inner tube - weights & longevity
Re: inner tube - weights & longevity
I've been running Scwalbe x-light tubes for 406 and 559 rims for a while now for improved comfort and reduced rolling resistance. The quality control in the 406 tubes has been terrible though. If you inflate them outside the tyre you'll often see one part of the tube bulge indicating non-uniform thickness. They are more fragile too than their standard tubes. Even the standard Schwalbe tubes are lighter and thinner than the Conti, Kenda and Bontrager tubes I have come across. I suggest doing inflation tests on Schwalbe tubes to check they are air tight in terms of the tube and valve, and of uniform thinkness. Also carry 2 such tested tubes in case they have perished in the meantime.
- interestedcp
- Posts: 380
- Joined: 5 Jan 2012, 3:34pm
Re: inner tube - weights & longevity
In my experience thinner inner tubes causes more punctures. The construction of the tyres is however a far more important factor than choice of inner tube when it comes to punctures.
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Regards
Regards
Re: inner tube - weights & longevity
I think marginally thicker tubes are the way forward from experience ,with puncture resistant tyres.
On returning to cycling a few years ago I wad bedevilled by punctures ( actually mostly down to perished Michelin Tyres I later realised) and I bought some 'puncture proof' tubes ( Specialised I think) . Very thick on the outer surface ( and nigh on impossible to fold!) .
Pulled the valves out .........
On returning to cycling a few years ago I wad bedevilled by punctures ( actually mostly down to perished Michelin Tyres I later realised) and I bought some 'puncture proof' tubes ( Specialised I think) . Very thick on the outer surface ( and nigh on impossible to fold!) .
Pulled the valves out .........
- plancashire
- Posts: 545
- Joined: 22 Apr 2007, 10:49am
- Location: Düsseldorf, Germany
Re: inner tube - weights & longevity
I found Loctite fixed the problem - yes, I had it too. It locks AND seals. I assume Schwalbe make their presta (known as French in Germany) valves like this so you can inject the goo that seals punctures from inside the tube.
Why oh why can't you buy valves with a smooth shoulder to the stem? Michelin used to be like like that. A push-on pump seals much better than to a screw thread. The Michelins also used to have a fairly smooth thread for the cap, so it didn't chew up the rubber push-on. It's the reverse of re-inventing the wheel: forgetting why the old designs were better.
I am NOT a cyclist. I enjoy riding a bike for utility, commuting, fitness and touring on tout terrain Rohloff, Brompton M3 and Wester Ross 354 plus a Burley Travoy trailer.
- simonineaston
- Posts: 8003
- Joined: 9 May 2007, 1:06pm
- Location: ...at a cricket ground
Re: inner tube - weights & longevity
I know! The first thing I do when I fit a new inner tube is unscrew the collar and throw it away... meanwhile the redundant threads busily saw away at the rubber seal in my pump every time I inflate the tyre.Why oh why can't you buy valves with a smooth shoulder to the stem?
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
- plancashire
- Posts: 545
- Joined: 22 Apr 2007, 10:49am
- Location: Düsseldorf, Germany
Re: inner tube - weights & longevity
I had a thought about the threads: file them smoother. You don't need the whole depth just to hold a dust cap on.
Why doesn't someone make a version of Presta with NO threads for the dust cap? They are a hang-over from metal dust caps (I had some once). Plastic caps can be made snap fit into a tiny ring indentation. As a compromise for compatibility make the stem with rounded ridges instead of sharp threads - a plastic cap with threads will stay put well enough. Filing smoother and filling with some glue would be almost as good. I'll try it.
Why doesn't someone make a version of Presta with NO threads for the dust cap? They are a hang-over from metal dust caps (I had some once). Plastic caps can be made snap fit into a tiny ring indentation. As a compromise for compatibility make the stem with rounded ridges instead of sharp threads - a plastic cap with threads will stay put well enough. Filing smoother and filling with some glue would be almost as good. I'll try it.
I am NOT a cyclist. I enjoy riding a bike for utility, commuting, fitness and touring on tout terrain Rohloff, Brompton M3 and Wester Ross 354 plus a Burley Travoy trailer.
Re: inner tube - weights & longevity
You can buy tubes with a smooth valve barrel - Decathlon for example.
- plancashire
- Posts: 545
- Joined: 22 Apr 2007, 10:49am
- Location: Düsseldorf, Germany
Re: inner tube - weights & longevity
Interesting. Thanks. All the illustrations I can see on the Decathlon website (German) show valves with the usual threads, this one for example: https://www.decathlon.de/p/fahrradschla ... mc=8311103 . There is a short smooth part but narrower than the threads. The old Michelins had a wider and longer smooth part.
Could you show me what you mean, please?
I am NOT a cyclist. I enjoy riding a bike for utility, commuting, fitness and touring on tout terrain Rohloff, Brompton M3 and Wester Ross 354 plus a Burley Travoy trailer.
Re: inner tube - weights & longevity
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/700x23-32 ... mc=8544668plancashire wrote: ↑27 Mar 2023, 5:33pmInteresting. Thanks. All the illustrations I can see on the Decathlon website (German) show valves with the usual threads, this one for example: https://www.decathlon.de/p/fahrradschla ... mc=8311103 . There is a short smooth part but narrower than the threads. The old Michelins had a wider and longer smooth part.
Could you show me what you mean, please?
Re: inner tube - weights & longevity
Decathlon UK - I buy them mainly because the barrel is smooth, they are also inexpensive and seem to be good quality. I also have a couple of Tubolito tubes I'm going to try out for the summer (bought on offer!) which have very bling smooth orange valve barrels, and weigh next to nothing https://www.alpinetrek.co.uk/tubolito-s ... ent=Marken
- plancashire
- Posts: 545
- Joined: 22 Apr 2007, 10:49am
- Location: Düsseldorf, Germany
Re: inner tube - weights & longevity
Thanks. Yes, the main stem is smooth, so there is no ring to screw down onto the rim to stop the valve pushing into the rim as you press the pump onto it. Is that right? If so, what is the trick to get the pump on? A third hand?peterb wrote: ↑27 Mar 2023, 6:07pmhttps://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/700x23-32 ... mc=8544668
I am NOT a cyclist. I enjoy riding a bike for utility, commuting, fitness and touring on tout terrain Rohloff, Brompton M3 and Wester Ross 354 plus a Burley Travoy trailer.
Re: inner tube - weights & longevity
You use the hand that isn;t holding the pump to press in on the tyre behind the valve hole, squashing the inner tube flat and pushing the valve stalk firmly through the hole (This won't damage the tube). Then while holdig it there, push the pump nozzle on. Done.plancashire wrote: ↑28 Mar 2023, 8:43pmThanks. Yes, the main stem is smooth, so there is no ring to screw down onto the rim to stop the valve pushing into the rim as you press the pump onto it. Is that right? If so, what is the trick to get the pump on? A third hand?
But TBH this is one good reason to use the locking collar where there is one. Much easier. If you're a weight obsessive you can always take the collar off again once the tyre's inflated.
Alternatively buy inner tubes with really long valve stems.