Flats are optional

... these days.   Tires have better treads and protection and the invention of tubeless technology has helped in a couple of ways.   It's great for MTB competition  because the elimination of the tube prevents pinch flats and the tube weight compounded by the centrifugal force.   The sealant used to bond the tire to the rim keeps sealing all the minor flats and keeps racers on the trail.    That's all great, and that tech is really useful for other riding as well.   I tried tubeless on my Sam and was totally underwhelmed. 

      First of all, I don't compete,  rarely ride MTB trails, have had exactly one pinch flat in 50 years, don't stress over weight (bike weight anyway) and have 6 bikes I use throughout the year. 

  

I really couldn't see converting the whole stable and limiting the tire selection to tubeless.   Friends have also complained about sealant coagulating in the tire and affecting the balance of their wheel rotation.   I didn't try it long enough to suffer that, but the sealants aggressive enough to provide a good bond on the rim need to be refreshed on a regular basis thus increasing weight and the possibility of an imbalanced roll.  But, I want flat protection also. 

      I began using Flat Attack sealant in my tubes instead of converting to tubeless.   I've been using it for about 5 years now and found it a simple way to increase flat protection without making any expensive upgrades to my stable.   The process is easy; remove the valve core,  use a sealant syringe to add the sealant,  replace The valve core,  fill the tire with air, ride your bike.   The amount of sealant to add varies depending on the tire size.   I add 1 Oz for my Brompton tires,  3 ounces to the 45mm tires on the Hunq, 2oz to everything between.  If there's a puncture when I'm riding I'll notice the tire soften,  look for a bright green spot of sealant, 

make sure nothing is still stuck in there, add CO 2 or air, give it a spin and ride on.   That's all there is to it.  95% of punctures seal that simply.  I add a new tube whenever I change tires and the last tube had 14 punctures that had sealed.   In 5 years I've had to change a tube on the road 3 times but those were catastrophic punctures, like the framing nail that went through the tread and out the sidewall last year. 

     I've also come to the garage in the morning and found a flat.   After filling the tire with air, I found a leak,  rode the bike and the leak sealed.  I assume I had a slow leak I didn't notice, and it was at the top of the wheel when I parked the bike.  If that happens, the hole won't get enough goop in it to seal.   I've gotten in the habit of looking for a leak when I park and make sure that spot is DOWN when I leave it.  That's the biggest learning curve I've found.  I still carry a spare in case of a catastrophic puncture, but have only needed them 3 times in 30-35 thousand miles.  

     The other advantages to Flat Attack brand is that it remains viable for 5 years so it doesn't need periodic refreshing.   It is also  biodegradable, so you can feel warm and fuzzy about the environment when you finally throw your tube away.