Tubeless Tire Trauma

I have been rolling tubeless tires on one of my bikes for about three years now and have been very happy with their performance. The benefits touted by manufacturers include lower rolling resistance, improved shock absorption, and the ability to roll at lower pressures which means a smoother ride. The main attraction for me is that when used with a sealant, tubeless tires rarely flat.

The first big trial was the 2010 High Pass Challenge (HPC). HPC is a mostly out and back course, and sections of the return trip are notorious for an abundance of pinch-flatting cracks and potholes along the way (although as of 2013, recent road maintenance has reduced this problem). At the 2010 HPC I was certain I would have pinch-flatted with clinchers.

I experienced my first tubeless flat ~20 miles into today’s planned 50+ mile ride. I spun the tire looking for a puncture, but didn’t see anything obvious, so I took out a CO2 cartridge and re-inflated the tire. There was no apparent leakage, and I assumed the tire had re-sealed.

Unfortunately, the tire was flat again in another mile. This time I did find the puncture–a piece of glass embedded in the tire casing. I pulled out the fragment and the sealant closed the hole.

I attached my second and final CO2 cartridge to the valve stem and pulled the trigger. CO2 spewed everywhere except into the tire.

Uh oh.

I only carry 2 cartridges, and had been feeling so positive about the tubeless program that I gave up carrying a hand pump.

Although I didn’t get in the 50 mile ride, it ended well with a rescue call home.

Lessons learned. Next time I’ll keep looking for the puncture until I actually find it and deal with it. And I’ll start carrying a hand pump again.

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