Ask the experts

[Dee Hubbs]

I also just bought what I thought was a knockoff Fizik tape from AliExpress. It turned out to be the real thing for $13 shipped.

There are 3 major factories that make 90% of all the bar tape for every brand out there.
Heres a great article from Cycling Tips, that visits one of the factories.

[jamal]

My aliexpress sunglasses came with the right packaging and case and logos and everything too!

then broke in half after about a week.

[BFD]

I am 5'2 and been riding a medium Ripley. I think it is to big. My arms seem tired maybe from the reach. I checked out a Stumpjumper Expert today in an S1. Felt pretty comfortable. I was thinking about buying it and putting the 935 weelset on it. Would that be good way to go? Hopefully a better fitting bike that rides as well.

[Eluder]

I am 5'2 and been riding a medium Ripley. I think it is to big. My arms seem tired maybe from the reach. I checked out a Stumpjumper Expert today in an S1. Felt pretty comfortable. I was thinking about buying it and putting the 935 weelset on it. Would that be good way to go? Hopefully a better fitting bike that rides as well.

A medium Ripley is probably big for you but a S1 is effectively a XS. Do you think two sizes smaller sounds right? Can you try an S2?

[BFD]

Thanks, not many sizes around in Anchorage.

[evdog]

5'4 here. I demo'd a size small V4 Ripley a couple years ago. It fit me well. Rode a medium around the block, it was definitely too big. Could only use about 3" of the dropper post drop on it. Your inseam/arm length will play into fit as well.

Santa Cruz used to run smaller than they do now. I used to ride mediums on most of their bikes (Super8, V10, VPfree, Heckler)

[ticketchecker]

Do a bigger descent. Get them hot.

Easier said than done with a town bike when you live at 140’ above sea level. I did get the front to quiet down last night on a brewery tour, maybe that’s the way


Sent from the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen

[Spencer123]

Got a flat with a relatively new Double Down DHR2 the other day. It is right where the rim meets the bead, it's not through all the way to the inside but it won't reseal. I popped it off, cleaned it, checked the inside, and re-mounted with new sealent but no luck. Any tips for repairing this damage to get it to run tubeless again? Or is it a lost cause?

Also, is this a tubeless equivilent of a pinch flat with where the damage is? Running 28-29 PSI on fast sharp rocky terrain, 180 lbs. Admittedly I like to blast through bad lines instead of pick my way carefully. Are people running up into the 30's who are about the same with rocky terrain?

Thanks for any tips!

[MegaStoke]

Ask the experts

Clean the inside really well, and patch it with a vulcanizing patch. Or shove an automotive tire plug in there

As for prevention, tire inserts go a long ways towards preventing pinch flats. Personally, I’m preferential to Tannus Tubeless Armor

[toast2266]

Got a flat with a relatively new Double Down DHR2 the other day. It is right where the rim meets the bead, it's not through all the way to the inside but it won't reseal. I popped it off, cleaned it, checked the inside, and re-mounted with new sealent but no luck. Any tips for repairing this damage to get it to run tubeless again? Or is it a lost cause?

Also, is this a tubeless equivilent of a pinch flat with where the damage is? Running 28-29 PSI on fast sharp rocky terrain, 180 lbs. Admittedly I like to blast through bad lines instead of pick my way carefully. Are people running up into the 30's who are about the same with rocky terrain?

Thanks for any tips!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]421469[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]421468[/ATTACH]

That's just bad luck. If it were me, I'd goop the whole area up with vulcanizing cement and cram one of the bigger automotive tire plugs in there. Let it sit for a day, and then trim it down a bit (but still leave ~5mm of plug sticking out on both sides of the tire). 50-50 whether that'll work as a long term solution.

If I were you, I'd bump up to a DH casing in the future. They have a bigger butyl insert in the sidewall to protect against exactly that kind of damage.

[rideit]

In a pinch I have sewn one back together with sailor’s thread (but used a tube). Maybe that and a little….aqua seal? (Kidding/notkidding)

[climberevan]

In a pinch I have sewn one back together with sailor’s thread (but used a tube). Maybe that and a little….aqua seal? (Kidding/notkidding)

I fixed a long sidewall cut on a gravel tire with upholstery thread and E6000 on both sides a while back. Aqua Seal is even better. Several hundred miles later it's still good, and no sealant has come through the area. I only run 25-30psi though.

[Dantheman]

Also, is this a tubeless equivilent of a pinch flat with where the damage is?

Yes. An oval radial auto patch will fix that right up.

Also, IME, if there's a hole at the bead there's usually another hole in the tread, so check that carefully before re-mounting.

[skaredshtles]

<snip>
Also, is this a tubeless equivilent of a pinch flat with where the damage is?

Yep. You remember way back in the early days of tubeless when people would rave about how pinch flats were impossible to get with the advent of tubeless? They lied.

Running 28-29 PSI on fast sharp rocky terrain, 180 lbs. Admittedly I like to blast through bad lines instead of pick my way carefully. Are people running up into the 30's who are about the same with rocky terrain?

No. I am about your weight and run 29.5psi on rides like you describe (sharp rocks) and *occasionally* will get a rim strike if I'm being particularly smashy... but most of the time it's sufficient. For the record I'm on Michy Wild RockR'2 Advanced Reinforced, which I *think* is about equivalent to DD.

When I am lax on checking the PSI, though, I can get myself into trouble... be vigilant.

[XXX-er]

Clean the inside really well, and patch it with a vulcanizing patch. Or shove an automotive tire plug in there

I would try the patch first and a plug ^^ if that doesnt work