore rocks tend to be rounded because the overburden is glacial till. Whistler though has a lot of volcanic outcrop and tends to be pretty sharp. I always run a few extra psi there.
So if I'm an agressive rider who likes to push through corners and stay off the brakes in rocks, I should stick to tubes?
FWIW I think it depends on what tires you run, like others have mentioned in this thread. If you run xc "race" tires that are fragile, yeah you probably should run tubed.
I run bigger(2.3F/2.2R @ around 27psi)AM/DH-oriented tires tubeless for trail riding I ride pretty aggressive over rocks/turns, and I've had zero issues(I'm a big dude also, 6' 4" 230lbs if that helps).
It only costs ~100 to try riding tubless snazzyness. Give it a shot. If it works for you it's the badassness.
I have seen riders pinch flat "converted" tires. They cut clear through the casing rather than just the inner tube.
To be honest it seems like a pretty big hasstle (dealing with the goop if I get a puncture, worrying about burping, denting rims, etc) for not much benefit (a very slight reduction in weight once slime/goop is involved and less friction which can be negated in tubes by using talc).
I'm 200lbs and ride fairly hard, so not sure this is a great idea for myself. Either way, interesting to hear some points about what the xc whippits are doing these days.
I'm 200lbs and ride fairly hard, so not sure this is a great idea for myself. Either way, interesting to hear some points about what the xc whippits are doing these days.
I know plenty of 200lb guys that run tubeless- just be willing(and ready) to experiment.
For how much **** I talk- it's pretty awesome.
For how much **** I talk- it's pretty awesome.
It is a lot of hassle, but I don't pinch flat or flat from thorns either.
Lower pressure grips better, thus if you like to corner aggressively you might like tubeless. Once you get it dialed it's great.
I don't run tires that weigh much less than 650g. I know it's not a perfect method of determining how tough a tire is, but typically if it's under 650 for a 29er... the sidewalls are probably too thin to hold up.
It ain't weight, it's the ride quality that makes tubeless superior to tubes. Better grip and lower rolling resistance. Fewer flats is a side benefit and it can be lighter than a tubed set up depending on what you had before and how you accomplish the set up. It is more hassle. Goo on the trail is not a hassle at all. IF you flat out there, just remove the valve and pour out the goo. Install tube and go. Messy? maybe but you're out riding. Not like you won't need to shower when you get home anyway.
I use about the same pressure with tubes or tubeless. If the tubeless is tubeless ready or DIY "converted" (I rarely do the latter) I usually need to run HIGHER pressure to prevent squirm in the corners.
I simply prefer UST over Stan rims/tires bc UST's are a cinch to inflate. Stan's setups can be a nightmare.