Ha. Well, sort of. We’re not packing up our shit and moving out of the ‘burbs. Rather, I decided it was time to do something about this flat tire shit I’ve been dealing with lately. Since a lot of riders around here run a tubeless setup, I figured I would try it too. However, I’m doing it Ghetto Style (read: cheap.) I found a link on YouTube for a video about the conversion. I realized that I could do a homemade version on my own, so I gathered up some supplies.
I obviously had plenty of old tubes lying around, so I figured I could use the valve stems:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6e5dC1wD6F2yPSA1LauViGGql-M7Roqo0MGBJSnbuVxNwFRIjZPf_5SVsW5fR0WSezDyeimGQV7gNYBfrphdPrAHEGDPPGgd05JMlFNLos_bhIUsIDY95nHR00ADLVi_ckN-AVg3aZ-0/s400/Picture+566.jpg)
I purchased some Gorilla Tape from a local hardware store:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvWiSvR6GSrs7UCWOviebAT-sydMfUL-UnZ1sePPyUv84reS1uFQ6OwUyQtlGdJuK5zlGk00lG1gIxP3fCL54i5eV31JdtkYQ15if8pnbs-yuI1aFN40RQ7wWGdUvl8RGu__M-ZFG3WI/s400/Picture+568.jpg)
…and some Stan’s sealant from a local bike shop:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-QQ1Y_hvsk8oNz2SMbnGJodxSIWf3fT09r13K4_pbhG1mmOw6ZZjB4KMoPcL_Vm92a-EoRVCnYFoNqPX4Lo5rqFDWCmnXvygysAKnPJY6YdHxVZDwyxBa6DWkfTB-dUULxpYz4Qc27o/s400/Picture+567.jpg)
This seemed like it would be an easy job, so I dug right in. First, after removing my tires and tubes, I cleaned the rims. Then, it was time to apply the Gorilla Tape to the rim channel.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIAiSL5nSnXDLj3KS5TX6IkUeZ0qutHzeLChZKMOV6s9McMkCpsagpk6M4B5SEGv6AdS6crVbifhE7UHcOedhDD0xYSh6eLEs-CbsNm4KUzgGCdTkf5P4XKVL1HoQjZFxbuq9uzcjgDU/s400/Picture+570.jpg)
I overlapped it a little, which amounted to about a spoke on each side of the valve hole. It went on nice and smooth:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-8WQqX9bmFFVgnlMBBTZk8Q8MSBZKIqTMSQz76GZxGA2czP5PTqpDkthTLkxIkofktmiUfwcKg8E4xjNL8s2bwt71khdo_ao90kJO9yOWnAC6m3YfqF5ga7KdomrUKz2-HBic5o2ikg/s400/Picture+571.jpg)
Next, I cut a valve stem from one of my many old tubes:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4etGACN8ZgNDSz2Jh8JQyydc7oXEC-33L-1P3LeSPJ1lFtdWYYbHX8eapm1NzIKATbboK7uCuIM3T_ij_Q5AESWt6tBHQHVgeX2js64hADPL7S9Oyu5BV2zSG1utuvcC4CRZVsAAPa4/s400/Picture+572.jpg)
And placed it in the rim:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxeWOZAq4O0ydIStRjoz899uEZOUjT0WoZR6KYmYp6wNisFqENCy1MJ2AidRDw7abZTQMfVzbLImGvdgPOiBEGsHQymW7kvfvFyTNjOfabPtztZCItfGjyze5fcJAaB6Zwm3pOvcXp4s/s400/Picture+573.jpg)
Disclamer: The valve stem in the photo was for illustrative purposes only. I didn’t like the bubble-looking thing, so I used another in the final installation.
Anyway, after installing a GOOD valve stem, I mounted the tire. I slapped on a little soap action to aid with seating the tire bead:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ouezNB_Vy_v95d9nVPrXt5lm2Entkt2fES7JGMToooL1kI9yubq2pYkru_jyLmTYS91UM-2De5PHw68Oc5JFspVt84EBIiHn8HeldYLoBgrz3N1Nzf24JMxWQuxQVwFB0iVlYlcp1Do/s400/Picture+574.jpg)
I aired up the tire with my compressor and the bead popped into place. No muss, no fuss. After checking the installation, it was time for the sealant. I broke the bead in the bottom and poured in a couple of scoops of Stan’s.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW78E68Cez5QZHu0ZuFe9K5lS0eSqmFbH4um-sUlwPrxlDVhSNGrhQgQD8FxAdEiBVT9Bi9bGtM8Nv1NxdOOC_odnzN1rnQ4-Sz9PB6pduQVKNuzYS8VEqmv_j24FTe2JTCwOkIHrsQVk/s400/Picture+577.jpg)
I popped the bead back on, and it aired right up again. After following the sealing procedure (without all that drilling and crap) on the NoTubes website, I was golden. I did the other tire the same way, and mounted everything back on. I took a moment to admire my work:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsaCVk5qVWB7zZ5NLzmdmGD5q_WG4P92LxpFtkRBSikhZZWXygq8PyRiacYhgBqP9vz4SHYDtYN9e5sOhkDsGryv3Hgor-Kp9pNIfy463iNXyQciS3WOXYTifkgua_sFrsTe9EowDZu8/s400/Picture+578.jpg)
I decided to take a ride to the store (around 4 miles roundtrip), just to test it out. No lost pressure, so I was feeling good. I checked it every couple of days, and I was satisfied. Finally, I had the nerve to take my new ghetto tubeless setup out on the trail. After a lap around one of the rootiest places in town, I knew I was gonna be okay. No flats, no leaks, no problems. It’s about time I got with the times.
The setup was pretty easy for a tubeless newb like me, so that means anyone can do it. I don’t have a tubeless wheelset, nor do I have actual “tubeless” tires. I’m running regular Kenda Small Block 8 tires on WTB Speed Disc 29er rims, which I’ve heard is one of the most difficult setups to do. It’s actually been over a week now since I did it, and everything is still tip top. Maybe now I can stop worrying about flatting all the time. I love it when a plan comes together.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8sM06CnlrSQCQUG4jUg6hZshuARucKeEiTRx2tprVczx-yeaeo_-Gm0yblz72ArQdSY9MPMWLQwf5A_hkvTi1Kw6f1-QG-SlDZJFsWGavb4ifZWaLitFdZ8QQMHQFLhVettsYpxEVuA/s400/Hannibal_a-team.jpg)
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