i ****ing hate the way tubes smell. prob the worst part about a bike ever.

+1

Probably baby powder / cornstarch.

At the shop, we powder all tubes before installation. I've never heard of powder INSIDE of a tube, though..

People, what does mold release compound look like?

Yeah, INSIDE. one was a vittoria tube and the other was a bontrager tube. both had white stuff but the bontrager stuff was harder to wash off.

I didn't know either...

Trons - if I had a camera and could be bothered I would post a picture of my Bob Jackson where the electric tape lifted the clear coat and pieces of the decals off when I unwrapped it.

you want to hear a great reason to tape your frame? I was caught in a hail storm last week and now I have a bunch of spots where the hail took the paint right off, right down to the steel. It looks like it's spattered with grey mud, but it's just the steel coming through in a series of heartbreaking, crushing, hurt-spots.

touche.

For what its worth, I remember reading somewhere It's a preservative they use to prevent the rubber from going bad. I might be mistaken though.

they put the powder on the tubes so that all the tubes won't stick together in the factory, that's the only reason for it. they also make putting tubes in tires easier.

the downside is, if you get a flat, your tire will immediately go flat. i take the talk off my tubes, it's not that much hard to put tubes in a tire. if i get a flat the air will stay inside the tube for a while and will slowly leak out. the tube gets stuck to the tire and so the air can't escape. this gives me enough air to get to a safe location later, or if your close to your destination you can pump up and keep going and safe patching up for later