So I ditched 85g butyl for 35g TPU inner tubes
#101
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I also have RideNow tpu tubes purchased from Ali
the site is kinda clunky - especially the interface to paypal - but got it to work
from that point on very impressed - confirmations received a number of times during the process and the shipping time was reasonable
one order the tubes were $9 per tube ( $8.98 ) - might have been less next order
the site is kinda clunky - especially the interface to paypal - but got it to work
from that point on very impressed - confirmations received a number of times during the process and the shipping time was reasonable
one order the tubes were $9 per tube ( $8.98 ) - might have been less next order
#102
Senior Member
I also have RideNow tpu tubes purchased from Ali
the site is kinda clunky - especially the interface to paypal - but got it to work
from that point on very impressed - confirmations received a number of times during the process and the shipping time was reasonable
one order the tubes were $9 per tube ( $8.98 ) - might have been less next order
the site is kinda clunky - especially the interface to paypal - but got it to work
from that point on very impressed - confirmations received a number of times during the process and the shipping time was reasonable
one order the tubes were $9 per tube ( $8.98 ) - might have been less next order
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#103
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himespau I've done a complete rebuild with Pillar spokes sourced from AliExpress and have been happy with them. The various Chinese carbon wheels I've got also seem to have Pillar spokes (although in wider blade profiles) and I've not had issues with those, either.
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#104
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No doubt the latex tubes are lighter by a significant amount for a tube, and the data shows they produce a faster wheel, however in our testing on aa 15 mile known time trial course with riders that did the course every week in season, the tubes showed absolutely no advantage. Real world testing done over a 1 month period. Two riders for a total of eight trials. The results were real.
I’ve done TT series where I did the same course every week for the course of a summer. My speed and power data moved around enough week to week that it would be impossible to make any valid conclusion regarding the effect of a small equipment change.
If I was a tenth of a mile an hour faster one week, with the same or lower watts than the previous week, was it because I paced better that week, it was less windy, the wind direction was different, Iheld my position better, it was warmer, etc, etc, etc.
The claimed advantage of latex tubes is small enough that you would have to have a very tightly controlled experiment to tease out the effect of the tubes from the noise.
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Last edited by merlinextraligh; 04-19-24 at 05:35 AM.
#105
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Bought 4 Ridenow 35gr tubes from Ali cheap (around $5 or so each). No way can I justify spending thee-fifths of the price of a tire on an inner tube. Guess you get what you pay for since I had 3 rides before the front had a slow leak. Swapped it with a light butyl and the ride felt less harsh and a similar effort on hills. I'll be using the TPU only as a spare in my saddlebag. BTW, I did try the more expensive Pirelli and Aerothan tpu's a couple of years ago, with similar unhappy results. At least for me, tpu's are not ready for primetime since I value reliability over performance.
#107
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Bought 4 Ridenow 35gr tubes from Ali cheap (around $5 or so each). No way can I justify spending thee-fifths of the price of a tire on an inner tube. Guess you get what you pay for since I had 3 rides before the front had a slow leak. Swapped it with a light butyl and the ride felt less harsh and a similar effort on hills. I'll be using the TPU only as a spare in my saddlebag. BTW, I did try the more expensive Pirelli and Aerothan tpu's a couple of years ago, with similar unhappy results. At least for me, tpu's are not ready for primetime since I value reliability over performance.
#108
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Two TPU tubes from Ali for $8 total. They ride and hold air just fine and don’t leak down much air when sitting for a day or two,
Edit: using 3 TPUs vs 3 “light” butyles saved me over a lb. Jury’s out if the bike feels more sprightly, but it certainly doesn’t feel slower.
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#109
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#110
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The reported problem with Ridenow and other tpu's is not puncture resistance but manufacturing issues. Namely, small leaks where the stem meets the tube. I believe that's where my tube is leaking. I've put a dab on glue on that area and I'm curious if that problem is resolved.
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not based on the weights you show. If butyl weighs 0.174 lb and TPU weighs 0.084 lb, the weight difference between 3 butyls and 3 TPUs is 0.27 lb
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#115
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One of my former massage therapist used to tell me all the times that losing 1 pound of body weight is way cheaper than losing 1 pound of bike weight. Food for thoughts!
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#117
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That’s the goal. Shave another 3 lbs off the bod. Far cheaper than weight off the bike - and a better power to weight ratio - and a bit healthier besides. But there is nothing wrong shedding excess weight off the bike. I changed the tubes and lost my heavy multi-tool (which I not used in years) and a CO2 cylinder and didn’t have to give up eating a chocolate chip cookie or two.
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#118
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Unless you're already at the bottom of the healthy weight range for your height.
#119
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That’s the goal. Shave another 3 lbs off the bod. Far cheaper than weight off the bike - and a better power to weight ratio - and a bit healthier besides. But there is nothing wrong shedding excess weight off the bike. I changed the tubes and lost my heavy multi-tool (which I not used in years) and a CO2 cylinder and didn’t have to give up eating a chocolate chip cookie or two.
#120
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The randonneur test for field reparability is pretty straightforward.
Pack up your tubes and repair kit in your luggage of choice or pockets. At midnight, turn on the sprinklers. At 3am take your bike outside along with a box cutter and an ice pick. Sitting on the grass in the sprinkler zone, cut the tire crossways with the box cutter. If the neighbors come out to see what's going on, just tell them you're out riding your bike, like it's perfectly normal. Then stare at them until they leave. Using your repair kit or found items from the neighborhood ditches, boot and tube the tire, inflating with your method of choice. Install the wheel, and go for a ride around the block. Returning to the sprinkler zone, jam the icepick in the tire. Now fix that with your repair kit. Repeat until out of tubes and patching is necessary.
If you fail, get your phone out of your pocket and call your wife, asking for a rescue. If the phone's dead or you don't want to have that conversation, stash your bike in the bushes and go for a 20 mile walk.
I can do that with butyl. Admittedly it would be nice to save luggage space, for more wool.
Pack up your tubes and repair kit in your luggage of choice or pockets. At midnight, turn on the sprinklers. At 3am take your bike outside along with a box cutter and an ice pick. Sitting on the grass in the sprinkler zone, cut the tire crossways with the box cutter. If the neighbors come out to see what's going on, just tell them you're out riding your bike, like it's perfectly normal. Then stare at them until they leave. Using your repair kit or found items from the neighborhood ditches, boot and tube the tire, inflating with your method of choice. Install the wheel, and go for a ride around the block. Returning to the sprinkler zone, jam the icepick in the tire. Now fix that with your repair kit. Repeat until out of tubes and patching is necessary.
If you fail, get your phone out of your pocket and call your wife, asking for a rescue. If the phone's dead or you don't want to have that conversation, stash your bike in the bushes and go for a 20 mile walk.
I can do that with butyl. Admittedly it would be nice to save luggage space, for more wool.
Last edited by downtube42; 05-14-24 at 10:51 PM.
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#122
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#123
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Yeah, we've never heard that one before.
#124
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#125
I just realised that I rode my local loop yesterday and forgot to carry a spare tube. A whopping 97g saving. I wondered why I felt so strong 😂
Seriously though, my rule of thumb is not to worry about bike weight within my natural daily body weight variation i.e +/- 1kg.
My only interest in TPU tubes is as a very compact emergency spare (running tubeless). But I keep reading too many mixed reviews about their quality, both cheap and expensive options. If I ever need to resort to fitting a tube at the roadside I want to be fully confident that it will actually work. Quality standard tubes with metal stems are proven in this regard, but I’m not convinced about TPU yet.