Which to get, which to avoid?
This would be just for the tool bag as all wheels are tubeless.
I will be after 29, 650b and 700c
Also interested in this. I know I want alu valve stem and I don't want to pay £20 each.
Looking at RideNow on AliExpress recently was just off putting
I was buying RideNow (newer model with the part alloy stem) but once Silca released theirs I switched (only carry as spares to). The Silca ones are ridiculously expensive but I'd read a few stories of RideNow ones either having holes in them when delivered or the stem failing (as it's still bonded to plastic going into the tube), and RideNow are generally the better quality of the random Chinese ones. I figured just for the peace of mind it was worth the cost of the Silca ones as I don't want to find out my spares are duff mid ride when I actually need them.
My Pirelli space saver spare has been used half a dozen times, mostly by other people.
It's very good & you quickly forget you aren't on tubeless.
I keep it in my bumbag & not on the bike to get covered in shit,
Timely, was googling TPU tubes past night exactly for emergency tubeless back up.
If only one covered all tyres from 25-45mm
So, Silca and Pirelli both mentioned but I can't find 650bx2.5" or 29x2.5" from either xxx or anyone reputable for that matter.
And would a 650x2.5 fit a 29 as well like butyl tubes do?
Silca's version covers a good range (one model is 24-43mm and the other 44-64mm), it's odd (and annoying) the larger version isn't available with a 70mm valve though as it must be fairly common these days running 40-50mm carbon rim wheelsets with 45-55mm gravel tyres?
So, Silca and Pirelli both mentioned but I can't find 650bx2.5" or 29x2.5" from either xxx or anyone reputable for that matter.
And would a 650x2.5 fit a 29 as well like butyl tubes do?
RideNow (via AliExpress) do a 29x1.9-2.5 version & a 26/27.5x1.9-2.5 version (both the part alloy stem version which is the one you want, avoid any TPU tube with an all plastic stem)
I know this isn't at all helpful for back up purposes but Ride Now tubes seem to either last well or leak and die within days.
Whatever you get make sure you test it at home before you need to rely on it in an emergency.
I've got Tubolito on the BMX and 3 out of 4 tubes have been faulty so far.
And would a 650x2.5 fit a 29 as well like butyl tubes do?
The very reason I carry a 650b butyl tube on my mullet so I'm interested to hear the answer. I suspect it will be 'no, they don't stretch like a butyl tube so will go pop'
Turbolito. I believe in rewarding innovation. I use the thicker ones with rim brakes and carry the thinner one as an emergency back up.
So far I have written off only one tube by riding over a bed of broken glass. After patching the first hole I found a second, then patching the second I found a third... By the time I'd glued the nth patch, the glue had denatured the plastic and I felt the tube was no longer structurally sound and very thin and distorted. I've had good outcomes patching a couple of other TPU tubes - better than butyl.
I bought some Tubolito ones in a Black Friday sale (almost half price!).
I already had one as a spare (never had to use it) but I was planning on using these new ones in the wheels on a new bike so I'm slightly upset to see this comment:
Whatever you get make sure you test it at home before you need to rely on it in an emergency.
I've got Tubolito on the BMX and 3 out of 4 tubes have been faulty so far.
I also looked at the Silca ones with the aluminium valve stem when they were first launched but they were ridiculously expensive. I'll give these Tubolito ones a go in the new wheels and report back.
I found a picture of my last Tubolito failure. The valve itself just slid out of the plastic tube like it wasn't bonded in properly.
I couldn't be bothered sending them back again so I glued it back in with epoxy and it's been fine since.
So far I have written off only one tube by riding over a bed of broken glass. After patching the first hole I found a second, then patching the second I found a third... By the time I'd glued the nth patch, the glue had denatured the plastic and I felt the tube was no longer structurally sound and very thin and distorted. I've had good outcomes patching a couple of other TPU tubes - better than butyl.
This is what puts me off Tubolito, my one attempt at patching has become a disaster and the tube is now just sitting on a shelf with three patches over one small hole (not the tubes fault, my rim strip had migrated and left the tube on the bare spoke holes). The glue sets so hard there doesn't seem to be any hope of peeling the patches off, and I can't understand why the glue seems to have either set rock solid, or not at all, leaving channels for the air to escape.
My RideNow tubes on the road bike have been relatively successful, two holes, both of which I think would have challenged any other tube (a good old fashioned pinch flat, and a massive metal staple), and patched with the self-adhesive patches. One of the self adhesive patches seems to have eventually lifted and come off, which would have been a pain if it had happened on a ride, but re-applying a new one is no biggy. I genuinely think I noticed the difference of 36g TPU vs. 80g latex in each wheel, but don't ask me how, bike just seems to hold speed that tiny bit better.
I would like to experiment with the more robust Tubolito tubes on the gravel bike, I would save a reasonable amount of weight over tubeless and if they can shrug off an occasional hawthorne I don't think I would experience many more punctures. Tubeless has let me down messily more than once already this year 🙄
I've not had any catastrophic failures with ridenow tubes, one has a slow leak (not sure if it's a puncture or if it came like that) but others have been fine. They'd all work as a get you home option. I'd echo the comment to test them at home first. They're way better than butyl tubes because they're way smaller and lighter (weight is less of a bother for me but the size is very useful if you don't want a backpack or large frame bag on).
I've got Tubolito on the BMX and 3 out of 4 tubes have been faulty so far.
I picked up some RideNow TPU's from Alans for my BMX, this has made me wary of fitting them!
Just stick them in and crack on! Mine are fine now, just had some teething problems. They're either not put together properly and fail instantly or they're fine and they work.
They do hold pressure much better than butyl. I used to have to inflate the tyres every time I grabbed the BMX to head to a track. Now they stay rock hard for months at a time.
I can't say I notice any weight difference or other advantages but they are much lighter so I MUST be jumping higher. It's basic physics innit.
Compared with my recent failures of Vittoria latex tubes, notably around the valve stem on about five, I’ve had little issue with the TPUs, save the above multi puncture. I like them. All but one of my road bikes, and my gravel bike now sport them, and I carry two as spares of different valve stem lengths in my pack. The other bike is running tubeless GP5000s to good effect so far.
Compared with my recent failures of Vittoria latex tubes, notably around the valve stem on about five,
I suffered this too! Particularly on the gravel bike. I assumed it was because of repeatedly depressing the valve into the rim slightly when inflating at the start of every ride. I wished they came with the wee threaded collar to hold the valve in position. Doesn't seem to have happened on my road bike right enough. Also I've applied patches around the valve hole (designed to stop valves rattling I think, usually placed on the exterior surface of the rim) to prevent the tube or valve stem coming in contact with the edge of the rim.
Whatever you get make sure you test it at home before you need to rely on it in an emergency.
I learned this lesson the hard way...