I know a dirt-bike racer who owns the local track. I'm going to ask him about tubes and see what he's got to say. If he comes back w/anything interesting, I'll post back.

The thing that bothers me about the tubeless debate is the often condescending attitude on the part of those running tubeless towards those of us who run tubes. I get the attitude from some of my friends. It's the "You poor slob. You should join the ranks of the enlightened" attitude. Meh!

It's possible that the advantages of running tubes lie mainly in the area of simplicity of maintenance. I'm swapping tires between two wheelsets today, and it's my third or fourth such swap this season. If I had to mess with tubeless with my current jumble of not-tubeless and tubeless-not-quite-ready rims and tires, I'd probably end up ripping my hair out.

Well, ya got me there.

Another good point.

I stand foot-in-mouth'ed. I shall just sit back and watch again.

You? Foot-in-mouthed? Say it isn't so.

Serious MTBs need bead locks fo sho!

Please do! I'd really like to know if there's a reason.

On another note, I'm still runnig tubes. As Ed pointed out, I'm still new to the sport and I'm within days (as soon as that damn check will go through! ) of finishing a build and I have little experience with various kinds of tires, so im going to be experimenting with tires for a while to find what works best for me. And like you said, swapping tires with tubeless is a PITA.

Like that's a new thing.

Talked to my buddy who runs tubes. His only explanation - "dude. Small block eights."

Talked to my neighbor. He's an avid dirt-biker, racer, and even races on frozen lakes in the winter using studded motocross tires. He says most normal riders run tubes. He said some use a sort of foam insert that replaces the tube. Some use a set of individually inflatable balls like tennis balls. He sees tubeless more in Trials setups than for motocross. He says that people running other-than-tubes tend to be people with pit crews. Most normal riders are running tubes.

Heard back from my friend who is part owner of the local motocross track. Here's what he said:

"Dirtbikes run tubes. I'm really not sure why. The only thing I can see is rims bend and dent a little, and with a tube they still hold air. Other than that I'm not sure why they run tubes, but I know everyone around here does."

I feel like comparing dirt bikes that take 15 foot or higher drops on a regular basis and weigh a couple hundred pounds are kind of apples to oranges compared to a 25lb mountain bike.

Sure. But someone earlier in this thread made the comment "...why don't cars, trucks, dirt bikes, ... use them?" in reference to using tubes. I did some fact-checking. It turns out that dirt-bikers do use tubes. So the assertion inherent in that earlier question is unfounded.

No need to feel defensive. I wasn't necessarily directing my comment at you.

Oh, I'm sorry I called you a *******bag.

Solid rubber tires is where it's at. Everyone thinks rigid is retro and manly. Let's see you man up and go solid rubber.

Well I'll just swap places with Ed again...

Ugh. Now that's a painful memory. First bike I ever had as a kid came with solid tires. Somehow I guess my parents thought they were a clever idea. Those tires sucked. I was maybe 5 or 6 years old, and to this day I still remember vividly and with clarity just how much those solid tires sucked.

Sam, that's gross.

Ok, someone recommend a tubeless wheel and tire combination.
I want to go to Tucson in the winter.
Woud I have to carry tires and tubes for my old spare wheels?

What people will do for a line of coke...

I don't fully understand your question. You will flat in Tucson though. TONS of cacti there.

I am new to tubeless.
Are you saying tubeless will be more of a problem in Arizona?
Should I stick to tubes around Tucson?

You read the thread right? I'm the one who started it and the whole thread is based on my lack of understanding why anyone would use a tube.

Plus I live in Arizona.

You probably answered your own question by now. Haha.

Bingo. I'm constantly swapping tires on any given wheelset, from semi-slicks to race-ish 2.1s to 2.3s with big knobs to Nokians in the winter. I have more than one wheelset, but that doesn't seem to matter: the tire I want is always on the other wheel. Can't imagine doing this if I had to mess with tubeless, but with tubed tires it is only a minor pain. Tubeless are fine for specialized applications like racing or if you don't also use your bike for grocery shopping or beer runs or touring or shuttling children to school. I have nothing against them. I just wouldn't want to use them. Clinchers with tubes have been doing the job for 120 years, very successfully.

Better when they're soaked through with water... i put them on my 29r to get that rolling momentum going, it makes me suuuuper smooth. Gary fisher used todo the same thing.

Hush, we don't to give him any ideas.