Firstly I have fitted a K-Edge chain catcher thing to my cross-bike. I have never shipped a chain on this bike, but I guess there is always a first time. The device went on dead easy, look good and I will assume that it will do a good job if ever called upon. My only winge is the silver radius washer which looks a bit wrong surrounded by black components.
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| K-Edge chain catcher in place |
My best bike has a new set of wheels and tyres. I have ridden tubeless on mtbs for many years, never having a serious problem fitting tyres provided I follow one simple rule: only use tubeless ready tyres. I have never punctured an mtb tubeless tyre. The only stoppage I have suffered is when I ripped a knob off the rear tyre making a fairly large hole, too big for sealant to cope with.
Anyway, I fancied some new wheels and going tubeless is a no brainer for me on a road bike. I studied the options carefully and have settled on a pair of Fulcrum Racing 1 two-way fit, shod with Hutchinson Atom tyres.
I have had Fulcrum wheels before and really liked them. The colours look great with my bike and the freehub is so quiet you can lead others to believe you are working to stay on their wheel rather than being lazy.
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| In my opinion this looks fantastic |
Fitting the tyres was so easy. The wheels came with tubeless valves in place, the tyres were fitted in no time without soap, using only hands and went up to 110psi first time. No bangs or pops, the bead went straight into place on the rim which is nice with such nerve inducing pressures. I wanted to try the tyres with no sealant. Not for any particular reason, just to try them that way. Weight wise the wheels with tyres fitted feel about the same as the Sram S30 with Schwalbe Ultremo ZX that came off but weight is not the key issue with tubless systems, it is the ride.
The next day I checked the tyre pressures, both had dropped to 70psi, a little low. To combat this I have put about 1oz of Stans in each tyre. This is about half the recommended amount but I have always run mtb tyres on this type of "half recommended amount" with no problems. Now out for first ride.
How nice do these feel? I do not know whether it is the wheels or the tyres or a combination of both but I love it whichever it is. First up the tyres are thinner than 23mm, but this is compensated for by the lower pressure in the tyre. I am still trying out slight changes but am working at around 85-90psi front and 90-95psi at the back. The difference in ride feel from the Ultremos at 110psi is very noticeable. The tubed set-up skipped and bounced over rough pavement and struggled on the sort of gravel based top dressing that we have lots of around here. The tubeless set-up stays much more planted on the road and more interestingly keeps speed on the dreaded gravel dressed roads. I have not tried cornering much faster than the old set-up, but certainly no slower. I am sure that growing confidence will allow me to speed up cornering.
I rode this new set-up in the Richmond Sportive, this tested out the other elements to the mix that I struggle to observe on my local roads.
Climbing was good. The wheels are light and very stiff. I could not get much, if any rub from the brake blocks at all. I did get a little wheel spin whilst climbing stood up, but only once which is less than the tubed set-up and was probably due to my poor technique rather than grip issues from the tyre.
Fast riding and descending were where the wheels really came alive. They are so well balanced, I never knew wheels could be this well balanced. At speeds over about 45kph the bike now enters a state of near silence and balance. None of that silly trendy carbon buzz or roar. No pinging of small stones. Just poise and confidence inspiring magic carpet-ness. Even better is the ability of these wheels to keep their speed once it is gained. Only pulling the brake levers seems to slow them down.
You can probably tell that I am pleased with these wheels and tyres. Next year Schwalbe are bringing out a tubeless Ultremo, a tyre I love. Have to wear these out first.
