Inner tubes

[eccc whippet]

Popped another spoke on the treksta...so i took the bike in to get it replaced and true the wheel...R 95 for the wheel true and R20 for a spoke...pretty reasonable I would think...I thought while the tyre was off maybe it would be a good idea to replace the tyre with a 700x25C instead if the 23 tyre and reduce the tyre pressure slightly...could help with the weight on the spokes.

 

So i fit new tyres (Gatoskins more puncture resistant...so they say) and head out for a ride on Sunday morning...15 km into the ride i feel the wheel going flat...%^&*$%^ mother ^&*%^$# ...yeah there was lots of swearing...lucky i was on my own.

 

I check the tyre for sharp objects...nothing the tyre is clear...fit the new tube... bomb it and off i go.

 

checked the tube this morning and found a hole in the tube...but i also find a whole lot of what looks like other holes.

 

I bought a couple of tubes on special for R100...yeah i know you get what you pay for...thought i would just use them as a back ups...it seems it is a bad idea.

 

 

Which brand of inner tube do you use and have you experienced any issue with other brands.

 

Do you think a tube which distorts when inflated out side the tyre can cause issue when fitted and pumped to 100 psi...wheel bounce etc ? 

 

Gel filled tubes a good idea?

 

 

 

 

 

[Brickleberry]

When I was a kid I had tubes that were repaired a million times and always baught the cheapest. Now that I have an idea of what can happen if you blow a tube at 70kph on your front wheel , I spend a little more. I do t know if it's a waste of money, but I would rather hunk I'm getting a better quality tube and not a tube with holes in that inflates skew .

[eccc whippet]

 

A brand new tube...which is stored as above under the saddle.

 

 

 

 

It was a brand new tube...could it have been damaged while fitting it?

 

If you zoom in it looks like there was a patch...but there was no patch.

 

 

I just find it very strange.

[xcd]

I prefer buying Kenda tubes ! I'm sure they are Chinese.

Our choices are Chinese - Chinese or Chinese

I would also be interested to know which are the best.

I feel for you as I've also been there.

[Hennie VR]

Do you use tire liners in your wheels?

 

If you do they may be to long and overlap and that can cause the punctures

[Cav']

Conti or Vredenstein tubes are both legit.

[eccc whippet]

Do you use tire liners in your wheels?

 

If you do they may be to long and overlap and that can cause the punctures

No tyre liners in my road bike...i did have them in my mtb before i went tubeless.

 

The last two punctures were both from sharp pieces of steel...this puncture is a mystery.

 

The amount of glass on the road i am surprised we dont get a lot more punctures.

[Eugene]

Silly question. Is there rim tape on your wheel. Even the cheapest of tubes don't break that easily.

[David Marshall]

That tube looks like it had a twist or fold in it when it was fitted.  The cheapie tubes generally work ok.  Not the lightest but they work.  I had one batch that some leaked where the tube attaches to the valve but out of the many I use can't say it was significant.

 

As to your spoke problems - nothing to do with your tires or pressures.  Most likely fatigue in the spokes (plural) or a nick or defect in the one spoke.  If another goes you may have to look at re spoking the wheel.

 

Forget sealant in the tubes - the unbalancing effect is pronounced on a road bike.