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Ghetto Tubeless
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
anyone been successful at doing this with 20inch tubes with Presta valves? keen to give it a go, a six pack in it for whoever can help me (NOR preferred.)
FYI, currently running Mavic XM117 and Schwalbe tyres.
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BMX tubes are a bit small. I'd recommend trying to get some 24" tubes, which are perfect.
I can probably help you out if you want to bring it around to my place in Maylands. The rim strips make getting your tyre on a bit harder, but it should be a goer.
Greg
0431153050
yeah I have tried before with 20 inch tubes, mounted on the rim and slitted along the back. they fit on the rim ok, make it pretty hard to get the tyre on, but I just can't get it to seat with the floor pump.
Why would you bother? You can pick up a velo-tape pack with tape and valves for 2 wheels for around $30 and by the time you have the getto 20 (or 24") tube cut you could have both wheels done and pumped up.
I did the ghetto on my 29er about 4 months ago all going good , except when I changed tyres then have too go thru it all again .
its easier enough to do the only pain in the arse part is trimming the excess tube off once youve pumped the tyre up. Easist way to do it is find a service station with the old fashioned pump get a presta/schrader adapter blast it with air until it starts to pump up then once youve got a seal spin the wheel to allow the stans or whatever your using to seal.....
but I would have to agree with the other post by some valves and rim tape for $30 and save yourself some fiddling around
another tip if your sidewalls are worn or soft it makes it harder to maintain the pressure so its best done with new tyres.
3 or 4 wraps of electrical tape is way better than a cut tube.
Cut a hole for the valve with a knife after it's on.
Cut a presta valve from and old tube just leave some rubber on the back so it won't pull through, about as round as a cigarette will do.
Then put the nut on tight.
This works.
The only drawback with any of these is that unless the rim has a 'bead lock' for tubeless then it will 'burp' if you run too low pressure.
Oh yeah - you always need stans/latex/whatever.
Kerry @ phantom cycles gave me a roll of fibreglass tape to use. Now I just need my replacement wheels to turn up.
If anyone is thinking of buying Velocity 29" Blunt SL's, don't. They are crap.
Bontrager rim strips are the shiz. The profile mimics the UST cross-section making them extremely easy to air up with UST rubber and get the beads to pop in. Highly recommended. Have used with XM117 rims.
Stans strips are a lot more fiddly to get your tyres to mount with by comparison. Would only use again if desperate and the Bontragers were not available.
might try out the bontragers.. suggested online retailer for this one?
Evans cycles in the UK, but I've just noticed they only ship them within the UK.
Got mine in-store from Clarence Street Cyclery in Sydney, along with the associated valves. Was much cheaper than Stans equivalent, even with CSC's usual RRP+25% pricing.