I don't believe it! - dodgy new tube.

[Cheesehound]

This evening I installed a pair of new tubes and tyres on my son's bike, and on inflating to correct pressure, BEFORE he got the chance to ride it, I could hear a strong air leak. Bloody typical, I thought.

On inspection, there is a pinprick puncture on the INSIDE of what is actually a brand new Schwalbe tube. Needless to say the rims/rim tapes were checked before fitting, and VERY carefully after.

It's perhaps pertinent to mention that the tyres/tubes were only being replaced because my son now needs road tyres rather than knobblies. The tyres and tubes which I took off the bike were in perfect condition.

I must say after 40-odd years of cycling and associated maintenance this is a first-timer!

Would have been bad enough for this to happen with cheap dodgy Far Eastern tubes........ and these were the first Schwalbe tyres/tubes I've used.

Has this happened to anyone else? Or have I been a really bad b*****d in a previous life?

And of course it was the REAR wheel ........

 

[slowmotion]

It happens. You get a dodgy new tube once in a while. Blooming annoying, but just let it go. It isn't worth £4 worth of anger to make the trip to the shop to complain, unless you are passing by anyway. Forget it. You will be more happy.

 

[NormanD]

Yes it happens, I had a specialized tube pop open at the base of the valve before it even got into the tyre

 

[amaferanga]

Are you sure you didn't pinch the tube when you were fitting the tyre? Its easily done.

 

[Cheesehound]

Are you sure you didn't pinch the tube when you were fitting the tyre? Its easily done.

No, definitely not - it's a tiny pinprick puncture which I could only imagine having been caused by a staple, drawing pin or similar.

I was just surprised because Schwalbe are supposed to be so good, and I'm sure they are - I just didn't want to be the sucker who cops for the 1 in a million exception.

Anyway I've ordered a couple more off t'internet (tried local bike shops first, though). More concerned about waste of time than money.

Cheers for holding my hand, guys - I was on the ceiling last night.

 

[Tynan]

patch it?

 

[Cubist]

patch it?

Don't you come on here spouting yer common sense now.........

 

[andrew_s]

I was just surprised because Schwalbe are supposed to be so good

The basic problem is that just about everyone is buying their tubes in from Malaysia or China or wherever, and quality control isn't what it was when the tubes were made in Europe. You just have to write off the failures as the price of cheaper tubes.