So I ditched 85g butyl for 35g TPU inner tubes
#51
Banned.
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,070
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 359 Post(s)
Liked 582 Times
in
336 Posts
So with that out of the way, on to the test results: I can't claim to perceive a difference even if you'd pay me in a lifetime supply of plastic to describe the new 'road feel' and 'acceleration boost'. My average speed was slightly up, but then again I think I had two fewer dog leashes than usual stretched across the river bike path on this careful test run.
Now I am curious - who here has gone TPU, what do you have to say about it, and can we get any anecdotes regarding long term reliability?
Now I am curious - who here has gone TPU, what do you have to say about it, and can we get any anecdotes regarding long term reliability?
Aero-solid.
Agile yet stable.
That about does it.
#52
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: VA
Posts: 1,437
Bikes: SuperSix Evo | Revolt
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 733 Post(s)
Liked 815 Times
in
414 Posts
In the event of a puncture, a Latex tube can sometimes be a real pain to install by the roadside. You have to be far more careful than when just whacking in a regular butyl tube. Just something to consider.
I run Latex tubes on my TT bike, but for the spare tube(s) I carry a Conti Race Light.
I run Latex tubes on my TT bike, but for the spare tube(s) I carry a Conti Race Light.
Likes For Rides4Beer:
#53
should be more popular
Thread Starter
Neither my saddle bag nor my tool bottle (the latter is what I generally use) have enough space to carry two performance butyl tubes along with the other bits. With TPU I can comfortably carry two and roadside installation is not an issue. I haven't had a flat on them yet, but just going off the initial installation at home. I think they are ideal for spares no matter what primary tube (or no-tube) is run.
Likes For yaw:
#54
Newbie
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 14
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
So light you can pack two in place of one butyl
I can now carry two spare TPU tubes instead of one butyl which can get me home in a pinch. I also carry one TPU, one C02 and a tire lever as my race repair kit.
Likes For eja_ bottecchia:
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 3,715
Bikes: Too many bikes, too little time to ride
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Liked 472 Times
in
327 Posts
Two years later and I now have TPU on several bikes. Paired with nice 23-25mm open clinchers, it almost feels like nothing at all.
#57
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,524
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7359 Post(s)
Liked 2,502 Times
in
1,451 Posts
Wait, are you sure you're using these right?
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Likes For noglider:
#58
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 18,086
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10488 Post(s)
Liked 12,015 Times
in
6,151 Posts
They roll up very small, I think. I have a Michelin ultra light butyl, folded into a long oval that's the length of my small saddle bag, so it packs efficiently.
Saddle bag wear
I've seen two saddle bag spares that went flat soon after replacing a punctured tire. They had been in the saddle bag for many months or years, and the folded edge got enough wear to make it a weak point. The hole was like a snakebite slit, but all rough and abraded along the edge of the slit.
I wrap my spare in a piece of Tyvek from an old overnight envelope to protect it. (It's been in there a couple of years now.)
Saddle bag wear
I've seen two saddle bag spares that went flat soon after replacing a punctured tire. They had been in the saddle bag for many months or years, and the folded edge got enough wear to make it a weak point. The hole was like a snakebite slit, but all rough and abraded along the edge of the slit.
I wrap my spare in a piece of Tyvek from an old overnight envelope to protect it. (It's been in there a couple of years now.)
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
#59
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: 757
Posts: 11,275
Bikes: Madone, Emonda, 5500, Ritchey Breakaway
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10250 Post(s)
Liked 5,209 Times
in
2,235 Posts
my wife would argue latex does not make me faster.
Have not tried TPU tubes yet. Don’t care for aliexpress and my local shops want 30 bucks for one tube. Honestly would like to make my emonda and madone tubeless. Havnt decided yet.
Have not tried TPU tubes yet. Don’t care for aliexpress and my local shops want 30 bucks for one tube. Honestly would like to make my emonda and madone tubeless. Havnt decided yet.
#60
The Wheezing Geezer
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Española, NM
Posts: 1,083
Bikes: 1976 Fredo Speciale, Rivendell Clem Smith Jr., Libertas mixte
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 417 Post(s)
Liked 961 Times
in
461 Posts
The Park Tool self-adhesive patches have worked well on my Pirelli P-Zero TPU tubes. I didn't use any alcohol, but did rough up the tube with the little sandpaper square Park gives you.
My experience with TPU has been fine so far.
My experience with TPU has been fine so far.
#61
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,459
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4250 Post(s)
Liked 2,962 Times
in
1,819 Posts
Rene Herse Cycles claims that a lot of the slow leakage of the TPU tubes is due to plastic stems that deforms when the metal valve core gets screwed in leading to space and thus leakage. Of course, that's because they're coming out with a line of (slightly heavier) TPU tubes with metal stems.
__________________
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
#62
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,277
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2616 Post(s)
Liked 5,741 Times
in
2,956 Posts
I have a Tubolito for emergency for my tubeless tires in case of sidewall or non-plug able offenses. Takes next to no room in saddle bag.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Likes For rsbob:
#63
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,658
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4759 Post(s)
Liked 1,538 Times
in
1,007 Posts
On the flip side, it seems that you're not supposed to use CO2 cartridges with TPU, so in an emergency you're back to old-school having to use and bring a pump. And since you're tubeless especially, the pump is going to be a really seldom-needed item.
Likes For Sy Reene:
#64
Senior Member
https://www.tubolito.com/faq/
Where people claim there is a problem it is either the quick burst on initial inflation or the quicker bleed down over time. The former can be avoided with some care if your inflator has a decent trigger valve and the latter isn't a huge deal.
Likes For staehpj1:
#65
Full Member
I have been running RideNow 36g and even 19g TPU tubes for 2 years now with two flats and one that had a defective valve. At sub $12 now via Amazon per tube, I am not sure why you would pay up for a Tubolito at like $30 and I am not sure why you would run latex since these are heavier, larger, and cost as much as a Tubolito plus the rolling resistance data doesn't really matter at 15mph or greater and the ride quality can be adjusted via running lower pressures and or using larger tires. I can run two spare TPU tubes in a tiny .41L Silca saddle bag. The tubes save so much space I have room for an electronic portable pump, patch kits, two coin cell batteries, an SRAM AXS battery, and a multitool.
#66
Full Member
I would suggest getting a small portable hand pump but I personally use a portable mini electric pump that fits right into my saddle bag with two TPU spares and a bunch of other stuff
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1
#67
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,658
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4759 Post(s)
Liked 1,538 Times
in
1,007 Posts
I would suggest getting a small portable hand pump but I personally use a portable mini electric pump that fits right into my saddle bag with two TPU spares and a bunch of other stuff
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1
#68
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,198
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3509 Post(s)
Liked 3,652 Times
in
1,830 Posts
Where people claim there is a problem [with inflating TPU with CO₂] it is either the quick burst on initial inflation or the quicker bleed down over time. The former can be avoided with some care if your inflator has a decent trigger valve and the latter isn't a huge deal.
Single datum: I have inflated TPU with CO₂ on the roadside, and nothing asploded.
#69
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,658
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4759 Post(s)
Liked 1,538 Times
in
1,007 Posts
#70
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,198
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3509 Post(s)
Liked 3,652 Times
in
1,830 Posts
No idea, but saw this: https://forums.thepaceline.net/showp...3&postcount=65
Ah yes, a cold blast of CO₂ also can freeze butyl tubes, causing them to burst at the valve stem. Ask me how I know.
#71
Senior Member
So maybe it is a good idea to tak it a little slow when filling with co2, but as mentioned above at least one brand blesses co2 with no caveate.
#73
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,524
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7359 Post(s)
Liked 2,502 Times
in
1,451 Posts
I think it's time to declare myself an old curmudgeon. I've tried lots of new stuff, but I plan to stick with carrying a pump and using butyl inner tubes for the rest of my life.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#74
Junior Member
I’ve ridden on 700x28 Conti GP5000 tires with 36g RideNow TPU tubes for about 8 months now. No complaints. This setup replaced heavier tires and butyl tubes for a total weight savings of 230 grams. Maybe placebo but it feels like there is less force required at the pedal during acceleration.
#75
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,601
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4492 Post(s)
Liked 4,964 Times
in
3,069 Posts
I’ve ridden on 700x28 Conti GP5000 tires with 36g RideNow TPU tubes for about 8 months now. No complaints. This setup replaced heavier tires and butyl tubes for a total weight savings of 230 grams. Maybe placebo but it feels like there is less force required at the pedal during acceleration.