christ0ph

Don't drink water from a latex container - you could end up wih a latex allergy that could permanently make you unable to work with or even touch rubber. Decades ago I had a GF who was allergic to rubber. She could not wear tennis shoes, had to sleep on a special matress, and contraception was problematic, she also could not deal with certain kinds of foam. Sometimes, she would get sick with no apparent cause. Her theory was that latex dust from ??? - hard to tell where- was in the air.

She had to carry a self-injector because exposure to latex could rapidly send her into shock.

She was a smart, pretty lady and you would expect her to go far in life but all of this was a real drag on her life.

When medical professionals get latex allergies.. it can ruin their employability for life. Bike mechanics don't spend seven figure sums to get degrees, but in terms of their careers, it could still be a life changer.

The way you often get an allergy to something is by doing stuff like that that puts little pieces of it, in this case, rubber into your body.

One of the proteins in rubber is toxic, and your immune system cells remember its molecular shape each time they encounter it, with the unintended result that eventually you may unknowingly cross a line where very suddenly they really start screaming at you, NO MORE.

gerv 

I think we are just joking here. At least, I am.

However, I never knew about latex allergies before. Thanks.

christ0ph

I figured as much but still I think stuff like that is important to share. If you ever have any medical issues you need to check out, this is a good resource to know: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

Ekdog

Uku2 Recycled Tire Shoes

Artkansas 

I dated a lady who had a latex allergy. It makes picking out condoms more difficult at the least.

gerv 

Ok...I am definitely curious about this, but discussing condoms in a thread about inner tube reuse....

weshigh

Got to watch out for pinch flats....

dcrowell

If you don't want to deal with inner tubes or condoms, you can run solid tires and be abstinent. I have quite a bit of experience in one of those two things.

Ciufalon

I decided to try the shoe lace thing and it works great! In fact, I like them better than the elasticized laces they sell for runners. The amount of stretch is actually perfect. Give it a go. I cut the laces just a little wider than a quarter inch.so they are about a quarter inch wide when stretched. I asked a friend to look at my shoes today and tell me if she noticed anything and the end result was that she couldn't see anything. I had to tell her and she said that it is not even noticeable.

I also use a short section of tube on my frame pump, to slide over the lever that affixes the pump to the valve so that it does not catch my pant leg when I am pedaling.

Mauriceloridans

"I also use a short section of tube on my frame pump, to slide over the lever that affixes the pump to the valve so that it does not catch my pant leg when I am pedaling."

I do this too. It is the left leg pants cuff that catches the lever without the tube protector and it's the kind of pump that sits on top of the bottom bracket.

Ciufalon

Yep Maurice, that us exactly the kind of frame pumps I use and what I was talking about with the bottom of the pant leg catching it. I think I may also try to use a section of old tube to put around the top tube near the seat on my bikes, so that if they are leaning against metal bike racks, the paint is not damaged. Will probably just try to use the same vulcanizing glue that is used for patching and see if it will work to glue the tube section back to itself after wrapping it around the top tube.

hairyman

It does!

I picked up an older but mint-condition mountain bike at a yard sale once and although the paint was black, the decals were fugly early 90's neon colors. When I couldn't remove them I just wrapped inner tubes around the frame, secured them with self-vulcanizing fluid and it looks great now.

BHOFM

I have a couple I beat the wife with when she don't get the plowing done on time.

gerv 

I bet your bike oozes in hot weather.

Ekdog

This Minnesota company makes cool belts from used bike tires. Some of the buckles are made from used bike chains.

https://www.tiredolbelts.com/

Ekdog

Finally got round to doing this. Looking good!

Ciufalon

Old tubes can also be used to replace the bungee on many panniers for the bottom hook attachment.

1nterceptor

HOMEMADE CONTOUR MOUNT1 by 1nterceptor, on Flickr


HOMEMADE CONTOUR MOUNT3 by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

gerv 

This mount is more elegant if you have a small flashlight.
#!

Ekdog

Someone suggested making a rubber band clothesline in the Tips and Tricks thread. Inner tube bands are great for this.

missjean

The bike shop that I work at in Milford NH sells those!

Coasterbrakefan

No one mentioned handlebar tape/grips. Done right, they're awesome!

PdalPowr

Does it involve space flight?

fietsbob

the guys making Crab Pots take the big pile of them from LBS, to wrap their steel trap frames with..

dim