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Carrying a latex tube as a spare is a recipe for disaster. I run latex tubes but carry a butyl spare as they are much easier to fit and roll up. And I take it as you only have one latex tube you've never tried fitting it on the roadside.
Every day is a school day never knew triathletes could change tubes...
I am a MTBiker diversified into Triathlon though. Friend who migrated from Rugby to Tri punctures almost every race and has loads of other mechanical disasters.
You chaps are getting me worried about my tube strategy. I've never had a problem but this is based on few latex experiences. What makes a latex spare so troublesome, brittle through UV exposure?
It's just that they are pretty fragile when installing and it's easy to pop one even when being really careful. At least that's my experience having used latex tubes across 3 road bikes for the past couple of years and changed a fair few. I'd not want to rely on one as my spare, especially for a roadside change. That's why I carry a more robust butyl spare.
Latex tubes are great to use every day though, with quality open tubular tyres they make for a lovely tubular like ride. And they seem to have decent puncture resistance too, maybe being more supple helps there. Yes you do have to pump them up every ride but that's not really much of an inconvenience.
never pinch tubes when fitting them because I preinflate the tube a little and take a bit of care when seating the last bit of the tyre bead.
Assuming you've not fitted many latex tubes 😉
Yes, because it packs smaller.
Could go for a schwalbe aerothan one? Assuming they come in road sizes, i haven't checked, must admit
I am always struggling for stowage space on the TT bike.
You could just get over it and use a saddle bag to store two tubes and extras 😀
No aero penalty for races, for training rides it doesn't matter how aero you are.
I never pinch tubes when fitting them because I preinflate the tube a little and take a bit of care when seating the last bit of the tyre bead.
Fine on a training ride. Have you had to change a tube mid-race when you're huffing out your arse? It's a lot more difficult to be calm in that situation (especially if it's changing a slow flat on the front that's just caused you to crash 👿 )
You could just get over it and use a saddle bag to store two tubes and extras
No aero penalty for races, for training rides it doesn't matter how aero you are.
It's a combination of using training rides to test out race day stuff so less chance of wrecking a race and also just wanting to go that little bit faster even if it isn't a race.
I've only changed tubes in MTB races I have to confess.
Anyhoo you chaps may have influenced me to just leave that latex tube in the bike and use a butyl as a spare rather than flip them around, although I also need to straighten the rim after smashing it into that pothole yesterday 👿