Lessons Learned Post Race For Ultra Cycling Success | Another Tubeless Issue

[@Bazza1968]

I'm running 28C tubeless (orange sealant) and carry 2x TPU tubes plus a Park Boot and a strip of sidewall from an old MTB tyre, plus 2x 16g CO2 and a mini pump and a whole load of other stuff(It's why I'd never get a super light bike, no point with a kilo+ of spares!) ... Rural Scottish Highlands there's bugger all trains, buses, bike shops, taxis and even mobile signal... When I ran butyI on my older bike I had a holed tyre like yours and booted it, no way I was risking wrecking the one spare tube I had on me (it's why I carry 2 now, once you've used the only one you're in a danger zone still) and it was a worrying 30km home. I carry a wad of cash as I'd have more luck I reckon waving it around like Harry Enfield and flagging down a local teuchter to give me a run home lol..... I assume you meticulously checked inside the rest of your tyre before fitting the tube?- that's essential in case there's thorns or other jaggies from punctures that have been successfully sealed by the tubeless system lurking in there to burst your new tube.... As for nutrition, I suspected you'd underfed on APN watching your demeanour( is that the right term?), and energy drop off.... And Ginsters, pies and pizzas rang some alarm bells lol...fat takes a long time to break down into usable energy and not much use as a "pick-me-up" probably better for when you're at rest/sleeping... I use (per litre water) 60g table sugar plus 30g Maltodextrin and have had great results with the energy levels staying good (Although much shorter rides than you are used to just 100km- ish.....This gives a 2:1 Glucose to Fructose ratio- supposedly ideal for absorption through the gut wall)Bit of a faff to mix up but can be bagged up into correct amounts for your bottle size...(I wanted to take some to Mallorca recently but glad I didn't...bagged up white powder ffs, bad enough at both airports with CO2 cannisters...My ar*e would probably still be nipping 3 weeks later lol)

[@theroadprovides]

I was definitely unnerved yeah, Ive had some real progress on fuelling now though luckily

[@ZenEndurance]

Pre-load your tubes with sealant, along with your spares, and then they will seal when they eventually get punctured as well. Works great. Buy TPU tubes with removable valve cores to do it. If the valve stems change from plastic black/clear to metal towards the tips, those are removeable.

[@thedoginside]

Top vid Andy, thank you. The tubeless debate is endless, basically it's 6 and two 3s. Tubeless is great until it goes wrong, facts. P.S. come on Garmin, give the guy a 1040.

[@theroadprovides]

I actually am going butyl now :) oh and I emailed Garmin, no luck haha

[@simonroberts8469]

Hi Andy, I feel your pain! My 2c worth, I’ve away from tubeless on road/audax bikes having experienced a few ride compromising issues. Coincidentally this included a tyre destroying cut on a near new GP5000. I’m currently riding Vittoria N-Ext 34mm, (non tubeless) with Pirelli TPU tubes. The tyres are extremely comfortable and impressively durable. On my VERY roughly surfaced local roads and tracks they seem to resist nicks, cuts and punctures remarkably well for such a performance oriented tyre. I certainly noticed the benefits of TPU tubes over butyl, they feel similar to tubeless but without any of the fuss and mess. Can’t see me returning to tubeless any time soon.

[@FurySpyder]

Same with me. I still have tubeless on one of my bikes but when those tyres have worn out, I'll be back to tubes, and I'm having a good experience with TPU tubes ATM - I can carry two in the space that one butyl tube takes. Tubeless might be great if you had one bike, and wore through tyres within 6-12 months, so you were constantly replacing the tyres and sealant. On my commuting bike I spent one too many times desperately trying to re-seat a used but barely worn tubeless tyre late at night before work the next day. I also found that tubeless results in 'dormant failures' especially on my commuting bike with mudguards. In other words, times when the tubeless setup had done it's job and sealed a hole but I hadn't noticed, which is great, except I am then unknowingly riding around on a tyre with a tiny lump of hardened sealant keeping the air in! Then on my weekend/summer bike, it was always that unknown each time I take it off the peg, especially if I can no longer hear the sealant sloshing around, of "can I rely on this for the next 50 or whatever miles. The mess can be annoying, especially when fitting a tube out on the road and removing old sealant is a pain. All in all, I find a good tube tyre and TPU tubes both lighter and less hassle than tubeless. Less hassle when things are going well and as they should (e.g during fitting) but also, more crucially, less hassle when things go wrong (e.g. when stuck by the roadside in the dark and rain!)

[@jojoanggono3229]

Srcond your opinion about Vittoria N.ext. I was rather surpised they are fast and confortable beyond my expectation. I ran mine with Schwalbe butyl tube. Also tried Ridenow TPU in the past, it was okay but harsher than butyl, can't be bothered with latex or tubeless mess.

[@chrisperceval193]

Great Vid Andy. Interesting to hear your reflections on tubeless. I have not gone that way yet. Most of my riding is commuting (couple of hundred km per week). My tyres are reasonably robust and I just want something I can deal with easily on a winter night in the rain - something familiar (because punctures mostly happen on rainy nights...). You are right about aero - it is everything. I get huge gains by riding (is that the riight word?) a velomobile. Sacrificing a bit of rolling resistance by using some tougher tyres is a trade that works. I have aero gains to spare...

[@christophermartin9084]

Thank you Andy. Enjoy the videos; very helpful as I'm planning to ride in a 530 mile race. Cheers!

[@theroadprovides]

Glad they help mate :)

[@Jaqaroo]

Nice one Andy! Having a mechanical in the middle of nowhere is all part of the training, I guess. I bet there are sections of the TCR that redefine "middle of nowhere". Also, planning that nutrition schedule for TCR must be difficult - either carry lots of food and/or know where you can resupply.

[@theroadprovides]

exactly yeah, Ill just have to route past as many resupply points as possible

[@Th3St0rm]

Hey Andy, Im in tubeless on all my bikes (Orange Endurance is my preference). It helps with most issues I run into, but I do carry tubes (and boots) for bigger issues. Dynaplugs & bacon strips so I have options when the puncture hits. CO2 & pump too. Bottles nutrition - 90% of my energy is Tailwind in my bottles, YMMV, but it seems to support my fast 100 mile group rides with perhaps a bar or two just to snack on/gap up if needed. I carry small ziplock bags of measured-out Tailwind for when I hit a C-Store for water, and they also sell 'individual' packets if you'd rather go that way. Im not yet decided on what nutrition scheme will look like as I move into longer rides. Finally, I have a 1040 solar and its been great... up until the past two months or so. Recent two rides and it's hard rebooted when I went to stop my ride. Data saved, but I've had an on-going email chain with support about this crap. Hopefully the next firmware will fix this(?)

[@theroadprovides]

Thanks mate, I’m not 100% but the 1040 seems really good on paper

[@Soul-u9h]

Great video. Personally I think that All Point North ride you did is not a failure. It’s just bad luck. As long as you give it your all that is not a failure. Circumstances yes but not failure.

[@frankmoran167]

I use brewing sugar and add an electrolyte tab. Also put tape around your pump for these situations

[@n22pdf]

Top quality vid as always Andy great advice dude 😊 your channel and Rev cycling George Vargas are excellent mate.. 😊 🚴🏻👍💪 still inner tubes for me 😊 Pete

[@SeeYouUpTheRoad]

awww thank you Pete!

[@br5380]

I use a tool bottle, and while I’ve bacon-strips in there I usually use a Dynaplug first. I also carry a small bottle of Stans in the tool bottle. Last week I holed the rear sidewall while MTB bikepacking in the Highlands. Ended up patching the inside of the tyre with a tube patch and had to superglue the outside hole.

[@hughgrainger3766]

Tons of advice here so I'll stick to one thing. If you do stay with tubeless I would suggest taking a pair of pliers to TCR. On two occasions I've had tyre fails and been unable to get the valve out as the ring on the thread jammed. Had to angle grind one off. Both were ride enders for me. So, take pliers (or an angle grinder).

[@theroadprovides]

I actually am going butyl now :)

[@hughgrainger3766]

@@theroadprovides I think that's really sensible. Look forward to hearing about the tubes you choose and how they ride. Hope you enjoyed your holiday. I'm just back from doing your Isle of Wight loop - man it was hard.

[@theroadprovides]

Ah cool, it’s a beautiful loop though right?

[@hughgrainger3766]

@@theroadprovides Yes, but pretty busy traffic-wise in places. Loads of sea fog as well so didn't see all of it - Needles were invisible. Great ultra training I would say.

[@jaredmickel5636]

100% needed a boot. Use a bill or an empty gel wrapper. Have you tried a hydration pack. I’ve had good luck with a 2L Uswe w plain water in my bottles I use a carb mix that’s 3 to 4 times the intended concentration. At that concentration it’s basically a watery gel. About 3 oz (one good pull on the bottle) = gel and then you dilute and rinse the flavor with plain water.

[@SeeYouUpTheRoad]

Hello Andy ... 1. I created my own Carbohydrate powder. Unfortunately, you live in England or I would send you a container to try it out. I have been using it for my fast 600km, and double centuries (322kms) . I don't eat solid foods at all during these efforts. When I saw you eating all this food during your training rides I was thinking "OMG that is a lot of solid food! Sooner or later he is going to have to find somewhere to drop a load" Not to mention, the feeling of being full all the time from eating. Powder doesn't weigh as much as solid foods but it does take up some space. I took a ton of it to PBP last year. But I didn't realize how plentiful food was so I would eat before bedding down for the night. Basically I rode all day and slept every night at PBP. 51 hours pedal time 86 hours total time -- I enjoyed every minute of it. 2. I can't tell how tall you are or how much you weigh but I am 69" (175.25 cm) and weigh 68 kg (150 lbs) I target 75 grams of carbs or 300 calories per hour on my long events. I concentrate my bottles carrying 600 calories (150 grams of carbs) per bottle. My powder has no flavor, no fat, no protein, no electrolytes so at 600 calories per bottle it's still doesn't have any flavor. 3. I have seen people setting alarms. If that works for you go for it. For me it's muscle memory - rolling to a stop you drink, after standing for a few pedal strokes you sit down you drink, you crest a climb you drink. I tell people "Drink before you drop!" and "Drink before you stop!" As in drinking as you crest a hill before you begin your descent and drink before you stop - for traffic controls or whatever. You just sip sip sip all day all night all day etc... 4. Dynaplugs are the only thing I sell in my bike shop for on the road tubeless repair. Yes carry boots or use your food wrappers. 5. Garmin 1040 Solar has incredible battery life. Just one less thing to worry about constantly charging. I live in Southern California so I have plenty of sunshine your mileage may vary in England. 6. Tubeless oh tubeless - I have a love/hate relationship with it. I did an entire brevet series and a few more brevets without any punctures on 32mm tubeless Continental 5000 S TR tires. No punctures so I don't know if it would have sealed but I rode them at 60psi. Thanks for the video and keep striving. We'll see you up the road!

[@theroadprovides]

hello mate, I watched your 300 reasons tubeless sucks video, agreed with a lot off it, I will stay butyl actually I think now

[@lora6637]

Thank you for another great video, Andy! Keep going!!!

[@hectorkidds9840]

I've never had a problem with my Garmin 530, buttons are the future! Yeah, but less convenient, but impervious to weather. I use it with the dedicated Garmin piggy back battery, so it's good for over 1000km easy.

[@chrisjoyce5539]

Hi Andy, as said before if your going to tubeless your wheels need new or good tubeless set up. Food and drink alerts every 20 mins little and often. On a multi-day event your feeding before and after. The golden hour after you finish a ride you drink and feed before the hour up. Then you feed later, try to remember balance meal. Planning is king but be flexible as well. Don't forget hotels give rest and wash your clothes in shower. Last thing I going to nail down your set up for bike and eating and drinking now and keep with it mate.😊ps' 30-32 are king tubeless

[@theroadprovides]

I actually am going butyl now :)

[@gazthefez8677]

Andy.....you're looking to do the TRC in a short while.....do you really want to be pissing around with this kind of stuff in the middle of nowhere. Remember the mantra; self-reliance. And that's not just the time spent/wasted on video shooting I'm referring too 😁 Rock on. Good luck.

[@theroadprovides]

thanks mate Im going butyl now :)

[@laurentaudibert9632]

Rode on 32mm Spesh Mondo tubeless tyres on my 1000km last weekend across some terrible English roads and smooth Welsh ones. They were so comfy, grippy, fast rolling and I fortunately didn’t puncture. I’ll stick to these!

[@PaulFreeman1]

1040 non-solar here (cos Scotland!) and it is brilliant -- made it through PBP without needing a charge (although I topped it up for a bit on the dynamo). I had the eat alerts set but on PBP it wasn't so useful because it wouldn't match when I'd eaten at a control - It also reached a ridulously high calorie number during the ride, but I daren't turn it off during the event. I leart the hard way to get a boot when I needed to buy a new tyre on a 300 after 3 punctures following a similar gash to yours. Luckily, I was within a few pump/rides to a bicycle shop.

[@theroadprovides]

that is interesting, they carry a lot of charge then

[@Oxibase]

That’s crazy. Your heart rate going 35mph is the same as when I’m going 17mph. Granted, my bike isn’t the same type and a much more budget ride but something tells me that the training is more responsible than the bike. Edit: I just noticed that you were on a bit of a downhill grade so I suppose that may have helped.

[@WPKSC]

Another useful video Andy. 👍. On the carbs side, I’ve been using a carb & electrolyte powder for 3-4 yrs now in the water bottles, timer every 10 minutes which I find helps me keep adding in the fuel. On tubeless, I’m still on the fence as don’t suffer many punctures on a std setup. Look forward to the next video 😊👍

[@theroadprovides]

I actually picked up a sponsor/partnership on the bars side of things so will announce that soon :)

[@WPKSC]

@@theroadprovides that’s good news 👍, lots of options around so be good to see who you have and how they work for you.

[@davy_grvl]

I’ve had some good long rides using Cliff Bloks as a nutrition solution, combined with Maurten drink mix.

[@theroadprovides]

I haven’t tried those, are they like gel blocks?

[@davy_grvl]

@@theroadprovides Yes, they are like a Haribo-texture in a cube-shape.

[@Ultra-Craig]

Hey Andy; you always want to carry a little tube of sealant, it takes no space; weighs nothing and it gives you loads more chances to fix big punctures. Hand pump and a tube of sealant will give you so many chances to get it to stick As others have said, carry a tyre boot and I always carry needle and thread, you can sew a tyre while it’s on the rim if you’re careful and it’s more solid than the ‘worms’

[@christopherhood9241]

if its any use i've started to use the Styrkr products which while not perfect to help - expeciallythe mix60 / 90 powders (plenty of discounts out their on sponsored riders channels). Bad luck with the tubeless, yet to venture down this route. Wife has converted im still on the fence. Hope you're enjoying the current spell of sunshine.

[@theroadprovides]

thanks mate, I actually am going butyl now :)

[@urouroniwa]

Fueling. Take this with a grain of salt. I've only been researching this for a few months. But basically, for fuel table suger is nearly ideal (and may actually be ideal). Essentially, your upper end zone 2 is where you will be burning the most fat and also you will have the best fat:carb ratio. What that ratio is, depends entirely on the person, but a good rule of thumb is 60:40 fat to carbs (as an ultra rider, you may be a bit better off). Anyway, if you take your total calorie expenditure per hour and take 40% of it, it's a pretty good representation of how many carbs you need to replenish glycogen. There are pretty close to 4 calories per gram of carbs. For argument sake, let's say you are doing 800 calories per hour. 40% of that is 320. 25% of that is 80. So 80 grams of carbs per hour. Adjust for your actual calorie expenditure. Here's where it gets tricky. Your body can only absorb carbs at a certain rate. If you go pure glucose, max is about 30 grams per hour. But if you mix in fructose you can at least double it. The best ratio of glucose to fructose is somewhere near 1:1. Many fancy powders, etc are 1:0.8, but a 1:1 ratio gives you higher carb uptake at a slight cost of glucose uptake (you take in more fructose). I have seen no studies on which is better for actual glycogen replacement. 1:1 ratio is table sugar, which is cheap and available everywhere. Tricky part #2: The speed at which you can take in carbs depends on the glycemic index of the food in your gut (it all mixes together to give you an overall glycemic index). The more protein, fat and fiber you eat, the lower the glycemic index. This means that if we take your maximum carb uptake, we have to *reduce* it (by quite a bit) if you are eating protein, fat and fiber. This means that even if you *eat* a lot of carbs, it is very possible (even likely) that it will not be absorbed fast enough if you are eating protein, fat and fiber with it. This means that "real food" is bad for you (I think) on the bike. Your massive under fueling is likely being compounded by your choice of foods. The good news is that while you are on the bike, your muscles can take in almost infinite carbs, so the only limiting factor is absorption (unlike when you are at rest -- which is why eating high carbs at rest can lead to illness). I'm not sure what your fueling strategy is for TCR, but if you can manage just to have bags of sugar placed strategically around your route, it might be beneficial. This can be made palatable by adding a pinch of citric acid and a pinch of salt per bidon (really, to taste). Anyway, take it with a pinch of salt (in addition to whatever you put in the bidon)! With my crappy cycling abilities, I can only test this to a very limited extent. But I hope it gives you some ideas.

[@theroadprovides]

This is really useful mate thank you, I have an idea now on the food I will eat and actual carb drinks I might avoid now, but sugar in the bottle I have not tried so I will try that, thanks!

[@jrm1946]

Good to see a positive take on the All Points experience. I can't comment on tube v tubeless debate, insufficient experience, but it could have been worse, I suppose. Josh Ibbett's Day 6 Tour Divide catch up coverd Laurens Ten Dam's multi puncture problems and also gives an interesting view on lightweight v standard inner tubes.

[@sdcorrey]

anecdotal, but I was constantly having to plug my tubeless setup. I went back to TPU tubes and tube-only tires I almost never get punctures now

[@TheCoeliacCyclist]

Change to Silva sealant and remember to top it up every 3 months. I also over dose by a 3rd. On an event I still carry a tube and a tyre boot.

[@ZenEndurance]

Here in the USA, I think it's pretty easy to buy a 5 lb. bag of sugar at any grocery store, maybe even corner gas stations. Since that's the main source of fuel, you could probably get that along the course and mix with whatever sports drink flavor you like and bam, superfuel. Crazy cheap. Should be able to do something similar in the UK?

[@theroadprovides]

I’ve considered trying something like that on longer rides actually

[@ZenEndurance]

@@theroadprovides Yeah, I carried all my powdered fuel for a 3 day bikepacking trip and I'd say that's probably the max you want to carry. It did get lighter as we went, so that was nice. But I bet if we were going longer, I would have started looking for whoever sold bags of sugar. Stuff is dirt cheap and perfect for the liquid part. Of course we stopped for sandwiches and whatever for our solid fuels, but that's not going to cut it for the huge calorie burn of biking all day, day after day. Gotta have liquid fuel too, really high in carbs. Plain sugar works like nothing else. Awesome to have a fuel sponsor too. All the flavors are a HUGE benefit.

[@irondistance4313]

Also you could buy sugar in the raw at you supply stops and mix with your DR pepper or coke in Your bottles. I have been know. To snag a hand full of the packets when I’m at a espresso place and add them to my bottles it does take a bit more shaking to get them to dislodge unless you add hot water witch I can also get from the coffee stop or gas station

[@huntos83]

Regarding fuelling, rather than simply eating more often, try eating products that are much more carb rich. The supermarket muesli bars like you say are about 20g carbs each, which isn’t much. Try the Styrkr rice bars, I’ve recently started using them and they are the best tasting sports energy product I’ve ever had, and they have 50g carbs per bar so the same as 2.5x supermarket bars! Not really sustainable eating 3 bars an hour in my opinion, but easy to eat 1 higher carb bar, especially if it tastes good. More expensive yes, but you can carry more carbs in the same space, and need to eat less often.

[@huntos83]

Another product that I’ve really taken to is soft pitted dates (I get them from Lidl), they are really carb rich and easy to eat when riding. They have 65g of carbs per 100g of weight. Also obviously sweets like haribo are always popular with cyclists, and for good reason, generally sweets are around 75-80g of carbs per 100g weight. I like these sorts of products because they are carb dense and easily available on the road, and you can trickle feed yourself with them rather than having to eat a larger product in one go.

[@huntos83]

Also sugar is readily available and can often be had for free from cafes etc. a lot of athletes use pure sugar instead of carb mix these days. I’ve experimented with it and it’s worked well, I use 1 teaspoon per 100ml of water. I like to add an electrolyte tab to ad flavour and salts to balance the taste. It makes a really pretty complete sports drink

[@theroadprovides]

Thsnkyou mate I appreciate the comprehensive reply! I have some bars I'm using now (will announce the sponsor soon) and they're working really well

[@huntos83]

@@theroadprovides that’s great that you’ve secured yourself a sponsor, well deserved! Keep up the good work

[@lukebeveridge7344]

Big fan, love the videos. I wanted to ask what lenses you have for your glasses? They look the goods…

[@theroadprovides]

Heym, they are Oakly and I think just red in photocromatic

[@gavinpoupart2469]

Just use sugar water. Don't waste money on special powder. Easy to buy on a big ride as well. I mix 80gms sugar in 750ml. Practice with it first!

[@theroadprovides]

will try that mate

[@p49N]

Loved to see you 'feeling it' even through all the grind mate! Did you ever consider one bike ' in between T7 and the ultra distance bike, like the Cannondale evo cx?

[@theroadprovides]

my other half would be very unhappy haha

[@lydiagould3090]

Ha Ha ,Stony Batter lane is on my regular training rides.It's alway stoney, hence the name. I've been over some pretty bad roads with my gp5000 s with tubes, and they seem to be great tyre, and very strong. I've chosen to use them (32s) for the Panceltic . Not the best way to end a ride, but that looked a quaint little station!

[@theroadprovides]

its tough through there!

[@moobaz8675]

You gotta keep smiling. 👍🤣

[@theroadprovides]

defo mate

[@irondistance4313]

I went with the GP 5000 allseason in a 35c if they fit on you bike I reccomend it I think they are almost as fast and the puncture protection is supposed be to be even higher than the 32 plus they are cushy AF. Sorry about the puncture

[@theroadprovides]

thanks mate, I picked up some 30c for the TCR now

[@irondistance4313]

@@theroadprovides great call I’m excited to follow you along the journey there and beyond buddy

[@theroadprovides]

Cheers bud

[@wazzup105]

I drink about half my carbs (tablesugar and some salt with some lemon or lime flavor) and eat the rest. Mind you I'm not going that far 5 - 6 hours and only aim for 50 gram/hour which is enough for my LSD to get me home not bonking and kinda still enjoying myself in the end. At least table sugar is easily sourced all over the world (as is salt)

[@wazzup105]

Also, the "second garmin" doesn't have to be a Garmin.. there are other (budget) options out there. (iGPSPORT for instance?)

[@BikepackingAdventures]

If I can wade in on the second gps as well, don't forget the power of your mobile phone. My garmin got waterlogged the other week, I use RideWithGPS premium, loaded route, turn on voice prompts, stick phone in top pocket; can get you out some tricky situations.

[@alicat749]

Carry A piece of a plastic bottle if you put tpu tube in to stop a 2nd puncture cos of poke through from a split tyre that cant be plugged.

[@davido8086]

You need to use better and probably more sealant, I like Dinaplugs better than the bacon strips, multiple co2 canisters and last but not least bring multiple tubes just in case. But that looked like a nasty slash in your tire. I like continental 5000 and continental gator skin hard shell. But my experience when you get a slash like the one you got everything goes out the window and you need to call for a ride home just bad luck. Doesn’t matter if you have tubless or tubes. Tubless works great for the little pin holes that usually flat tubes. I’ve been using tubless for years and I can tell you just stick with it and figure it out because it will save you so much time never getting flats from little pin hole stickers.

[@theroadprovides]

Agree but I think I’ll come back tubeless later and shelve it for now

[@alistairmacfadyen9365]

I went on the conti 4seasons, I can say, I had no problems at all, so far…

[@josephlyne8290]

Enjoyed that and learned from it thanks. Something going wrong, and your thought process on what to do. Perfect! Would appreciate more on your tyre hygiene ie what if anything you do after each ride :) and how bad would they look before you would change to fresh tyres etc. and of course look forward to seeing what you go with from now on and how they go

[@theroadprovides]

hey mate, going with 30c gp5k and butyl now :)

[@davidmurphy9151]

Wait for the new Garmin and then have an excuse to buy it.

[@danielhedo6628]

I bet, You won`t have a puncture on TCR...., just a feeling! 😋

[@theroadprovides]

I bloody hope so!