Spare Inner Tube Advice

[Lancslass]

We want to carry a spare 26" inner tube with us when we ride, in case of punctures. Are the slime self healing tubes worth getting? Are they less compact to carry?

If not a slime tube, is there any make that is better than others? We currently have Kenda puncture resistant tyres on both bikes and fortunately, they are both 26" wheels so we only need to carry the one spare inner tube with us.

I can get a pair of Kenda tubes off fleabay at the moment for £5.19 delivered and am veering towards these unless anyone can advise me otherwise.

 

[VictoryV]

We want to carry a spare 26" inner tube with us when we ride, in case of punctures. Are the slime self healing tubes worth getting? Are they less compact to carry?

If not a slime tube, is there any make that is better than others? We currently have Kenda puncture resistant tyres on both bikes and fortunately, they are both 26" wheels so we only need to carry the one spare inner tube with us.

I can get a pair of Kenda tubes off fleabay at the moment for £5.19 delivered and am veering towards these unless anyone can advise me otherwise.

You may want to consider these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gaadi-Bicycle-without-Wheel-Exchanger/dp/B011R9Q47K

you can replace a tube without removing the wheel

 

[Lancslass]

You may want to consider these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gaadi-Bicycle-without-Wheel-Exchanger/dp/B011R9Q47K

you can replace a tube without removing the wheel

Have you ever used these VictoryV? Googling them, they are sold in Europe rather than the UK.

 

[Jimod]

Have you ever used these VictoryV? Googling them, they are sold in Europe rather than the UK.

I've got a couple of gaadi tubes, one for each of my bikes. I've never had to use them but I carry them just in case. I bought them on Amazon.

 

[KTM Bike Industries UK]

Have you ever used these VictoryV? Googling them, they are sold in Europe rather than the UK.

They can be bought in the UK from any KTM dealer, we supply them to UK customers.

http://www.shop.flidistribution.co.uk/p/gaadi-double-ended-inner-tube?pp=12

 

[anotherkiwi]

Have you ever used these VictoryV? Googling them, they are sold in Europe rather than the UK.

Us Europeans are very nice people despite all the bad press we are getting over your way

 

[jdallan]

Have you ever used these VictoryV? Googling them, they are sold in Europe rather than the UK.

+1 for the Gaadi tubes.My wife and I carry then on our bikes "just in case"...

Jim

 

[RobF]

I also carry, but have never had to use, a Gaadi.

They are more bulky than ordinary tubes, but a bit of meat in a tube is no bad thing in other respects.

If you go for ordinary tubes, buy branded, Schwalbe or Conti are as good as any.

You will also need to know how to remove the motor wheel on both bikes.

That will also mean carrying a 15mm spanner for the axles.

 

[Lancslass]

I also carry, but have never had to use, a Gaadi.

They are more bulky than ordinary tubes, but a bit of meat in a tube is no bad thing in other respects.

If you go for ordinary tubes, buy branded, Schwalbe or Conti are as good as any.

You will also need to know how to remove the motor wheel on both bikes.

That will also mean carrying a 15mm spanner for the axles.

Is the need to remove the motor wheel in an emergency, the reason why the Gaadi seems so popular for ebike owners? There seems to be a trend!

 

[RobF]

Removing a hub wheel can be a faff, although most modern hub bikes are designed to make it reasonably straightforward.

It may be no more than pulling a connector apart.

The motor casing might be anchored to the frame in some way, usually by means of a plate called a torque arm.

If so, you will need to carry a tool to undo whatever fixing holds it on.

If you go the Gaadi route, you will need to get the old tube out of the way.

It might be possible to tie it to the top part of the frame, but if it snags when you are up and running again, it won't easily snap so will probably cause a fall.

I carry a craft knife which I would use to slice the old tube to remove it.

The knife has proved handy for other minor fettling of my bike and those of people I ride with.

 

[Cyclezee]

Us Europeans are very nice people despite all the bad press we are getting over your way

European, I thought from your ID that you were a one of those Antipodean types...... or something to do with fruit

 

[anotherkiwi]

Home is where your heart is. My entire adult life has been lived in Europe including a brief stint on the other side of the chunnel. But I have an accent whatever language I speak and a passport. The French have a very confused notion about "nationality" and "citizenship" so I haven't asked for the one and don't benefit from the other. My current project is to take up the Spanish nationality alongside of course the one I was born into.

 

[flecc]

That will also mean carrying a 15mm spanner for the axles.

Many hub motors need an 18 mm spanner for their wheel nuts, see this item in my website.
.

 

[anotherkiwi]

I carry a small adjustable spanner for the wheel nut and as a counter spanner where needed. The hole in the handle is handy for increasing leverage too.

 

[Yamdude]

These sealed end tubes look quite ingenious..... Unfortunately they would be in conflict with my tight as a ducks ass nature. I would hate to cut a punctured tube off with a knife, when it can be patched and used again. Also conventional tubes are cheaper as well.
So i guess i'm stuck with having to remove the wheel.

 

[anotherkiwi]

I would also mount one of these tubes if I choose to go the way of a hub gear on my future build. Having seen the videos I do not want to be messing with fiddly gear change cables on the dark rainy night these kind of things happen...

Schwalbe rim tape and tubes plus Michelin puncture resistant tyres, which are showing no wear after 2000 km, and crossed fingers have kept me from disaster so far (touching more wood...). South of the border the quantity of bits of metal and broken glass on the side of the road has to be seen to be believed!

 

[Lancslass]

I would also mount one of these tubes if I choose to go the way of a hub gear on my future build. Having seen the videos I do not want to be messing with fiddly gear change cables on the dark rainy night these kind of things happen...

Schwalbe rim tape and tubes plus Michelin puncture resistant tyres, which are showing no wear after 2000 km, and crossed fingers have kept me from disaster so far (touching more wood...). South of the border the quantity of bits of metal and broken glass on the side of the road has to be seen to be believed!

Sounds like mending a puncture rather than changing the inner tube is the way to go of we possibly can get away with that. That's what we call the royal we in our house - it actually means hubby will mend the puncture, not me (cos i'm a mere girly). I'll carry a Gaadi tube as spare for if we need it, and a small knife to cut the old tube out.

 

[flecc]

I normally repair the puncture but can change a tube without taking out a wheel or disturbing gear change mechanisms just by taking off the left wheel nut. I've even changed tyres this way, including a thick Marathon Plus. Left hand lifts the frame and right hand passes in the tube, though in this case the right hand held the the camera and took the shot:

 

[Lancslass]

I normally repair the puncture but can change a tube without taking out a wheel or disturbing gear change mechanisms just by taking off the left wheel nut. I've even changed tyres this way, including a thick Marathon Plus. Left hand lifts the frame and right hand passes in the tube, though in this case the right hand held the the camera and took the shot:

View attachment 12867

If it comes to it Flecc, we'll try that way.

 

[flecc]

If it comes to it Flecc, we'll try that way.

As long as it's a bike with 26" or 700c wheel size and the spindle length isn't excessive, that works ok. It leaves the frame slightly away from homing when it's let go, but tightening the wheel nut pulls it back in again.

Fifty and more years ago in the trade when all bikes had steel frames, we had frame expanders for this purpose. Then many of the bikes had full chaincases, some of then sealed oilbath types, so taking out a wheel could be a huge and messy operation. The expansion trick saved many hours and costs to customers.

Alloy frames are not so forgiving so not every one can be treated this way. Stretching twenty inch or smaller wheel frames, or past spindles that stick out a long way are too risky, the alloy frame tube could crack.
.