[Closed] what do i need to be self sufficient with tubeless tyres?

This is going to be fun!

I take anchovies, a tube and a pump. Never used either the anchovies or the tube in real life. Tried to use the tube once but the valve was so stuck in I couldn't get the valve out. Ended up going back for the car.

Most other times the sealant has sealed enough that low pressures and the occasional top up from the pump are enough to get home. I find that the sealant won't seal above about 40psi.

If the tyre comes off the rim it's game over for tubeless. The riding gods will claim to be able to reseat using half a co2 canister or using a minipump but I can't. I have enough trouble with a compressor.

One of these:

http://index.weldtite.co.uk/products/detail/cycle-tubeless-tyre-outside-repair-kit

CO2 if you wanna be quick on a repair, or just use a pump, pack a spare tube.

Sealent checks every 6 months or so, maybe an inflator if you can't get the tyres to seat at home with a track pump.

I take anchovies, a tube and a pump.

This. I’d probably go for CO2 instead of pump if possible, though.

At home: track pump, big bottle of sealant and stuff to make the coke bottle trick if you get stuck (basically two valves and some sort of plastic tubing). I have a compressor which is a great luxury but far from necessary. Sometimes the coke bottle actually works better.

probably go for CO2

CO2 is only good once. What happens when you use a cartridge on your tubeless setup, it doesn't seat and all the CO2 escapes (as happened to me recently)? It might be useful but if I had to pick one or the other I'd have a pump.

Patience. You need a lot of patience

And tea. Yeah lots of tea as well.

Heed my words.. it'll happen one day and don't say you haven't been warned 👍

I carry a bottle of sealant, tubeless repair kit, a decent pump and a spare tube. I also carry a spare tubeless valve and core. I've repaired a tyre a few times with an anchovy - absolutely no problem. I've only once had to break a tyre bead to fit a tube - an older tyre where the sidewall was starting to split. CO2 isn't reliable enough.

I take a tube or two, tyre plugs and pump.

For a permanent repair at home I keep a needle and thread, cut-to-size rubber strips, sandpaper and vulcanizing solution. That works for almost any repairable damage.

Remember to inspect tyre regularly and remove any thorns. Otherwise putting the spare tube in trailside becomes a real pain.

One thing I find really handy is a Leatherman Style PS.
Pliers for stuck valves or loose cores.
Scissors to trim plugs.
Tweezers for thorns.
Can even use the file to push plugs through.
No knife if you're worried about carrying them in public.
& the all important bottle opener.

For the ride I just take a pump and hope the tyre won't unseat so I can just top up the tyre if it loses too much air before sealing. I should really take a tube and tyre lever as well though.

At home you will need a tubeless inflator of some sort to help tyres to seal, some sealant and a pump.

You also need a lot of luck. I was using some tyres that went up fine a few months ago, changed to some other tyres which went up with just a track pump but wanted to change back to the original tyre as they gave more grip off road. I spent an hour (with a tubeless inflator) trying to get them to seal but had to give up. I am currently running them with tubes...

Blimey I feel like this thread would put me right off! I’ve been doing it for years and it really is easy and worth it!

Home setup is a track pump which does me 80% of the time and co2 for the one or two awkward ones. Leatherman for core removal and a syringe for sealant top up.

Trail setup is - pump, plugs, tube and levers. (Occasionally add a c02, esp if raining or cold)

Very worth while, and really not hard and always been able to get home with that.

Firstly maintenance - keep the sealant topped up and fresh.

Locally I'll take anchovies, flexible superglue, CO2 and a standard pump.

For more remote rides I'll add a tyre boot, paper tissue and Leatherman Squirt pliers (to find and remove thorns), needle and thread, tyre levers, spare tube.

My tools/spares kit always has a spare valve and a spare valve core. The Squirt can be used to fit/remove these, it's also got cutters to trim down the plugs.

The superglue is used to seal and protect tyre plugs. Not strictly necessary but "belt and braces".

If using CO2 turn the wheel so that the valve is between 1 & 11 o'clock, leave it a minute or two for the sealant to settle and move away from the valve area. This avoids the thermal shock caused by the cold gas hitting the sealant.

If you have to fit a tube, use the tissue to wipe around the inside of the tyre - it will snag on any thorns or tacks and you can then use the pliers to remove them.

If you slash your tyre then the tyre boot will cover that on the inside so the tube doesn't herniate out.

I know the sealant needs replacing every six months or so but how often do you top up with sealant? And how much?

Unless you've a Stans animal in there just top up. Leave the tyre stood for a while to let the sealant settle then shake it with the bottom of the tyre close to your ear - if you can hear sloshing then there's still sealant. Check more often in warmer weather. I've found a difference on the same bike between front and rear where one tyre was leaning against a radiator and that tyre had "lost" sealant.

How much to top up? Between half and what you originally put in.

This. I’d probably go for CO2 instead of pump if possible, though.

I don't think CO2 is recommended because it can react with and dry out the sealant.

On a general note though, going out with just a CO2 cartridge is like lighting a fire with just 1 match. There are countless reasons why a fix may not work first time, whether you're tubeless or not. I'd always recommend a pump.

@butcher - it's the thermal shock of CO2 that's the problem, see my earlier post. If you are worried about it then when you get home deflate the tyre and reinflate with good old fashioned air.

A) A tube, some anchovies, a pump a CO2 canister with attachment. A tiny box of pre glued patches, a bit of toothpaste tube for a tyre boot, and a spare valve core. And the usual bit of common sense. Sealant can hide squillions of thorns and stuff. Forgetting to check the tyre before having to fit an emergency tube is a classic.

B) Home set up. 4289(?) TESA tape. IPA for cleaning rims to get tape to stick. A track pump. Stans sealant. A random selection of small o rings can help with leaky valve holes. A thick needle and dental floss for repairing big holes. Don't piss about with soapy water on tyre beads. Straight to neat Fairy Liquid.

CO2 is only to potentially reseat a tyre whilst out and about.

Tubes

Tubes

This, my puncture repair kit hasn't changed apart from the addition of tyre worms, I carry a tube and a pump and some worms. If tubeless is going to seal, it'll seal straight up and you'll be able to pump up the tyre, if not; maybe a worm will block enough of the hole, then back to pumping up the tyre, if not that, then whack in a tube and repair when back at home. Personally not a fan of Co2, I've used it in the past with success, but also had it not work at all, for ham-fisted folk (like me) a pump is nearly always a better option. Plus they're so light these days carrying one is no effort.

A lot depends on your tyres/rims ...
Some seat with a slight sneeze in their direction.... others don't. Quite honestly my kid was doing his own with a track pump at 7/8 with Schwalbe Rocket Rons and Stans Crest... others can be a pain. The only way to know is try or find someone with the same combination. A airshot or similar is nice... but depends on your rims if it's needed or nice. This will also determine what to take with you to some extent.

What you take with you depends on risk aversion ... do you carry a spare chain? Technically over the last 5+ years I've never had a puncture didn't get me home but I have snapped a chain however I'm probably running heavier tyres. If you want to be super safe take a tube (or even 2) and puncture kit... plus a couple of tyre boots

On a short/local to the car ride I might take a tube - I've survived the last year or more without taking anything but a spare tube, which I've never had to use. Depends on what you ride too, mellow/soft dirt and you'll probably never get a puncture bad enough to need plugs. If you ride properly rocky stuff then you might not be so lucky.

I am now putting together an on-bike pack which will have a plug (anchovie) kit, tube, C02 canister and head, and a spare C02 in my oneup tool. This will be plenty for local rides.

Then for a longer rides I'll have a bag with a pump, maybe a 2nd tube.

At home I've managed to seat 8 tyres with just a normal track pump, however I'm going to buy an inflator - they just make life a lot easier. Tesa 4289 tape and a 3l bottle of orange seal endurance.

Thanks for all of your responses everyone, lot of food for thought.

Few questions!

- If I need to fall back on a tube on the trail do I have to empty out the sealant? If not does it tend to need replacing or topping up once i'm home? Or will it just still be inside the tyre?

- Can sealants be mixed? (the shop will have set up with a specific brand, do I need to buy more of that one?)

- Is the idea of CO2 just because it's quicker than a hand pump for the large volume tyres or are people recommending it because it might reseat a tyre that's rolled off/completely deflated?

- People have mentioned superglue - is this as an alternative to vulcanising solution / patches? Why would you use superglue?

- Mentions of needle & thread / dental floss - is this for sewing up big gashes in the sidewalls?

- People have

In order

- no not really. it'll mostly be spread around the inside of the tyre, rather than pooled. Can be used again, will need to be topped up when you get home.

- Yes, pretty much

- Mostly it's quicker and the Co2 canister and control head are lighter. If you're confident in your abilities to use one, they often make a reasonable alternative. But there are some downsides, They can be recalcitrant to inflate the tyre preferring instead to just vent all the gas through the valve (if it's not seated "just so"). Plus if you do get another puncture (rare I know, but it does happen) unless you carry enough canisters, you're screwed. In theory tubeless means you won't actually get punctures (and for me this has certain proved to be the case, I can't honestly remember the last one I got) but I still prefer a mechanical device for inflation (like relying on a paper map rather than your phone)

- Superglue is pretty useful for lots of things, including repair a small tear in the tyre, and gluing patches on the insides of tubless tyres

- Seen floss repairs work in the past, don't think they're airtight really. More of a cheapskates way of getting more life out of a tyre. Not something I'd contemplate doing at the side of the trail

- yes, people have.

On the "anchovies", treat yourself to a Dynaplug Racer as it's a thing of beauty and the plugs much better at higher pressure than the cheaper worms:

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Dynaplug/Racer-Tubeless-Tyre-Repair-Kit/LPSM?

I've wacked a tube in and finished the ride without the tyre being properly seated, was fine off ride and bit annoying on and made me take it steady, I expect it would have seated had I persevered with my pump and got a higher pressure, CO2 may have helped.

I've used a worm/anchovy once on a road ride, I could hear the sealant coming out as I went up the hill, but then another rider punctured so I plugged the hole. It may have sealed itself, who knows.

I carry a tube, tyre levers, pump, patches, worm thingy kit. Sometimes I carry two tubes.

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+1 for the Dynaplug.. its saved 2 of our rides recently.

The dental floss thing isn't for taking along on a ride! It is to repair sidewall gashes when you get home (having used the aforementioned tyre boot and tube).

It works really well with a smear of super glue over it on both sides. Any remaining holes are so small the sealant easily fills them.

Another vote for the dyna plug. Much better and less gaff than the prong for fitting the anchovie.

how many uses do you get out of one of those dynaplugs? it says 3 standard + 2 megaplugs, is that one puncture per plug? £5 a pop seems fairly steep

Yes, just like every other brand, you only get one use out of a plug! It seals a hole.

You need to compare the price more with Stans Dart which are a similar idea and £20 for 5 refills so £4 a use. The refill pack for Dynaplug are £9 for 5 so much cheaper.

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Stans-NoTubes-Dart-Refills--5-Replacement-Darts_221063.htm

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Dynaplug-Soft-Nose-Tip-Plugs_212628.htm

Re Dynaplug cost ....A fiver (was a pint of Stella in our local) to just plug the hole and save your ride and your tyre as the plugs stay in there and not have the faff of glue, sealant, tubes or your riding mates complaining the pubs going to shut soon and its raining etc...
All joking apart I've used it 3 times once in the Alps when the guides had given up trying to fix a puncture and we needed to get to the lifts before they shut and more recently locally when i had a huge piece of barbed wire stuck in my rear tyre...
99 times out of 100 the sealant will sort out the puncture but just for those moments the dynaplugs ace... oh and refills in our LBS are £8 for 5.

how many uses do you get out of one of those dynaplugs? it says 3 standard + 2 megaplugs, is that one puncture per plug? £5 a pop seems fairly steep

I’ve used mine once in what, 3 years. Pretty poor value! But I always carry it and never tubes.

2 essentials are strong thumbs and decent tyre levers (I recommend Schwalbe)

If you’re new to tubeless, before you go on a ride for the first time see if you can unseat the tyre bead in case you need to put a tube in while you’re out. It’s not like a normal tyre and rim.

russl - wouldn't that mean letting the air out and having to set them up again? think i'd rather avoid that having just paid for the shop to do it and not having a compressor etc

cardo - thanks, £8 for 5 sounds better value. what's included that isn't the refill, just the case?

Really you want to tackle the job for the first time in the comfort of your shed/garage...its nice the shop have set them up but if you want to be prepared, get one of those tyres off (completely) remove the valve (as you would need to remove it to stick a tube in) and then put get it all back together.

Its good to know you can get the valve undone, that the tyre and rim combination isn't a complete sod, and that you can get enough pressure using your trail pump to get the beads popped back in. I find the old sealant can make it hard to get the bead popped back, I spent an hour in France trying to get my tyre re-seated on my gravel bike...I ended up using showergel from my luggage to get the beads lubed, and then a couple of CO2 cartridges. I'd tried riding with it poorly seated but couldn't face 50 miles on a bike that was jigging around!

I always take a slime'd inner tube as my spare, its extremely rare you need it, but when you do, its guaranteed you will miss loads of thorns picked up over the last 18 months and now conveniently hidden under a thin layer of dried sealant.

Its good to know you can get the valve undone, that the tyre and rim combination isn’t a complete sod, and that you can get enough pressure using your trail pump to get the beads popped back in.

Yep. It will either go extremely well and you will wonder why you got someone else to do it or it will be a nightmare and you will be glad you were dealing with that in your garage and not 20 miles from home

What do i need to be self sufficient with tubeless tyres?

Optimism or what you would take on a tubed ride, plus tubeless plugs. Thanks to lockdown I’ve only ever ridden locally (within 15miles of home) on road tubeless so am happy with just Dynaplug and CO2. Further afield I’m tempted to take a tube but there is no way I can see me seating the tyres (Schwalbe Pro Ones on Fulcrum 400s) without huge levers and an Airshot, even with a tube in there.
My ride kit:

https://flic.kr/p/2iRfGhc

Slight hijack. Can sealants new mixed?

I currently have Giant’s sealant in my tyres and it needs topping up.

So my two cents on tubeless.

After bumping in to father-in-law’s riding buddies in the woods we joined them to try and find some new trails. They are very much carbon 29er xc race weapons while we are more trail and enduro riding. On the climbs and road transition section we where definitely a lot slower with more heavy duty tyres on on our bikes to the point that the lead guide rider turned around to us and told us to keep up or go home (I’m far from unfit so had to poke the bear back and asked if he could go quicker on the downs).

Less than a minute later on one of the guys had to stop to fix a puncture (small thorn through xc thin tyres) followed by another rider 10 minutes later. Most people that worry about the weight of their bike tend to worry about the weight of their kit as well. All the flaffing around to fit the these punctures and borrowing my better bigger pump probably took up more ride time than us being slower to climb.

My advise would be go overkill on tyre setup for trails that you would side (eg so trail tyre over xc or enduro over over trail) to avoid having to use gear/tube to get you back up and running.

As for what I take, I have a local and big day out set up:

Local: 2 co2, tube, small bottle of sealant, valve core remover, tyre leaver.
Big trips: the above with a pump, spare valve cores, o rings, worm kit

Both of my bikes will have a DD maxxis rear tyre though the hardtail runs an insert as well (for comfort rather that for punctures).

I must say, my most essential tool is this:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lifeline-valve-core-remover-tool/rp-prod155551

£1.49 and it lives in a bag in my toolbox, otherwise it would get lost (why don't they make it in a different colour?!)! The plastic ones always round off and this thing just works.

Havnt read the whole as cant be arsed, so this has probably already been said.

I see tubeless as a way to avoid issues whilst out. If I am unlucky enough to have issues then I just want to do the minimum to get me back home/finish the ride. That means that any problems that involve the tyre coming off or being taking of the rim and a tube goes in by default. Im not interested in trying to reseat tubeless beads whilst out and about. Any holes that wont seal, and a tube goes in. Minimum effort/time whilst out and deal with it once I am home.

I carry.
1x c02, one tyre lever, one tube, one mini pump, glueless patches, tyre boot.

What's the tubeless inflator of choice currently?

Has anyone got experience of the Milkit inflator since the product recall?

For sub-2 hour rides from home I just carry a Dynaplug air with a few plugs and 2 CO2 carts now, it comes with a little hose that can be used to top the tyres up the the valve if needed. I use Finish Line sealant which doesn't mind C02, neither does the Muc-Off or milKit stuff if memory serves.

For bike packing or 'middle of nowhere' rides I carry a mega pill, a proper pump and I have a milkit booster with the new black booster head (the recalled ones had blue heads).

I use it as a reserve 600ml water bottle in one if my bottle cages with the drinking cap on it and then carry the booster head in my frame bag. It weighs next to nothing.

It's worked at home many a time but only had to use it 'in the field' once, on an overnighter in the New Forest where we met a chap on a Giant who'd punctured and rolled his tyre, stuck a plug in the tyre, decanted the water into my main bottle, put on the booster head, pumped it up and 'WHOMP' the tyre was back on.

Rode off feeling more than a little smug.

Trailwagger, if you want minimum fuss whilst out, you should definitely be taking some worms! You can get a puncture big enough to spray a cloud of sealant, put your finger on the tyre whilst you get an inserter preinstalled with a worm, slap some vulcanising solution on it, and then plug the tyre. If you catch it quick, you don't even need to add any air to the tyre!

A tube is the last resort full faffage and in my experience you can still have trouble seating the bead to avoid a buckled tyre.

In a similar vein, Mattvanders... wouldn't it be better to take the pump and worms on local rides, and take the valves, sealant and CO2 on the big rides where it might be worth the effort of getting a tubeless setup reseated rather than just popping a tube in?

the most important thing is to check the shop put enough sealant in as its your primary defense. i carry a tubeless repair kit (stans), pump and spare tube. tubeless shouldnt be viewed as an alternative to tubes, its a performance gain, but if it fails you may still need a tube to get you home.

Dynaplug racer fits nicely in a hollow crank with a bit of foam wrapped round it 🙂

Good thread, thanks for all the info. Does running tyre inserts make much of a difference to what people carry? You would need to remove the insert to fit a tube right? Or could you just about ride home just on the insert?

Any thoughts on the above? Thanks

Spook - hardtail is the local bike with an insert and using a bum bag & water bottles, full sus is the big day out running a back pack and frame bag. You may be right for the worms but view it that I would rather could ride home on the insert if it came to it rather than take it out so tube is only for the front.

Depending on what insert I would say, I have a rim impact and it fills over half the tyre, smaller ones I wouldn’t.