Presta Valve Question
 

Hi everyone,
I was all set to order a new tube for my 2010 Surly Long Haul Trucker and have run into a curious situation. Here are 2 possible tubes that could fit: https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...w&ved=0CEgQ6SQ vs. Amazon.com: Q-Tubes Super Light 700c x 35-43mm 60mm PRESTA Valve Tube: Sports & Outdoors. Both seem like they could fit but have slightly different measurements. I have Continental Contact, 700c x 37mm tires. Which is one is best? Why is one tube 60 mm and the other 32 mm?
Thanks,
Neil

it may be, but i could be wrong, that the number refers to the length of the valve stem. what with all the concern these days about deep rims and all, variability in valve stem length has become an issue.

The tube fit has plenty of fudge room, since it's simply a rubber balloon that will expand to fill all the availabls space within the tire.

As for the valves, they come in various lengths because rims come in various depths. The valve has to reach through with at least 3/4" or so so you can pump. Valves that are too long aren't desirable because they weigh more, but more important because they increase the risk of breaking when pumping.

Those links both go to the same tube.
Longer valves are needed for deeper rims, such as deep V style rims.

Why in the world do you want a "superlight" tube? Fragile, easier to pinch, easier to puncture.....only the racers seem to want these, and most of those guys have abandoned tubes this size altogether.....

I'm not a racer but I use ultralight tubes because they are lighter and being on the peripheral part of the wheel they make a difference in acceleration (and climbing). I have no more flats with ultralights than with standard thickness tubes. If fact I think the ones I buy are better quality controlled in manufacturing. Anything that punctures a tire will also puncture a tube. All of the strength is in the tire.

Would you bother using them in a 37mm tire like the OP?

Thanks everyone!

That's a good question. The only reason I made that post was because someone else made a comment about only racers wanting "superlight" tubes. I didn't actually mean to recommend ultralight tubes to the OP or anyone not concerned with wheel weight. I should probably have stayed out of the thread. But to answer your question, if I rode a bike with tires that big I would not be concerned with the weight of the tubes. I would not be afraid of using an ultralight tube in a big tire but I would not waste any money on expensive tubes either.

extra rotating weight has no more effect on climbing than static weight

Someone run tests just about that, and rotating weight has bigger effect than static weight on acceleration, including climbing. OTOH, the difference was not huge, and hard/impossible to notice by an average rider. I guess it's more of a difference in our heads only lol

i would love to read about that

can you provide a link

Will try to find it again. I believe it was a video, so probably YouTube, but not sure now.

EDIT: Or I saw it in a Bicycling magazine. All I remember was seeing it...so either pictures in a magazine, or video on YouTube. Will keep you posted when I find it.

Here some reading I found so far:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/...-matter_223209

http://biketechreview.com/reviews/wh...el-performance