Flat Spots

A reader asks:

Hi,
Great blog.
I've been riding Hutchinson road tubeless for approx 8 weeks and have been very happy. However I have recently noticed that the rear tire (Fusion 3) has two flat spots. They are barely perceptible to the eye but can be felt easily when running a finger around the tube. Any idea how this happens? I am assuming it's safest to change the tire even though tread is perfect.

Thanks,
Peter

Well Peter, congratulations on going to tubeless!  The problem you are describing doesn't seem to be tubeless specific. It is possible you locked up your brakes at some point, putting the flat spot in the soft, Fusion 3 tire. If you can feel them riding, you will probably want to replace the tire, otherwise you should be good to go!

Sloshing?

A reader asks:

Wondering if you can answer a few questions:

Is there a noticeable "sloshing" when running tubeless with sealant? I'm thinking about running them on my commuter road bike (700x25c)

Have you ridden tubeless in the winter? I'm in Canada and ride through the winter and am worried that the sealant may freeze.

Any help is appreciated...

First, there is no sloshing that I have ever noticed, on road or mountain bikes. The sealant essentially coats the inside of the tire, and doesn't move around much.

As for cold weather concerns, I have covered this issue before:

Do Sealants Work In Cold Temperatures? 

More Information On Using Stan's Sealant At Low Temperatures

 Bottom line: Don't worry about it.