Mailbag - Brij

Posted At : August 7, 2008 6:30 PM | Posted By : Erik Voldengen
Related Categories: Bike

I received a message from "Brij" via the contact form thing in the right-hand margin of this site.  This person didn't include any contact info, so I'll just answer it here...

Hi Erik,
Just stumbled across your blog--great stuff.  I have a question about your Stan's tubeless set up, 2 years down the line:  Is the wide rim width ever an issue?  I ordered some wheels and am wondering if you ever have any problems with a spare set/nuetral support.

I love all your notes on bike set up--I certainly concur and I'm only 150#.

Best of luck this season.
Thanks, Brij, Santa Cruz, CA

Stan's ZTR rims are for sure wider than normal road rims.  Switching to those normal rims, say for a mid-race wheel change, could be a major problem.

For me, it's not that bad.  I use Froggleg brakes, which are wide profile.  They have a lot of travel, and changes in rim width are better tolerated with this type of brake.  For a medium profile brake like Avid Shorty, you would have a harder time with this.  I also have barrel adjusters for my shifter AND brake cables, all at the stem (where the bare tape ends).  I can adjust my brakes or derailleur on the fly, if needed (and if I did a wheel change to a narrower rim, it would definitely be needed).

I'll sometimes swap out my wheels for some more narrow ones with road tires mounted on them for mid-week road rides.  All I have to do is adjust the cable tension with those barrel adjusters, and it all works great.

Hope that helps, Brij.

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Erik,

I'm planning on pursuing the tubeless set up with a set of Kysrium Elites I just purchased. I was told by Josh at Cyclepath that the Elite and higher are good candidates for tubeless. Do you feel that you've had good results with the tubeless et up?
# Posted By Murray | 8/7/08 8:15 PM
I'll add to what Erik said, but comment on my own experience.

I do the same thing. Cross tires on one wheelset, road tires on another. For a mid week ride it is not a big deal to do the swap ourt.
For a race it would be another issue altogether. I also use barrel adjusters, but my brakes (Pauls Touring Canti) don't have as much
adjustment and often I need to monkey with the cable, etc.

That being said (knock on wood), I've had so much success with the system at races that it is unlikely that a spare set will be needed.
# Posted By Dan Porter | 8/8/08 9:31 AM
@Murray - I hear Kysrium Elites work great for road tubless. For 'cross tubless, I'm not so sure. If anyone would know, Cyclepath would!

@Dan - yeah, if you don't have the adjustability in your brakes to go from the ZTR rims to "normal" rims, it's a deal breaker!
# Posted By erikv | 8/8/08 12:13 PM
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