Why isn't there something like a full rubber or hard foam inner tube for road bikes?
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Why isn't there something like a full rubber or hard foam inner tube for road bikes?
I think there's a market for them. I was just at WalMart and found these guaranteed no flat tubes. Well they're not actually tubes...more like pieces of hard rubber or foam with no air inside them that go where a tube normally does. No air no flats, right? Now I understand these things are not light but for something like a thin road bike tire that you will be using for training I think it is a great idea. You could also ditch those heavy ultra gator and go with something exotic like 195 grams to offset the weight of this "tube" What do you think. It would be nice to go on a training ride and leave the pump, tire lever and tubes at home and run over glass shards just for kicks.
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well... they're popular on wheelchairs aren't they?
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Good quality wheelchairs use tubes, but the tires are really thick. The racier wheelchairs use lighter tires, and sometimes have 700C wheels with a special wheelchair hub (different axle.)
Last edited by shayel; 01-29-08 at 01:19 AM. Reason: lighter tires, not wheels.
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Also no air, no shock absorption.
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If they are anything like wheel barrow no flat tubes the rolling resistance is beyond appaling. If you want that just use a double thickness tube, its almost impossible to get a flat with one of those.
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Pneumatic tires were a popular invention for a reason.
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#13
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Long ago, they had those solid tubes at Walmart, and I bought one for the kid's bike- never could get the dang thing on and wound up taking it back for a refund.
On they Clyde forum, they had some information on the air-free tires.
I believe the airfreetires above is the one that was taking forever to deliver the product- check that post and see.
On they Clyde forum, they had some information on the air-free tires.
I believe the airfreetires above is the one that was taking forever to deliver the product- check that post and see.
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I think there's a market for them. I was just at WalMart and found these guaranteed no flat tubes. Well they're not actually tubes...more like pieces of hard rubber or foam with no air inside them that go where a tube normally does. No air no flats, right? Now I understand these things are not light but for something like a thin road bike tire that you will be using for training I think it is a great idea. You could also ditch those heavy ultra gator and go with something exotic like 195 grams to offset the weight of this "tube" What do you think. It would be nice to go on a training ride and leave the pump, tire lever and tubes at home and run over glass shards just for kicks.
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A saddle shouldn't be painful, but I can't think of a saddle I considered to be "comfortable"
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Sorry, any seat that is about the size of my foot with padding thinner than my pinky will never have the title of comfortable, especially when it supports my @$$ while hitting multiple bumps in the road. All I care about is that it's not painful and it doesn't make my junk go numb.
A saddle shouldn't be painful, but I can't think of a saddle I considered to be "comfortable"
A saddle shouldn't be painful, but I can't think of a saddle I considered to be "comfortable"
My saddle is perfectly comfortable as long as I'm not on it for more than 10 hours straight. I'm far less comfortable sitting in any other chair for the same amount of time.
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Sorry, any seat that is about the size of my foot with padding thinner than my pinky will never have the title of comfortable, especially when it supports my @$$ while hitting multiple bumps in the road. All I care about is that it's not painful and it doesn't make my junk go numb.
A saddle shouldn't be painful, but I can't think of a saddle I considered to be "comfortable"
A saddle shouldn't be painful, but I can't think of a saddle I considered to be "comfortable"
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There is an air-free tire on the market for 700x25c. They do suck.
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Proper inflation goes a long way.
Probably farther than no inflation at all.
Probably farther than no inflation at all.