I used to think tubeless sealant was just a messy fad for mountain bikes

For years I stuck with tubes on road bikes, sure the sealant would be a pain and not really help. Then a customer brought in a carbon rim with a tiny sidewall cut that wouldn't hold air with a tube. As a last try, I put in 2 ounces of Stan's sealant and set the wheel spinning. It sealed in under a minute. That was about eight months ago, and I've used it on my own bike since. I've fixed maybe a dozen small punctures on rides without stopping. The setup is a bit more work, but not having to swap a tube in the rain is worth it. Has anyone else had a specific repair where tubeless really saved the day?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_susan8d ago

Honestly, "messy fad" was my exact take too, until I spent 20 minutes trying to find a tiny leak with a tube.

davis.iris7d ago

That thermal camera trick works best on hot water lines. For cold leaks, you often need a moisture meter to find the wet spot inside the wall first. The camera just shows the temperature change from evaporation cooling the area.

owens.nancy8d ago

I saw a plumbing subreddit post where a guy said he found a pinhole leak in seconds using a thermal camera he borrowed from work. He said the temperature difference was super obvious on the screen. Makes you wonder if that tech will ever be cheap enough for regular homeowners.