PoLo

Hey all, so i've been looking to upgrade my pretty stock specialized sirrus sport. i'm lookin at going a bit lighter on the tire/tube combo. only problem is that it seems that finding light/superlight/ultralight tubes for my size are hard to come by. Anyone with my size tire and had any luck finding a light tube? do i have to jump to a different size? if so, what sizes would you guys recommend.

lastly, FWIW, i'm in NYC, so my bike riding is mostly on the streets. not sure if this is something to concern myself with seeing as the tubes would be thinner.

Currently i'm on your standard tube with the stock Specialized All-Condition tires.

Thanks!

Val23708

i think you're looking for the wrong thing

Busta Quad

You have 28 mm. tires and you're worried about the weight of the tubes?

thirdin77

I tried using 700x28-32 tubes in my 700x28 Continental Gatorskins. The tubes were so bulky that it was difficult to mount the tire and it was easy to pinch the tube in the process

On a whim, I used a 700x20-25 tube in that 28mm tire and mounting was super easy.

So do you want super light tubes for those 700x28's? You might just want plain old super light road tubes.

If you want a lighter tire recommendation, see above. You will be more prone to flats, though, as it is a road tire.

As well, you can run road wheels which will typically lighter, narrower rims and may give better ride quality because the narrower rims will allow your tire sidewall to bulge out moreso than a wider rim will, allowing the tire's sidewall to act more as a spring.

MIN 

you can use regular skinny tubes for 28c with no problem. it's rubber, it's stretches.

PoLo

thanks for the info. just starting off for now and well, after going through some searches, the tires/tubes seem to be the easiest to shed off some weight @ a lower cost. i may be misunderstood though.

i've also been reading on going one size lower is fine so i've been expanding my searches for that as well.

not really aiming to go ULTRA ULTRA light, but something lighter than normal, just to steer me in the right direction. thanks for your help.

MONGO!

And probably the LAST place you should be shaving weight from.

thirdin77

You're not mistaken, it is the easiest because changing tires and tubes requires little time or labor.

For a nominal 700x28, most road "racing" tires will be lighter-weight than trekking/city of the same size. The road tires will be somewhere inside of 350 grams, the trekking/city tires can be 500+ grams.

The road tires will be easier to accelerate, roll faster and corner and brake with better grip. The thicker-carcassed city tires will last longer and flat less often.

Well then give some suggestions.

nitropowered

use a 23/25 tube

MONGO!

Buy a better bike.

operator

If I may be kind, don't bother. Lighter tubes will have ZER0 effect for your bike.

PoLo

opinion greatly appreciated. i've gone ahead and just looked at buying your basic tube...or better, whatever's on sale! thanks all.

threeflys

From what I've read and experienced, Contis seem to run small for their stated size... I run 25mm Gators and they are pretty close to some other companies 23mm tires.

BTW- to all the weight weenies....unless you're on super smooth roads, 23mm tires with 120psi are actually slower than a larger tire with lower pressure....it's been proven. Something about the harder, skinnier tires skippng over the cracks in the pavement, etc... one such test here: https://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/i...64TireTest.pdf

GP

My commuter bike's 32mm tires get the hand me down patched 23mm tubes from my road bike.

I use lightweight tubes but only because they fold up a little smaller to fit in a seatbag or pocket. If I change a tube at home I use a regular tube.

sibaudio

Yea don't waste your time or money on lightweight tubes if you're riding in the city. I think they're a waste in general but on NYC streets they'll most likely be done after only a couple rides. My Fuji came with ultra light tubes and I popped the rear the first time out coming over the Brooklyn bridge. The front just blew up one time when I was sitting at my computer and I hear a tshhhhh!

Rutnick

people that bring up that article usually ride a rivendell....oh....well...that explains something.

threeflys

Drink the Kool Aid...Drink the Kool Aid!

thirdin77

Well, no one knew about it until is was proven. Suddenly, we emerge from the darkness.

threeflys

umm, did you actually look at the link?

Val23708

when fabian runs 28's then i'll run 28's.

threeflys

Did you see the piece on Mark Cavendish during the ToC? He rides with fenders AND big tires while training... You might be surprised what Fabian rides when he isn't in a race....

GP

thirdin77

I doubt it's bigger than 28 or 32, probably 28's as some road racing tires, at least some by Continental, come in that size.

I don't know of any 700x32 road race tires. I mean high thread counts, high maxiumum pressure (110-120psi), slick surface. No tread.

So what do they train on?

I suppose it could be 32's, but riding 32's on most pavement, esp moderate-to-smooth pavement, is noticeably sluggish. I ride on my Tricross' hybrid 700x32 tires almost only because I can run as low of a pressure as I want to in order to wander off road or ride despite the rain.

threeflys

I did mean he was prob on 28s... I just wanted to make a point that the pros don't ride on 23s all the time, I actually wonder if any run 25s in some of the races? ( I know they do in Paris-Roubaix)

MIN 

He runs 27c tubs on the Paris Roubaix, as well as the rest of the field.