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Question about bicycle inner tubes - recommended brands or types

Posted By: letterboy1

Question about bicycle inner tubes - recommended brands or types - 01/13/18 01:14 AM

I'm trying to do some research on inner tubes for my bicycle. I am happy with the original tires that it came with and the manufacturer still makes them, so I will order those soon. However, I'd like some feedback on what are considered the best inner tubes out there. First here is some info about by bike and my cycling:

My bike: Giant Anyroad (original model, not Anyroad 2)
Tires: Giant P-RX2 (700x32c) Presta valve

I use it primarily on the road although the bike style and tire type are designed for "gravel grinding." Therefor I feel comfortable with occasionally going through off-road rough spots like road construction areas.

I ride 11.6 miles approximately 4 times a week for exercise.

I'm a Gemini and I love to read. Just kidding. biggrin

By the way, I joined a Bike Forum and posted my question there. So far I got a response from a member that says he recommends "Q-Tubes" because their boxes stack nicely on his shelves. I was hoping for something a little more helpful. biggrin

Attached picture Any_Road.jpg
Posted By: Lieste

Re: Question about bicycle inner tubes - recommended brands or types - 01/13/18 06:39 AM

I dislike Specialised, uneven inflation and too many mould seams which complicate fixing punctures if needed.

I like Schwalbe - they are nearly seamless, inflate extremely evenly, are robust but not overly heavy, and come with a pop-out pressure gauge in their box which is handy if your on-bike pump doesn't have a gauge and your thumb isn't adequately calibrated.

Other than those, there doesn't seem to be much in it, and I've had okay results with most of the other brands I've used or seen used.
Posted By: letterboy1

Re: Question about bicycle inner tubes - recommended brands or types - 01/15/18 09:00 PM

Thanks Lieste, I am going to go with Schwalbe. Your answer as well as other reviews have pointed me in that direction - thanks! I'll also be getting a Topeak mini pump that will fit in my jersey or jacket pocket. I've seen someone inflate a tire to usable pressure in about half a minute with one.
Posted By: VF9_Longbow

Re: Question about bicycle inner tubes - recommended brands or types - 01/15/18 10:56 PM

Agree on Schwalbe, they work well.

I need a new set of tires and while Panaracers are cheap they puncture easily.

Be careful with the minipump, they are useful but if your technique is not perfect they cause tearing of the tube at the nozzle just below where it pokes out from the rim, then you're back to square one. Be very careful not to pinch or angle it while pumping. I have the same pump and have wrecked a number of tubes with it by accident before learning how to inflate with perfect technique. If you can, I would get the pump which has a little flexible extension tube on the end that you can screw or clamp in to your tube's valve. That removes all the twisting and shearing forces from the process and will save you a lot of trouble later on.
Posted By: Lieste

Re: Question about bicycle inner tubes - recommended brands or types - 01/16/18 01:25 AM

I have a compact Lezyne floor pump that fits beside the bottle cage on the downtube. It has a flexible hose (thus eliminating the risk of shredding the valve stem/inner tube), and an integral pressure gauge.

http://www.lezyne.com/products-handpumps.php

Mine is the Micro floor drive, but there is a more recent iteration there too.

Not the cheapest, but the previous pump I had (after someone borrowed my fullsize track pump and still to this day hasn't returned it) was responsible for the early 'death' of two tubes by tearing at the valve stem (direct clamp to valve and pressure at right angles to the stem during pumping)... and the time and effort (not to mention money) saved in not having to replace stem/tube failures was totally worth it.

It seems that all/most of the Lezyne designs use the hose format... but I chose the floor mount because the higher volume but high pressure used in touring tyres (622x32 at 80-90 PSI, slightly more if fully loaded) was a bit tedious to develop with a smaller format hand pump and being smaller (115lbs) I find the force needed to get to these pressures 'working in the air' to be difficult in inclement weathers - being able to drive against the ground with a substantial fraction of my weight is much easier.
Posted By: letterboy1

Re: Question about bicycle inner tubes - recommended brands or types - 01/16/18 07:54 PM

$64.99 with gauge for the Lezyne Micro Floor Drive - $50 without the gauge. And it's the same length as the the other mini pump. Looks like I want this one. Thanks for the heads-up. smile
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