Repair notes

My First Tubeless Setup: What Actually Happened

I finally ditched inner tubes last weekend after years of pinch flats on my commuter. Here's what actually went down when I converted my wheels to tubeless for the first time, including the mess I made and what I'd do differently.

Getting the rim tape right was harder than expected

I watched probably five videos before starting and they all made rim tape look easy. It's not. My first attempt had wrinkles everywhere because I didn't pull it tight enough. Second attempt I pulled too hard and it stretched thin in spots. Third time I finally got it - you need consistent tension, not maximum tension. Start opposite the valve hole, overlap by about 10cm, and use your thumbs to really press it into the channel as you go. I wasted basically a whole roll of tape learning this. Also, the valve hole punch that came with my tape kit was useless. I ended up using a leather punch from my tool drawer which worked way better.

The sealant went everywhere except where it should

I measured out 60ml of sealant per tire like the bottle said. Removing the valve core went fine. Pouring it in through a makeshift funnel made from a water bottle - not fine. I got sealant on my floor, my hands, my dog somehow. Next tire I just poured it directly into the tire before mounting the second bead, which was way easier and less messy. The sealant is stickier than I expected. Have paper towels ready, not just a rag. And wear gloves you can throw away.

Actually seating the bead took a compressor

I really wanted to do this with my floor pump because I'm cheap and my compressor is loud. Spent 20 minutes pumping like an idiot while my neighbor probably wondered what I was doing. The bead would not seat. Dragged out the compressor, hit it with a blast of air, and both beads popped into place immediately with that satisfying bang everyone talks about. If you're trying this without a compressor or one of those special tubeless inflators, save yourself the trouble and just borrow one. Some tires apparently seat with a floor pump but mine (Panaracer Gravel Kings on WTB rims) absolutely did not.

The first ride revealed my mistakes

Took the bike out the next morning feeling pretty proud of myself. Front tire was fine. Rear tire had dropped 10 PSI overnight and was sitting at 25 when I expected 35. Turned out I hadn't tightened the valve core enough after adding sealant - it was weeping air around the threads. Tightened it properly and it's been solid since. Also learned that tubeless tires need more frequent top-ups than I thought. I'm checking pressure before every ride now instead of once a week like I did with tubes. The tires definitely feel different - more supple, better grip in corners. Had a small puncture from glass on day three and didn't even notice until I saw the sealant spray pattern on my chainstay. That's when I became a believer.

Questions people ask me