Alex rims- to convert to tubeless or not

[covie]

Answer 1: We run her tyres quite hard on her spark...2psi on our gauge...harder than I run on my trance 1.8psi. But she says that she is always checking to see if the tyres are flat

Answer 2: Not as much damage as she does to herself flying off it ...she is a lot more cautious these days so not hitting anything big, a few rocks as normal in karkloof & howick

 

Ok 2 psi would be hard if it was tubless, just try and push her up to 2.2 in the front and 2.3 at the rear, reason i ask weight is to make a generalized equation on the tyres. but with tubes go with 2.2 / 2.3 that might seem hard for someone use to a tubless setup but it will be fine on a tubed setup.

[covie]

Answer 1: We run her tyres quite hard on her spark...2psi on our gauge...harder than I run on my trance 1.8psi. But she says that she is always checking to see if the tyres are flat

Answer 2: Not as much damage as she does to herself flying off it ...she is a lot more cautious these days so not hitting anything big, a few rocks as normal in karkloof & howick

 

Ok 2 psi would be hard if it was tubless, just try and push her up to 2.2 in the front and 2.3 at the rear, reason i ask weight is to make a generalized equation on the tyres. but with tubes go with 2.2 / 2.3 that might seem hard for someone use to a tubless setup but it will be fine on a tubed setup.

[Dustyman]

OK, to put some more info on the story, a friend of ours had a DT swiss wheelset lying around which they had taken off her spark 30 (these have been converted to tubeless). These also have a 17mm internal rim diameter and were using the same rocket ron tyres we had. There are no problems with the DT swiss rims what-so-ever, so the problem seems to be with that model of Alex rims...not sure if it is the build or the rims themself. It is not the small internal rim diameter as I previously thought.

[jules1976]

i had my Alex rims converted to tubeless and ahd no issues in the two years that i had them. upgraded to DT Swiss now wanted something stronger than the Alex rims.

[covie]

i had my Alex rims converted to tubeless and ahd no issues in the two years that i had them. upgraded to DT Swiss now wanted something stronger than the Alex rims.

 

Stronger or lighter lol, Alex rims aint weak well most of the models anyway, most are bullet proof. But they weigh a ton.

[madvics]

Stronger or lighter lol, Alex rims aint weak well most of the models anyway, most are bullet proof. But they weigh a ton.

Agreed they can take punishment,I ride my bike through real rough terrain, broke two spokes already but that was from rocks becoming missiles

[Dirtracker]

I run the same configuration and have had no problems what so ever

[GhostRider2]

I converted my Alex rims to tubeless no issues. Also had the 44's.

 

Those rims seem strong but do tend to flex a bit.

 

Just upgraded to a set of Fulcrum Red Metal 3's and what a difference. So much stiffer and worth the bucks.

 

They are tubeless rims too so no missioning with rim strips.

 

Even for a weekend warrior like me.

[KaiV]

Hi all

 

Found this thread due to unfortunate circumstances.......

 

I've had my Merida TFS for about 5 years now. I bought it with a tubless conversion done by the shop, using the Alex TD17 rims and OEM Merida Racelite tires.

 

This bike has put me in hospital twice now and made me walk many Km back to the car, all thanks to the tubeless conversion (IMHO)

 

Walk homes....

Hit a slight ditch at an angle in deep grass and pushed tube off the rim and pfushhhh all air out. Was a novice at this and got a bomb kit to be able to "blow" tire back onto rim,,,,,

 

Second time at the William Nicol cycle park. If I remember, it was the thrird wooden bridge with a left turn at the bottom out of it. As I hit the bottom, pfushhhh goes the front tire and I end up crashing into the embankment with my chest. Oh well, blue ribs and lost pride, I carry bike back to car.

 

Then. I turned a corner near the Gauten Horse society and hit a diagonal root just after the corner and guess what: pfushhhh goes the front tire and I end up crashing into the electric fence, taking out my left knee..........

 

And lastly, cycling with mates two weeks ago down Maple Rd and jump a drive way. Nice jump, clean and straight, land rear wheel and then front: pfushhhh goes the front tire and I end up crashing. This time with broken ribs, shoulder, clavicle, pride and Christmas in Hospital.

 

As soon as the local cucle shop opens up (and I can drive again) I'm taking my nike there and will be coverting back to normal tubes n tires. This tubeless has cost me plenty of blood, sweat m tears and it may possibly just be a combiation of the tires / rims (albeit both Merida, regular service and resealing)

 

M2CW, take it or leave it.....

 

Oh, and Happy New Year. First day without pain killers.....

[BarHugger]

Hi all

 

Found this thread due to unfortunate circumstances.......

 

I've had my Merida TFS for about 5 years now. I bought it with a tubless conversion done by the shop, using the Alex TD17 rims and OEM Merida Racelite tires.

 

This bike has put me in hospital twice now and made me walk many Km back to the car, all thanks to the tubeless conversion (IMHO)

 

Walk homes....

Hit a slight ditch at an angle in deep grass and pushed tube off the rim and pfushhhh all air out. Was a novice at this and got a bomb kit to be able to "blow" tire back onto rim,,,,,

 

Second time at the William Nicol cycle park. If I remember, it was the thrird wooden bridge with a left turn at the bottom out of it. As I hit the bottom, pfushhhh goes the front tire and I end up crashing into the embankment with my chest. Oh well, blue ribs and lost pride, I carry bike back to car.

 

Then. I turned a corner near the Gauten Horse society and hit a diagonal root just after the corner and guess what: pfushhhh goes the front tire and I end up crashing into the electric fence, taking out my left knee..........

 

And lastly, cycling with mates two weeks ago down Maple Rd and jump a drive way. Nice jump, clean and straight, land rear wheel and then front: pfushhhh goes the front tire and I end up crashing. This time with broken ribs, shoulder, clavicle, pride and Christmas in Hospital.

 

As soon as the local cucle shop opens up (and I can drive again) I'm taking my nike there and will be coverting back to normal tubes n tires. This tubeless has cost me plenty of blood, sweat m tears and it may possibly just be a combiation of the tires / rims (albeit both Merida, regular service and resealing)

 

M2CW, take it or leave it.....

 

Oh, and Happy New Year. First day without pain killers.....

 

Bad luck....I think not. Going back to basics I think you will have a more healthy and enjoyable 2014. Put some sealent into the tubes for durability purposes. All the best with your recovery and hope last year's cycling highs is this year's mundane.

[Tjokkits]

Try proper ust tyres

[scotty]

Not a big fan of Alex wheels but i have them on my 26" as tubeless set up and run them between 2.5 and 3 bar, and never had them dismount from the rim. Buckling and spoke breaking is another story though.

[KaiV]

I normally run around 2.5 / 3 bars as well.

 

Must say, never had rims buckling or spokes breaking. Have hit some good rocks and bumps and the rims / spokes have always held up. Just the tires.

[Kenty]

My son has just got a bike and they have Alexrims SupraBH rims...bike came with tires and tubes....when the present tires are finished can these SUPRA..BH,s be converted to tubeless???

[David Marshall]

Most rims can be made tubeless.  It's the tyres that need to be tubeless ready.  If the rims are not to shot go ahead.

[Kenty]

Most rims can be made tubeless.  It's the tyres that need to be tubeless ready.  If the rims are not to shot go ahead.

Thanks David , only see this now...we have done just that and so far so good...I mean we are not pro riders just ride alot of trails and they seem to be going just fine....