If all of those new floor pumps for seating tubeless tires have your interest, but your current pump is working just fine, SKS may have the answer. Tubeless compatible floor pumps work by storing a large amount of air and releasing it all at once. Sort of how co2 inflators work. So, rather than buy a whole new pump, SKS is introducing a pump head that will allow you to use either co2 cartridges, or regular air pressure to help seat those tires…
The TL Head is just as it looks – it’s a standard pump head that has a reversible presta/schrader chuck, but it also has a co2 port on the top. After locking the head on the tire valve, you can thread in the cartridge to puncture it, then unthread it to control the flow of co2. According to SKS, the release of the cartridge should be enough to seat most tubeless tires.
The benefits of the system are clearly in the fact that it takes a lot less work than pumping up the storage chamber on other pumps, and this head is supposedly compatible with any floor pump. On the flip side, you will have to use up a lot of co2 cartridges over time if you’re setting up a lot of tires or don’t get it right the first time. Better buy in bulk.
Sold with the TL Head, 2 co2 cartridges, and a tire lever, the package will sell of $29.99 and will be available around October.
Saddle mounted fenders are nothing new, but SKS will soon have their own available in the S-Guard. By using an injection molding process, SKS claims their fenders are tougher than the competition and it certainly seemed to attach to the saddle more securely than others we’ve seen. Available later this summer, the S-Guard will sell for $12.99.
It’s been 50 continuous years for their original Rennkompressor floor pump, so to celebrate SKS is introducing a 50th anniversary edition. Available in 5000 units, the $109 pump has a special finish, premium wood handle, and leather holder with a presta only brass chuck.
As darkness fell on the presentation, it was a perfect chance to talk about their new Hi-Viz fenders. A more visible version of their popular X-tra Dry fender, the bright options will include orange and yellow and will sell for the same $17 retail price this fall.
Finally, SKS had some fun with their Anywhere mounts with Omni Straps and showed just what crazy things you could mount to your bike. Part of the demonstration was to show how strong the velcro was – it was basically impossible to pull it apart. With a little imagination, the sky is the limit for what you can attach to your ride and the kit of two mounts and two straps only runs $13.99.
