Unca_Sam

Probably the most efficient solution, but requires rebuilding a wheel around it.

Milton Keynes

Geekage

This has been invented and reinvented numerous times, see peristaltic pump tire.

The only reason why this particular instance might do any better than previous failed attempts is that naive people will fund the Kickstarter, but they will find that either the drawbacks aren't worth it, there may be some fatal flaw (see previous point), or it will take quite a while to overcome seemingly minor engineering or manufacturing problems.

Either way, this will be another flash in the pan.

This isn't to say that it wouldn't work. Peristaltic pumps are a proven technology. But whether it's worth it is quite a different matter.

Ogsarg

I sure wouldn't waste any money on that. I mean you'd really have to hate checking the air in your tires to limit yourself to one tire (that probably rides lousy) who's pump will probably be ruined the first time you run over a goathead or sliver of glass.

livedarklions

Well, here's a bit of a problem--it's patented: https://patents.google.com/patent/US8113254B2/en

Unca_Sam

SSHHHHHHH!! Don't knock the wind out of their sails yet!

Geekage

Don't worry, they too have a patent pending. There's probably at least three patents submitted and granted every time a self inflating tire gets reinvented.

livedarklions

The more patents that have been granted, the harder it is to get a new one. Based on the one I posted, I don't like their chances.

livedarklions

https://patents.google.com/patent/JP...?q=B60C23%2f12

Milton Keynes

We're getting closer to the point where everything which could possibly be invented has been invented.

livedarklions

As far as tires go, it's almost like big industrial combines actually do a lot of research.

Caliper

I wouldn't call any of my bikes leaky, but I check pressure before every ride and almost always need to add if I want to have the same pressure as the last ride. My tubeless tires (with zero punctures) will often lose 2-5 psi over a few days. Road bike tires with tubes still lose pressure because they are so low volume.

I still don't see an interest in this new invention and am not so sure it would even work...

livedarklions

I think it takes me 30 seconds tops to add 2-5 psi to a tire. If I have to do that every 2-3 days, it's not a lot of time to be saved.

ThermionicScott 

I think we aren't the target market for this device, by definition. We're the ones who are so into bikes that we chat about them all day on the Internet, so we typically are on top of tire inflation.

The target market are those folks who always show up to a ride with one or two almost-flat tires, and then need help pumping them up.

Milton Keynes

I just imagined an "as seen on TV" commercial for this product, "Oh, no, you want to go on a bike ride, but your tires are flat." *black & white shot of guy looking at flat bike tire and acting overly upset* "And air pumps are just so complicated and hard to use." *shot of guy attempting to air up a tire with a bicycle pump but obviously failing* "You need the new Inflata-Tire! With the Inflata-Tire, you simply air up your tires as you ride! What could be more easy? Just put the self-inflating Inlata-Tires on your bike. Using patented inflation technology, they air themselves up as you roll. No batteries needed! Only $19.95 plus shipping & handling. But if you call in the next ten minutes, we'll include a separate set of Inflata-Tires absolutely free! Just pay separate shipping & handling. Call now!"

livedarklions

Sounds like a bit of a problem defining this target then--it's people who aren't serious enough about riding to learn to pump their own tires and who are willing to spend what will have to be a premium price for these special tires. I think that may be two Venn diagram circles with not a lot of overlap.

ThermionicScott 

I didn't catch the price on this thing. If they can get the price down enough... we Americans love labor-saving devices.

Unca_Sam

What about bike share bikes? What about the commuter that doesn't like to guess if they need to top off today? With this product working as intended they'd never have to guess again! Wet and rainy when it was hot and dry when you topped off last? Any difference in pressure will be gone by the time you're warmed up! If you figure you'll save 3-5 minutes each morning, that time will add up.

noimagination

Also, it's never just pumping the tires, for me, anyway, and I'm sure for many of us. I at least glance at QR (open vs shut), glance at chain to see if lube is needed, spin the wheels and check brakes/ensure computer is registering. The first two can be done while pumping, the last takes 10 sec/wheel. Just a little insurance against occasional boneheadedness (mine).

Milton Keynes

All those labor-saving devices give us more time to go to the gym.

ThermionicScott 

That was the idea anyway. More leisure time for edification and recreation...

livedarklions

If only I could get the gym's elliptical machine to pump up my tires, I'd have it made.

Milton Keynes

I like driving to the gym so I can walk on the treadmill.

Geekage

Today I learned that the quote "Everything that can be invented has been invented," attributed to a patent commissioner expecting to patent office to close in the late 19th century, is actually false.

What's even more surprising us the false quote is from 1981, predating the source of most inaccurate quotes: the internet as we know it.

livedarklions

Someone traced it further back to a joke made in Punch in 1899:

https://patentlyo.com/patent/2011/01...-invented.html