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Still love my 26-wheeled bike. Ride it at least as much as my newer bike, but get frustrated with frequent pinch-flats and rim strikes as I forget to 'adjust' the way I ride to take into account the skinny rims (XC717) with tubes and 2.1 tyres.
So, looking at cheap 26 wheels or rims for tubeless. I'd prob stick with around 2.1 for the tyres. Any suggestion what rim width I should be aiming for?
XC Pro 4 wheels are 19.5mm internal for example, about right? Or wider to give the tire a squarer profile?
Foam tyre inserts will solve the problem better and more cheaply! Rimpact are inexpensive and light.
Ta. Aren't my rims too skinny (17mm?) for inserts? Would also need to convert to tubeless, not sure how that would go on these old Mavic rims?
Aren’t my rims too skinny (17mm?) for inserts?
Can't speak for foam inserts, but I know procore can *just* work on 21mm internal but they recommend 23mm ideally. Pinkbike reported not managing to fit it to 19mm rims. I'm not sure you'd get them in a 2.1" tyre, too.
It seems a pity to get rid of a rim as nice as an XC717 though!
Do you run inserts on your other bike? Is it a hardtail? I would consider going for wider tyres if they will fit in either way.
Changed my rims from 19 to 25, but mainly because I wanted to use wider tyres I'd got my hands on, 2.25 and 2.4's.
Made a big difference initially still with tubes, and then even better tubeless.
Make your own inserts inserts
I made my own for with 50mm diameter rods. I cut them along the centre, so they are semi-circle section. they work well.
You could go with a smaller diameter
It seems a pity to get rid of a rim as nice as an XC717 though!
Do you run inserts on your other bike? Is it a hardtail? I would consider going for wider tyres if they will fit in either way.
I know, had these wheels over 10 years and still true despite the dings. The other bike is a T-130 with 2.5 tubeless - no inserts. Part of the problem, I think. That bike has opened up my eyes to what abuse larger volume tyres on wider rims can handle.
I find any wider than 2.1 on the XC717 and the tyres end up with an exaggerated round profile, feel like they are rolling off the rim unless silly high pressures.
Maybe ride more carefully on the P7 is the boring answer 😀 Just had a run of bad luck recently, five rides in a row with pinch-flats. Got a fairly sedate ride tonight with workmates for example, normally would use the hardtail, but taking the Whyte as don't want another flat...
Alex rims volar 2.5 probuild wheels on merlin for £72, they are 25mm internal and I run them with 2.35/2.4 tires and they give a nice round profile. Maybe to wife for 2.1s though, but I’m sure there is a 23mm width too or maybe 21mm
are you intending to use wider tyres on your 26 incher and is that why you want wider rims. I would not have thought a wider rim alone would prevent pinch flats with a 2.1 tyre. Have you tried more pressure in the tyre?
Well done for sticking with 26 inch. That'll show them !
If off the shelf inserts don’t fit I’d bodge your own. I’ve been very impressed at how I can smash a 150mm hardtail with only a DHR2 2.3 Exo tyre through very spiky rocks with no problems, thanks to the Rimpacts. I think it’s the tyre volume that’ll determine whether or not they fit, not the rim width.
are you intending to use wider tyres on your 26 incher and is that why you want wider rims. I would not have thought a wider rim alone would prevent pinch flats with a 2.1 tyre. Have you tried more pressure in the tyre?
You're right, thinking about it. Knee-jerk reaction was I want tubeless like my other bike, but unless I also get larger volume tyres on there (not much room), I'm no better off, will still pinch-flat (or burp). P'raps I should keep as is, stick with skinny tyres and high pressures.
I hadn't spotted you're not tubeless on it. Do that first! Split BMX inner tube method works rather well.
but get frustrated with frequent pinch-flats and rim strikes as I forget to
put enough pressure in the tyres! 😆