TPU Tube option from Rene Herse

[EB]

Originally Posted by RoosterCogset

Yes, but now you'd actually have to use it, and not just when you've already gone through the 2 CO2 canisters you also brought. Fellow members on group rides love sitting around waiting for 'that guy' who chooses to hand inflate his flat tire.

Easy solution - don't go on group rides.

[benb]

Originally Posted by EB

Easy solution - don't go on group rides.

Or don't ride with a-holes.

I have had very very few mechanicals that were ever a problem on group rides, but I've been on rides where other people had major major issues and everyone was patient and did their best to try and help.

My worst road incident was managing to break a chain on the road in a century ride. I was like 50 miles from home, in a tight group, and someone kicked a stick into my chain while I was pedaling at like 95+ rpm. BOOM.

And I stupidly had neither extra bits of chain nor tools. Many, many people kindly stopped to try and help me but not one person had chain tools.

I learned my lesson that day. Wasted about 3 hours trying to get back to the start line via sag wagon.

Kind of ridiculous cause I've never broken a chain mountain biking despite probably 100+ times getting a stick in the chain.

[Philster]

Pretty much worthless advise when it comes to CO2: "Use it to top off, not do the initial inflation". No one uses CO2 on an under inflated tire. You use it when fixing a flat with a new tube.

[PacNW2Ford]

One big benefit of the RH’s is the 50-70mm valve stem in the larger 700c size. The Schwalbes are only 40mm (others like Pirelli are similar) and are barely long enough for my FFWD Drift wheels.

[aliasfox]

Just wanted to add my 2 cents:

I bought a RideNow TPU tube a few months back just to see what the hype was about - and yeah, even compared to a nice Continental Race (most of the butyl tubes on the shelf), it was significantly lighter. I had no reason to pop it into a tire until recently - I signed up for an 81mi, 6100ft ride this coming weekend, so I figured I would take every advantage I could get to make it to the end. Front wheel gets a fresh GP5000 (from the Ultra Sport 2 that's been on there for >5k mi), rear end gets the TPU tube. A little less weight, a little less rolling resistance, everyone's happy, right?

Topped up the rear tire to 100psi immediately before a 27mi ride. Checked with the same pump gauge immediately after the ride, <2hrs later: 65psi. I just popped the butyl tube back in, as I'm pretty sure I don't want to have to look for a floor pump at the rest stops.

As an aside, after sitting on the side of a MUP for half an hour trying to get a tire up to usable pressure using a Blackburn hand pump (and eventually saved by a passing cyclist who gave me the rest of his CO2 cartridge)... I'm pretty sure I'll be carrying CO2 for a while. Or at least my barely frame-mountable Topeak Morph.

[StruggleClimber]

I just had a similar experience as above^ I was on a ride this past weekend and always carry TPU as a backup. Got a flat, swapped to the TPU tube and went on my way. When I checked the tire the next morning, the TPU tube was completely flat. I changed back to butyl tube, and pumped up the TPU tube to check for holes. nothing. no air leaking and even used soapy water to check for air bubbles. nothing. I can trust TPU tubes as a backup but I dont think I will run then for anything other than that.

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by RoosterCogset

Fellow members on group rides love sitting around waiting for 'that guy' who chooses to hand inflate his flat tire.

man, if the group can wait an extra 2 minutes for me to pump my tire up, that's definitely not the group for me.. (and probably why I ride solo mostly to be honest..)

[phishrabbi]

The TPU tube is great because it takes up so much less space than a normal one. That's worth a lot to me, especially since tubes live in my bag, as the sealant usually works.

[MikeD]

Originally Posted by phishrabbi

The TPU tube is great because it takes up so much less space than a normal one. That's worth a lot to me, especially since tubes live in my bag, as the sealant usually works.

That's a good usage case, but with the cheap TPU tubes, a good percentage have small leaks in them out of the box and they are not so easy to check out ahead of time as you can only inflate them to 5 psi before they herniate and ruin the tube. I have some light weight butyl tubes that take up little space as well.

[mcteague]

A while back I bought a pair of the Cyclami TPU tubes but had a front blowout after hitting a rock. The spare also popped due to a hole in the tire sidewall I had not noticed. So, I went back to butyl. Still, I wanted to give them a longer test so bought another pair. The first pair held air just fine (except for that rock!), as does the second set. Maybe the fact that Cyclami uses metal valve stems is the reason. They cost around $5 a tube from AliExpress!

Tim

[palincss]

Originally Posted by Jan Heine

- CO2 is OK for topping up, but initial inflation with CO2 is not recommended. The high pressure and cold temperature (as the CO2 expands) can split the tubes.

I saw that happen on a ride once with butyl tubes, except that instead of merely splitting the tube, the tube shattered into a number of pieces when it froze.

[sparky33]

Originally Posted by Jan Heine

A few answers to questions posed in this super-interesting discussion:

- Rim brakes are no problem. The melt point of TPU is about where butyl tubes fail (145°C or 295°F)—higher than latex, which also works fine with rim brakes.

- CO2 is OK for topping up, but initial inflation with CO2 is not recommended. The high pressure and cold temperature (as the CO2 expands) can split the tubes.

- The Rene Herse TPU tubes are made in Germany. They are not just some rebranded product you can get from other sources. (None of our products are.)

Cheers,
Jan Heine
Rene Herse Cycles

Jan

Is it better to size up or down on TPU tubes for a tire that fits two size ranges? For example, 650x48

[sasquatch16v]

Originally Posted by Clean39T

On the other, I'm 100% in on TPU or Latex tubes as preferable to tubeless in pretty much every application.. I loathe dealing with tubeless gunk and just find it a ridiculous waste of time and effort for the riding I do. Others' MMV, according to their glass/tacks/needles per mile ratio I suppose.

The RH version do look nice. I'll probably try them at some point. Once I get through my backstock of Vittoria latex, which at this rate should be sometime in roughly 2028

this 100% with not going tubeless UNLESS its a majority offroad bike. Tubeless is fine, right up until the moment it isn't.....

and FWIW I have some aliexpress TPU tubes with metal valve stems.... soooo everyone save yourselves money and just get those.

I also have the Ridenow "gravel" TPU tube which is wider to start with, so that's nice for the wide tire bikes.

I've had the worst luck with Tubolitos, bought 2 got 2 as warranties... everyone one of them leaked air from the valve stem no matter what i did. But I've had better luck with any other TPU tube at 1/2 to 1/3 the price.

RH is cool and all... buuutttttt...

[CAAD]

I am a weightweenie but only carry TPU tubes as a spare. Latex tubes for me, roll faster, and smoother.

[benb]

I don't know if it'd be $50 or something but if these are 1/4 the weight of a normal tube that would be pretty compelling to carry as an emergency tube on a MTB where the spare tube is very heavy and the chance you need it is vanishingly small with tubeless. (If they actually made them that big)