Schwalbe's and thornless inner tubes -- A little overkill?
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Schwalbe's and thorn resistant inner tubes -- A little overkill?
A bought some Schwalbe Marathon Pluses and mounted them along with thorn-resistant inner tubes on my tour bike. I swear that was like putting tracks on a tank. I hope I never have a flat. I know this combination makes the wheels a little heavier than your average bear but I do like the way they roll.
Now I'm second guessing whether I needed the thicker inner tubes but I'll be darned if I'm going to take those tires off unless it's absolutely warranted. So is this overkill?
Now I'm second guessing whether I needed the thicker inner tubes but I'll be darned if I'm going to take those tires off unless it's absolutely warranted. So is this overkill?
Last edited by ecrider; 09-10-10 at 08:08 PM.
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I've only ridden thorn-resistant tubes on a borrowed bike, but I'd rather fix flats than put up with that heavy, clunky ride. It was like the tires were carved out of wood.
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Were you getting lots of punctures before you went with the armor clad rim covers?
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That's just the thing. I had great success with my original stock tires but not with the replacement tire, which flatted repeatedly in a short period of time. It kept picking up flint and tiny shards of glass. I purchased the innertubes first, but later decided to go with the Schwalbe's when I realized that there would be several event rides coming up over the next couple of months.
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Okay, I get it. You had the thorn-resistant tubes, then bought the armoured tires. n this case, overkill would be filling the tubes with Slime, and putting Mr. Tuffy liners in the tires. Right now, you're only at a 'belt and suspenders' level, not total overkill.
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Thge Swalbe tyres are in comparison to others- not too bad a tyre. Bit heavy but the rubber is good and they roll reasonably well. Whether the puncture resistance of them is better than even some of the performance tyres- Conti 4000s and Michelin PR's- is up to you. But those thornelss tubes- They are heavy. Far too heavy for any use in my opinion as they still will not stop a determined thorn that is going to work it's way through the Tyre and eventually the tube.
I recently fitted one to a neighbours kids BMX. It weighed more than my tyre-tube and wheel on my road bike. And it did not stop the snakebite that occured when he ran into a kerb at full bore.
I recently fitted one to a neighbours kids BMX. It weighed more than my tyre-tube and wheel on my road bike. And it did not stop the snakebite that occured when he ran into a kerb at full bore.
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A bought some Schwalbe Marathon Pluses and mounted them along with thorn-resistant inner tubes on my tour bike. I swear that was like putting tracks on a tank. I hope I never have a flat. I know this combination makes the wheels a little heavier than your average bear but I do like the way they roll.
Now I'm second guessing whether I needed the thicker inner tubes but I'll be darned if I'm going to take those tires off unless it's absolutely warranted. So is this overkill?
Now I'm second guessing whether I needed the thicker inner tubes but I'll be darned if I'm going to take those tires off unless it's absolutely warranted. So is this overkill?
EDIT: Oh yeah, here's the thread also. It's a pretty good read. https://www.bentrideronline.com/messa...ad.php?t=63369
By the way, I'm running Marathon Plus tires on two of my bikes and though they can be a bit squirlly at times, I like the ride.
Last edited by cranky old dude; 09-11-10 at 12:37 AM.
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Check this out, I came across it in a thread over at bentrideronline...https://thelazyrando.wordpress.com/20...-to-fit-tires/
EDIT: Oh yeah, here's the thread also. It's a pretty good read. https://www.bentrideronline.com/messa...ad.php?t=63369
By the way, I'm running Marathon Plus tires on two of my bikes and though they can be a bit squirlly at times, I like the ride.
EDIT: Oh yeah, here's the thread also. It's a pretty good read. https://www.bentrideronline.com/messa...ad.php?t=63369
By the way, I'm running Marathon Plus tires on two of my bikes and though they can be a bit squirlly at times, I like the ride.
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No such thing as a "thorn proof tube" - at least not around goatheads. I don't quite know what "thorn resistant" means - does it just take longer for the thorn to work through?
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It just puts more distance between the outer surface of the tire, and the inner surface of the tube.
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The only tube I have ever had that would give me any "Protection" against Thorns was a Thick Latex tube. The thorn would still penetrate the tube but the latex would semi-seal around the thorn. The puncture was still there and would give me a slow puncture- but pump it up and it would last till I got home. Or I would get home without realising I had a puncture and it would go down a couple of hours later.
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Anyway, I rode about 35 miles on the tires today and the overall ride "feel" wasn't much different than the Vittoria's I had been running. However, the extra weight got noticeable after mile 15. So I'm going to gird my loins and take them off this afternoon.
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Ha Ha. I don't know the answer to that question. I do know that after I mounted those tubes with the Schwalbe's my son felt the tire and remarked that it felt pretty hard. I laughed and said just wait until I put some air in it.
Anyway, I rode about 35 miles on the tires today and the overall ride "feel" wasn't much different than the Vittoria's I had been running. However, the extra weight got noticeable after mile 15. So I'm going to gird my loins and take them off this afternoon.
Anyway, I rode about 35 miles on the tires today and the overall ride "feel" wasn't much different than the Vittoria's I had been running. However, the extra weight got noticeable after mile 15. So I'm going to gird my loins and take them off this afternoon.
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#20
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Would estimate that the thorn proof tubes are between 3 and 4 lbs. and that is right at the extremity of the wheel. The hardest place to get it to accelerate- but once up to 30mph- it will assist on speed.
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Stepfam, I bet you're estimating for a mountain bike. These are 32s and they weigh in at 15 ounces as opposed to my regular inner tubes, which are about 5 ounces.
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It wasn't a road tube but 15 ozs for a tube still seems a lot. Put that along with a tyre that weighs appreciably more than say a Folding tyre and you will feel it .
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#24
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Rode My touring bike and it's camping load from south western Ireland to Northern Scotland and stayed about 6 months ,
Never had a puncture the whole trip, on Thorn Resistant Tubes, 622-40 tires.
Never had a puncture the whole trip, on Thorn Resistant Tubes, 622-40 tires.
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Well if the combo adds, say, 4 pounds to the bike but works that should be motivation to take 4-6 pounds off the rider. Net gain is less weight to power and probably a bit healthier.