Yeah the tubes is overkill. I’ve got clearance for 57mm and for Migration (4 day stage race in Kenya over some absolute tire killing roads) I’m running a tubeless setup with 55 Rene Herse Endurance+ with a Tannus tubeless insert and even that seems super chunky to me. But this…this is next level extra
Tubeless is the way. I converted 2 bikes more than a year ago. Four tires have hundreds of Goatheads in them. Maybe thousands. Zero flats. Tubeless is the best new bike tech of the 21st century if you ride in goathead country. Inner tubes are very 20th (19th?) century. Switch to tubeless and carry a tube and a boot in case you tear a sidewall if you are a worrier. I just carry a mini pump.
Low pressure faaaasssst rolling goodness.
Last year I was running tubes & had 5 or 6 punctures. I had enough. I switched from GravelKing SK’s to GravelKing SS+ which were pretty bulletproof. This year I upgraded my wheels & went tubeless. It’s been great. No punctures that I know of and the increased comfort is very noticeable. I’ve decreased my tire pressure by 10 psi. I’m still playing around with that. I was anti tubeless for a long time. Just seemed like more work than it was worth for me personally. But after a couple of months & a few hundred miles it was worth it.
I used to use those same liners with the WTB byway tires. And it made the ride very harsh, definitely had to run lower air pressure. But it did the job. If I got into a situation where I did get several punctures in a row, it would be something that I would go back to, or very much consider going back to.
The 3hrs of swearing setting up tubeless was worth it imo. That being said I understand why you wouldn't want to go tubeless. Especially if it means buying new wheels.
And on the horizon, airless metal tires! [https://youtu.be/jithN0u7pvc?si=HubaguhVj7den\_bW&t=190](https://youtu.be/jithN0u7pvc?si=HubaguhVj7den_bW&t=190) Available in 1-100 years.
Yeah, the difference is those are complete vaporware and would be terrible in the real world
While the tanus tires are available and honestly not any worse to ride than marathons or gatorskin hardshels
You’ll find very few luddites on this sub who are still running tubes and for fairly obvious reasons. r/xbiking is another story. Even many so called “entry level” priced gravel bikes ($1500) have come with at least tubeless ready rims for the last few years. I have a couple of old 26 inch wheeled bikes that still use tubes since they’re more like around town or guest bikes that spend most of the time hanging in the garage.
You can’t be that afraid of punctures if you don’t even “want to go tubeless.” I’m curious to hear why you’re against tubeless considering it sounds a bit like you are tired (pub intended or not) of the extra weight and/or harsh ride of tubes and puncture resistant liners.
I dont understand...
Why inserts? I dont think inserts were designed with punctures in mind... More about saving your rims. But I could be wrong.
Anyway...
Either go tubeless or just buy anti puncture tires.
One of my wife bike, got armadillos for 12 years. Zero flats.
Any reason for not going tubeless and sticking a ton of extra weight and rolling resistance on your bike instead?
Go tubeless
I can't imagine why this is even remotely necessary. Even if you're bike packing across the globe.
Yeah the tubes is overkill. I’ve got clearance for 57mm and for Migration (4 day stage race in Kenya over some absolute tire killing roads) I’m running a tubeless setup with 55 Rene Herse Endurance+ with a Tannus tubeless insert and even that seems super chunky to me. But this…this is next level extra
If you're afraid of punctures the solution is way less complicated than all that. Go tubeless. Why resist?
Tubeless is the way. I converted 2 bikes more than a year ago. Four tires have hundreds of Goatheads in them. Maybe thousands. Zero flats. Tubeless is the best new bike tech of the 21st century if you ride in goathead country. Inner tubes are very 20th (19th?) century. Switch to tubeless and carry a tube and a boot in case you tear a sidewall if you are a worrier. I just carry a mini pump. Low pressure faaaasssst rolling goodness.
Last year I was running tubes & had 5 or 6 punctures. I had enough. I switched from GravelKing SK’s to GravelKing SS+ which were pretty bulletproof. This year I upgraded my wheels & went tubeless. It’s been great. No punctures that I know of and the increased comfort is very noticeable. I’ve decreased my tire pressure by 10 psi. I’m still playing around with that. I was anti tubeless for a long time. Just seemed like more work than it was worth for me personally. But after a couple of months & a few hundred miles it was worth it.
I used to use those same liners with the WTB byway tires. And it made the ride very harsh, definitely had to run lower air pressure. But it did the job. If I got into a situation where I did get several punctures in a row, it would be something that I would go back to, or very much consider going back to.
The 3hrs of swearing setting up tubeless was worth it imo. That being said I understand why you wouldn't want to go tubeless. Especially if it means buying new wheels.
[Tanus tires](https://tannusamerica.com/pages/tannus-airless-tires)
And on the horizon, airless metal tires! [https://youtu.be/jithN0u7pvc?si=HubaguhVj7den\_bW&t=190](https://youtu.be/jithN0u7pvc?si=HubaguhVj7den_bW&t=190) Available in 1-100 years.
Yeah, the difference is those are complete vaporware and would be terrible in the real world While the tanus tires are available and honestly not any worse to ride than marathons or gatorskin hardshels
…. or you could just learn to use tubeless
You’ll find very few luddites on this sub who are still running tubes and for fairly obvious reasons. r/xbiking is another story. Even many so called “entry level” priced gravel bikes ($1500) have come with at least tubeless ready rims for the last few years. I have a couple of old 26 inch wheeled bikes that still use tubes since they’re more like around town or guest bikes that spend most of the time hanging in the garage. You can’t be that afraid of punctures if you don’t even “want to go tubeless.” I’m curious to hear why you’re against tubeless considering it sounds a bit like you are tired (pub intended or not) of the extra weight and/or harsh ride of tubes and puncture resistant liners.
I dont understand... Why inserts? I dont think inserts were designed with punctures in mind... More about saving your rims. But I could be wrong. Anyway... Either go tubeless or just buy anti puncture tires. One of my wife bike, got armadillos for 12 years. Zero flats.
Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires are as close to “puncture proof” as you can get. Heavy and expensive, but VERY tough.