Flint/South Downs Way

[jBay]

Planning to ride the SDW in June
As I'm not normally a chalk/flint rider, may sites refer to the need for many inner tubes

Are the nature of flint punctures managed well/sealed OK when running tubeless or are the holes/slits too big and I'll need tubes?

Thanks

[mountainbaker]

Depends on your tyres. When Andy and I did it in sept, he got a puncture early on, which spewed stans for a bit, then he let it seal, added more air, and it lasted the whole ride (double, 27 hours). I ride lots and lots of flint (devon), and I have to say, schwalbe tyres are awful in flint. I have Continental XKings ProTection, and they haven't punctured once in 2500 miles, but have plenty of surface gashes.

[Giacomo]

I had 4 punctures (that i noticed) when I did the length of the SDW. My tubeless tyres and sealant worked a treat and quickly resealed. Minus a bit of sealant which occasionally squirted on my inner calf...

[TheBrownDog]

^^^^ agree with Doge. Ive been all over the SDW and other flinty areas (come over to the Chilterns sometime - the region is made of it) I tend to go for chunkier tubeless tyres with extra sealant reasoning that the bigger tyres are less likely to cut and more sealant is more likely to fill the holes. But I still carry some of those anchovy things for plugging bigger holes and a spare tube for when that doesn't work and then some stick on patches for when everything goes peat.

[Zippy]

some of those anchovy things

Where can I get some? I remember struggling last time I looked..

[Matt]

Tescos

[Zippy]

One of your better jokes

[dlovett]

I live next to it and have had three punctures on it since last October, that's a lot of riding. It was only one that stans couldn't handle and that one the tyre deflated totally in less than 10 secs. I have been riding bonti xr4's, bonti team mud, Hans damp, nobble nicks, and co ti mountain and trail kings. Most of the guys n the area ride tubeless and unctuous aren't that common. Don't stress, just carry an tube for emergencies and remember that there is so much mud at the moment, punctures are impossible!!!

[Matt]

To restore karma

http://www.justridingalong.com/weldtite ... r-kit.html

[mountainbaker]

and remember that there is so much mud at the moment, punctures are impossible!!!

Don't you get mud with bits of flint in it like we get around here? Lethal for cheapo tyres that is!

[jBay]

Hans Dampf extra Stans it is then :)
Thanks

[TheBrownDog]

some of those anchovy things

Where can I get some? I remember struggling last time I looked..

I got a Genuine Innovations kit from Evens. The Weldtite one looks better value.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gen ... lsrc=aw.ds

One other thing I have is a playing card wrapped in duct tape which is about twice the size of a Park Tools tyre boot. Its been in my pack for about 4 years and never used it but I just know that the day I leave it behind I will get a two inch flint slice and will be walking.

[dlovett]

and remember that there is so much mud at the moment, punctures are impossible!!!

Don't you get mud with bits of flint in it like we get around here? Lethal for cheapo tyres that is!

Some, but at the moment you won't notice the flint, just the mud!

Considering the amount of miles I have ridden over the winter with some of the other local guys, flint punctures are pretty rare. I the last 8 club/shop rides I have been on, (5-20 riders, 2-4 hours per ride) I can only recall two punctures and neither seemed to be flint cuts.

I'd personally worry more about clogging, bring a cassette brush to de-clog with.