Nothing to do with experimenting within the circle of trust, but an actual bike related question.

I have recently bought some Stans Flow rims, which from my limited research can be a bit of a PITA when fitting rubber. In my case a High Roller 2 2.4 and a Crossmark 2.25 were both difficult to get onto the rim, worse than anything I have fitted with my narrower Mavic CrossRides. I read up on technique before hand, but without much luck.

Questions are: (a) do these/stretch loosen up over time and (b) if not, what do people do when out and about and get punctures? Seem a popular rim, but previous rim/rubber combinations could always be sorted by hand and I honestly think I would be stuffed out on a ride if I had a puncture.

Tubeless?

gribble – Member

if not, what do people do when out and about and get punctures?

I got better at fitting tyres. Not trying to be rude there- I was in the same boat when I first got Stans and Stans-a-like rims, gave me so much hassle, but the only tyres I’ve ever had any real trouble with since then were defective.

I haven’t done a highroller 2 fwiw but have done some crossmarks

I tried to fit a 2.4 High Roller 2 (EXO sidewalls) to my new Arch rims at the weekend.

In the end, I gave up and stuck on some 2 year old 2.2 mountain kings that I had on another bike. My main worry was that, even if I did manage to get the HR on, would I be able to fix the puncture and re-fit the tyre out on the trail?

The good people on here reckon Specialized Pugatorys fit easily, so I will probably try one of those, after the summer.

ONce you have managed to stretch it onto the rim, it is easier to refit if you have a puncture. IME

Northwind, fair point and I am sure some improved technique would help. I have been spoilt by tyres that did not need to be wrestled on previously. I might look at investing in a better tyre lever too, as I bent three fitting the tyres.

I don’t mind though, the wheels feel much better after one ride.

ONce you have managed to stretch it onto the rim, it is easier to refit if you have a puncture. IME

are they bollix – spent half hour one day trying to get a tyre back on – cue two more punctures from catching the tube and we gave up… Said wheel has now gone tubeless