Epic and punctures

[nickc]

I could not find any words that describe effectively how *** Permatubes feel.

Edited March 29, 2012 by nickc

[Barend de Arend]

I could not find any words that describe effectively how *** Permatubes feel.

 

A bit like a stone in your shoes, except it's in your shorts.

[Red Zone]

Those things caused more punctures than they stopped, the join would wear through the tube... also, no protection against sidewall cuts or pinch flats.

 

 

Not true, I have used tyre liners for years, and have been practically puncture free, all you need to do is smooth the sharp edge off the join and away you go. I did the epic with tyre liners - only one puncture

[Wannabe]

Well...growing up we used to fit hosepipe under the tyre. Hard and bumpy as hell to ride but we never suffered punctures ever.

 

Same here. Homemade Permatube.

[MockTurtle]

tweels are the answer

 

http://www.smorgasbord.net/wp-content/photos/tweel.jpg

[Andymann]

Even the mousses in Off-Road and Enduro aren't fail safe - they eventually collapse. There are two types - the ball type and the perma-tube type which is actually like a very thick tube... bugger to fit! It might be that the two valves on the downhill bikes were actually 1 valve and a rim-lock - to stop the tyre sliding relative to the rim?

[Cav']

tweels are the answer

 

http://www.smorgasbord.net/wp-content/photos/tweel.jpg

Now thats cool

[zeepee]

The tubeless system for mtb's is more effective than the offroad bike one, so would be silly to use that.

Mousses is very effective on offroad bikes (like a permatube) but its heavy and hard, guys drill holes in them to soften them up for better traction. The weight doesnt matter as much on a offroad bike so they work well, I ride with them and swear by them. You can take big hits on rocks without puncturing so you ride over rocks at speed instead of around them.

 

There's another system called tire balls, you fill the tire with inflated rubber balls. If one of them punctures the rest squeezes into its place. You can lose allot of them before it becomes unridable.

 

Offroad guys also use enduro tubes, the tube is 5mm tick and they wrap an old tube on the outside of that so you have 5-8mm of protection from thorns.

 

Bottom line is that on a mtb the weight of your wheels plays a HUGE factor in the energy you expend. Mousses would be perfect but I dont think the technology is there yet for something that is light and soft enough but also durable enough so they dont collapse. (offroad mousses only last for about 6 months depending how much you ride, and they cost R2500 a piece)

[Andymann]

I suppose you could just fill your tyres with squash balls ;-)

[Gareth1982]

As far as I know the reason why Permtubes aren’t used other than the thing already mentioned is because they get flat spots or soft spots (whatever you want to call it) and that can get really annoying.

[mikkelz]

Permatubes were the business! Brings back good memories.

[Dicky DQ]

Not true, I have used tyre liners for years, and have been practically puncture free, all you need to do is smooth the sharp edge off the join and away you go. I did the epic with tyre liners - only one puncture

 

I have done 3 x Epic, and all the training for them and all the other races and only had 1 puncture. Riding tubeless with Stans. An then the puncture was because the stans was toooooooooo old and there was nothing left inside.

[Polo]

We used to take old tyres, cut off the wire bead and put it inside the new tyre. The ultimate tyre liner, but more comfortable than permatubes.

It was virtually impossible to get a puncture.

Not the lightest option though...

[canfan]

So I thought of something this morning when I saw this thread. They should make Sauser and Stander use Permatubes. Should level the playing field slightly.

[andretraut]

So I thought of something this morning when I saw this thread. They should make Sauser and Stander use Permatubes. Should level the playing field slightly.

They use something almost as durable as permatubes, but without the disadvantage. Their two boxes of Sludge Uniseal were delivered the day before the Epic to make sure that they can concentrate on racing and not on fixing punctures. Same stuff that Erik and Ariane has in their wheels.

[reteid]

i always thought that punctures are part of mtb racing.you can take precautions like tubeless,sealant,tyreliners etc , but in the end i believe that punctures are an inherent part of the sport.