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jmtarzan on
It seems very dependent on where/what you ride. Some people swear by inserts, other people don’t see the need. They’re both probably right for their respective riding.
bikes_with_Mike on
Nope! If you need a tube on a ride you’re either wearing the insert like a Miss America sash, or you’d better have the grip strength of Bryan Shaw to seat the bead again.
Nothing like schlepping a sealant covered insert over yourself for the ride down the mountain. 😅
Crash_Override_95 on
No, unless you’re riding crazy rocky gravel and doing nonsense that really shouldn’t be done on a gravel bike. If you have to tube a flat you will have to take your insert with you unless you want to toss is.
UseThEreDdiTapP on
On Gravel bikes with flat bars and anything from 140mm of suspension travel front and potentially rear, depending on the terrain, duh!
/jk
Seriously, on MTB they have their place, 100%.
But imo, they are overkill on a gravel bike. At least for what the average person rides and runs on their bike in terms of trails and kit.
If you are on Gravelkings, Pathfinder Pros or so it defeats the whole point of light weight and speed. And even with like 55mm tires, will you ever ride gnarly “enough” on a rigid frame and drop bars?
woodiegutheryghost on
How often do you case a jump?
unclebumblebutt on
I run Rimpact or Vittoria inserts because you can actually get them in and out by hand if you need. I do like the extra little bit of mental safety for when I smash a carbon rim into a rock or root at speed.
mouse5422 on
They are awesome for racing cyclocross because they allow you to run lower pressures without dinging a rim. I don’t think there is much benefit for gravel.
Southboundthylacine on
I like them on my gravel bike, I run pressure a bit lower and it adds a dampening effect to my wheels. There’s more to having an insert than jumps and sketchy riding. They seem to also lock the bead in. My 2c is they’re worth it for a certain type of rider, I also run them when I race cx.
9 Comments
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It seems very dependent on where/what you ride. Some people swear by inserts, other people don’t see the need. They’re both probably right for their respective riding.
Nope! If you need a tube on a ride you’re either wearing the insert like a Miss America sash, or you’d better have the grip strength of Bryan Shaw to seat the bead again.
Nothing like schlepping a sealant covered insert over yourself for the ride down the mountain. 😅
No, unless you’re riding crazy rocky gravel and doing nonsense that really shouldn’t be done on a gravel bike. If you have to tube a flat you will have to take your insert with you unless you want to toss is.
On Gravel bikes with flat bars and anything from 140mm of suspension travel front and potentially rear, depending on the terrain, duh!
/jk
Seriously, on MTB they have their place, 100%.
But imo, they are overkill on a gravel bike. At least for what the average person rides and runs on their bike in terms of trails and kit.
If you are on Gravelkings, Pathfinder Pros or so it defeats the whole point of light weight and speed. And even with like 55mm tires, will you ever ride gnarly “enough” on a rigid frame and drop bars?
How often do you case a jump?
I run Rimpact or Vittoria inserts because you can actually get them in and out by hand if you need. I do like the extra little bit of mental safety for when I smash a carbon rim into a rock or root at speed.
They are awesome for racing cyclocross because they allow you to run lower pressures without dinging a rim. I don’t think there is much benefit for gravel.
I like them on my gravel bike, I run pressure a bit lower and it adds a dampening effect to my wheels. There’s more to having an insert than jumps and sketchy riding. They seem to also lock the bead in. My 2c is they’re worth it for a certain type of rider, I also run them when I race cx.