Alex rims

[Mikerb]

I plan on converting my wife's Cube Access to tubeless. I am no stranger to setting up wheels/ tyres tubeless but thought it worth checking a couple of things before starting on the Cube.
It has Alex EX30 rims...supposedly tubeless ready. Can anyone recommend the best valves for these rims? What is the best valve length?
I use Stans on my own bikes so will be using that. I will try using the existing rim tape and re tape with Stans if that is no good.
Lastly are Shwalbe Smart Sam's OK for tubeless? I have a pair of Eliminators if not that I could fit .
Thanks.

 

[Pdoz]

The centre groove needs a circular tapered rubber on the tubeless valve - I've had luck with the muc off ones with the evenly angled round rubber bit, plus the chris king valves.

Zero success with rectangular or square ones like DT, giant, or effeto

Fussiest rims I've experienced for tubeless

 

[leix_toffee]

MucOff Valves used on these rims and no issues since. Come with choice of rubber seal. Used the one with best profile to match rims

 

[Mikerb]

thanks....both. Muc Off Valves ordered.

 

[Tubby G]

Is the Access the ‘ladies’ hardtail ? Non-E ?

if so, I bought my partner one when she started to learn to ride. The Smart Sam’s it came with weren’t tubeless ready. I only discovered this after filling the tyres with sealant and wondering why it was spraying all over her dining room floor when pumping up the tyres

 

[Mikerb]

Is the Access the ‘ladies’ hardtail ? Non-E ?

if so, I bought my partner one when she started to learn to ride. The Smart Sam’s it came with weren’t tubeless ready. I only discovered this after filling the tyres with sealant and wondering why it was spraying all over her dining room floor when pumping up the tyres

It is a ladies 29er hardtail....and yes it is an E bike...Bosch Gen4. Dont think Cube do the Access anymore. I did wonder about the Smart Sams and to be honest I would prefer to fit the Eliminators. I had to do a puncture on her bike last week which is what has decided me to convert her bike to tubeless. It took me a bout half an hour just to get the damned Shwalbe tyre off the rim!!

 

[Tubby G]

It is a ladies 29er hardtail....and yes it is an E bike...Bosch Gen4. Dont think Cube do the Access anymore. I did wonder about the Smart Sams and to be honest I would prefer to fit the Eliminators. I had to do a puncture on her bike last week which is what has decided me to convert her bike to tubeless. It took me a bout half an hour just to get the damned Shwalbe tyre off the rim!!

Aah, I’m getting confused with bike names then. I have an Access, her non-E hardtail was called something else. The Smart Sam’s mine came with were tubeless ready, but I ditched them for Michelin E-Wilds

 

[Tubby G]

Aah, I’m getting confused with bike names then. I have an Access, her non-E hardtail was called something else. The Smart Sam’s mine came with were tubeless ready, but I ditched them for Michelin E-Wilds

Nope, just been in the mancave . Mine is a Cube Reaction, her non-E hardtail was a Cube Access WS

 

[lindbeckb]

i did the the wifes access with EX30 rims no bother. just removed the original rim band (it was not tape) and applied gorilla tape and muc-off valves.

some smart sams are tubeless some are not. if you alrady have a few miles on the smart sams i would just fit new tyres to prevent the need to go back and doing it again should the sidewall be too porus or have small defects that cant be seen by eye

 

[Mikerb]

Update

I did one wheel to see how it went. It was an absolute pain but it succeeded in the end so will do the other wheel now.
The Alex rims are taped with Scwalbe rim tape. It's a bit narrow but decided to see if it was OK....and it was....I just cleaned the wheel and tape with Ipa on a clean rag. I decided against risking the Smart Sam's. They are too tight on the rim to be able to remove a tyre on the trail anyway. I used Eliminator 2.3 tyres.
So the awkward bit! Getting a decent tubeless valve seal! I used Mucoff valves and ended up using the seals that are pre fitted...BUT....the only way I could get a good seal was to put the rubber seal into the valve hole on its own making sure it fitted through the hole and into the cavity between the inner and outer Wells of the rim. Then I "threaded" the valve through the seal.......and secured with the valve stem nut plus o ring. I tightened the valve stem nut sufficient to spread the seal somewhat.......tightened rather more than I found necessary on other rims ( more that finger tight) so it was useful that the Mucoff valve has a hex head and flats on the valve nut.

Sorry that was long winded but if it helps someone else then maybe worth a read!!

 

[Mikerb]

Update

I did one wheel to see how it went. It was an absolute pain but it succeeded in the end so will do the other wheel now.
The Alex rims are taped with Scwalbe rim tape. It's a bit narrow but decided to see if it was OK....and it was....I just cleaned the wheel and tape with Ipa on a clean rag. I decided against risking the Smart Sam's. They are too tight on the rim to be able to remove a tyre on the trail anyway. I used Eliminator 2.3 tyres.
So the awkward bit! Getting a decent tubeless valve seal! I used Mucoff valves and ended up using the seals that are pre fitted...BUT....the only way I could get a good seal was to put the rubber seal into the valve hole on its own making sure it fitted through the hole and into the cavity between the inner and outer Wells of the rim. Then I "threaded" the valve through the seal.......and secured with the valve stem nut plus o ring. I tightened the valve stem nut sufficient to spread the seal somewhat.......tightened rather more than I found necessary on other rims ( more that finger tight) so it was useful that the Mucoff valve has a hex head and flats on the valve nut.

Sorry that was long winded but if it helps someone else then maybe worth a read!!

Update no 2....Front wheel
Same issues getting the Smart Sam tyre off....its like it's araldite to the rim!!
Anyway.....having removed the tyre I found this rim taped with high pressure rim tape!! Completely different to the rear wheel.....and....the mucoff valve with the standard seal fitted needed none of the messing about I had to do on the rear wheel....valve in and tightened fairly firmly....airshot once and the Eliminator is seated. 60ml of Stans and left at 40 psi after the usual bouncing rotating and resting 10 minutes flat on each side. Job done.

 

[Beekeeper]

It is a ladies 29er hardtail....and yes it is an E bike...Bosch Gen4. Dont think Cube do the Access anymore. I did wonder about the Smart Sams and to be honest I would prefer to fit the Eliminators. I had to do a puncture on her bike last week which is what has decided me to convert her bike to tubeless. It took me a bout half an hour just to get the damned Shwalbe tyre off the rim!!

yep I know what you mean. The wife also has an Access and exactly the same rims and tyres. Breaking the bead on one side is a nightmare. You need hands of iron. She very rarely gets punctures however as her Smart Sams have K-Guard which I believe contains Kevlar fibres. Still the occasional puncture maybe once every 2 years. On my bike I use Tannus Tyre armour and have never had a puncture.

 

[Mikerb]

yep I know what you mean. The wife also has an Access and exactly the same rims and tyres. Breaking the bead on one side is a nightmare. You need hands of iron. She very rarely gets punctures however as her Smart Sams have K-Guard which I believe contains Kevlar fibres. Still the occasional puncture maybe once every 2 years. On my bike I use Tannus Tyre armour and have never had a puncture.

I found a way of doing it. 2 small section of batten one each side of the wheel and a "G" clamp. She has had a couple punctures but my main concern was how we could change a tube if out on a ride.

 

[Beekeeper]

I found a way of doing it. 2 small section of batten one each side of the wheel and a "G" clamp. She has had a couple punctures but my main concern was how we could change a tube if out on a ride.

i have found that once the bead is broken the next time you have to do it, it becomes a bit easier. I would really hate to do it in the pouring rain or freezing cold however.