Leaky tire issue solved

So I have been running tubeless tires on my mountain bike for the past few years. It is nice just to inflate before a ride and get out on the trail. I make a few adjustments to the PSI depending on the trail type I’ll be riding. 

A few weeks ago, I was losing pressure on my ride, about half way through. There was no obvious punctures in the tires and they held air fine to begin with. 

After investigating a little deeper,  the valve was what was giving me problems. Sure enough I took the valve core out and the tubeless sealant inside was causing issues not letting it seal all the way. A quick and easy solution was to remove and replace the valve core. 

BOOM, fix is done!  While I was at it, I added three fresh ounces of sealant and inflated the tire. 

I was able to get out on the trails again this past weekend and the tires I replaced both valve stem cores are holding air just fine again. 

You can see in the photo, the new valve core on the left and the older one on the right. 

I've totally switched

Leading up to this last mountain bike race, I swapped out to a set of new tires. In doing so, I also needed to add a tubeless sealant. I placed four ounces of Slime Tubeless Ready (STR) sealant in each tire. Beforehand, I shook the bottles up well. 

Of course I’m up for trying the newly released Slime Tubeless Ready (STR) sealant. They sent me a four ounce bottle to try out.  They claim it is suppose to stay liquid longer than others on the market. It’s work a try. They recommend between two and four ounces per mountain bike tire and one and a half to two ounces per road tire. 

I am now using a combination of Stan’s and Orange Seal.  This Slime sample will be interesting to test against the other two. 

Another key advantage with (STR) Sealant is that it’s able to withstand a wide range of temperatures and environmental variations. Whether cold winter temperatures or baking hot asphalt, the sealant remains unaffected. The (STR) Sealant is CO2 compatible. Other sealants can dry out or degrade when subjected to the cold temperatures created by CO2 cartridges, but the synthetic latex blend has an ultra-low freezing point of 3°F/-16° C so it won’t freeze or dry up when you’re making a roadside repair or setting a tire bead, lets face it we all don’t own air compressors,  with a CO2 cartridge.

With other sealants, I had to go back every five or six days and add more air to the tires, but so far, not with the Slime Tubeless Ready (STR) sealant. I am impressed. If you are looking for a tubeless sealant, I am a believer in Slime. 

#SwitchToSlime 

Coming down to the wire for training

Getting my last few weeks of training in for both a mountain bike race the first weekend and a trail running race the next.

I've decided to run the full trail course, the 14 miles tomorrow.  I know what most of the course looks like and feels like. I've ridden most of the course on my mountain bike, one time or another, except for the steep parts, which I have run in training numerous times. I will update this blog, early next week, after running the entire course. 

I am excited to not really put down a fast time, but complete the course and pin point where I will be needing water and nutrition. The day of the race, there will be aid stations out there, so I am not concerned about that, as I only plan to use the water from there on race day. 

Next week is the mountain bike race. I am pretty prepared. I just need to make some final adjustments to the bike and switch out a tubeless front tire for a newer one with better tread. 

Being I am camping out there the night before and night after the race, I need to start packing some clothes, tent, sleeping bag and food. 

Slime Tubeless Ready (STR)

Of course I’m up for trying the newly released Slime Tubeless Ready (STR) sealant. They sent me a four ounce bottle to try out.  They claim it is suppose to stay liquid longer than others on the market. It’s work a try. They recommend between two and four ounces per mountain bike tire and one and a half to two ounces per road tire. 

I am now using a combination of Stan’s and Orange Seal.  This Slime sample will be interesting to test against the other two. 

Another key advantage with (STR) Sealant is that it’s able to withstand a wide range of temperatures and environmental variations. Whether cold winter temperatures or baking hot asphalt, the sealant remains unaffected. The (STR) Sealant is CO2 compatible. Other sealants can dry out or degrade when subjected to the cold temperatures created by CO2 cartridges, but the synthetic latex blend has an ultra-low freezing point of 3°F/-16° C so it won’t freeze or dry up when you’re making a roadside repair or setting a tire bead, lets face it we all don’t own air compressors,  with a CO2 cartridge.

#SwitchToSlime 

Continental's Mountain King 29 inch tires by 2.2 inch width

Finally, I have a good set of mountain bike tires on my mountain bike, but it’s been a rough ride, PUN intended. After installing the Continental's Mountain King 29 inch tires by 2.2 inch, the tubeless tires were wobbly and didn’t feel right after only riding under ten miles on them. I contacted the company to complain about the issue. Through the process I found out there was a bad batch of tires out there.  Needless to say, the company sent me out replacement tires, as I ripped off and destroyed the wobbly tires.  

The tread pattern is great for the desert trails here in Arizona and like the tire now that I have a set of useable rubber. 

I was able to get a 12 mile ride in on Friday night before the sun went down.  This set of new Continental's Mountain King 29 inch tires seems to be holding air well and does not wobble.  I think they are keepers. Shout out to the customer service on making things right Continental. 

Progress taking place a month out from Race DAY!

A month out from race day and feeling very good.  From the progress I have made on the trail as well as my cardio, I am getting excited.  

I am in the process of still making a few minor adjustments to my bike. I am loving the 2.4, 29 inch tires on the front, helping me glide over the sandy washes that are part of the race course and lower PSI I can run in the tubeless setup. 

After every ride on the course, I am going back and looking at the stats my Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR is gathering. My progress on the course has taken me from just over an hour to complete one lap, to now just around 50 minutes. 

New MTB rims, prepping for race day

New tubeless rim set up Bontrager Mustang 29in Elite TLR wheels with Bontrager  XR4 Expert tires. The front tire is 2.4 wide with the rear at 2.3.  The aggressive tread on the rear tire, rubs on the front derailleur at the bottom of the seat stay. I am then only able to use either the largest chain ring up front or the smallest, of the three. 

The middle chain ring is not usable as the tire rubs when it is in this position. With the tire pressures being 24psi in the front and 26psi in the rear, I was able to knock out a very good training lap at race pace of the course for early next month.  A few more changes and tweeks, and I will be set for race day.  I have some tubeless ready tires, that are 2.2 that I will swap out in the rear, and the rubbing on the derailleur won’t happen. 

On this mornings test lap of adjustments, I felt strong and am impressed with the wheel and tire set up.  

Not as easy as it looks, going TUBELESS

I knew about a lot of the things it would take to swap out tubes in my mountain bike for tubeless.  The right tires, the right rims and valve stems. I took all in consideration before taking on this task. 

Continental's Mountain King 29 inch tires 

I've used a few different brands of sealants.  Placing them inside my tubes to get the most life out of them.  Not being bothered by small thorns or pieces of glass I may come upon while riding on the road or trails. The straw that broke the camels back and made me want to do the conversion of my mountain bike tires, was after getting two pinch flats in one evening while riding. The ride ended up with me walking back about two miles to my vehicle, just as the sun was going down. 

Orange Seal is the brand I am using and sticking with.

I ordered a nice set of new tires that are compatible with being tubeless, Continental's Mountain King 29 inch tires. I found a set of Presta valves, with the removable core, so if you want to initially put the sealant in that way you can, or down later on add more sealant if needed without compromising the seal created at the rim.  Also with the core removed, you can get that full blast of air needed to seat the rim. I knew that in order to inflate to tire, an air compressor would need to be used to seat the tire on the rim. My first attempt, I thought I had all the right components to make this transition. I measured the rim and cut a piece of Gorilla Tape to seal off the spoke holes. This was pretty easy. I started the tape about 3 inches on one side of the valve hole and wrapped the tape two times around. Then installed the Presta valve, with the washers and seals it came with. Tested the tires on the rim, just to make sure it would seal later on when the sealant was placed inside. With an air compressor and some dish soap to help the installation, I couldn't achieve the right seal. 

I used another air compressor later on to achieve the "blast"of air needed to seat the rim. A seal was achieved except for where the valve stem was. Leaking was occurring near the Presta valves I had installed. The hole already in the rim was larger, as the rims originally had Schrader valves in them.  I got the tires to seat and the sealant to take hold, but not for long. I had a good ride out on the trails with my daughter and was amazed at how good the tires where contacting the trail. It wasn't until about a week later that the front tire came off the rim.  I ordered a set of Schrader valve stems which should solve the leaking around the valve stem.  I think I have it figured out, but it has kept me off my mountain bike and has me out riding my road bike for the time being.   

  

Note: Not all rims are tubeless compatible nor are all tires.