Rene Herse Naches Pass EL tires and tubeless setups

[Patrick Moore]

I've been debating whether to convert my Naches Pass tires to tubeless -- mine are the extra light version. I asked this on the iBob list and got a few replies, of which the gist is: NP els set up well tubelss, but toward the end of their lives they tend to start leaking sealant from the casing, due to minute cracks, I think it was; the poster said he finished their riding lives with tubes re-installed.

I don't want to convert if I have to re-convert at the end of the tires' life. So I ask the list, if you have set up Naches Pass Extra Lights tubeless, what were your results over the entire life of the tires?

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Tubeless would pretty much guarantee freedom from goathead flats, make it easier to deal with larger punctures, and save 220-250 grams per wheel.

OTOH, the NPs with tubes and a lot of Airlock sealant roll as fast and effortlessly, by the "seat of pants feel" test, as the much lighter and also ineffably fast and smooth 28 mm Elk Pass (extra light is the only model). My reasons for thinking of converting to tubeless are:

I can't use Orange Seal, my benchmark, because it doesn't work in tubes much below 40 or 45 psi, and I put only 30/35 in the NPs.

Instead I use Airlock, which seems to work in tubes at low pressures, but not as well as OS in tubes at high pressures or OS at low pressures in tubeless tires.

You have to use about twice as much Airlock as OS to get sealing.

I could simply go back to the Elk Passes; overall tire/tube/sealant weight is: 180 + 70 + ~50 + 300 grams per wheel. For the Naches Passes with tubes: 300 + 150 + 90 = 540 grams per wheel. For NPs tubeless (again, OS instead of AL): 300 + 60 = 360 grams per wheel. All weights approximate. May cause intestinal discomfort. Void where prohibited by law. Limit one per contestant. Do not eat. Keep away from children. 5c redemption value ME VT NH CT.

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[Patrick Moore]

One more point. One difference between the Elk Pass and the Naches Pass for this bike is that there really is a noticeably slowing-down in handling with the Naches Pass set up as described with ~3 fl oz of Airlock in 150 gram tubes. The NPs measure about 41 mm, the EPs 29 mm on the same rims. Diameter of the EPs is 24.8", of the NPs is 25.6". NPs at 30 f 35 rear (or 36/32), EPs 45/50. 

I don't mean slower rolling; no apparent difference there; but slower turn-in; not unpleasant -- the bike is so perfectly balanced that even the slower handling is fun; but with the shorter, lighter EPs, the bike has an agility which I miss. OTOH, I don't miss having to be extra careful about 6" pavement expansion cracks (but then again I used to negotiate those on 22 mm tires (26 X 1" Specialized Turbos, very nice tires, if narrow, ~80/90 f/r), and never pinch flatted). The new bike with NPs feels much like my 2nd-gen blue Rambouillet with light (MA4) wheels and 29 mm Parigi Roubaix tires: very nice, but slower to change direction than absolutely perfect.

Hmmmm.