When I was a kid, I had learned to add talc in the form of baby powder along the tube during a flat repair. This presumably kept the tube from binding to the tire or rim during inflation.

Now, 60 years later I do the same. But I haven't in the current century haven't heard of anyone else doing this, and wonder if it's really necessary.

If nothing else, it makes my tubes smell like a baby's butt.

It does help , I still do it ,just not too many people do it anymore , unless you one of us old timers .

Hi,

Talc for tubes is an ongoing myth.

Chalk for patches to stop the tube sticking isn't. However modern patch kits don't include it.
Glues (only applied to the tube) are matched to the sealed packaged patches and I assume
around the patch with hand grease from rubbing down the patch, won't stick to the tyre.

rgds, sreten.

I use talc on a new tube or patch.

I alway use baby powder on my tubes. It allows the tube the ability to sort of slide into the proper position when its inflated and keeps it from sticking to the inside of the tire.

My experience is that it does help keep the tube from sticking when first installed especially when there is patch glue exposed but over time the tire will stick the same as with no talc.

It's fine as long as you're not planning to patch the tube on the road. The patch won't stick to the powder.

I use it sometimes, but not sure if it's effective. Probably it's a relic from the time when tubes were made of natural rubber.

Some use it, some don't - I think it's mostly useful when one is having a problem mounting. In over 20 years in the biz I never used talc. As for glue around a patch I don't like complicating my life when out on the road, so i always just pass my fingers over some road dust and use that to "talc." the area around the patch.

Gold Bond powder, manly as can be and does exactly as you learned as a sprout.

-Bandera

What tube?

I use it, it keeps the tube from adhering to the tire.

You don't need to use scented stuff:

I use it too and the bike shop where I work use it. I actually learn it from them.

JDT has it .. Industrial un scented un bleached Talc.. just the other stuff is more widely shipped,
so LBS gets to be smelling Good..

I use baby powder I bought from The Dollar Store on new patch areas.

Use the most expensive powder - cocaine .... guaranteed to get high inflation.

Tubes used to come lightly talc'ed, but I don't recall that recently. I never added any in my 50 years of riding.

I always talc. I pre-talc my spare tubes and wrap them in saran wrap. It really eases installation and removal of the tire and tube, and also helps keep the tube from getting pinched under the tire bead on installation. Talc on the bead of the tire also helps. I don't think it does anything other or more than help with installation and removal.

To patch on the road, (I use self adhesive patches temporarily) simply wipe the talc off with a finger wet with water, spit or sweat. Wiping firmly on your jersey, shorts, top of your sock, back of your glove, etc. works too.

Yup. That's exactly what it's for. Why make it harder on yourself?

Talc is an actual chemical compound and is unhealthy if inhaled, and almost no baby powders still use it.

My spare tubes in my seat bag are in an old sock with some baby powder to coat them.

If I change a tube at home, I put some baby powder in the tire and spread it around.

It doesn't have any effect except to lubricate for installation. It takes away the stickiness of new tube rubber.

I have used talc for over 30 years. It cant hurt. If you get a new bike, and dont have a flat for a long time, when you take the tire off, the tube always seems to be stuck to the tire.

As far as being a problem apply a glueless patch, to make the patch stick you always need to sandpaper the area around the hole which removes talc in that area.

BTW if reparing a flat at home, not only do I talc the tire, but I pump up the tire the first time to about 75% of the pressure I want, but then let the air out and and reinflate to full pressure. That insures that the tube is properly seated without stress areas.

I have always used talc on tubes AND tires. I have had to really work to peel some tubes out of tires that have not been talc'd.
I,too, also keep my road spare tubes in a zip-loc bag with talc added.
May no longer be a necessity, but what can it hurt?

Yes, "baby powders" are now based on corn starch, which can serve the same purpose as talc on tires as well. But I wonder if it would last as long, particularly if it gets wet?

Just bought a container at my Fred Meyer store (Kroger owned)
Ingredients are talc &fragrance.

+1. I use baby powder (corn starch these days?) to dust the inside of new tires and the outside of tubes. It makes installation easier and makes trapping the tube between the tire and rim less likely. it also keeps a tube from bonding to the tire interior after several months of use. I've nearly torn tubes removing those that weren't treated.