road tubes for racing

[ridr]

Need some advice please:

Will it make a big difference if I use light weight latex tubes vs heavier tubes with Joe's on my racing wheels?

[ridr]

bump

[ridr]

BUMP

 

[FrancoisO]

Good question? 

[Minion]

If you get a puncture, yes.

 

I've been riding with sludge in my tubes for a while now and it saved me a couple of times. I found a piece of glass embedded in my tyre and actually piercing the tube. I found it only when I took the tyre off - I never lost air pressure.

 

[ridr]

Speed/rolling difference?

[Minion]

With a heavy tube and slime you add maybe 100g max. I would guess that the rolling resitance may be slightly higher for a heavier tube, but the overall effect is negligible compared to other factors such as whether you tuck your shirt in, take a pee before the race, sneeze as you cross the finishline etc.

 

I look at it this way: heavier tubes with sludge may add a second or two to my race time. The punctures I have prevented would definitely have added at least five minutes.

 

[Jules]

you talking road or MTB? Wouldn't bother with sludge on the road. But i do think the the lightweight tubes are a waste of time all round. My experience with them is that they are more prone to punctures, regardless of the marketers' assertions to the contrary. I also doubt they add any discernable gain in cycling performance apart from what's in your head.

[Minion]

 

Wouldn't bother with sludge on the road.

I'll disagree with you there. I forgot to mention it above, but my story with the avoided puncture was on my road bike.

I'm now a firm believer in some kind of sludge/sealant in my road tubes.

 

[JPW#]

It's all in the mind.

My younger brother rode away from sponsored riders with a 1000 rand bicycle that weighed in at 12.5 kg , (8 speed 105 with 32 spoke wheels)