Inner Tubes

Flat tires are not good. How can I avoid them? Should I get better tubes?

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Permalink Reply by Casey Carnes on March 6, 2014 at 3:23am

Schwalbe tubes do seem to hold air better than any other tubes, except maybe Michelin.  Enough so that I try to avoid QBP or any budget tubes.


Legacy Frameworks said:

I also swear by Schwalbe Tires on all my bikes, first it was the Marathon. But hey now have a budget tire, the Road Plus, that has the same puncture protection, reflective sidewall and tread pattern as the Marathon, only difference is the rolling resistance of the rubber compound. 

Also I talked to Schwalbe about tubes, why theirs are double the wholesale cost of most tubes, and they explained a few things to me. They use better rubber and valves, this combo does two things - their tubes can stretch to accommodate more sizes of tires and they have about half as much seepage. So far, non-scientifically the bikes I have their tubes on hold their air much longer. I am considering making them standard too. 

Permalink Reply by pat 5.5mi on March 6, 2014 at 8:49am

Marathons here, but also multiple punctures in such quick succession could mean that the debris that made the first puncture was still in the tire after the change.  Bike shop guys might be able to chime in on how likely it is that this might be the case.

Permalink Reply by S on March 6, 2014 at 9:12am

I've had that happen so it is likely.  I thought standard procedure for fixing a flat was to find out spot on the tire where the tube flatted and then checking the inside and outside of the tire for embedded stuff.  I don't think the air leaking out of the tire is likely to dislodge a something firmly wedged into your tire.

pat 5.5mi said:

Marathons here, but also multiple punctures in such quick succession could mean that the debris that made the first puncture was still in the tire after the change.  Bike shop guys might be able to chime in on how likely it is that this might be the case.

Permalink Reply by Dave Grossman on March 6, 2014 at 10:05am

I also love Schwalbes.  I have Marathon Plus, Fat Franks, and Big Apples currently on a few bikes.  I also have a set of Gatorskins that I love (I have had a few sets of those too).  Yeah they cost more but they are worth every penny.   Low rolling resistance, great puncture protection, and long lasting tread life.  

As for tubes (I guess that was the original question!) I always buy budget tubes from Performance, QBP, etc.  Never have issues except for my own negligence.  Presta valve breaks are my most common.

Permalink Reply by daWillinChi on March 6, 2014 at 10:20am

I guess I do need to spend a bit more on tubes than I do. I usually get mine on sale at Performance Bike for their $15 for 5 deal.

Permalink Reply by S on March 6, 2014 at 11:27am

I got a bad batch or something from them.  2 tubes split within minutes of installation and inflation.  Kinda of sucked since it was supposed to replace Iggy's flat tire so he could ride home from Starved Rock.

J.A.W. said:

I guess I do need to spend a bit more on tubes than I do. I usually get mine on sale at Performance Bike for their $15 for 5 deal.

Permalink Reply by Michael A on March 6, 2014 at 6:06pm

I prefer the continental brand of tubes, but lately I have been splurging on latex tubes from challenge and vittoria

Permalink Reply by Hey! Bike Shop Guy on March 7, 2014 at 3:55am

Kenda is not QBP's tube brand but nice try.

As somebody said before if you get a lot of flats in a short time check your tire for debris stuck in it better.

Somebody mentioned big rips in the tube and defective tubes...  I think when you see a big rip or an explosion in a tube it is more often a poorly seated tire or a pinching issue with the tube.  Not saying it can't happen but I change tons of tubes everyday in the summer and I have never had a tube get a huge rip in it that did not have an external cause.

peter moormann said:

Seems the majority  of the presta 700 tubes I pickup are labeled Kenda.

I always get them from 3-4 local shops.

All the shops tend to carry the same ones

 which must be the QBP tube brand .

2 flats this year ....a big chunk of glass that made 3 holes which I couldnt patch as it was pouring rain

and one from a pothole filled with water.

Been carrying spare tube as well as patch kit lately.

Permalink Reply by pjarchrn on March 8, 2014 at 4:34am

<File under delayed gratification>

I guess there aren't any mountain bikers here. Why no discussion of going tubeless?

Extensive info is available at cambr.org (temporarily down due to server probs). It's good enough for cars, motorcycles, etc. I now have disc brakes on my road bike, most mtb's have had them for years. I predict tubeless will eventually cross over as well once the right people see the advantage.

Permalink Reply by Legacy Frameworks on March 8, 2014 at 5:55am

I also talked to the people at Stan's No tubes about this. Thinking it might be a better situation for everyday city riders - and Schwalbe started making a tubeless Marathon.

But my impression is that the main benefits of tubeless is more in performance, i.e. being able top ride with a lower tire pressure on road or mountain.

The downside is that the maintenance and repair on a tubeless tire with sealant is as complicated or more than a tube system. Maintaining sealant levels, pooling and hardening need to be taken into account, among other long term issues.

Didn't seem like a good way to go for general riding right now, so I haven't explored them further.  I look forward to checking out camber when it's back up.

  

pjarchrn said:

<File under delayed gratification>

I guess there aren't any mountain bikers here. Why no discussion of going tubeless?

Extensive info is available at cambr.org (temporarily down due to server probs). It's good enough for cars, motorcycles, etc. I now have disc brakes on my road bike, most mtb's have had them for years. I predict tubeless will eventually cross over as well once the right people see the advantage.

Permalink Reply by Brian Bender on March 8, 2014 at 8:33am

I went through this myself, riding a street bike on 1.75 tires. Read about guys in Arizona getting flats from cactus needles in the desert. I worked with Goodspeed cycles in Homewood and bought heavy duty innertubes  and a Bontrager tire called "hard case."  

I had no flats for the next 5000 miles. I ride a lot of ratty streets and industrial drives with debris, glass, gravel and whatnot.

Permalink Reply by pjarchrn on March 8, 2014 at 9:25am

I look at tubeless as an upfront investment. Big hassle to set up, no worries during a ride. They do need to be recharged about every 6 months, but sealant can be added without breaking the bead.

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