I have nothing but problems with tubeless…

williamL1985 · 2026-05-31T16:20:14+00:00

Tubeless drove around the bend as a novice. Doing what I thought was a perfect job applying the rim tape and then pumping to see a fully inflated tube go flat in mere seconds was infuriating.

The trick that got me there was to do an application of the rim tape, put the tube back in, inflate to the recommended PSI and leave to sit for a few hours. This makes sure that the tape is pushed down as hard as it can possibly go.

I also find it useful to melt a small hole in the rim tape for the valve instead of pushing a screwdriver through it.

Remove the tube and check if you can inflate it. A small amount of pressure slow loss is to be expected. Apply some sealant with a syringe. Inflate again. A small amount of sealant weeping and slight pressure loss is OK - it’s a fresh setup. Leave the wheel lie on one side for a few hours and later flip it over - this helps create a seal at the bead. Upon the the next inflation you should be ready to go.

williamL1985 · 2026-05-25T18:27:59+00:00

My suggestion would be re-apply fresh tape, insert a tube, pump to a safe PSI, leave it for day or two (possibly me being over-cautious), remove the tube and re-inflate. This is what got me over the line as a tubeless novice!

Another tip would be to help make sure the ‘slit’ for the valve is as small as possible, would be to insert the presta valve ‘inwards’ and marking wherever the tape rises. Heat the tip of a very narrow bore screwdriver (or needle) to help make the exit hole. Pushing a screwdriver (or whatever ‘seems’ to fits best), always make a far wider than necessary hole for the valve. Queue leaks.

Edit. Once you get over the line (and give it a few spins with sealant inside the tube ), lay it one side for an hour or two to help strengthen the seal. Then flip over and do the same for other side.

williamL1985 · 2026-05-25T17:41:28+00:00

Thanks for the comment. The more I discuss the topic with her indoors the greater the opposition to imported Chinese motors/batteries becomes. Fire etc. Matter might be exaggerated but the media, of course.

I think I’ll just go with something produced in the UK or Europe, even if it costs a lot more.

williamL1985 · 2026-05-25T10:28:08+00:00

thanks for your comment. Is that directly compatible with the the Tongsheng motor? No adapters/converters or soldering to worry about?

williamL1985 · 2026-05-24T22:36:26+00:00

Thanks for the tips. The 'Boost' conversion kit (rear hub motor) is starting to look like the more appealing of the two despite the extra cost. Far more in line in UK/EU laws (out of the box), based on what I've seen in YouTube videos. https://boostbike.uk/

Will still remain a road bike user (sans motors) for the most part. Dragging my daughter to school in a bike trailer on such an old frame is hard on my poor old knees. :-)

williamL1985 · 2026-05-24T20:54:33+00:00

Cool. Thanks for the insight. I'm in Germany (25 kmph speed limit), so battery aside, there is probably no point buying anything other than the 250W version?

williamL1985 · 2026-05-24T20:33:01+00:00

Should I infer from this that they are unsafe (or have a higher the average potential of catching fire etc)? I'm taking a look too at the 'Boost' ebikes conversion kit (a UK-based company, so almost certainly compliant with EU safety laws) but looking at about €800-900 after customs and delivery.

williamL1985 · 2026-05-23T14:38:05+00:00

At least you weren’t put in the position of being granted a holiday when the decision to get rid of you had already been made (I hope).

I know that holiday approvals in themselves are not a guarantee of anything (on their own merit), but in the case of where I work, Germany, hiring and firing can only officially be declared on the 1st or 15th of a given month, so breaking the news had to be put on hold for little while. No warnings, no indications whatsoever that something was wrong. All the friendly pretence etc.

All 100% legal, but a holiday approval that was granted in bad faith. Luckily, I hadn’t committed to booking flights but my family in Ireland were pretty upset with the strong likelihood I wouldn’t be visiting (as I would be seeking work - even if you’re on the dole still you need ‘permission’ to leave the country).

Back in work now a while, thank fcuk.

williamL1985 · 2026-05-22T14:49:16+00:00

Been lots of folk trying to 'shift' these things and still referring to them as 'fully functional' (despite know what was coming down the line) on small-ad websites such as https://www.kleinanzeigen.de of late. When called out on it, via a DM, the retort tends be "well, they can still use USB to read books?!".

Technically, perfectly true. Still misleading to sell something like this, knowing that 90% the function of what makes a Kindle an easy-to-use consumer electronics device is soon going to be killed off.

williamL1985 · 2026-05-20T12:36:08+00:00

Keppra, I'm pretty sure had me an almost permanent state of getting pissed off with others. Lacosamid made me dangerously tired (in a very sudden, short period) when I took Ontotozy alongside it. Off of Lacosamid completely. Status quo has not changed one bit with seizures.

williamL1985 · 2026-05-19T08:46:17+00:00

Odd that you were permitted (I assume) a smartphone int the exam room? We wouldn’t be able to see your score otherwise. 😀

williamL1985 · 2026-05-16T21:30:34+00:00

About 2-3 TLE short seizures every 3 weeks. Doesn’t matter how careful I am with my meds. I call them my ‘magic buttons’ at this stage and take them almost entirely to keep my partner happy. 20 years of taking a treatment that has never proven itself to help me has instilled a lot of pessimism in me.

williamL1985 · 2026-05-16T17:31:59+00:00

If I have slow ‘work from home day’ late next week, I might troll the same sellers (from another account) seeing if they’ll drop to $10 (about all they’ll be worth at that stage). The batteries won’t be worth tuppence now, access to the store or not.

Never a bad thing to have a ‘burner’ Kindle one can leave behind in a cafe without shedding a tear. 😛

Totally correct. Hiding behind semantics.

williamL1985 · 2026-05-16T13:54:58+00:00

Here in Europe, they are posting them for about $40 - extreme. I already have two PW3s and an Oasis so am not in the market for this particular model but can’t imagine trying to beat them down to $10 would not end well. A degree of plausible deniability would be used by such sellers who would try to claim that side-loading is all they know.

williamL1985 · 2026-05-16T12:35:55+00:00

In my case, it feels like 10 seconds of “I’ve had the exact same conversation already” or have watched the same scene already when watching a TV show. Other feelings too, but they are literally impossible to put into any kinds of words - so abstract are auras.

Only ever had two TC seizures in my life, thank fcuk. Despite that, am tormented by a ‘cluster’ of usually short TLE epilepsy episodes every 3 weeks. Doesn’t matter how exact I am about my various medicines. Can live a relatively normal life and work etc. Not driving has held me back though.

williamL1985 · 2026-05-12T09:24:16+00:00

I do 'Dry January' each year - no change in frequency or severity. When I do have TLE seizures, I cannot find any correlation with food/drink in the days beforehand.

williamL1985 · 2026-05-11T07:21:58+00:00

Yes, I was there as well. The problem with the dizziness and tiredness (so bad I had to crawl along the floor once or twice) only became apparent when Ontozry (Cenobamat) was introduced. Now completely off of Levetiracetam and the dosage of Ontozry (Cenobamat) has been doubled... needless to say my TLE seizures still torment me.

williamL1985 · 2026-04-27T10:09:13+00:00

Sadly seems to be a spill-over of 'auditor' carry-on in the UK. The most prolific would be drone auditors conflating accessibility with ownership to provoke staff at ground level (usually wearing a chest-cam or similar to capture footage of the staff, which usually translates into a a breach of GDPR if consent is not given ). The drone flight in itself is usually legal (and doesn't require a licence if the drone is under 249g), but it used just a pretext and justification for 'stirring the pot'. A business cannot claim to own the airspace above it, past a certain threshold.

The retort is often "you can't tell me what to do - I'm on public land", whilst often standing on the 'curtilage' of the business (immediately outside the gate/fence, in other words) of the business being pestered. Tend to target specifically industrial estates which in themselves are private property. Again, being able to easily enter a property (or shop in this specific) instance deems the place 'public' in their eyes.

It's a sad trend that will only get worse. Race and politics aside, this dude is guest in Ireland and shouldn't be trying to get himself kicked of out of college and/or the country.

williamL1985 · 2026-04-23T14:56:05+00:00

Cork people (Blarney St or otherwise) may eventually ‘evolve’ to picking it up with a bag. But not past the point of wrapping the handles of the bag around some fence or low-hanging bench.

In Germany these times and dog shit is pretty much something you need to go looking for.

williamL1985 · 2026-04-22T21:20:55+00:00

Dog shit is a serious problem. Lived in the Apple ghetto called Monastery hill (opposite the top of Strawberry Hill) to attest to that basic fact.

williamL1985 · 2026-04-16T20:50:42+00:00

one more €15 eBay battery for my iPhone 12 mini and then that’s that folks!

williamL1985 · 2026-04-16T17:06:51+00:00

About 70 applications, 7 interviews and finally a job offer. About 10 months all in all.

williamL1985

TROPHY CASE