MJNGP wrote:Good evening Ladies and Gents.., Just a quick question really on your experiences of SLIME tubes. Have you / would you fit on your trusty ride? If not, may I ask why, and would you suggest an alternative (also why)? I have never used them, but thinking they may be a wise addition on my 29er bike, used for long haulers. Can't go tubeless without spending a small fortune on a new wheelset and I'm not sure I'd trust a 'ghetto' setup.
Many thanks in advance.
My daughter was averaging around a puncture a month on her mountain bike, and it got to the point where I was convinced someone was intentionally doing it, but it was mainly tiny shards of glass and the odd thorn that seemed to be causing the problem, mainly caused by the glass strewn lanes and paths she was accessing.
I have not been a great fan of slime filled tubes after fitting them to my commuting bike and one day I ran over a large metal staple whilst descending a small hill. The holes in the tube were too big for the slime to seal but the high speed rotation of the wheel caused a spray like a Catherine Wheel, to coat my back and the bike which was a nightmare to clean up afterwards
However I noticed Halfords were selling their own brand 'latex sealant' filled tubes at a substantial saving over 'Slime' branded tubes and fitted a couple of the Schrader valved versions in utter desperation in her tyres
Touch wood, after almost a year she has yet to get a flat, so has saved me a bit of work so maybe they can be worthwhile in some circumstances, of course it could just be luck and only time will tell
I am not sure that the presta valved version will work long term though as without the spring like in a Schrader tube the presta valve will most likely get clogged up and so leak?
Below is a link to the Halfords tubes which for not much money could be worth a try:
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-p ... v1=Bikehut