Tubeless set-ups have several advantages for road cyclists: the rolling resistance of the tyres is less without the friction between the tyre and tube, you can run lower pressures for greater comfort and better grip, and there’s the promise of self-sealing if something sharp does penetrate your rubber.
But despite this, most road cyclists still prefer to run tubed tyres, happy in the knowledge that at some point they’ll once again be engaged in the cyclist’s rite of passage that is standing by the roadside fixing a flat. So why hasn’t road cycling jumped headlong into tubeless tech and enjoyed its many benefits, and, are there better alternatives?
