I have been using the Continental 700x19-25 tubes. They are nice, but $5-$6 a piece. I have found the Michelin Airstop tubes for $4 w/36mm valves. Are they just as good as the Conti's?

They are working wellfor me.

Cheers,
Dusk

I just ponied up for 4 Vittoria Ultra lites from Competitive Cyclist...about $6 ea. I liked the presta valve length of 42mm...will see how they do after my next flat :-)
George

I've been quite happy with my Michelin tubes. They do seem to lose a little more air than other tubes I've used but not much more than any other ultralight tube. I prefer the stem of the Michelin tubes. They're just the right length for my rims and are unthreaded so they don't tear up my pump seals.

$1.75 is about my limit on tubes.Buy in bluk from jenson,pricepoint,supergo or performance. Unless you race for a living,tubes are tubes.

<beats head against wall>

I wondered how you got that way...lol.
George

I prefer cheaper tubes, but I am kinda preferable to the 36mm valves. Not that it's a big deal, but I just don't have deep V rims, and don't like the longer valves sticking way out..

I passed on the $4 Michelins, because they were almost twice as much with shipping. I think I'll just get the Conti's or similar from the local shop. Unless of course, another shop around here has Michelins.

I've run the cheap tubes also...it doesn't matter. I too like a particular valve length.
George

Yes. Air Stops are the shizzle....but they only work with Michelin tyres.

That's the same with me. I prefer the stems to be just long enough to slip the pump head on.


I got my Michelins from Performance when they had a sale on them. $2.50 each.

Yep... if you don't use them with Michelin tyres, they will leak out through the bead.

I used both conti and air stops and the only real diff. that I can recall is that the conti had threaded valve stems. I don't like that...so I use the airstops. I have also used the really cheap avalon or something like that. Frankly, I can't see that one has lasted longer than another and they all take patches fine for me......

Does using a thinner tube have any effect on rolling resistance?

For 53-11's question, I cannot tell any, but lately I use ultragatorskin tires and they are probably stiff enough to mask any difference. I would really think that the stiffness of the tire is 10X at least that of a tube. I doubt that a difference would be noted. That being said, one of the most supple tubes (and easy to patch) that I have used was a Colorado Cyclist sold item that I believe was "Torelli"...but I could not feel any ride diff. For rolling resistance, you are discussing a function involving dissipation of work. I would imagine that if very much were dissipated by the tube, it would overheat. The tire can dissipate heat via convection, conduction, and radiation. The tube is kind of stuck and I doubt that this mode amounts to anything. So my armchair engineering says NAW, but hey, YMMV

I suppose if it weighs 30g less, then you have a savings of time that is only a factor for racing I would think. I want tubes that hold air more than a day. Then I don't have to pump up EVERY day, just every other day.

I like the Michelins because they're made in France...

I've been meaning to try some French-made Hutchinson tubes...

I like the Michelins... cause they have threadless valves. I buy them and torelli tubes when I can find em...

I got a good deal on some "generic" tubes from Nashbar or Performance. About a buck each. Two or three times a week, I'd have a flat. Often a rupture along a seam. Or, a rupture where the valve was attached. Or the valve just came off. Or, the valve failed up at the seal.

I switched to "expensive" Continental tubes. Not a single flat in 2005, for any reason...not even nails, glass, roofing tacks...nada (knock on wood). My math indicates that a $5 tube that lasts a year or so is cheaper than a buck tube that last two days.

never had any probs with the "cheapie" tubes from Performance.

this is racking up lots of road and off-road miles.

-Z (cheap-dog spot)

I do like the airstops, but mine are clearly marked "made in yugoslavia" But hey, never met a Yugoslavian I didn't like; and that is quite a few....Where are the Michelin tires made...eg. Pro Race?

Khu.....dude...your chain's lookin' a little dry

That's the beauty of DuMonde Tech lube. It looks and acts pretty much like a dry lube but has the staying power of a wet lube. It's a polymer lube (not polymer in suspension) that goes in and sets up under pressure. Wet conditions don't wash it away like most dry lubes and it doesn't attract dirt like wet lubes.

and khoun...you have quite a bit of caked crud on your FD...clean that up man :-).
Seriously..khoun per an earlier discussion we had, I found a 10 speed KMC 6.2mm Missing Link at an on-line Tandem Dealer and ordered 3. The 10 speed KMC link...one time usage...are not easy to find...7-9 speed Missing Link variants are readily available. Decided to stick with this format link with the KMC X-10 chain.
Cheers,
George

biker 7, did you figure out a way to use lower priced chains with your Campag 10s?