self-inflating inner tube, still in development
 

That is interesting! I hope it works. Seems like a clever idea at least. I have seen other pumps that use this principle as well, but only for much lower pressure applications of incompressible fluids (liquids).

Hey noglider, any final thoughts on the Arcteryx jacket you bought last month? I hope you like it as much as I like mine...

Interesting. I wonder, however, how efficient it would be.

Any time a one is doing "work", that generally means it is not truly free energy.

The other issue I've encountered is slow vs fast leaks. It seems like I'm more likely to get a fast leak if I have a thin, undersized tube. Sometimes with a good size match, and thicker tube, I'll get a slow leak.

Maybe it would work good with an internal sealant, that is if the pumping and pressure relief system doesn't get all gummed up.

[MENTION=392454]CliffordK[/MENTION], I guess the goal will be to make sure the pump doesn't work very hard with each "stroke" so that it is imperceptible.

[MENTION=126124]dwmckee[/MENTION], I've been waiting to offer a good review, but as you know, it hasn't gotten cold yet. I've been wearing it a lot, and while riding the bike, I have to push the sleeves up. So far, it hasn't been passing the doesn't-make-me-too-hot test, but it might do better when the temperature drops. It is impressively light and compressible. Given how much I spent on it, I sure hope it lasts a few years. One flaw I see already is that it ought to have a two-way zipper, the kind that can be zipped up at the top and unzipped at the bottom. I might end up paying someone to install one for me. This is a good way to vent the headwind into my jacket. My rain jacket has this feature, and I really appreciate it.

I agree it has to continually consume rotational energy if it is continually pumping. It has to work that way if it is compressing a little bubble of air in front of the contact point all of the way around each revolution, no way out of that if it is always inflating... But for occasional riders that never use a tire pump (or do not even own one) or the folks I see scooting about on half filled tires, this might be a good invention. I doubt it will be seen in professional road racing or endurance events any time soon but it could have a great place among casual riders if it in fact works.

I do find my arms get a bit sweaty as there is no good ventilation for that part, but as far as the torso, I find it pretty excellent. I agree that we have just barely hit the temps so far where you want to be wearing it, but that may finally change this weekend. I am looking forward to real winter finally instead of this dreary in between stuff we are having. Our grass is starting to grow again and I may have to pull out the mower one last time before Christmas...

The jacket is better than anything else I had. I could wear sweaters under my rain jacket, but it's a lot of work, and it gets too hot and sweaty. I have an old Eddie Bauer fleece jacket with heavy nylon shell, and it's like an oven if I try to wear it on the bike. I think after 26 years or so, it's time to give it to a homeless person. We're having an epidemic of homelessness here. :(

I don't mind being able to ride without bundling up, but in the context of global warming, it's making me extremely nervous. At least today, with temperatures still higher than normal, it has that nice, brisk feel. I don't know about Pittsburgh, but around here, we have grey skies most of the winter. I'm learning to enjoy them as long as it's not raining with a cold wind.

After someone mentioned it a week ago, I decided to go pick up a pair of Tannus Musai Aither 1.1 solid tires

They should be here in a week or two. Then I'll try them out on my winter commuter.

I think they'll be lighter than my Marathons, and won't require a pump, spare tube, or patch kit.

If the solid tires work out, then the self-inflating tires could be obsolete before they become reality.