realskiers

Jim,

I'm just curious -- have you ever actually had a flat on your mtn. bike? That is, in your antediluvian pre-tubeless days?    The reason I'm asking, is that you seem very concerned with flats and not having to fix them, hence one of the two main reasons for going tubeless.  I have been mtn. biking since 1989, very actively for the first 10 years, now back at it again after a hiatus.  Nevertheless, I have had hundreds of days out in the woods, and have only ever had two flats, and that was about 12 years ago on my old rigid bike with cheap tires.  It was caused by a hole in the sidewall of the tire from the rubbing of an out of alignment brake lever, but not by a pinch flat.  I presently run my tires at 35 to 40 psi, which is not super hard, and hit all manner of obstacles with nary a pinch flat in sight.  And I'm about 50 lbs heavier than you! FWIW, no one else in our family of riders has ever had a pinch flat.  Never....   And their tires are down around 30 to 35 psi, being that much lighter than I am.

What I'm trying to say, is that your fear of pinch flats might be a bit overblown.  In other words, don't worry so much, and just go riding.  I'm sure that as long as you keep your tires (with tubes) above, say, 35 psi, you will be fine.  And I hear what Josh is saying about grip and suppleness, but unless you are on some really rooted, rocky trails, you will not have any issues with grip on firm hardpack.  Besides, you've got a nice light full suspension bike to absorb the bumps and give you a supple ride, and high quality tires which I'm sure will give you good grip with or without tubes.

I would argue 35 psi is too high for anyone riding XC I run as low as some high teen sometimes on a full suspension bikes. The deal is most people do not the benefit because well they have never tried it.  Ignorance is bliss. Even on smoothest trails ever the gains in rolling restiance and grip are worth it, it makes it easier to ride faster or much easier to ride at the same speeds your riding at pre tubeless.  Off course you would never get a flat running a tubed tire near 40 psi, but that a lame comparo because 40 psi sucks. I am not good enough to ride 40 psi on any trail.

Gerry Pflug recently rode a 2.4 ardent(a 1000 gram tire plus sealant) at 14 psi in 78 mile mountain bike race to single speed win. I am sure he beat tons of people who had weight weenied out tire setups that actually rolled slowed and gripped less.