BNB

I'd like to buy a bunch of 700x23 (presta, long stem) tubes online to save $$. For those of you who buy tubes online, what do you buy and where?

tia!

achoo

Ribble or ProBikeKit, whenever I buy tires though.

Ribble seems to have better prices on tubes last I checked.

Homebrew01

But PBK has free shipping, so gotta factor that in.

BikeWise1

I haven't put a tube in a bike tire on a bike I own in two years.....

Time to move into the present guys!

Running a set of R3 700 X 25 tires on my Stan's taped HED Belgium rims. No flats in 30,000 miles. Oh, and the ride quality is unreal.

RoadLight

@BNB: I've been getting most of my tires and tubes from Bike Tires Direct (www.biketiresdirect.com) for several years. In addition to great prices, they also have great service. I had a Continental tube blow up during installation and take out a new Continental tire. The tube wasn't pinched---it was just a freak defect (which, in my experience, is very rare for Continental). Bike Tires Direct replaced both without any hassle.

@BikeWise1: Respectfully, if you had really "moved into the present" you wouldn't need the rim tape! ;-D The inner layer of my tubeless Shimano rims has no holes (except for the valve). No tape is needed and they are easy to seal. Plus they work with either tubeless or clinchers with tubes. I believe that tubeless is the future---but it's not fully here yet. The selection of tubeless tires is still too narrow, they cost too much, they weigh more than comparable clinchers with tubes and many are a pain to install. If I were riding in the mountains, I'd only use tubeless. But I don't. I ride only smooth asphalt on a road bike. For the present, clinchers and tubes still rule the road. I give it 5-10 years before tubeless achieves critical mass on the road.

Kind regards, RoadLight

Raiden

Be careful buying cheap tubes just for cheapness' sake. You've spent thousands of dollars on bicycles and kit- you'll pay for a couple dollars' savings tubing rubber in flats (I'm not talking about from thorns but about mechanical failures), frustration and last-place finishes.

It's not just the rubber that you're looking at, the valves also very in quality greatly. I've had great luck with Contis and Michelins, though they cost a few dollars more.

If tube replacements are really putting a dent in your wallet somehow, consider other avenues- different tires, rim strips. etc.

LesterOfPuppets

I get the pricepoint quantity discount ones. Bummed that one of my bikes needs long stems now. Gotta pay extra for them.

Raiden

Look into using valve extenders on normal-length valves. I prefer the type that you use with removable-core valves, but the type that just screw on over your valves work just fine too, and are usually cheaper.

fietsbob

A long time ago I got a 3 fer box at performance .


Though now the odd tube like Schwalbe, AV4- Schrader, For My Brompton have me buying by calling up a Portland dealer

regular ones The LBS is as cheap as anywhere ..

Delmarva

If it's an immediate need I just hit the lbs. Otherwise if I'm buying online it's usually at Universal Cycle. Even good quality tubes are one of the least expensive components so I don't think you will be "saving" much money. Additionally tubes are not something that gets replaced every week so you could end up with 30 tubes sitting on a shelf for years.

My advice is to buy one good quality tube and just replace it as needed.

BNB

Thanks for the information everyone.

I'd love to live where you ride, @Delmarva! I ride in the backcountry So Cal where the streets are lined with goatsheads. Oh, and it doesn't rain here much (like almost never these last years) so lots of glass and junk on the side of the road. I ride gatorskins - not sure how much help they are as I still get plenty of flats.

I'm not looking for cheaply made tubes - just a little less than bike shop and to buy in bulk and not have to think about tubes for a long while.

BNB

This is what I came up with for 3 online stores with 10 tubes order:

Store | Tube Price | Tube Description | Shipping

Universal Cycles $9.00 Cont. 700 x 18-25c 42mm PV $8.00
Price Point $8.00 CONTINENTAL TUBE PRESTA 700x18-25 LIGHT 60mm $11.00
Bike Tires Direct $6.47 Continental Tour 700 Tube Presta Valve 42mm $0.00

I have to see if 42mm is long enough for my rims and I don't know what "Tour" means but if that means "heavy" that's OK with me - especially if they're thicker rubber (fewer flats?).

Delmarva

Just be aware that as with heavy duty tires the puncture resistant tubes have a cost. They can be harder to pedal. My suggestion would be to get some really good tires like Swalbe Marathon and watch where you are riding. Don't load up on a bunch of tubes.

LesterOfPuppets

Gotta go with Biketiresdirect.com. Sign up with them and you get 10% of that order discounted of a future order.

Not sure Whatcha gotta do to get free shipping, as I always ride over there to pickup mine.

They also have Diadora spd touring shoes for $15 in size 36-41, if you need a pair of those.

RoadGuy

I just ordered a supply of tubes from Performance (PBK?) on sale.

Buy three and get the fourth free. AND 25% off the cost of the three tubes I paid for, making the total $13.50 for four tubes.

Free shipping when any Park Tool is ordered at the same time, making it a great time to add to your tool collection (25% off most tools too).