- by Matt Tyrell
So I’m riding this rigid beast of a steely singlespeed lately and I’ve had 5 rear tire pinch flats in as many rides. It’s probably be due to riding with lower pressure trying to keep traction up while standing on the pedals or it might be that I’m about a back hair away from 230 lbs. Either way, I needed to fix the problem, and I’m surely not going to lose 60 pounds. After seeing ads upon ads about Stan’s No-Tubes, I figured it couldn’t hurt.
I called Stan’s in NY and ordered what I thought was the correct strip for my wheels. The guy seemed helpfull, but in all reality didn’t ask enough questions about the equipment I ride and I ended up with the wrong rim strips. After a follow up call and a little shipping, I finally had the correct strips in my hands. Be sure to mention what type of tires you plan on using to make sure they are compatible and safe. I guess the tire bead on some tires are too thin and may break upon inflation or riding.
Riding Stan...So to Speak
I inflated the tires to about 34 lbs, which you might know is really freaking low for a fat guy, and headed to a familiar place for a little dance around. The first thing I noticed was an addition of a little suspension to my rigid rig and a pinch of sponginess in the corners. The aforementioned along with the additional traction is something you will have to experience for yourself, as the difference it makes is great. These qualities may be amplified due to the rigid set-up, but that just may have been the best test.
Last year, I had a little fling with the UST tubeless system and left a little miffed at the tire / wheel selection and price, but Stan’s let’s you ride the non-tubeless tires and rims you are keen on. I’ve banged the rim a few times on hard hits with no ill-effects that would have had me sitting on the side of the trail changing a flat while my buddies heckle me about tube failure. The equivalent to this for a woman of the equal girth just might be a Dress barn girdle with a G.I. Joe ninja grip and one-ton wench kit.
Oops, I said spongy in corners didn’t I? Yeah, might be the only downfall to running at lower pressures, but it’s not hard to teach yourself to just hold on and turn. Another thought just might be that you can’t forget about the tires forever, I notice that I need to add a few pounds of air once a week or so.
Installation
I had written a bunch of tips down for this article and realized that most things I wrote were in the instructions provided in the kit. Just follow the words as closely as you can and don’t skip any steps. A few final thoughts about installing No-Tubes: Practice pumping up the tires without the sealant first and be sure that the tire is suspended in the air and not resting on the ground while pumping your backside off.
Anything else?
In my scratch book, the pro’s outweigh the con’s here folks. This is probably the most influential change to my ride under for under $100.00 I have made. It’s not one of those gleaming additions that will make your buddies jealous at the trailhead, but sometimes it’s just about what’s under the hood.
(4 out of 5 pigs) 
- by Scott Cotter
Yep. Turn into mongotron, the gargantuan, all-consuming human -- able to eat tall meals in a single bite. The answer, of course, is winter training. But indoor exercise has all the appeal of peeling my toenails off one-by-one and dousing the bloody aftermath with lime. So I go outside to do my thing.
But, in case you haven’t noticed, it’s cold. For most of us anyway. And the smallest part of my body, uh, my toes, often brings my high-minded winter training rides to a screeching halt.
I’ve tried everything too. Wools socks. Polyrpro. Sandwich bags to create a vapor barrier. Duct tape over the shoes. Booties. Windsocks, tube socks, and more. But every winter ride ends the same: tootsie trauma.
Luckily, I coerced my family members to cough up dough this year for my birthday instead of another sky blue and orange colored velour crew neck I could only wear at the disco. I took their cold cash to my local shop and plopped it down for a pair of Northwave Grizzlies. Grrr, sounds tough doesn’t it?
So now I have these slipstream looking bullet shoes built for winter riding. Nice ankle cuff keeps goo from running down into the shoe. The waterproof shell keeps your dogs dry and the felt liner keeps Jack Frost from nipping at your toes. Laces allow you to adjust tension and zippered cover keeps the wind, water and snags at bay.
With a pair of Pearl Izumi Quest® socks and these, I’ve stayed comfortable in 20 degree weather. They don’t feel clunky either. In fact, my feet don’t know the difference between these and my other bike shoes.
There is some concern about durability, however. I’ve read numerous reports about people tearing the soles off relatively new Northwaves. But this is my second pair; the first has been to hell and back with me and are no worse for the wear. They have simply been the toughest shoes I’ve ever owned.
Fit is nice too. I wear a size 13 and have a relatively average width foot with a tall arch. Most manufacturers make 13s too wide for my feet. And never provide enough room for my arch. But Northwave does and these might be the most comfy shoes I’ve ever tried. Snug, yet not constricting.
One downfall: They don’t go any larger than 13 so if you’re a bigfoot masquerading as a man, you’re cooked. But if they fit, your feet will thank you. Your wallet, on the other hand, won’t. MSRP is $169 skins. Yeeeouch!
(4 out of 5 pigs)
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