Stan’s tubeless expertise has stocked the cabinets right here at Merlin Cycles for a while now. However what’s behind the model that pioneered the usage of tubeless tyres as we all know it as we speak? We sat down with Pete Hunt at Stan’s to seek out out.
What are you able to inform us concerning the historical past of Stan’s?
Stan’s, as folks understand it as we speak, was initially a private ardour challenge that began 1999-2000, by our founder Stan Koziatek. Stan lived in Massive Flats, New York State (Sure, the title of his hometown is a real coincidence!) and he used biking as a approach to preserve match in the course of the summer season.
With harsh and rocky terrain within the native space, Stan grew to become annoyed with spending as a lot time fixing punctures as he did driving – so he determined to have a look at methods to take away the necessity for an inner-tube. In contrast to the ‘UST’ system that was being developed on the time, he wished to have the ability to use any obtainable off-the-shelf elements he wished, and never be restricted to purchasing right into a pre-defined ‘system’ – together with with the ability to use 29’er wheels, which had been simply gaining reputation among the many hardcore fans of the time.
Quickly sufficient, gravity racers from around the globe began calling Stan at dwelling, and at work in his carwash, asking if he might provide them a set of his rim strips and sealant, as they’d heard the way it was making him sooner and puncture much less continuously in races. The remainder is historical past. Stan began producing each the sealant and strips to promote to racers, and the model that we all know as we speak was fashioned.
Why go tubeless? What are the advantages and negatives?
Fairly merely, we consider it gives benefits by virtually all measures.
Often lighter than working tubes, tubeless gives the power to run decrease tyre pressures with out the danger of flats – that is extra helpful now than ever, as tyres are getting wider on fashionable bikes to offer extra contact space – resulting in consolation and efficiency advantages.
In case you add within the extra good thing about built-in puncture safety while driving, from the residual sealant within the tyre, the benefit-case simply will get stronger.
If I needed to summarize Tubeless it could be ‘Extra time driving, improved consolation and efficiency, and fewer time fixing points’. So long as you keep in mind to refresh your sealant when required (each 3-7 months in regular climatic / driving circumstances), then it’s often in any other case a case of match and overlook.
What do it’s good to ‘go tubeless’?
Going tubeless is a reasonably straightforward step, as most new mid- to high-end bikes now come ‘tubeless-ready ’. In essence, this implies the rim is designed to just accept a tubeless tire set-up – and most often an acceptable tyre, tape and valves shall be pre-installed straight out of the field. If so, then all it’s good to do is add sealant, and away you go.
If you’re changing a motorbike that has beforehand been working tubes, however has tubeless-ready rims, then you will want to doubtless buy tubeless rim tape that’s roughly 2mm wider than the interior rim width, plus tubeless valves and tyres to fit your experience. Apply the tape to the rim in order that it’s easy and overlaps itself by 3-4 spoke holes, after which ‘poke’ a small gap for the valve and match these to the rim.
How does sealant really work?
Sealant consists of two essential elements: a strong factor; and a liquid wherein the strong factor is suspended. Stan’s has at all times used pure latex because the liquid factor, as that is naturally derived and sustainable. We use no petrochemicals in our formulation – in contrast to these sealants produced from artificial latex.
Throughout manufacturing, we combine the liquid latex answer with a amount of solids. We discuss with the solids as ‘Crystals’, as every has a singular dimension and form. The crystals assist the method of therapeutic a gap, as they get ‘caught’ within the holes and grow to be a foundation for the liquid latex to heal round – in an identical approach to blood clotting, if you minimize your pores and skin.
Ensuring that you’ve the correct combination of liquid and solids is essential to make sure the sealant can work as it’s meant – that’s why it’s REALLY essential that you just shake the bottle rather well earlier than each use.
Now for the intelligent science bit…When the sealant is in its bottle, or within the tyre carcass, the air round it’s comparatively secure and constant. Nevertheless, when the sealant rushes by way of a gap in your tyre as the results of a puncture, the pH stage (i.e. how acid or alkaline the surroundings is) adjustments quickly, which causes the latex to solidify and seal the outlet.
What’s extra, we make the most of the identical science in our DART device, to restore bigger rips and holes, because the feather of the DART is coated with an accelerant which inspires the sealant to heal even sooner. This chemically bonds the DART to the tyre for an ultra-secure maintain and puncture restore.
How lengthy does sealant final? Is there any upkeep required?
As talked about earlier, sealant is designed to seal the tyre carcass as its main perform, slightly than being there simply to repair punctures – which is what most cyclists who’re new to tubeless assume. Puncture safety is a secondary profit, however a really helpful and beneficial one at that!
With the intention to work successfully for each sealing the tyre carcass and therapeutic punctures, it can be crucial that there’s at all times a small amount of ‘liquid’ sealant obtainable contained in the tyre to permit it to proceed to do its job and seal any holes – whether or not within the tyre casing or from an exterior affect.
Individuals will typically ask me how they need to know when their sealant wants topping up or altering. The straightforward check is to examine by ‘shaking’ the tyre – you will discover it best take the wheel out of the bike for this. In case you hear liquid sloshing contained in the tyre if you shake the wheel, then you definitely’re good to proceed driving. A month-to-month examine is all you want and, when issues go quiet, it will likely be time to both top-up your sealant with some additional or clear out the tyre and apply contemporary.
When utilizing Stan’s Unique components, this may be utilized straight by way of the valve, eradicating the valve core first. We have now a direct applicator cap on 60ml and 125ml bottles, the best dimension for topping up a Street/Gravel and MTB tyre, respectively. Alternatively, the Stan’s Injector can be utilized for mess-free set up by way of the valve, when decanting from giant bottles of sealant.
For Stan’s Race Day sealant, because the bigger crystals are too large to undergo the valve, this have to be poured straight into the tyre carcass earlier than the bead is mounted on the rim – it can’t be put in by way of the valve. This technique can be simply as appropriate for Stan’s Unique Sealant too, do you have to desire.
Are there any new additions to Stan’s the road coming? What are you able to inform us about?
We at all times have a five-year product plan mapped out and at present have some super-exciting tasks underway – with new product traces on the drawing pad for our rim portfolio, enlargement of our new Biobased Bicycle Care vary, and possibly even some revolutionary developments within the sealant area. You didn’t count on us to let you know what although, did you? All I’ll say is, keep tuned!
To search out out extra about Stan’s tubeless merchandise at Merlin, click on right here.
Merlin’s youngest member of workers. Love all issues on wheels – a daily mountain bike rider and enduro racer.
