As cyclists we would be nowhere with out the tube. Its been around for well over a century and even though we have rightly cursed them at times we would not be enjoying our daily rides with out them. Yes, many have forsaken them for the modern day “tubeless set up”, but many of us cling to the old tube for one reason or another. Some of us despise tire sealant and the mess that goes along with it, and others are just stuck in the glorious past, comfortable with what we know so well.
Is there a real reason to hang onto the old tube. The answer is yes. In the last year we’ve seen tube technology take immense strides forward as if to say, hey i am still relevant in the modern day! New materials like thermoplastic polyurethane are now being used by companies like Revoloop, Tubolito , Schwalbe and now Pirelli with their bright yellow Smartube.
These new space age tubes boast some impressive attributes that would make you think twice about waving good bye to the tube.
The German made Revoloop tube made from thermoplastic polyurethane. The lightest version weighing in at an incredible 39 grams.
First lets take a look at the weight. Tubolito and Revoloop have tubes tipping the scales at 39 grams and some ultralight models at an unbelievable 30 grams! That’s incredibly light! An independent test was done that showed that a tube at that weight had lower rolling resistance than a wheel set up tubeless. How is that even possible? Apparently the sealant moving around in your tire slowed you down more than a static object like a 39 gram tube. So a 39 gram tube actually has less rolling resistance and is therefore faster!
What about puncture issues. Well, more good news. Tubolito has stated that their tubes are more puncture resistant than either a conventional butyl or latex tube.
But can you repair them? Yes you can, but you have to use their patching kit. Its really identical to patching any bicycle tube but you must use their patches. Simple enough.
Cost? Well they aren’t cheap. A reduction in rolling resistance and the extra degree of puncture resistance comes at a price. Depending on where you purchase them they can run over $40.00 a pop. They are made in Europe where labour costs are certainly more expensive than most other places on the planet.
Can you use valve extenders? Yes that’s feasible. But these tubes also come in various valve lengths so this should enable you to match tubes to your rim depth without issue.
Can you run them at lower pressures. Both Tubolito and Revoloop offer tubes for road and MTB’s. So reasonable lower pressures should be no problem. Its always good to ensure that the tube you have chosen makes sense for the tire you plan to ride. A proper match dimensionally will go a long way in assuring a long life for both tire and tube.
Can you put sealant inside the tube to further diminish your likelihood of a puncture. No, these tubes are not designed to work with tire sealant.
Made in Germany, the new Schwalbe Aerothan tube which comes in several sizes and subtle differences in weights.
So a premium tube comes at a premium price, but if you want the best performance you might just move up into the world of world class tubes. I have road tested the Tubolito’s myself and I am a convert. The ride experience paired with some Vittoria Corsa Control 2.0 Graphene tires was sublime. A cloud nine ride.
I managed to run over a huge roofing nail that went through my tire like butter in two places producing some serious holes! I used a Park tire patch to get home and later decided I would try my hand at patching the Tubolito with two rather large holes in it. Truth be told I didn’t hold out much hope for that repair and was pleasantly surprised that one patch covered both holes. That same repaired tube is back on my bike and its working fine.
I’ll be testing the new German made Revoloop tubes on another set of road wheels to see how they compare. I have every confidence that they will perform similarly. I’ll keep you posted with my conclusions.
Cognoscenti Cycles are now selling the Revoloops, Tubolitos, Pirelli P Zero Smartubes and the Schwalbe Aerothan tubes. Give us a ring for correct sizing and a price.
The Tubolito tube which is made in Austria. I kind of like this screaming orange colour. Orange is the new tube! Deal with it!
The screaming yellow Pirelli P Zero Smartube. Made in Austria. Very light and very strong.
