Are you scratching your brain box and wondering how to tubeless your bicycle wheels?
Well, wonder no longer, I’ve made a video all about it. And it’s EASY.
Don’t listen to the naysayers, tubeless is awesome and with a bit of practice and the right gear should only take about 15 minutes per wheel.
You’ll need some basic kit and a bit of patience, but, once you’re rolling you too can be a tubeless pro, effortlessly whipping up untubed hoops hither and thither.
What you’ll need to setup your wheels tubeless:
- Tubeless compatible wheels and tyres – like Terravail
- Some isopropyl
- Some blue roll or similar
- Tubeless tape – I use Tesa, it’s awesome
- Tubeless sealant – I use Peaty’s Holeshot Tubeless Sealant
- Tubeless valves – I use Peaty’s x Chris King Tubeless Valves
- Soapy water
- Tyre Levers – I use Park Tool
Clean Twice, Tubeless Once
Start by giving everything a proper clean using your blue roll and isopropyl. Check for any damage or wear and tear.
If you’re using older, used tyres and rims you’ll need to give them a really good clean-up and remove any old sealant, damaged rim tape, muck, gunk and grime. If your tyres are damaged, torn, frayed or generally a bit shagged this will be a lot harder.
Also, double-check that all of your gear is tubeless compatible – check your manufacturer to be sure.
Tape It Up and Give It a Poke
Get rid of your old rim tape.
Grab your new rim tape. I’d recommend Tesa tape as it’s dead cheap, works really well and is exactly the same as what the MAN from Big Tape sells you for 3 x the price.
Pick tape that’s slightly wider than your rims. For example, for a 21mm internal width rim I’d recommend 23mm tape.
Watch the video for the technique here. Start opposite your valve hole, get plenty of tension and use your thumb to really push the tape deep down into the well of your rim. Wrap it around twice, work out any bubbles or slack and really make sure it’s tight. When you’re done, cut the tape off the roll diagonally.
Next, use a pointy spiked tool (ideally not a knife) and poke through your valve hole from the inside (the hub side) of your rim to create a small hole. The pointy tool means the hole won’t tear, fray and get bigger.
Next, push your tubeless valve through the rim, and push down onto the rubber bung on the valve to create a tight seal as you screw on the rubber o-ring and lock ring.
Tyres On, Sealant In
Time to get those tyres on.
Start at the valve and pop the first bead of tyre on your rim, mounting it on the far side of your valve. Then, work your way around the rim and mount one side of the tyre. You might need your tyre levers here. The soapy water might also help.
Next, pop the other bead of the rim onto the rim next to your valve and repeat the process. Work your way around and seat the tyre… until you’ve almost got the whole thing seated. Make sure you leave some of the tyre unseated and there’s a bit of a gap left over. Watch the video if you’re not sure what that means.
Next, take your tubeless sealant of choice and glug it straight into that leftover gap in your tyre. Forget injecting it into your valve or any of that rubbish. Straight into the tyre, no messing around. Check your manufacturer for the correct quantity.
Go ahead and mount the last bit of your tyre and give the wheel a proper spin. Spin the wheel upright, flat and at 45° in either direction to get the sealant spread around.
Apply Puff
Now you can go ahead and inflate your tyre. Use a track pump – ideally one with a built-in tubeless inflator.
All being well your tyre should inflate and you’ll hear some loud, slightly unsettling POP! noises. These are the noises of success. Your tyre should be holding air and you can congratulate yourself for your triumph. Stick your valve caps back on and rejoice.
If, however, you’re hearing the disheartening sound of escaping air or you can see air bubbles or sealant bubbling then there’s more work to be done. First, try spinning the tyre more to circulate the sealant even more. Bounce the tyre with the leaky area at the lowest point. Give it all a good spin and shake.
Sometimes tubeless doesn’t work first time. Don’t despair, keep trying. Add more sealant, recirculate it, check you’ve not missed any steps, check your tyre is properly seated, and reinflate. Repeat until success. Use this as a test of your resolve, patience and bloody-mindedness and success will come.
Clean It Up
Assuming you’re now looking at two fully inflated, non-leaky, tubeless wheels then you have my congratulations.
Finish off by giving them a proper clean-up, washing off any leaky sealant with water and bike wash.
Give your wheels a little while to rest, marinate and ruminate. Return to them an hour or so later and if they’re still inflated, get them on your bike and give them a spin.
As always, I’d recommend giving newly tubelessed wheels a test-ride before you embark on your round-the-world, wilderness adventure. Just to be sure.
And, if you’re struggling or would just prefer someone else to help, you’re welcome to get in touch. I offer tubeless setup on any and all compatible wheelset’s built here in house either when they’re first built or as a future upgrade. I’m always happy to suggest the best tyres for you and your machine and can supply most anything.
Go here for Tubeless setup prices or Contact me here!
Simples!
