"Jon Bond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:UvNEa.1177826$S_4.1202454@rwcrnsc53...
Quoted message said:Need wheels for the Blur. Can't afford Chris Kings, so I'm going for the WTB Laser Disc Lite Hubs
(basically rebadged american classics, slightly different seals, better customer service, and
cheap!), DB 14ga. spokes. Only question that's left is the rim.
I was going to get mavic X317s, or maybe some of the DT Disc rims if I can get them. Anyway, now
I'm considering UST rims - the X3.1s. I do pinch flat a lot, probably my fault for not checking
the pressure enough 😉 I don't have a big stock of tires or anything right now, so I'm not worried
about getting new tires. And I've got access to a compressor until the
end
Quoted message said:of the summer, and I'll probably have access to one up at school too, so that's not a problem.
I'm looking to make my bike pretty light, but durable, and I don't mind a few grams here and
there, so the extra weight doesn't bother me all that much, although it is a consideration.
So, UST or not? Convince me!
Jon Bond
I think I would recommend USTs to you, Mr. Bond. I gather you're a lightweight XC racer, so
ordinarily I wouldn't say to go for tubeless, but you claim to pinch flat a lot...so you have no
other choice. I've been tubeless for over a year - to specifically stop my weekly pinch flatting -
and have had zero flats since. The only time I took a tire off a rim since going to UST was to
replace it because it was worn out.
The weight penalty is not that bad. Yes, the tires are heavier, and the rim strip weighs a bit more,
but you don't have the 300-400 grams of tubes on board either. My Bontrager Race Tubeless wheels
with IRC Serac XCs weigh less than my Bontrager Selects with tubes and Michelin Sprint-something
semi-slicks.
You won't need a compressor, assuming you have even a half-decent pump. I have never had difficulty
seating a UST bead in my life using a Topeak Joe-Blow-whatever floor pump. For me, the only problem
is getting the tire onto the rim. They just don't want to stretch over sometimes, which can put you
in a bad place if you flat in a race. But since you won't pinch-flat...
So even if Roland and Ryder are tubeless, I still think UST is usually better for the long-travel
Dew swillers. However, I used to pinch flat all the damn time, and I haven't in over a year now.
Since there is almost no risk of punctures in Maryland (a really sharp root?) UST is the way for me.
So, I guess my best advice is: try it out, you'll probably like it.
Chris
