bikerchas55
03-19-04, 11:20 AM
Has anyone out there ever heard of inflating tires with helium or even hydrogen to reduce weight?
Road Cycling - tire weight reduction
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Avalanche325
03-19-04, 11:42 AM
Hydrogen may get a little exciting. It is explosive. (Think Hindenburg)
AndrewP
03-19-04, 02:19 PM
The tires will lose pressure quicker because the molecules are much smaller.
supcom
03-19-04, 03:45 PM
There is approximately 1 liter of air in a bike tire assuming 1 inch diameter tires. Air has a density of approx 1.4 gram/liter. Helium is 0.18 gram/liter.
A bike tire is inflated to about 10 times the normal air pressure meaning that the air inside is 10 times the weight if unpressurised. Thus, the air weighs about 14 grams.
Helium would weigh about 1.8 grams under the same pressure. So you would save a grand total of about 12 grams (0.4 oz) per tire by using helium. Less if you use smaller diameter tires.
Hardly worth the trouble.
A bike tire is inflated to about 10 times the normal air pressure meaning that the air inside is 10 times the weight if unpressurised. Thus, the air weighs about 14 grams.
Helium would weigh about 1.8 grams under the same pressure. So you would save a grand total of about 12 grams (0.4 oz) per tire by using helium. Less if you use smaller diameter tires.
Hardly worth the trouble.
slvoid
03-22-04, 12:46 PM
You'll have more luck if you fill in all the hollow tubing in your bike with hydrogen...
Not to mention how fast H would dissolve out of your tires.
Not to mention how fast H would dissolve out of your tires.
deliriou5
03-24-04, 06:24 AM
you'd save more weight blowing a snot rocket out of your nose