Just acquired a Zipp 900 Clincher disc w powertap and figured out how to successfully inflate it with a floor pump and the ‘crack pipe adapter’ after shopping everywhere to find tubes with short stems (harder to find than one might think, in my area anyway…) The tubes with the shortest presta valve I could find is 32mm.
Now, I am trying to figure out a solution for a** flat kit** for longer races (70.3 - 140.6). Searching the forum pointed me toward the “Innovation Microflate Nano” kit. Nowhere to be found in local shops, had to order online. I thought this would be the solution.
The inflator has showed up, and it’s not even close to fit in the disc opening below the valve. Looks like I would need tubes with a MUCH shorter valve
Any suggestions??? If you have one, what do you do?
Do you have the silver #25 Silca “crack pipe” adapter? You should be able to fit the crack pipe onto the tube’s presta stem inside the disc opening, then the Nano head onto the schrader end of the crack pipe to release the CO2 into the tube.
Yes, I do have the Silca adapter… but I have a hard time seeing how well this could go, trying to hold the silca on the valve pushing up, while trying to hold the Nano to the Silca inline without air leaks and unscrewing the air can at the same time… only 2 hands!
I deflated my tube, and tried the Nano again… with the tube deflated, it goes on kind of OK after all (first test with tube fully inflated, valve sticking out, there was no way). Tricky to remove it without loosing air though, after inflating.
Thinking about opening up the access holes a bit on the disc if I can bring myself to it. Unless I can find tubes with even shorter valves.
What a hassle. I was not suspecting these complications when I ordered the disc.
Yes, I do have the Silca adapter… but I have a hard time seeing how well this could go, trying to hold the silca on the valve pushing up, while trying to hold the Nano to the Silca inline without air leaks and unscrewing the air can at the same time… only 2 hands!
I deflated my tube, and tried the Nano again… with the tube deflated, it goes on kind of OK after all (first test with tube fully inflated, valve sticking out, there was no way). Tricky to remove it without loosing air though, after inflating.
Thinking about opening up the access holes a bit on the disc if I can bring myself to it. Unless I can find tubes with even shorter valves.
What a hassle. I was not suspecting these complications when I ordered the disc.
If you can find tubes with a shorter valve, let me know since I have the same issues.
I was terribly scared before doing it, but i used a dremel and it was super easy and worked perfectly. the carbon was actually kind of fraying before i did it because trying to get the crack pipe in and out but the dremel fixed it perfect. this is the product i used and i had one person hold it while i used the dremel.
No… took the dremel to the Zipp whell and opened the hole a bit. Works great with the 32mm stemmed tubes.
I also bought a Lezyne Travel Pump with their “speed chuck” adapter. Allows me to pump the disc without holding the adapter and pumping with 2 hands… Only problem" this pump will not fit the darn Zipp valve extenders (front wheel) and the normal Lezyne adapter (flip chuck) requires a threaded valve… so I basically need 2 pumps to inflate my race tires. What a hassle…
When the tire is almost deflated, you can get the valve out, inflate, and then close the valve. All you need then is a 1-1,5 mm space so: I couldn’t think of anything else but using a file.
Thanks! I wonder if enlarging the whole will effect the wheel from an aero standpoint or cause the wheel to wobble?
I use a piece of black “Gorilla” or black duct tape to cover the hole…besides keeping it aero…keeps out the dust and grime. Put on just before race and take off right after so no residue build up. Have seen a few pro bikes using as well. Zipp makes a special round decal for the same purpose if you want to be fancy.
By pushing a 32mm stem over to the side of the cutout I can use the XLab Nanoflator on my 900. I don’t like doing it since it seems like it is weakening/enlarging the stem hole, making it more likely to cause a problem with my latex tubes. Obviously would be better if the cutout was bigger…