Going Tubeless: Converting My Bontrager Carbon Wheels
Daily · Published 9/24/2022 ·
Hello there. Today’s story is… about a tubeless conversion.
[The limits of bicycle tires]
Bicycle tires are usually run as a tire + tube combo.
The tire is relatively thick, and it’s built less for airtightness and more for durability — holding up against internal pressure and keeping its shape.
The tube, on the other hand, is what holds the air in, withstands the pressure, and pushes the tire outward.
This setup leads to all sorts of flats.
[The tube]
Even if you take good care of it, it can get pinched and go flat, or blow out, or pick up some tiny little nick and still go flat — and then it’s patch-or-replace time.
And if the sidewall of the tire tears, you can end up with flats in the same spot over and over.
So instead of a tube, you put in sealant to keep things airtight and ditch the tube altogether — that’s the tubeless conversion.
This was my first time doing this kind of work, and since I’m still not confident with bike maintenance, I paid the shop to handle it.
These are Bontrager carbon wheels.
Making wheels out of carbon — what a world we live in. They’re light, they’re stiff, and they’ve got just the right amount of give, so they’re used a lot on higher-end bikes. You seal up those gaps with tubeless tape and add a valve to finish the job.
While I was at it, I learned how to inspect and remove/install both the front and rear tires.
It’s not all that difficult, and it’s where bike maintenance begins.
I plan to slowly learn the things I can do myself, so I can check the bike over and ride with peace of mind.
You pull out that lever, fit it onto the front or rear axle, and pop the wheel off.
That part’s another one you’ll have to buy again if you lose it, so you’ve got to keep good track of it.
The road bike season doesn’t have much left in it.
As long as time allows, I’m going to ride as much as I can.
Thank you.
#트렉 #TREK #에몬다sl7 #튜브리스 #슈발베원 #펑크방지 #자전거공기압
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