Erik_A

Just finished watching "Jeremy Powers Cross Camp" DVD with my daughter before we both race the Tacchino Ciclocross race in Maryland tomorrow morning. https://www.jeremypowerscrosscamp.com

It was a really good short primer; mainly for beginners (like us). He made a very good case for using sew-up/ tubular tires over clinchers. He didn't mention tubeless, like Stan's.

I was thinking of going with Velocity A23 rims with a Stan's tubeless tire setup. For a big guy (6'-4" - 220 lbs) will I be able to run Stan's tubeless at the same lower pressures as tubeless?

If not and sew-up/ tublular rims are better; where would I start looking for a decent priced, strong/ reliable, CX tubular rim (that would hold up to my weight)?

adam_mac84

I run tubulars, 3 sets, an havn't run tubeless, so i am biased. Last night, heavy rain 10 minutes before the start of the CX race... I am guessing that the tubeless guys didn't have time to run to the car and swap tires, tubular (if you have multiple sets) no problem.

Secondly, in that same race last night, saw a tubeless tire lose lead = DNF. Today in a SS race, guy flatted a tubular, was able to ride it out to the end... DFL > DNF.

I am not sold on tubeless, but also agree that it will likely develop over time and probably get better. I'd say that on a MTB, it's a great setup, i think it's something about skinny tire and low pressures that is tough for tubeless to compete.

I'd rather 2 cheaper sets of tubulars (vintage mavics or something similar) versus a $$ tubeless setup

simonaway427

Simply put, you can't consistently run the same low pressures with a tubeless setup as you would with tubular.

Now the tubeless people will ring in and say "I've run 32 psi and never burped a bead" - sure, he might be 160lbs on a smoother course - but put a heavier guy on some roots and you may have a problem. My opinion about tubeless is there are those who have burped, and those who will.

Tubular - even if you're only running one type of all rounder tire, is superior in all respects. You can run lower pressures, they are more supple, and the wheelsets are lighter than a tubeless counterpart. People argue the messy gluing and the risk of coming unglued - if you do it properly, mounting can be done with relative ease, it will be a rarity if you roll it off - much more rare than a burped bead.

There's a reason you don't see any higher level racers running tubeless.

fietsbob

Seems to me,That Tubeless Burp in a corner that lets all the air out at once
will have you watching the rest of the race, as a spectator, if not at least a lap down,
by the time you can get to that spare wheel..

ljrichar

Yeah, for your weight, I'd be worried about tubeless in the corners. As for tubulars, there's a bikeforums regular that people swear by.

https://www.psimet.com/Wheels/cyclocross-wheels.html