|   Stan's New Rim Strips Upadate... | DIRT BOY
Jan 17, 2002 2:01 AM | | I just got an e-mail from Stan about the new rim strips. They are available by themselves for $20 each. Will be available by the weekend on his site. New Latex to seal bigger holes better. |
| I know there are reasons other than weight... | POG
Jan 17, 2002 7:20 AM | | to run tubeless but will you save any weight at all with the new rim strips plus whatever the latex weighs compared to an ultralight tube? |
| Doubtful if you are already running 100g tubes. (nm) | AZ X-Racer
Jan 17, 2002 7:28 AM | | |
| Well most people are running 2 oz of liquid... | DeeEight
Jan 17, 2002 11:47 AM | | per tire, plus the half ounce or so for each rim's worth of valve and tape pieces. Typical 'light' tubes that you buy for $3, the standard butyl 1.25/1.5 size, are about 125 grams which is 4.4oz. So right now people are netting approx 1.9oz per wheel running Stan's, but possibly less than that, depending on just how much liquid they had to use to get the tires to seal properly, plus extra tape, etc.
If you're using new rimstrips that weigh an extra 2 ounces each you can toss the weight savings advantage right out the window. Since the low-pressure advantage is HIGHLY dependant on a perfect fitting tire to rim (otherwise the sidewall tends to pull away from the rim under lateral loads, letting air escape, and in some cases, going completely flat) it just comes down to better puncture resistance for all the time/effort/money. For some people that's all that they need to make it worth it (racers for example who can't afford to stop for 5 minutes to fix a flat) while for others its not worth it. |
| if you read about the new strips ... | wc
Jan 17, 2002 2:02 PM | | ... Stan states that at 10 psi, you can try to push the tire bead off the rim but NO air will escape. So even if you throw out the weight savings, you still have superior puncture resistance and lower pressures. Sounds good to me. |
| if you read about the new strips ... | Jan_Gerrit
Jan 17, 2002 3:33 PM | | If I understand correctly, the 50g per strip is not all added weight.
It's supposed to have a built-in valve, and you only need one layer of tape under it. So perhaps about 60g per wheel plus latex. If the strip seals it all so much easier, you should be a ble to suffice with less latex, and get close to equalling that 100g tube.
But remember, the real advantage was never weight, especially not to us weenies on this forum. You lose lots of rolling resistance and gain grip and comfort.
For race use, it would be great to be able to inflate the tires with a floor pump, or even a good mini-pump. That would allow last-minute tire changes, and still allow for getting the extra performance out of it. You should somehow have pre-sealed tires with you, to skip that process while you pedal to the starting grid. |
| I agree--other advantages. | TNC
Jan 17, 2002 8:59 PM | | I'm using actual tubeless tires on taped conventional wheelsets on two bikes, and I couldn't be more pleased. The ride and traction quality is amazing. I haven't had a flat on either bike since the switch--been riding through cactus and thorns big time. I rode Sat. and Sun. in one of the gnarliest rocky areas we have around here with no issues. My tire/wheel weight is about the same as it was with 185g tubes and Spin Skins, but it doesn't feel the same. |
| Actually you ONLY lose rolling resistence... | DeeEight
Jan 18, 2002 10:37 AM | | if you're able to run less air pressure on the same terrain you normally ride without having the damn tire blowing off under lateral loads (like skids). If you're running the same pressure as before it
makes no difference. |
| Actually it WILL make a difference if you run the same pressure. | AZ X-Racer
Jan 18, 2002 6:02 PM | | The fact that you don't have a tube in the tire will result in a more compliant feel even at the same pressure that you ran WITH a tube. |
| I do not think the real advantage is weight (who cares about 50 | dodo
Jan 17, 2002 7:01 PM | | grams), but flat resistence and especially pinch flat resistence.
I have being running the tires for five months and I have not flatted once ... I used to average 1/2 flats/month ... |
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