dellwilson

I've not been carrying tire repair on my rides. Instead, I've been riding loops that never stray further than 15mi from home and limiting my toolkit to a cellphone. I'm now gearing up for longer rides and need to order a spare tube. However, I'm not sure if I need to get 48mm or 60mm valves. I have Vuelta XRP Road Pro wheels. What do I need?

TMB

Is this really what it comes down to??


Really.

??

bike_boy

If they are 60mm, be sure to include a valve extender in your bag for those times when only 48mm valved ubes are available; then, be sure to use screw-on washer on 48mm valve so it doesn't fall back thru rim when you need to mess with it.

bike_boy

Got flats within couple of miles from start. Quicker to change/patch then wait on or call for help...hope you get a seat bag and complement
it with tube, patch kit, valve extender, multi-tool, pump or CO2 system.
There's also a tire patch for when the tire itselkf tears. Some folks
sinmply use a dollar bill for this and tuck it between tube and tire as a temp
fix.

wirelessness

You shouldn't need 60mm valve stems for 27mm wheels.

Randochap

L b s Buy spare. Learn how to replace.

Velo Dog

Maybe it's my mountain bike background--REAL mountain biking, miles from help--but I'm bewildered by anybody who doesn't carry what he might need to get a bike back on the road after a breakdown. Flats are so common I can't even imagine riding without the tools and materials to deal with them. You DESERVE to walk 15 miles. Plus another five for relying on the cell phone.
As for the tube, go to a bike shop and ask them what you need. Then buy one. You'll save shipping and help keep a shop in business.

dellwilson

Hey. Don't I know you? Yeah. That's right. You're the bike snob. I know. It's more fun to heap derision and sarcasm on someone rather than educate. It's good to know you're still around. Everyone else on the forum has been so... helpful.

I will have to disagree with you on this topic. This is just classic risk/mitigation strategy; considering frequency and severity and devising appropriate mitigation strategies.

Considering frequency: I logged thousands of miles on my old Peugeot during the 80s and 90s, always carrying a spare tube and CO2 inflator and never once had to use it. I've logged 1038 miles since getting back into cycling in late June of this year with no incidents.

Considering severity: As long as I'm not far from home, I have a supportive wife with a huge SUV, and I have a 17 year old son for whom I've provided a car, the consequences are that I have a short wait for a ride.

As I've been thinking about rides that take me farther from home, the severity side of the equation goes up. Changing the equation causes me to change my mitigation strategy, which brings me here to inquire about spare tubes.

I really don't think I deserve to walk 15 miles just because I choose a different strategy than you. I know there is a risk that I will get hit by a car during my ride to/from work every day so I have blinky lights and wear a high-vis jersey. I see others that do not, but I certainly don't think they deserve to get hit because they don't. They merely calculate the risk differently.

tagaproject6

Have you measured your valves? That is the best thing to do to ensure you get the right valve stem height. Check that the valves have threads on them as well, some have smooth valve stems. And get 2 spare tubes.

kimconyc

You can use either 48mm or 60mm valves on those wheels.

Don't forget to carry a pump, and/or CO2 cartridge with head, and possibly a tire lever. If you have never changed a flat before, I'd suggest practicing a couple times at home with the mini pump and CO2 as well.

This video shows exactly what to do to change a flat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5K-DXt9djA

As you ride further, you might want to invest in a patch kit (or use old tubes) and a tire boot (you can use a folded up dollar bill or cut up a piece of old tire you can get for free from the lbs trash can).

StanSeven

Don't be so sensitive. The poster was just trying to say two things.

You have been very fortunate with the lack of flats. You'll find people posting here with numerous flats.

He's saying take advantage of local businesses and their expertise. You can take your bike there, ask for their help, and get a tube from them that you know will be fine.

But it looks like a 48 is all that's needed with your wheel.

tagaproject6

A little OT...how do you like the Vuelta Wheels as compared to the OEM wheels? I can never quite get the difference between Vuelta XRP and Vuelta USA , if they are even the same or not. Do you mind telling me what they cost and from where?

AngryScientist 

seems like everyone covered it, but if in doubt for your spare tube, just get the longer stem, worst case you have a little more stem showing, no harm in that.

also as mentioned, a lot of lbs will sell road tubes 3 for 10 or something cheap, might be worth looking into...

tinman143

48mm

Jynx

They will both work fine. 48mm is long enough and the 60mm will just stick out more. I ran 60mm valves on my open pros. besides sticking out a ton they work fine.

Flatballer

I always just buy long stem. I can loan them to friends with deep wheels, and considering I've been using the same 5 tubes for a long time, I'll probably still be using them when I buy my own deep wheels.

They look a little stupid, but whatever.

Quel

Man, that wheel's website bothers me. I'm not sure its kosher to call a wheel "lightweight" or charge $700 for a set when its over 2000g.

But for that depth rim, pretty much any tube you get will be fine.

dellwilson

I'm no expert on those wheels. I didn't seek them out; they simply came with the bike. My bike is a 2009 Motobecane Sprint and I have been very pleased with it. I ride my '83 Peugeot UO14 to work every day, but that is just because of the need to mount lights, rack, panniers, etc. For all rides other than the commute, I hop on the Moto.

The wheels feel very fast to me, but my only reference is the Peugeot and it weighs a ton. I can tell you that there is a rough stretch of road (about 1.5m long) on a 28 mile loop that I ride frequently where there are periodic (every 4-5ft) cracks raised in the pavement and that section seems to suck the life out of me. I don't know if other wheels would perform better in that situation or not.

That's probably not very useful information to you, but maybe you can glean something from it. I'd be happy to answer any other question about the wheels.

DScott

A flat tire turns a "bike-ride" into a "bike-walk," or in your case, a "bike-sit-around-on-my-butt-and-wait-for-someone-to-bail-me-out".

It seems your risk mitigation strategy is to impose on others. I'm sure all these other people have nothing else to do but sit around and wait, just in case you get a flat. If you can't be bothered to take care of your own business, why should they?

It takes all of five minutes to change a tube. Then you can get on with your ride, which I imagine was the whole point of the activity to start with.

Besides, what do you do when you're magically conveyed home in the Canyonero with that flat tire? Are you going to waste more time and gas driving that now useless bike to the bike-flat-fixing-store, only to have to wait until the bike-flat-fixing-gods are able to bestow on you their magical bike-flat-fixing powers and return your now rideable bike back to you? Of course, you or one of your minions have to drive the restored bike back home again.

That's not a waste.

OK, rant over. It's a good question about stem length, because I almost got stuck one time when my Co2 inflator couldn't fill a tire because the valve was too short. I didn't know it was too short because the tire pump at home always worked just fine. I assumed I was good. It was very early (dawn), I was riding to meet people for a long day out, and would have been screwed if I didn't have a small pump as backup.

My risk mitigation strategy for ALL rides is: two tubes, patch kit, 2 Co2 carts and inflator, Topeak Micro Rocket mini-pump on water bottlemount, multi-tool, cash, and cell phone (among other things). I'm not walking, if I can help it, and I'm not going to call somebody for help unless someone is bleeding.

Just sayin'.