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Plug Kit – Although tubeless tyres filled with sealant will seal most punctures, really big cuts might prove too much for the polymers. In these situations, a tyre plug can give the sealant particles something to bind to and stop the flow of air. It works kind of packing gauze over a bad wound to help blood platelets form a scab. Blackburn’s Plugger kit is small, lightweight, and easy to use, getting you back on the trail in a matter of minutes. (The alternative is putting an inner tube into your tyre, like a standard flat change.)
Maintenance – Stan’s was one of the first brands to innovate tubeless-ready rims and conversion kits for clincher wheels, and the brand’s tubeless sealant, valves and valve core extractors remain some of the best in the game.
We love the reliable and lightweight Grail wheels, and the included tubeless valves that fit most other brands – including aftermarket tubeless conversions. Once those valves are installed, Stan’s valve core extractor will save your hours of fiddling around with pliers when removing valve cores to refresh sealant, and its bright red anodizing makes it easy to fish out from the depth of your toolbox.
With the valve cores are removed, Stan’s syringe injector and sealant do a great job of providing a mess-free solution to would be punctures from goathead thorns to windshield glass, it even got us home with a pretty nasty looking nail in our tyre. Stan’s suggest topping off the sealant every two months or so to make sure you always have plenty in the tire when you need it.
Pump—To mount tubeless tyres, you need to deliver a large volume of air into the tyre very quickly. This pops the bead of the tire outwards onto the edge of the rim and creates the seal. In some cases, a normal hand pump will work, but most of the time a compressor is needed.
Unfortunately electric compressors are bulky, noisy and costly and pretty hard to take to the trailhead for last minute repairs. Enter the Lezyne Digital Pressure Overdrive. This sturdy pump does double duty as a floor pump and a compressor. About 50 strokes will charge the pump chamber, and a throw of the satisfyingly-solid lever sends a quick blast of air into your tyre to help seat the bead. The digital gauge is perfect for dialling in tire pressure for the perfect trail-riding experience. Invest in one of these, and you won’t have to stop at a gas station or bike shop every time you want to switch tyres.
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