Mountain Biking - Desert Riders Thoughts on Thorn Proof Tubes?

I ride a lot of desert trails in Arizona and have not had a single flat while riding on thorn proof tubes, yet anyway! The cactus hazard can be brutal! But I recently changed tires to Maxxix High Rollers and these babies are heavy! For the first time I am considering going back to regular tubes to offset the weight. Don't get me wrong, I am not a weight weenie, but I really liked my bike when it was lighter.

What are everyones views on weight saings vs. a good sturdy tube?

Have you tried tubeless? Im thinking about going tubeless but Iv heard alot of mixed feelings on the product.

personally i would rather have the heavier wheels/tubes and not get punctures. Im in SD and the homeless people leave smashed bottles all over the place so I usually get a flat on every ride I go on.

Thanks for the suggestion...your glass hazard sounds brutal. No I haven't tried tubeless yet. The investment in the UST rims and tires has kept me traditional. Besides, because of issues, I know guys with tubless setups that actually use tubes inside their tubless tires...go figure! I agree though, a heavy bike goes farther than a bike with flats!

Thorn resistant tubes weigh a ton I agree. However if you switch back to standard tubes, try injecting them with a flat preventiative, I suggest: http://www.truegoo.com/ after two years of using this product noone has complained and I use it and have not one complaint either.

Some hate it, I love it. Stans Tubeless System. I live in Southern AZ and not only do I have to fight with the cactus but every other thorn as well. I was going through a set of tubes a month at least. Not any more.

You can convert your standard tires and rims to tubeless. It is simple and cheap. Deals with electrical tape, I know. I am not sure of the process. A guy told my friends how to do it, but I wasn't paying much attention cause I wasn't into biking then.

I used to flat often when I lived in AZ until I ran a Mavic tubless setup with Stans tire sealant. Ran about 28-35 PSI, never flatted and cornered like it was on a rail!

I run thorn proof only because of the bastard goats heads here that pop tubes like no other so easily. I would run tubless w/ sealant but i don't need to spend money on that right now.

http://www.notubes.com/ Say buh bye flats

No flats last summer for me using thornproof MTB tubes, but they are heavy.

I used to get a flat from a friggin' goathead almost every ride on at least one of the bikes (me and wifey). With the added weight, I may ride the tiniest bit slower. Maybe I don't make it right to the top of the odd hill. I'd rather be riding slower than stopped changing and/or repairing tubes, though.

I tried slime tubes in my wife's bike. They worked ok, but we still ended up spending a fair amount of time adding air to the tube when she did get thorns/goatheads. Pinchflats with slime tubes are darn messy, too... :) You only let that happen once, which then leads to paranoia about air pressure.

Stan's seem to have a good reputation in the market. If you're worried about the weight, perhaps give them a go. I might try them myself later in the year (financial justification pending :)).

I hear about goat heads all the time in threads like these. What is a goat head? Im sure its something really obvious but i just have no clue what it is.
I just ordered some slime tire liners. Going to give them a shot. I have tried slime and it seems to work pretty good. I heard that the specialzied version of slime tubes , dont remember the name, is alot better. shrugg. But as for the liners ive also heard that the mr tuffy tire liners are pretty good. These are all of course options for tube setups. Tubeless i have no idea never tired it and dont know anyone that has them.

What is a goat head?
clickety-click (http://www.naturesongs.com/vvplants/puncturevine.html)
(link courtesy of DnvrFox... :D)

I have so much confidence in Stans that I pulled out a really big Goathead out of my tire, sure that it would seal instantly. WRONG! I guess the Stans was all used up by the thousands of goatheads I have pulled out in the past months, there was none left to seal this one. I rode as fast as I could to make it home before I went flat. gave myself a refill of the sealant and BAM, good as new.

I think I am going to stick with the thorn proofs for now, and try the Stans sealant next tube change to try something new. I have had great luck with the thorn proofs, but the first time one of those pigs let me down...it will be time for something new. The next worse thing to riding a thick heavy tube, it finding a place in my Camelbak for it's remains should it ever fail. Thanks for everyones thoughts and recomendations. Keep them coming...

Those dang things. I got a bunch of those in my foot when I was walking around the creek bare foot. Ouch!!!!

Over $500 for tubless rims. Is that justifilable?

Ok all. I've been riding Stan's for a little while now. If you think that anything will hold up as well as Stan's your wrong.

Don't believe me? Click here (http://www.notubes.com/movies/Path%20of%20Death%20Puncture%20Test.wmv) <----- If you don't have broadband, uh.... sorry.

Ever consider using a tire liner (tuffy) with a regular tube. It's lighter and can work if applied correctly. First you sandpaper the side of the liner quite roughly that will sit on the tire, then you apply contact cement all the way around on the tire and let it dry some before sticking the liner onto it. If done right the liner will stay in place and will protect the tube. Last thing the excess overlapping part of the liner that lays over the beginning part must be duck tape to seal the ridge off from the tube. This is what I do and I haven't had a flat since I bought my bike and I ride a lot off road and street. And it's not as heavy as those portly tubes.

Ok all. I've been riding Stan's for a little while now. If you think that anything will hold up as well as Stan's your wrong.

Don't believe me? Click here (http://www.notubes.com/movies/Path%20of%20Death%20Puncture%20Test.wmv) <----- If you don't have broadband, uh.... sorry.

holy Sh*t! I'm a believer...That might be cool for my road bike...how much does the whole stans apparatus weigh?

Specialized Nimbus Mtn Bike Tires with Armadillo Technology will help, although I have flatted with them also.

The nice thing about Stan's is actually being able to convert your non tubeless into tubeless. I heard people say that they can feel the difference. I thought yea right, but you can actually feel the difference and better performance not running tubes. Again if you don't believe me that this stuff works watch the video I posted earlier.

or you could do it the cheap way

http://www.farkin.net/page.php?p=81b19e5f5dc2d88d0c871f20abfc887d

stans weighs about what a regular tube weighs including goo and rim strip.i run thru a lot of briars and have yet to get a flat although i did see a small rock stuck in my front tire yesterday so i rode to see what would happen and it was just gone and there was like this small piece of gum in the spot where it was when i got home.like id run over chewing gum.its gone today(cant find where any of it was)and i only had to add 5psi.havent added air for a couple of weeks so that may have been the problem with the psi.it saves no real weight but if it hooks up with your tires and rims it sure does add confidence and traction(due to lower psi ability)well worth the investment IMO