PoorInRichfield

Having recently installed a pair of Continental GP5000 tubeless tires which sealed so tight that I didn't even need to use any sealant to get them to hold air, I began wondering if it really makes any sense to carry a spare tube with me on rides. In the 25+ years I've been riding, the vast majority of flats I've had were either from pinch-flats or tiny thorns that popped the tube... both of which should be easily sealed by tubeless sealant. While I can't predict the future, I've never had a catastrophic tire failure where something ripped a big gash in my tire. Heck, even if that did happen, would a new tube have been helpful? A big hole in a damaged tire wouldn't work well with a tube as the tube would want to press through the hole.

Therefore, does it really make sense to carry a spare tube when running tubeless? It seems to me like tubeless is kind of an "all or nothing" proposition... it's either going to work as intended or you're going to be calling someone to come pick you up because the tire damage is so bad that no road-side repair is going to help. Thoughts? What do you do... do you run tubeless and carry a spare tube "just in case"?

DrIsotope

I used to carry an emergency tube on all pf my tubeless bikes. Then I realized that I was using that tube maybe once a year. Last time I needed one, the tube had basically dry-rotted in the bag and wouldn't hold air. I walked home.

So now it's Dynaplugs and CO2s.

noodle soup

Same here.

Since going tubeless, the spare tube was used once, but to help a cyclist that was having a really with flats(not on my bike).

I do carry a tube in my hydration pack when mountain biking.

PoorInRichfield

A "good Samaritan" tube

Rides4Beer

I do, and had to use it on a recent gravel ride. Plugs wouldn't seal and had to put the tube in to get back, would have been stuck 28 miles away from my truck without the tube.

For a big gash in the tire, you can throw a boot and tube in and at least get home.

PoorInRichfield

Would the following patch kit potentially have worked for you in the situation you mentioned? Granted, this patch kit won't work if you're tires aren't slick road tires, but this is the road cycling forum so...


I ask because my new tubeless tires have such a tight bead that a road-side repair wouldn't be feasible. I figure I'm going to have to use a blow-torch and plasma cutter to get these tires off when they wear out

noodle soup

If gravel riding, I would carry a tube (+ micro pump) along with plugs and CO2. A pump comes in handy if you want to change your inflation.

PoorInRichfield

Yeah, for me, a mini pump has become a non-negotiable. I no longer carry CO2 as I have had too many mishaps where the CO2 didn't work as expected (sometimes user error, sometimes not). A mini pump in theory should be more reliable and provide an infinite amount of air... provided one's arms don't fall off from all the pumping.

noodle soup

I've been using CO2 for 15+ years and never had an issue, but I suspect that the choice of inflating head makes a huge difference.

These work great.

Rides4Beer

Same, I'd rather carry it and not need it, than to get stuck somewhere. It's also come in handy to help other people out. On a long road ride, I'll carry two tubes (but I run tubes on the road, not tubeless).

chaadster

I do carry a tube with my tubeless bikes, yes.

I’ve had instances where a gash was too big to seal, and a tube with a dollar bill or Gu wrapper boot did the trick.

I consider a tube part of a basic emergency kit for all my bikes, both tubed and tubeless. Included in that kit are basic multitools (no chain tool), tire levers, glueless patches, zip ties, CO2 and head, and a few bucks. Each bike has it’s own seat bag, always prepped and ready to go. Most of the bikes have a version of the Lezyne Road Drive pump as well, but I have omitted one on the last two builds; probably a poor choice, but sh*t has been getting expensive for me, and $100 here and there adds up!

I have also been in the situation where I could not prize off tubeless tires, such a situation which precipitated my first ever sag ride home...at least since the mid-80s. I honestly can’t recall one other. So yeah, that’s an issue which I sought to remedy by changing sealants— I now prefer Bontrager— but I also carry a pair of real tire levers now, not the silly, tossed-in as an afterthought kind which might be included with a seat bag (e.g. Scicon) or a multitool. Even those blue Park
ones are rubbish. Choose wisely. Choose rigid ones.

Iride01 

I initially believed all the horror stories of CO2 but upon first use they were shot to heck. The only thing I've found an issue is if you let the CO2 flow too quick, you might risk freezing the tube near the valve and damaging it as it tries to stretch and inflate. But that hasn't happened to me yet. So it's just a supposed thing. For certain, even the most basic inflators I've used which you simply screw in to puncture the cartridge, require me to unscrew them a little to get the CO2 flowing. So you can control how fast the tube inflates and then when full, tighten the cartridge up and have some CO2 for topping off later if the patch job wasn't so good and you have a slow leak.

So my advice to any is whatever you carry, practice with it. Otherwise you might not use it correctly when you need it.

noodle soup

I cut the angled portion of yellow Pedro's levers off, and carry one in my tool kit. Best levers I've ever used.



Before going tubeless last year, I got plenty of practice using CO2(probably a dozen times per year)

Iride01 

A dozen time a year! Geeze, I've used three cartridges in six maybe eight years for actual flats while out on the road. Two of them were not for me. And I don't carry a pump either. I guess I'm blessed to ride in a place where punctures are few.

Or maybe it's an indication I need to ride more.

Also, there were three times I flatted. But since it was nearing 100F temps when those happened and I was only a short distance to the house, I either walked home or called the wife to come get me.

WhyFi

I've been considering ditching my tube; I haven't used one on the side of the road in more than two years. It's already in the saddle roll, though, and it's not really movin' the needle that much as far as weight is concerned. I suppose that I could get rid of the tire lever, too, if I'm not going to carry a tube, though - that'd probably save an additional 20g

noodle soup

Everything that grows in Arizona has thorns, and I ride 12k+ miles annually.

PoorInRichfield

I just did the same thing to my tire levers over the weekend with a hack saw. I never, ever, never use the "spoke hook" on the levers and having that bend in the lever just makes them take-up too much space in my storage area. I have a different, more rugged set of Park levers at home that still has the hooks 'cause it doesn't matter at home.

noodle soup

Exactly

Psimet2001 

Ride with a tube. I personally have had more situations requiring a tube while using tubeless than I have had using tubes over the last 3 years (1).

Bitten by Tubeless

Metallifan33

Hey Noodle, I'm curious as to your flat statistics between tube vs. tubless tires (on road specifically).
I ride maybe 20% of your mileage (in the same area), and have been lucky enough not to have had a flat yet. IDK how much of that has to do with my 32mm tires and the fact that I mostly stick to the same route (frequented by cyclists).
But when the time comes to change tires, I wonder if I should go tubless as well (my rims are "tubless ready").

noodle soup

My flats would usually come in bunches. The tires were either wearing thin, or it was monsoon season. After it rains hard, thorns and other debris will accumulate in bike lanes.

I've had 1 tubeless tire cut down by glass, but that's the only flat in 1.5 years. Every time I replace a tire, it's filled with thorns. Some of that is likely because I no longer avoid every tiny bit of debris, like I used to.

WhyFi

Until you start getting flats, I wouldn't change anything - you'd be taking on work, and potentially frustration, for no real benefit.

Metallifan33

Oh wow.. and the glass incident would have happened to both kinds of tires, so I wouldn't even factor it in.

Yeah... that's the plan for sure. Also, I'd like to at least change a tube a couple of times just to get the experience. I know I should practice at home (as I've never done it), but every time I have some time, I'd rather go for a ride

AlgarveCycling

I run tubeless on my MTB and carry a Zefal Quick Repair sealant that seals the puncture and inflates the tyre - a good combo for racing. Tubeless on an MTB works really well, I find and I've yet to call upon the sealant although I've used it once before I switched and it worked really well too. I used to puncture at least once a fortnight before I went tubeless. Now? Nothing in more than 6 months so far.

For my road bikes, I haven't switched. I carry a spare tube and I used to carry a C02 cartridge but now a portable electric Fumpa Pump (Mini version, fits in my small-size saddle bag or pocket) which does away with the C02 and can inflate two tyres on a single charge. I'm considering the larger - but still small - Fumpa to replace my track pump as well.

Racing Dan

Not all tyres are the same. Some have protection some not, Therefore its as much what (tubed) tyre you choose as it is tubes vs tubeless. If you get flats you might as well get some protected tyres as you might get tubeless. One issue with thin tubeless is they wont protect you from cutting the tyre, - only small holes seal and then you are back to protected tyres anyway. As you might have guessed, I vent with Kevlar protection and have not had a flat for at least a year. In the same time I have had a few cuts that im convinced would have destroyed any non protected tyre, tubed or tubeless. Of course I could have tried protected-tubeless, but then I fail to see the point.