Trailside repairs
Trailside repairs- the DART
20/11/2022
How can I confidently go out for a ride and know that I’ll be able to get home if I have a mechanical issue?
Trailside repairs
Technology has come a long way in the past 10 years and many people now run tubeless tyres.
What is a tubeless tyre set up?
Tubeless tyres are simply tyres with no tubes in them. Instead they are a special type of tyre that forms a seal with the rim of the wheel, and filled with 'sealant' so that any small punctures are instantly filled with this goo and stops air coming out of the tyre.
Why do people use tubeless?
In short, if you run tubeless, you spend more time riding and less time fixing tyres that have been punctured.
Why doesn't everyone run tubeless then??
Tubeless tyres are more expensive to set up. The actual tyres are more expensive, you need to purchase rim tape and special valves, plus sealant to go inside. Usually a bike shop or someone handy with bike maintenance can do this for you, but it is more involved than just whacking in a tube.
And then it's all well and good until your tubeless tyre goes flat. Back in the day (before 2019), if you got a flat with tubeless, it was a time consuming and messy affair to then take off the tyre and put a tube in so you can finish your ride. Then getting it set up tubeless again was usually a matter of getting a new tyre.
Until now!! (or 2019.. for those who've been out of the game for a while).
Stan's, the brand that makes sealant, have this handy-dandy tool called the Dual Action Repair for Tubeless- the DART.
The DART is not cheap (it’s about $40-$60 for 2 DARTS and the tool), but makes trailside repairs super quick and if you're time poor like me, the $ of the Dart is nothing compared to the pain of trying to get a tubeless tyre off the rim whilst time ticks away and the weather turns cold/hot/wet/etc. It’s also cheaper than a new tyre! Replacement DARTs are about $7 each.
The DART tool (which comes with 2 DARTS) weighs 15grams and is smaller than a pen, so easily fits in a repair kit/backpack/saddle bag.
Maybe my scales need recalibrating, they say 16g.
I could go on and on about this little beauty, and there's another brand (Muc Off) that make a similar product which is pretty fancy.
At our bike tech sessions there is ample opportunity to look, feel, play with some of these snazzy tools. And with some demonstrations and hands-on, you can get more confident about fixing your bike if you find yourself out there with a mechanical!
Hope to see you out on the trails soon!
Claire x