Tjoobs

[Slowbee]

We live in an area that is between the centre of town and the formal/informal area of Somerset West. As a result I see plenty of commuters on a daily basis.

 

And hence lots of these guys have flat tyres. Now in watching/helping these guys I have seen some pretty hectic make a plan to get home kinda thing.

 

One guy just made a knot in the tube. Battled like mad to try get it back on the wheel. I drove home, got a new tube and when I got back to him he was still battling. He was really happy to have a new tube and was on his way in 5 min.

 

But where can I get hold of cheap tubes? Mostly 26er in size. Anyone with a supplier contact where I can buy a whole box of tubes and when I see someone with a flat just give them a new tube? The local shop has them at R50 bucks. Now R50 for us is one less coffee and biscuit - for the commuters that is a whole lot of food.

 

Hopefully someones can get me in contact with a supplier for about R20 or R30 a tube ?

 

 

 

[Eddy Gordo]

Try Omnico, hopefully they can help you out. Will also see what I can do for you.

[Gr3mlin131]

We live in an area that is between the centre of town and the formal/informal area of Somerset West. As a result I see plenty of commuters on a daily basis.

 

And hence lots of these guys have flat tyres. Now in watching/helping these guys I have seen some pretty hectic make a plan to get home kinda thing.

 

One guy just made a knot in the tube. Battled like mad to try get it back on the wheel. I drove home, got a new tube and when I got back to him he was still battling. He was really happy to have a new tube and was on his way in 5 min.

 

But where can I get hold of cheap tubes? Mostly 26er in size. Anyone with a supplier contact where I can buy a whole box of tubes and when I see someone with a flat just give them a new tube? The local shop has them at R50 bucks. Now R50 for us is one less coffee and biscuit - for the commuters that is a whole lot of food.

 

Hopefully someones can get me in contact with a supplier for about R20 or R30 a tube ?

 

I got some at Mr Price Sport the other day for my old 26er. From this link the are R30 for two, which should be a bit better price. https://www.mrpsport.com/en_za/twin-pack-presta-inner-bicycle-tube-26-6402010067

[Eddy Gordo]

otherwise Makro should also be able to assist explain to them your story.

[madmarc]

Great initiative - just an idea - take their old tubes and fix the puncture and then hand them out again

[MrJacques]

Just a note on cheaper tubes (in general), some tend to leak air. It's a very slow leak (over a few days) though, not much of a concern.

[scotty]

Avoid the cheap Raleigh ones, they are cr@p, patch kit are also cheaper than new tubes.  

[dave303e]

having just spent R549.00 on a spare tjoob I now feel bad haha.

Props to you for helping though. I buy boxes of repair kits and patches monthly since letting my garden engineer use them and when he needs them. Those old 26er rims won't go tubeless too well.

[Eddy Gordo]

Slowbee, I sent you a pm

[Leon O]

This is such a great idea to help those that need help.

Just another idea if I may.

What about getting a couple of sponsored sealer containers from supportive bike outlets, and arrange a pit stop en route, and fill up tubes as they come past. I do not live close by, but it certainly is something to think about in my area.

A couple of years ago Pretoria Traffic had a stop en route to work one day, where they handed out helmets and reflective jackets to bike commuters.For months afterwards I remember seeing these okes on bikes with helmets and jackets until I moved away.

[Slowbee]

Great initiative - just an idea - take their old tubes and fix the puncture and then hand them out again

That is part of the plan - but some of those tubes are more patch than rubber.

[Slowbee]

This is such a great idea to help those that need help.

Just another idea if I may.

What about getting a couple of sponsored sealer containers from supportive bike outlets, and arrange a pit stop en route, and fill up tubes as they come past. I do not live close by, but it certainly is something to think about in my area.

A couple of years ago Pretoria Traffic had a stop en route to work one day, where they handed out helmets and reflective jackets to bike commuters.For months afterwards I remember seeing these okes on bikes with helmets and jackets until I moved away.

Pit stop on route is ideal - but currently time consuming.

 

Would much rather give the guy a tube who is battling to sort out a flat or walking becuase of a flat.

 

But I like madmarcs idea of recycling them is good idea, as is also handing out patch kits.

[Shebeen]

if only ghetto tubeless was more prominent in the ghetto townships.

[MrJacques]

Tyre liners might help too.

 

Permatubes for a long term solution

[RobertWhitehead]

My suggestion / solution is two fold: 

1. Create a https://www.backabuddy.co.za/ page and state your intentions over there
2. Make contact with the folks with the bike shops in the area.  

 

Now if the shops down in CT are anything like what we have here in Gauteng then I can guarantee you that they have tjoobs lying on their shelves for many years. So, strike an agreement with the shops to get the "old-new stock" at a reduced rate and use the proceeds from Back-a-buddy to fund it. You can then use your own discretion and replace one or two items more rather than just letting the guys ride off with a chain or groupset that you can clearly see will be the next thing to go  .

 

I will gladly donate to your page once it's up and running  .

[Slowbee]

My suggestion / solution is two fold: 

1. Create a https://www.backabuddy.co.za/ page and state your intentions over there
2. Make contact with the folks with the bike shops in the area.  

 

Now if the shops down in CT are anything like what we have here in Gauteng then I can guarantee you that they have tjoobs lying on their shelves for many years. So, strike an agreement with the shops to get the "old-new stock" at a reduced rate and use the proceeds from Back-a-buddy to fund it. You can then use your own discretion and replace one or two items more rather than just letting the guys ride off with a chain or groupset that you can clearly see will be the next thing to go  .

 

I will gladly donate to your page once it's up and running  .

Lets start small .....

 

I have been put in contact with a supplier and am buying a box of 50 tubes. I want to see how long it takes me to go through a box before I embark on any other larger project. Right just trying to keep everything together is a challenge in and off itself!