Saturday, June 20, 2009

RP2IPBP - road tubeless

Again, the old RP2IPBP route -- he may need to look into a few route modifications and variations. Nothing in particular today, but exploiting and testing new road bike technology:

Hutchinson
As Py's wheels are two-way-fit, they can take the still fairly new Fusion 2 Road Tubeless tires instead of regular clinchers. This is really tubeless, just like a car tire, not tubular!
OK, a little over a week ago he got the new set of tires delivered and last Sunday he put them on after cleaning up all dirty bike form the wet ride. Putting on needed a tire lever, usually he get them on just with out, but not those. A bit soap (dish detergent) as lubricant as suggested did the trick and the tire popped on the previously carefully cleaned rim with installed valve. Pumping up was just easy. Nothing special needed, no latex or other gunk. Very nice so far.

He still was a bit skeptical and watched the pressure over the last days, but nothing, just sitting there w/o a change until this morning -- so good so far. He checked and adjusted the pressure to the recommended 6.5-7.0 bar (max allowed is 8.7bar), a little less than he usually runs his GP4k. Still for precaution he took two tubes along, just in case -- they can fit tubes just like normal clinchers if needed!

Meeting Marco at Tildas for the ride and leaving on time at 8am. A nice and warm morning, just a bit humid, about 92%. Going east at good pace, drafting at about 20..25mph -- he some how felt a bit more sticking to the pavement and rolling less easy -- but this is really hard to judge w/o a power meter he does not own. However, flying over rough roads at "the tanks" the bike formally stayed on ground very nicely with great control -- unless with just 0.5bars more in the GP4k where at time he felt like the rear wheel get's air at bumps at times. So that is good, also fast turns felt great, a bit different.

IMG_6086.jpg

The return was just as uneventful and fast as the ride out east. The weather hold off the expected rain as predicted. Still hard to say if they roll easier as claimed, but he will bump up the tire pressure to his usual number and see again.

Good thing -- they work, they do not loose any pressure so far, they feel good. Efficiency -- to be evaluated in more detail and with precision...


Stats:
Time and Distance cumulated at various speed zones

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