Ask the experts

[rideit]

Have any of you actually inflated a Tubolito? I think I know the answer (no), but it’s worth asking. Curious if I could run a 27.5 Tubolito in a 29 in a pinch, as you can with butyl tubes. This would be a solution for carrying one tube for the Mullet bike.

[Andeh]

Yes, I have, a couple times. It still seems somewhat stretchy but haven't tried putting the 27.5 on a 29. They weigh so little and are so compact, I just carry one of each in my pack since I ride mullet.

[VTskibum]

Maybe just my area and perhaps my east coast rocks are smoother, but pedaling around DD tires to save a flat seems to be not worth the squeeze. Normally ride 4-5x per week most of the year on EXO or Spec Grid tires and I'm at 3 flats, one was 100% on me for being lazy not refilling sealant recently and low air pressure not pumping up tire before riding. The other two were both fixed by bacon strips. Carry 2-3 CO2, tube, bacon and even have tube patches in my BC Research TulBag that goes w/ me on 95% of my rides Mtn or Road.

[Boissal]

Just run heavy tires. That's one way to not get flats hardly ever. Anything less than DD casing is just tempting fate IMO.

Yeah, run appropriate casings and pressures. I've flatted once in like 7 years, and it was because I was running EXO+ in an area littered with sharp rocks.

I got on the gravity casing train this season on my Gnarvana based on some posts in this thread and the recommendation of some buddies who live up in BC. Figured I should try it and see, I didn't have any complaints about trail casing but maybe I didn't know what I was missing.

It's been an interesting experience but I think I will go back to lighter duty tires once this set it shot. The GridGravity (similar to DD) stuff is indestructible but it's turned the GG into a massive hog, the difference being almost a pound per tire. Overall weight doesn't bother me (went from 33 to 35 lbs) but the added rotational mass changed the bike completely: getting it up to speed is quite painful and it really doesn't hold momentum until I'm moving pretty good. Riding behind a buddy on a rolling trail yesterday was eye opening, he'd float away from me on any little bit of down and easily roll over the next small up while I was constantly on the pedals huffing and puffing. Yes, it's an enduro pig and rolling flowy stuff isn't the terrain for it to shine, however the penalty outside of the rowdiest terrain is hard to swallow and I pedal everywhere so I'm bound to run into sub-gnar trails quite often. When I hop back on the trail bike with regular casing (GridTrail, similar to Exo+), I'm blown away at how fast it accelerates and rolls. The GG felt the same when it was on lighter tires, much easier to get up to speed on any bit of down, more lively, and no less planted at speed.

I think the gravity casing would make sense if I flatted a lot or really needed traction/support. I've ridden the trail bike on the same trails as the GG and my segment times and barely slower. It's sketchier and bouncier but I've only flatted once in the past 3 seasons (running 22f and 26 or 27r) and I was very much asking for it. Summer in the Wasatch means that there isn't a single berm that will not explode under your tires if you try to rail it so support isn't that critical. Traction is also non existent, I don't think running 12 psi would make a lick of difference in our bottomless moon dust. If I took a trip to the PNW or spent lots of time in the park I'd probably keep the heavy casing on the GG but for the riding I do it's a lot of downsides and not much benefit. And before it comes up, I'm not ready for the EWS but I am not exactly slow either. We have plenty of pointy chunder here and I'm not particularly light, 180 lbs kitted...

[grskier]

Just run heavy tires. That's one way to not get flats hardly ever. Anything less than DD casing is just tempting fate IMO.

Your need from a tire is a bit heavier than most.

[skaredshtles]

Maybe just my area and perhaps my east coast rocks are smoother, but pedaling around DD tires to save a flat seems to be not worth the squeeze. Normally ride 4-5x per week most of the year on EXO

If you're on EXO and not getting flats your rocks MUST be smoother. I'd destroy EXO in one ride.

[snowaddict91]

If you're on EXO and not getting flats your rocks MUST be smoother. I'd destroy EXO in one ride.

I was doing okay on EXO for quite a while, but I've gotten heavier and (maybe a little) faster. After killing 3 rear tires in about a year, I put a DD aggressor on the rear this week.

[cydwhit]

Have any of you actually inflated a Tubolito? I think I know the answer (no), but it’s worth asking. Curious if I could run a 27.5 Tubolito in a 29 in a pinch, as you can with butyl tubes. This would be a solution for carrying one tube for the Mullet bike.

Yes, I have inflated a couple Tubolitos. No, I wouldn't feel good about running 27.5 on 29. I don't think they'll stretch that much comfortably, and if you're anything like me, the only reason you're putting in a tube is because you're far from the car and can't get darts or bacon to seal the flat. In those situations, I don't think it's worth the risk trying to stretch it. That said, I'd run 29 in 27.5 without hesitation. It's not hard to get them to shorten via the foreskin method.

[rideit]

Well, that solves the problem, then. And yes, the Tubolito is the last resort, I carry bacon, darts, a boot, gorilla tape, and a spare valve to try first. And if you want to ‘borrow’ a Tubolito from me on the trail, I’ll need you to Venmo me first!

[skaredshtles]

I was doing okay on EXO for quite a while, but I've gotten heavier and (maybe a little) faster. After killing 3 rear tires in about a year, I put a DD aggressor on the rear this week.

I made the mistake of putting on an EXO DHR on my bike a LONG time ago... and flatted it the first time I took it out.

[Dee Hubbs]

Anybody want a 27.5 Tubolito for cheap? (27.5 x 1.8-2.5)
I no longer have any 27.5 bikes in my household and I think I still have 4 new in packages.
They retail for $35, I could USPS them for $23.00.
PM me for details.

[rudy]

Anybody want a 27.5 Tubolito for cheap? (27.5 x 1.8-2.5)
I no longer have any 27.5 bikes in my household and I think I still have 4 new in packages.
They retail for $35, I could USPS them for $23.00.
PM me for details.

I'll take it. PM incoming

[Dee Hubbs]

Anybody want a 27.5 Tubolito for cheap? (27.5 x 1.8-2.5)
I no longer have any 27.5 bikes in my household and I think I still have 4 new in packages.
They retail for $35, I could USPS them for $23.00.
PM me for details.

2 of 5 spoken for:

[Dumbest Known Time]

It's not hard to get them to shorten via the foreskin method.

Could have lived my whole life and died happy without hearing that line.

[singlesline]

All this talk makes it fitting that I had my first flat in years this week.
Last one I can remember was in Moab in 2020 and that wasn’t even a puncture… dinged my rim riding my hardtail on the whole enchilada (a double drop in the porcupine rim area I think) and it wouldn’t hold air at the bead. Threw a tube in for the rest of the trip and then bent the rim back when I got home.

This time it was a rock puncture in a lightly used gravel tire (100mi total?) riding on some singletrack . Small bacon held for a bit and then started leaking. Going to try repairing it by gluing on a radial tire patch like some have suggested on here.