I tried some latex tubes today; what a cracking ride!

[Globalti]

Saw some going for a reasonable price on High On Bikes so thought I'd scratch an itch and buy a pair.

First impression - they look like floppy pink intestines! Anyway I weighed them and they're about 23 gms lighter than my standard Continental butyl inner tubes. Fitted the first one and pumped it up to 100 then BANG, the tube found a weakness in the outer, a Michelin Pro 3 and herniated out through the hole! Amazingly the standard butyl tube, being stiffer, had "bridged" the hole and was fine. Found a spare Pro 3, repaired the tube and started again, pumping more cautiously.

So my first impression? Definitely more comfortable and the tyres felt more supple and grippy, but not enough to warrant the extra cost in my opinion. Now I'm waiting to see how long they hold their air. Will prolly put the butyl tubes back in and keep these for Mrs Gti's bike. Anyway I took two butyl spares and headed north-east, blown by the wind all the 25 miles from Blackburn to Settle, an absolutely smashing ride, fast, exhilarating and furious on dry clean rain-washed roads, gusts of wind blasting through field gates as I passed; I was doing 18 mph average until I got held up riding into Settle where it dropped to 17.9. Popped into The Naked Man cafe for a tea while I waited for Mrs Gti to come and pick me up in the car and run me home - what? You didn't think I'd want to ride back against the wind, did you?

Oh and yes, tyres with latex tubes do make a satisfying ringing sound as reported by others on here.

 

[fossyant]

They are worth the extra cost on a best bike. They will go flat over a couple of days. Worth it for the noise.

 

[biggs682]

must admit did think about using them on the commuter as they are meant to be more puncture resistent

 

[Sittingduck]

How do they sound?

 

[stephec]

Saw some going for a reasonable price on High On Bikes so thought I'd scratch an itch and buy a pair.

First impression - they look like floppy pink intestines! Anyway I weighed them and they're about 23 gms lighter than my standard Continental butyl inner tubes. Fitted the first one and pumped it up to 100 then BANG, the tube found a weakness in the outer, a Michelin Pro 3 and herniated out through the hole! Amazingly the standard butyl tube, being stiffer, had "bridged" the hole and was fine. Found a spare Pro 3, repaired the tube and started again, pumping more cautiously.

So my first impression? Definitely more comfortable and the tyres felt more supple and grippy, but not enough to warrant the extra cost in my opinion. Now I'm waiting to see how long they hold their air. Will prolly put the butyl tubes back in and keep these for Mrs Gti's bike. Anyway I took two butyl spares and headed north-east, blown by the wind all the 25 miles from Blackburn to Settle, an absolutely smashing ride, fast, exhilarating and furious on dry clean rain-washed roads, gusts of wind blasting through field gates as I passed; I was doing 18 mph average until I got held up riding into Settle where it dropped to 17.9. Popped into The Naked Man cafe for a tea while I waited for Mrs Gti to come and pick me up in the car and run me home - what? You didn't think I'd want to ride back against the wind, did you?

Oh and yes, tyres with latex tubes do make a satisfying ringing sound as reported by others on here.

As I read the ride report I thought, "he'll regret that later," until I saw this bit.

 

[snorri]

T

As I read the ride report I thought, "he'll regret that later," until I saw this bit.

You thought he was a real cyclist, now you know

 

[potsy]

So you did a 25 mile ride with a tailwind all the way and you are saying the inner tubes made it a nice ride?
You should have ridden back for an objective opinion, shirley?

 

[Garz]

Please don't let this be on your 'free' carbon bike that you found in the brook?

 

[Globalti]

Er, yes, why not?

I'm certainly not ashamed of riding one way with the wind; it's not the first time I've done it because it enables us to mix a bike trip with a family activity. The last two times we've gone west to Blackpool and I've ridden back while they've driven. It works pretty well and because you know you aren't riding back you can give it some welly and finish nice and tired.