Why don't folks realise that when using self adhesive patches, the pressure of the tube against the tyre is what holds them in place and keeps the air where it belongs. Putting air in the tube and hanging it up to see if it holds ain't gonna work. Happily, my experience over 3000 miles this year on RideNow has been 100% positive. If it continues this way, will never go back. It's also worth noting that quality control on the early RideNow tubes was less stringent and they would slowly lose air from the valve. This I am assured, is now fixed. European brands need to stop ripping us off. Thanks to RideNow for sensibly priced option....
Thanks for sharing your experience. A few people have mentioned what you did about the glueless patches. You make a valid point. If I did road side repairs I would have had that success. I will be sticking with them as well as I work through my learning curve. Thanks for viewing
My ride nows are great..i did tear 1 installing but that was my error. Didn't notice the extra vibes but local roads are not supper smooth lol As far as holding air my road wheel seemed fine after about a week but i didnt check pressures to verify...on my gravel wheels i havnt ridden yet but after checking since install they do seem to have lost some air
Not sure if I believe the glueless patch being held on by the pressure of the tube against the tire because that hasn't been my experience...at least with butyl tubes and glueless patches. I used a poor quality glueless patch that held for about a week, then the patch started to let go, and when that happened the tire went flat, and that was with a tire using 90 psi, that has happened several times to me, once I went with a better glueless patch that problem disappeared, but the point was is that the tire psi will not hold the patch against the tube.
I haven't experienced a TPU puncture "in the field" yet. However, my strategy is to carry patches, but *replace* the tube with a spare. It's always easier for me to be patient and precise when I patch tubes after I get home and take my time.
@@Rekmeyatathis is a different ballgame with butyl tubes and glueless patches. Material science will tell you as such. With thermoplastics like TPU it cannot be vulcanized and bonded to the patch so “glueless” adhesive patches are the only way. The pirelli patch just uses a different adhesive.
I’m 240lbs and ride 22g Tubolito S-Tubo. Minimizing the rotational weight at the outer most part of the wheeelsets is noticeable. No issues with flats in the past 200 miles on 28mm GP5K clinchers so far. New York suburban/urban hilly roads, 45-50mph decents. 23mm internal rim width, 80/75 PSI
yup, the correct pressure is essential. The higher the better is a thing of the past when it comes to pressures. Sram tyre pressure calculator is the best imho to find your correct pressures.
@@xosece each tyre manufacturer's recommended pressures are the correct pressures, not some random online calculator - even if it's branded by venture capitalists through their SRAM label.
Possibly going back to latex. I bought a ten pack of the ride now tpu tubes on Ali last summer, only have 2 left. I ride 150-200 miles weekly on fairly clean roads. The last 4 rides, 3 rear flats with new tubes. (no patching) Latex or butyl give you a softer ride and have better puncture resistance IMO.
I have to tend to agree with you which is what prompted me to make the video as everyone was praising these TPU tubes in online reviews. I am still using them and found as long as I keep the pressure topped off they are pretty good. Not too many issues. Thanks for viewing!
I purchased the Ride now TPU, for over a year now no issues. They ride smoothly with my Continental 5000. He stated they ride rough but it’s the $25 dollar tires he purchased will make it ride rough .
Thanks for viewing. I had already switched to the fusion 5 before switching to the TPU tubes. So went directly from Butyl to TPU in that same tire. That's where I could feel the difference in roughness. I am still using the TPU tubes, As long as I air up every ride no issues really.
I used Vittoria latex for years but recently switched to Silca latex - they hold air a lot longer. My recently purchased Vittoria's were only holding the same pressure for about 8 to 10 hours and completely unrideable even the morning after, fine for most people especially since latex is really a competitive application. The Silca's easily hold workable pressure well into the next day. Again not a biggie since most of us on latex are pressurizing daily.
I think FMB also sells the tubes they use in their tubulars. FMB tubulars are glorious to ride, but I don’t know how much the their inner tube contributes.
Been using CyclAmi TPU tubes for most of the year and they have been great. No flats and I could feel a difference right away in acceleration on climbs. The weight reduction is also realized in the saddlebag, which is also lighter now. CyclAmi valves are metal, just like regular tubes.
@@jeffwilson824 I have yet to add any air after a month... 38 g Cyclami, too. Maybe that's because it's winter here, even the butyl tubes that I had to top sometimes are holding well.
So glad I stumbled on to this video Kenneth! I just bought the "pink" TPUs a couple of weeks ago and have decided to just use them as on-road repair items for now. You video content on the subject is perfect, real-world honest experience and I can't thank you enough for sharing it with us! - Bob (Toronto, Canada) (FYI, I have also subscribed so keep it coming!)
I wanted to try TPU tubes out so I got the cheapest ones I could find on eBay - 2 for about £12 delivered. So far, gotta say, amazing - the bike feels so much more alive, I can run lower pressures and I’m defo faster, on my first ride out with them I got new PR’s on every segment I went through. Crazy. I am converted.
I installed my Ridenow tubes inside 28mm Gatorskin Black Labels. So they are well protected and ride very smooth and I noticed the weight difference. I will be keeping the tpu tubes for the longterm.
Is the Gators protection a must for your riding? These are among the slowest road tires out there, you give up a lot of ride quality, grip and rolling resistance just to get that puncture protection. If you noticed an improvement with TPU tubes which is marginal, going to suppler tires will make a world of difference.
I’ve used tubilito TPUs for 2 seasons nota single flat yet. My wife uses Vitoria latex with good success as well. The latex loses a significant amount of pressure compared to the Tubilitos. I carry two as spares but haven’t had to use either one yet. I do hear a little road buzz through them.
I’m literally thinking about trying TPUs at the moment. Found this articulate, informative and objective. Hence I watched to the end, am leaving this comment and will subscribe.
Ive been riding the pink ridenow tpu tubes on 4 wheelsets and over 3,000 miles combined and they have been great. I have only had 1 leaking tube and replaced it. No issues afterwards.
I have been thinking about getting TPU tubes but mainly because they take up so little space, and as you said, you can carry two or maybe even three for the space of one regular one. I think I would probably just use them in a similar way to 'spare tyres' on cars, where you use them if you should get a flat when out and about, but change back to your regular one when it has been patched and pack the 'spare tyre' away for next time it might be needed.
@@simonwarmer8777 TPU tubes are substantially lighter than latex. You can even get butyl that's lighter than latex, Conti Supersonic butyl are 50g which is around or a bit lighter than the lightest latex and much lighter than typical latex (which is around 80g). Latex is lighter than "standard" butyl, and it's faster than either butyl or TPU.
Thanks! Very useful. Considering to take those on a ride as a safe option in case tubeless will fail (witch didn't happen for 3 years) so I looking for some light and small solution.
Thanks for viewing. I am doing the same on the MTB and Gravel bike. Carry the TPUs just in case Those bikes are tubeless. Can’t say I ever needed a tube on the MTB either. Gravel bike I have unfortunately. Happy riding.
Thank you for sharing your experience . I haven’t been on a bicycle in years and am educating myself on all the things that are now available in cycling . It’s an eye opener! lol
I am carrying a green TPU tube instead of a bulky rubber tube now in case of punctures. It is so compact. But have to remember to add some air to it before inserting into the tyre (thanks for the reminder).
One of the best reviews I have ever seen on RUclips. Your experience mirrors mine. Your review should be helpful for anyone considering TPU tubes. Incidentally I have the same opinion about going tubeless on high pressure road bike tires, I’m not sure if I reached the conclusion in my own thoughts or if I read it somewhere and thought “makes sense, sealant spraying everywhere, what a mess”. Thank you for the review, you did a great job!
@@everettbugg1443 thank you and thank you for viewing. Just as a brief follow up, I am using the Cyclami Tubes only now, as they seem to be a bit better built than the Ridenow tubes. Once I started to air up before every ride I have had no issues with pinch flats. Happy Riding.
Wow what a great videp thank you so much for sharing I am at the juncture of deciding whether to go TPU or tubeless and I too do not want the added faff of tubeless.
@@lostboy8814 thanks for viewing. So a year plus in I am still using them. I am just using Cyclami 80mm stem tubes. Once I got used to checking tire pressure every ride I have had no problems. And I agree I do not want to deal with tubeless on the road bike where flats are more common and tube replacement usually takes 10 minutes or less.
I used ridenow for a few months then also had a double, front & rear pinch flat. I found I couldn't corner as hard as the tyre would skip on the surface. I'm back on tubeless now.
@Kenneth Toscano The problem with keeping air could be connected with the valve, not the tube itself. I think I spotted a similar comment from a user of a TPU tubes somewhere.
Yes agreed there is some talk here and online else where that the early versions of these ride now tubes hade valve issues. Supposedly that has been resolved. Having run these for a year now and mixed and matched between TPU and butyl. The TPUs definitely do not hold air as long. For a bit I had a butyl in one tire and a TPU in the other and could clearly see the change in pressure daily. You have to check or air up every ride, if not your risk of puncture goes way up compared to butyl. Thanks for viewing and sharing.
I have found that tpu tubes, especially in wider tires makes the ride more plush and less harsh, versus what you experienced. Plastic is less pliable, but the tpu tube is multiple times thinner than butyl. This allows for the tire to flex more, due to there being less material overall, similar to tubeless.
Thanks for sharing! Very helpful. I bought a cheap two pack off of Amazon. I also bought the Pirelli patch kit on your recommendation. I’ll be carrying them as insurance during the Kenai 250 bikepacking race in Alaska! Cheers, Christian
Great video. Thanks for your description of your experiences. Of course everyone will have a comment, just like a belly-button (everyone has one). This being said, ... we switched to 28 ... 29 ... 30 mm (c) tires over the past few years and have reduced our flats to almost zero. Also, our comfort has increased by a factor of 100 (at least) given our tire pressure is now reduced significantly. Are they slower or faster? Who knows? Who cares? ... because I am not beat to smithereens at the end of a ride. PS: yes, I too added TPU tubes to my wife's bike and love the smaller size.
Thanks for sharing and viewing. I am also going to make the change next season to 28s and I suspect the same. I have not had any flats since posting this mainly because TPU forced me to be much more diligent about my tire pressure. I air up almost every ride and it has been fine. With butyl’s I could get away with airing up once or twice a week with out worry.
I have been using Schwalbe Aerothon tubes & Tuboloto tubes for over about 1 1/2 years. I also use tire liners. I inflate to 85 psi. The Aerothons have had NO flats. I got one flat on one of my Tubelito’s. I used Tubelito’s adhesive patch kit and it worked. I have not had an issue with the patched tube for the past 3 months. I have never tried patching my Aerothons. I was extremely skeptical about the cost……..but I have changed my mind and am pleased with my experience with BOTH brands of tubes.
@charlesmansplaining so the Pirelli patch kit comes with glue. I am pretty certain it is not rubber cement. I did they same and tried to find just the glue. Seems any pool floaty type patch kit might work. Here is one I found that might work. Just Google Kokopelli PVC or TPU Glue
Another point to note is that the TPU tepair patches need a completely clean surface so they can adhere to the tube properly, they sometimes come with alcohol wipes or you can always spray with isopropyl alcohol and wipe off
I've used both of those tpu tubes over the past 6 months. I've had only one flat which was a shard of Glass that protruded the tyre and the tube. I have noticed that that my 50mm windpace hyper wheels there's a lot more Road noise passing through the tyre. But the rims now feel very lively from a a complete stop to go. And with another set of thicker and heavier carbon rims the tpu's have definitely made the rims noticeably livelier. You're virtually riding on a cushion of air now made up of the tyre and the rim now. Maybe Only anecdotal, that slight weight-saving may equate to energy saving at the end of the long ride? I would be interested to see how you feel when you switch back to a butyl tube?
Thanks for viewing and sharing your insights! For now I am going to stick with the TPU tubes and monitor my tire pressures more closely. I will also switch back to 5000s after I use up the Hutchison Fusions. That too I suspect will make a difference as they are wider taller and thicker.
That's why they say always look where you want to go and not where you don't want to go.... this is taught in automotive defense driving... thanks for the video... I was thinking of getting them but don't think so now... maybe for emergency on the road....
Thanks for watching. Like I say I am going to stick with them now that I know I can order them direct on Aliexpress. And as I navigate how to best live with them, the size and weight are big wins. They are definitely worth a try at the right price.
Appreciate the real life experience. Good presentation. I recently ordered a set from Amazon and waiting their arrival from China. So we'll see. Also, I agree 100% on your comments re tubeless. Tried it for a year and a half and went back to tubes. Too much messy set up and maintenance not to mention relatively high air loss.
Yes I agree that the 500s rode better than the Fusion 5s but they are also wider, taller and a bit thicker than the fusions. In this case though I started the season on the fusions and butyl tubes. Then switched to TPU and you could immediately feel the harshness. Nothing you don’t get over quickly but noticeable. Thanks for viewing.
My issues- I stopped using C02 cartridges because C02 leaks through inner tubes 10x's as fast as air. Look it up if you don't believe me, this is a fact and documented quite extensively. I didn't know this until researching after a few flats and my tires would lose a ton of air after the repair. I purchased a really nice Lezyne mini pro hand pump and roll with that from now on. It's very compact and works well. Although it does take some pumping, I love the size and carry it in my jersey saving room in my saddle bag. Now my issue is that my fancy pump threads on to the valve and my expensive Pirelli TPU tubes don't offer a threaded option. So I wasted quite a bit of cash on nice Pirelli TPU tubes that I cant use because of my preference on using the hand pump. I'll keep them around for a friend in need, but will continue to use my $6 Continental race 28 inner tubes. They are the most compact I've come across so far (Much smaller than the one Kenneth is holding @10:39) Thanks for the video and your experience.
My 2019 Superlight Brompton is able to use Tubolito tubes, for a little less weight, but I luckily haven't had a puncture till now, so why change to anything else before that? My use of the bike is limited as it is mostly for travels and shorter, bring it with you in the car, transport, though I have spent much money to make it much/exceptionally lighter, for now the same weight as a double price T-line, just for the fun of it! I'm a tall 100+ kilo man by the way. Finn. Denmark
I just ordered 8 on AliExpress around 2 Euro each. I am still on the fence for tubless although I just taped the wheels today in case I go that way. As you find the time to change a tube not near as messy as sealant, and the weight and space savings make TPU a good choice for my dry road riding. Glad to see an honest user review!
I had to switch back to butyl tubes because my RideNow got flats from steep down heat from my rim brakes. I still carry them as my spares but only to get me home.
I tried a set of ride-now on 35 mm cyclocross tyres, butyl tubes weighed in at 300g and the TPU was about 60g. My perception was that were marginally quicker (totally unscientific), and my ride was less hash. Unfortunately I had the same experience with puncture repairs not holding, and because I had some glass that penetrated the tyre and I missed it when I replaced the tube, I ended up ripping two pairs. I have now switched to tubeless and I am using the TPU as a spare in case this fails.
It is a Yoeleo frame built up from scratch. I have a video on it if you want to check it out. Standard plastic tire levers should work fine. Just remember to put around 5 psi in the tube when you mount it so it doesn’t twist or get pinched.
2 Ridenow exploded on my bike ! one during an ascent (I'd be on hospital for long if it happens on a descent), another one, while I was sitting nearby and drinking a beer (there was no sun!). there are some weaker spots at tube joints which expand/get thinner. no probs with Tubolito though. (my mate rides Cyclami without problems as well)
Park Tool do a self-adhesive patch kit that works really well on tpu. Have used them twice and both holding fine. I noticed the harsher ride with tpu vs butyl, but I also think I notice the weight reduction on climbs. Will probably depend on the weight of the tubes that you're switching from. My old tubes were around 120g each vs the tpu at around 28-29g each. I have no idea about the rolling resistance side of things. I'm just assuming that any performance gain is mostly related to the reduction in the rotational weight.
I thought that rotational weight had been debunked. Could it be down to be better flexibility in the side walls - I know he said that they feel rougher, but maybe the thinner combined side walls of tyre and tube make the rolling resistance better. Has anyone tried the 'race' versions of butyle?
when you do get a flat on a rough road , the tube gets full of holes and the stick on patch kits dont work. also they do get snake bikes easily so you have to avoid any small pot holes and bumps
I currently use ridenow. they have been pretty good so far. Switched from latex. If i had to compare i would say you can run slightly higher psi in latex for the same comfort. That slight edge in suppleness is probably what gives an advantage in rolling resistance to latex. Latex 90 psi compared to tpu 85 psi. gp4k2 25mm rear gp5k 23mm front. 165 lbs.
I love my Schwalbe TPU tubes on all my bikes, race and commuter, 2 years on, no flats, no issues, and use all year, through the winter on my commuter...negative temperatures. Confused why this guy has problems?
Great video, Ken - thanks for sharing your experience! I’ve been using RideNow TPU for a while with great success, but still trying to figure out about patching them. you mentioned the Pirelli patch that comes with the camplast glue, but you didn’t say whether you put them back in to see if they held up. have you put any of the ones you repaired back in and how do they hold up? my concern with any of the ones that use a glue is that you have to wait a while for the glue to set, so not practical for doing roadside repair. however, they’re small enough and cheap enough to keep a couple spares with you, which seems like the best solution overall.
Thanks for viewing. So I have used 1 patched tube with the Pirelli patch and glue system and it has held up fine. Yes doing it on the roadside would be time consuming for sure. I have not done a road side repair in a very long time. I usually carry 2 tubes, butyl in the past TPU now. Since I have been checking my tire pressure before every ride, I too have not had any issues with the TPU tubes. They simply lose air faster allowing them to pinch flat easier than Butyl in my experience. Thanks for sharing and happy riding!
I got lucky and found a guy selling a set of 3 Pirelli PZero Smartubes for $40 last year so I've been riding them. I do feel like they hold air better than butyl, I pump up before every ride anyway so no biggie, but after 3 days I usually only lose 10 or less psi each time.. I do find them more fragile, I've had pinch flats on 2 of them, one from hitting a lengthwise crack in the pavement and another from a big piece of gravel. At least they're easy to patch with that Pirelli patch kit. Would I buy them again? Probably not, and definitely not for full price, but I do like them.
Thanks for watching and sharing! Great info. I am going to stick with the cheap ones for now. I have forced myself to pump up before every ride and since doing that, no issues. Happy riding
All good. I deflate the tyres after each ride anyway. Habit I had been doing for years to avoid bulge... ensures correct pressure every time. Not sure if just me but reckon there was a bit more road hum with these bad boys
Rolling resistance is real and can be felt! Butyl tubes are sluggish and slow. Latex and TPU have equal faster rolling resistance. Latex and TPU do lose air faster than butyl though....
Thanks for viewing and yeah that does make sense. Another viewer mentioned that as well. I just never patch tubes on the fly so I hadn’t thought about that.
I use them as emergency tubes for my tubeless tires. Light and small to carry two and a mini pump to get me home if I get a catastrophic puncture that won't seal.
Nice video. I use TPU tubes as spares for all the reasons you say. For now, I am sticking with tubeless to avoid your other problem: Pinch flats! With any type of tube, I get around 2 pinch flats a year. FWIW - my sample size: that's an average of 2 pinch flats per year over 52 years of riding. With tubeless - that I don't necessarily like thanks to the mess and inconvenience - I have had zero pinch flats (or any flats) in 3 years.
@@lenkomsa1399 70 psi for 28 mm tubeless. I must use 120 psi for 28mm clincher tubes to avoid pinch flats. I am not interested in any tire larger than 28mm.
Cool yhea I ride them also same problems pinch punches & sometimes they bubble round the valve & puncher there those you have to bin. Must say I have ridden many tires in my life, sponsored & not sponsored & those tires you riding they cheaper but much more punchers with them. I say go back to Conti I swear by them. Thx for the vid. And yhea they don't feel as nice rolling on them like Latex tubes or tubbies. I also ride the other type of tubes they lighter more puncher resistant I found & they don't pinch punch like those the light blue "Foss" tubes. I have even put a silk made tubular in my tire and rode it. lol Yes the ones you only ride like few km on the track with & cost a small fortune.
I missed this comment month back but just want to say thanks for sharing your insights and experiences. To your point I’ll be going back to Conti’s once I have used up these others.
I had a flat with these tubes twice Once when I had the wrong valve stem basically and I had the screw in really tight where the tube and valve couldn’t move and eventually got a hole The other time was some glass got through my marathon tires front tire It was raining for days though…so I can understand because I sometimes get flats when it rains since my tires get soft
@@tharpeaddy thanks for viewing. Since being very sure to air up every ride I have not had any issue. Still using them. I like the Cyclami tubes a bit better but over all pretty happy with them.
Ken, I noticed you are riding on RIm brakes: Ride Now recommends not to use them s such due to the rim heating up therefore affecting the physical structure of the TPU (they don't say but this could lead to not so nice situations), have ordered them for my RIm bike as well but after reading the instructions I decided to install them on my other road bike which has disk brakes. Honestly I was thinking to installing on my Rim brakes bike as a test, what are your thoughts?
Hi and thanks for viewing. So it took me a while to find a source stating what you mentioned. I did finally and that only holds true for RIM brakes using their 19g ultralight ultra thin tubes. I have not actually seen these for sale anywhere but I am sure they are. The ones I bought from Amazon are 36g tubes, the heaviest they offer and several sites say they are compatible with rim brakes. So if you have the heavier ones you should be fine. They also make a 24g option which is also good with Rim brakes. The 36g tubes seem to be the most readily available from several sources. Until you brought it up I didn’t even know they made different options for the same size haha. Happy riding.
Hi Kenneth. I've switched over to TPU. I started with Tubolitos and have since bought similar looking tubes on ebay from China - $40 vs $8 (Australian). I can't say I've experienced harshness with them although I'd that latex is a little bit 'nicer'. WRT repairs, TPU's appear to be hopeless for an on the roadside fix but I've had a 100% success rate at home. I use a small spring clamp and 2 small, thin flat pieces of wood to clap the patch on after gluing for a bout 15mins. It's important to apply the glue and let it dry the suggested time before patching. My view is that the TPU's can be sourced cheaply enough and are so much smaller and lighter than butyl that any cons are far outweighed by the pros..Cheers. (I believe it is important to buy tubes rated for rim brakes if that's what you're using.+
Thanks for sharing your insights. I too had success with the glue over the self adhesive that come with them and I have not done a road side repair in years. Also agree with you that the weight and size savings are worth the learning curve for me. So I will be sticking with them for now especially getting the price point down to reasonable. Thanks for viewing!
I'm sorry, but I will not buy anything made in China IF at all possible, and since there are other places I could buy a tube from then that's where I'll go. Chinese hacking, stealing intellectual property, no regard for international rules and laws, making all sorts of counterfeit products, no warranty should something go wrong, or legal recourse should a product of theirs fail and cause injury, bullying their neighbors, child sex trafficking, illegally importing fentanyl, and the list goes on. I cannot in good conscience buy stuff made in China if at all possible.
I have been using aliexpress TPU tubes for about 6 months, the biggest issue I am finding is that the (non replacable) valves tend to not last too long over 100PSI. Other than that, once you learn how to get them installed easily they are great.
I purchased some Aliexpress TPU tubes as well earlier this year but have not tried them out yet. My biggest concerns are the plastic valve stems (which I have read can break easily if not careful when using a frame pump out on the road or out in the cold), the longer valve stems (which do not look good on shallow rims), and the valves themselves (leaking). Since I am old school and still run narrower tires at high pressures (over 100 PSI) that seems to raise another issue. The TPU tubes are lighter and smaller but I have always used light butyl tubes (like Continental Race Lights) so the difference is not that tremendous. I can easily carry two spares and a patch kit in a small seat bag so I am not gaining much by switching to TPU tubes plus I like the valve stem options and easy repairability of the butyl tubes.
The valve is replaceable on the plastic stems. Heat it up with a hair dryer, grab it with pliers with a piece of rag in it, use a presta tool to twist the valve off the glue will snap easily. Then use some purple thread locker on the threads of the new valve and thread it in. Don't try it without thread locker or glue, it won't work.
The pink ride nows done same with my friend as what happened with your green one's plus he says always take an extra one with you ofnthe ridenow are you will more often than not have a definitive valve, his new ride now are flat every morning hes waiting on his usual coming and dumping these things but not the first time ive heard this
Apart from the obvious observation that the tyre is critical to all patches, not just self-adhesive versions, working. I recall learning to repair my bike back in the early 1970s that you always put a little air in the tube before you install them. I could even unstitch, patch and restitch the old singles, and even then I still put air it the tube before stitching them back up again. That's just basic tube installation 101. Evidently it's bow an optional step these days.
I don't share your TPU experiences in terms of rough ride quality and losing pressure. I *do* ride a wider tire setup than you (30mm Conti GP5000 on a Fulcrum Racing 5 wheel setup) at anywhere from 62-70 psi front, 65-75 psi rear (I weigh 176 pounds, bike weighs 17 and change, full bidons and tools are another 2.5 pounds or so). The ride is similar to latex (i.e. more plush than butyl) and the resistance to pinch flats is amazing - and I've slammed into some things, be they rocks, curbs, or potholes. They also hold pressure as well as butyl per my experience - could it be around the valve area? Granted I'm running far lower pressure (which also likely accounts for the smoother ride, in combination with the wider tires). Also: I install them flat within the tire and they don't twist. YMMV, but it's worked a charm thus far. I agree about the uselessness of the patches with the green TPU tube - tho they worked well with a plastic adhesive (I flatted from a tire ply wire - an all-too-common problem in urban areas). I've been running either the Tubolito or the green models with zero issues.
Here is my experience with TPU Ridenow tubes (pink ones) in my Bontrager 32mm clinchers. Since it isn't rideable here in winter, I have tested them without riding and get to the conclusion that I will never get far outside with those tubes. Super lightweight is appealing for sure at 36g, that's 1/3 of a butyl tube. Saving 150g for both tubes is awesome but what about reliability? I installed 4 TPU's, none of them was satisfactory. 4 failed out of 4 ! Without pinching it at the installation, 2 got pinholes (so tiny, almost invisible) after inflating, the other 2 were leaking at the valve. Problems were observed not instantly but overnight or several days after with dramatic lost of pressure. I wouldn't go out with such unreliable tubes and probable lack of pressure through a 2-3 hour ride. I didn't test other TPU brands but the ones with metal stem may be better, I don't know?
I had the same experience when I ordered two of them for my gravel bike. I have two of the ride now TPU is in my rim brake road bike , size 25c , so far so good they hold the air and I like them. The problem is the gravel bike. I decided to buy another brand that’s a little bit heavier of a TPU material from Australia.. I installed those yesterday. I haven’t really rode the bike for a normal gravel ride yet. My big problem is trying to fit and see the bead with tubeless tires. That’s the time wasting struggle. I dread having to get a flat with any tube with a very tight fitting Continental gravel tire, and a hook, carbon rim, and then trying to see to be out there I’m gonna have to get 20 g CO2 cartridges. that’s my concern. I just am using the TPU tubes in the gravel bike because the tubeless sealant is drying up because I’m not riding enough otherwise I’ll go back to tubeless sealant that way. I don’t have to unseat a bead . What a pain
@@shirtlessGraveler305 Riding shall be fun not pain in regards to equipment. I got back to tubes because valve was always stuck with sealant making it very difficult to add air. Continental tires are a pain mounting them to most rims. Why doing complex when you can easy ;) TPU reliability is like tossing a dice: sometimes fine, sometimes bad.
I did have this same issue of a pin hole on first inflation, but it was because I didn't clean the tyre and tube before installing, once I put a new tube in after cleaning was able to ride without out issues. It seems these tubes require a steep leaning curve and a change in ways. As Ken points out, if you install these wrong they are less forgiving than rubber tubes. That said I am new to TPU we will see how it all goes. As for speed they are so much faster.
I still stick to butyl tube because they are so affordable and easy to patch when they are punctured. It is true their size is bigger when pack in the saddle bag but i usually don't need to carry more than 1 when i ride.
I ran the Cyclami tubes for 6 months on my rim brake bike. they were great til we went into summer and after a long decent I left my bike in the sun at a coffee stop. Suddenly we heard a tyre blow and it was mine. Surely enough the tube failed. I went tubeless the next week and they now live in my saddle bag… probably not a problem with disc brakes
Great review and good you pointed out the size saving, until you get them in your hands next to a butyl tube can you appreciate how small they are. I had a snakebite flat after around 1000km, but it was my fault as I hadn't checked the pressure before I went out. I now religiously top them up, even if its just one day. Having the right tyre pressure is the easiest way to avoid most flats. I'll repair mine once, but do watch out for that ballooning that happens if they twist or are squeezed, they look like one of those party balloons that magicians turn into animals....
Nice review, but the rider needs to use proper tire pressure,, may I recommend Silca pro tire pressure calculator to give you an exact tire pressure to avoid snake bites
Agreed. I use silica and SRAM has one as well. I am still using these tubes. The key for me was to fill them to pressure every ride. No real issues since
The patch needs tire inner wall pressure to seal effectively, if you just stuck it on there of course it’ll go flat over time unlike butyl cemented patches. I’m not sold so I just use latex tubes-no issues there.
Love TPU tubes. Uphill you feel the lesser weight. And sprinting against your teammates, you feel the faster acceleration. But yes, way to expensive. For my gravel with tubeless setup, the TPU tubes are light easy to put in a pocket or saddle bag, if your tire suddenly wont seal after a puncture.
My first mtb ride on Ridenow tubes ended with rear tire developing slow leak. Not sure how. No pinch flat. No puncture. Patched it with Lezyne stick on patch and it is holding air but havent ridden on it yet.
Thanks for viewing. Interesting, I bought a ride now MTB tube but just as a spare in case I can’t get the tubeless set up to seal up. Good luck. I hope it holds up after patching.
I bought same brand and for same reason, which was space saving. For me one noticable difference was handling. I didn't felt difference in ride quality, but what I felt immediately was that they are way lighter then normal tubes and as such wheel have less mass to rotate, therefore my bike feel more agile, more nimble. I don't have a clue whether they are faster though..
The combination of a medium weight tire (Conti's Gatorskin) that has great puncture protection and these very light weight 28 gram polyurethane tubes have worked well for me and the deflation rate is far slower than my old Conti 5000's. If i were racing my carbon rim profile allows me to go tubeless. But putting sealant in apparently isn't much fun.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
At first I thought this guy was walking around on his knees.
😂
Don't you sleep with your bike on the bed, too?
Haha, yeah me-too. Being a trim carpenter something didn't add up visually for me.
😂😂
How? I guess it wasn't that obvious to y'all that the bike was on a much higher platform (whatever it was).... 🤷 😅 🤷
Why don't folks realise that when using self adhesive patches, the pressure of the tube against the tyre is what holds them in place and keeps the air where it belongs. Putting air in the tube and hanging it up to see if it holds ain't gonna work.
Happily, my experience over 3000 miles this year on RideNow has been 100% positive. If it continues this way, will never go back. It's also worth noting that quality control on the early RideNow tubes was less stringent and they would slowly lose air from the valve. This I am assured, is now fixed.
European brands need to stop ripping us off. Thanks to RideNow for sensibly priced option....
Thanks for sharing your experience. A few people have mentioned what you did about the glueless patches. You make a valid point. If I did road side repairs I would have had that success. I will be sticking with them as well as I work through my learning curve. Thanks for viewing
My ride nows are great..i did tear 1 installing but that was my error. Didn't notice the extra vibes but local roads are not supper smooth lol As far as holding air my road wheel seemed fine after about a week but i didnt check pressures to verify...on my gravel wheels i havnt ridden yet but after checking since install they do seem to have lost some air
Not sure if I believe the glueless patch being held on by the pressure of the tube against the tire because that hasn't been my experience...at least with butyl tubes and glueless patches. I used a poor quality glueless patch that held for about a week, then the patch started to let go, and when that happened the tire went flat, and that was with a tire using 90 psi, that has happened several times to me, once I went with a better glueless patch that problem disappeared, but the point was is that the tire psi will not hold the patch against the tube.
I haven't experienced a TPU puncture "in the field" yet. However, my strategy is to carry patches, but *replace* the tube with a spare. It's always easier for me to be patient and precise when I patch tubes after I get home and take my time.
@@Rekmeyatathis is a different ballgame with butyl tubes and glueless patches. Material science will tell you as such. With thermoplastics like TPU it cannot be vulcanized and bonded to the patch so “glueless” adhesive patches are the only way. The pirelli patch just uses a different adhesive.
I’m 240lbs and ride 22g Tubolito S-Tubo. Minimizing the rotational weight at the outer most part of the wheeelsets is noticeable. No issues with flats in the past 200 miles on 28mm GP5K clinchers so far. New York suburban/urban hilly roads, 45-50mph decents. 23mm internal rim width, 80/75 PSI
Nice glad you posted this.
yup, the correct pressure is essential. The higher the better is a thing of the past when it comes to pressures. Sram tyre pressure calculator is the best imho to find your correct pressures.
Same, I definitely noticed that the wheels felt easier to turn around after changing to TPU.
@@xosece each tyre manufacturer's recommended pressures are the correct pressures, not some random online calculator - even if it's branded by venture capitalists through their SRAM label.
very useful info. Also, gotta respect a man who allows his bike on the bed ;-)
He kicked his wife out of the bed to make room for his bike.
@@RichardsWorld😂😂😂😂😂😂😅
Possibly going back to latex. I bought a ten pack of the ride now tpu tubes on Ali last summer, only have 2 left. I ride 150-200 miles weekly on fairly clean roads. The last 4 rides, 3 rear flats with new tubes. (no patching) Latex or butyl give you a softer ride and have better puncture resistance IMO.
I have to tend to agree with you which is what prompted me to make the video as everyone was praising these TPU tubes in online reviews. I am still using them and found as long as I keep the pressure topped off they are pretty good. Not too many issues. Thanks for viewing!
I purchased the Ride now TPU, for over a year now no issues. They ride smoothly with my Continental 5000. He stated they ride rough but it’s the $25 dollar tires he purchased will make it ride rough .
Thanks for viewing. I had already switched to the fusion 5 before switching to the TPU tubes. So went directly from Butyl to TPU in that same tire. That's where I could feel the difference in roughness. I am still using the TPU tubes, As long as I air up every ride no issues really.
I use Vittoria latex exclusively. They have removable valve stem cores so you can adjust stem length and they ride great.
I used Vittoria latex for years but recently switched to Silca latex - they hold air a lot longer. My recently purchased Vittoria's were only holding the same pressure for about 8 to 10 hours and completely unrideable even the morning after, fine for most people especially since latex is really a competitive application. The Silca's easily hold workable pressure well into the next day. Again not a biggie since most of us on latex are pressurizing daily.
I think SILCA stated they source their latex tubes from VITTORIA but have SILCA’s improved valve.
@@CarnivoreDMD Interesting - I assume they spec their model differently from Vittoria branded models, but who knows?
I think FMB also sells the tubes they use in their tubulars. FMB tubulars are glorious to ride, but I don’t know how much the their inner tube contributes.
@@fozfactor I don't think Silca is going to make the latex tube anymore, they're having closeouts now on them.
Been using CyclAmi TPU tubes for most of the year and they have been great. No flats and I could feel a difference right away in acceleration on climbs. The weight reduction is also realized in the saddlebag, which is also lighter now. CyclAmi valves are metal, just like regular tubes.
I have had the same experience, haven’t had the need to add any air for a least once a week.
@@jeffwilson824 I have yet to add any air after a month... 38 g Cyclami, too.
Maybe that's because it's winter here, even the butyl tubes that I had to top sometimes are holding well.
So glad I stumbled on to this video Kenneth! I just bought the "pink" TPUs a couple of weeks ago and have decided to just use them as on-road repair items for now. You video content on the subject is perfect, real-world honest experience and I can't thank you enough for sharing it with us! - Bob (Toronto, Canada) (FYI, I have also subscribed so keep it coming!)
This is how I use mine as well. When I get home I put in a proper tube and put the TPU tube back in my ride wallet.
Most genuine review thank you for sharing each and every details carefully. Thank you for saving my money.
I wanted to try TPU tubes out so I got the cheapest ones I could find on eBay - 2 for about £12 delivered. So far, gotta say, amazing - the bike feels so much more alive, I can run lower pressures and I’m defo faster, on my first ride out with them I got new PR’s on every segment I went through. Crazy. I am converted.
Thanks for sharing and viewing!
Thanks for the objective review. I’ve been tempted to try these and this is exactly the kind of info I was looking for.
Great unbiased presentation sir!
@@timothypalmer4937 Thanks Tim much Appreciated!
I installed my Ridenow tubes inside 28mm Gatorskin Black Labels. So they are well protected and ride very smooth and I noticed the weight difference. I will be keeping the tpu tubes for the longterm.
Is the Gators protection a must for your riding? These are among the slowest road tires out there, you give up a lot of ride quality, grip and rolling resistance just to get that puncture protection. If you noticed an improvement with TPU tubes which is marginal, going to suppler tires will make a world of difference.
I’ve used tubilito TPUs for 2 seasons nota single flat yet. My wife uses Vitoria latex with good success as well. The latex loses a significant amount of pressure compared to the Tubilitos. I carry two as spares but haven’t had to use either one yet. I do hear a little road buzz through them.
I’m literally thinking about trying TPUs at the moment. Found this articulate, informative and objective. Hence I watched to the end, am leaving this comment and will subscribe.
Definitely worth a shot I think. Some of the purported benefits of tubeless, with the conveniences of a tube.
Ive been riding the pink ridenow tpu tubes on 4 wheelsets and over 3,000 miles combined and they have been great. I have only had 1 leaking tube and replaced it. No issues afterwards.
Thanks for sharing and viewing
I have been thinking about getting TPU tubes but mainly because they take up so little space, and as you said, you can carry two or maybe even three for the space of one regular one. I think I would probably just use them in a similar way to 'spare tyres' on cars, where you use them if you should get a flat when out and about, but change back to your regular one when it has been patched and pack the 'spare tyre' away for next time it might be needed.
Best review ever... I had the same issue patching with the included kit.
Thanks for viewing and happy riding.
If you think this is wonky, I ran Latex tubes for years. Hold air even worse. But they do run the absolute smoothest/fastest.
And light 👍
@@simonwarmer8777 TPU tubes are substantially lighter than latex. You can even get butyl that's lighter than latex, Conti Supersonic butyl are 50g which is around or a bit lighter than the lightest latex and much lighter than typical latex (which is around 80g). Latex is lighter than "standard" butyl, and it's faster than either butyl or TPU.
That's the first thing I've noticed also during my first ride with TPU. Is a rough ride, very noticeable. Did not feel faster.
Thanks for viewing and sharing!
Thanks! Very useful. Considering to take those on a ride as a safe option in case tubeless will fail (witch didn't happen for 3 years) so I looking for some light and small solution.
Thanks for viewing. I am doing the same on the MTB and Gravel bike. Carry the TPUs just in case Those bikes are tubeless. Can’t say I ever needed a tube on the MTB either. Gravel bike I have unfortunately. Happy riding.
Thank you for sharing your experience . I haven’t been on a bicycle in years and am educating myself on all the things that are now available in cycling . It’s an eye opener! lol
This was a remarkably good review. Kenneth knows what he knows and knows what he doesn't know.
I am carrying a green TPU tube instead of a bulky rubber tube now in case of punctures. It is so compact. But have to remember to add some air to it before inserting into the tyre (thanks for the reminder).
Find them easier to fit than butyl as long as the have some air in them.
I agree 100% with what you said. I've had the same experiences. The best thing they can do is have a good spare inner tube.
One of the best reviews I have ever seen on RUclips. Your experience mirrors mine. Your review should be helpful for anyone considering TPU tubes. Incidentally I have the same opinion about going tubeless on high pressure road bike tires, I’m not sure if I reached the conclusion in my own thoughts or if I read it somewhere and thought “makes sense, sealant spraying everywhere, what a mess”. Thank you for the review, you did a great job!
@@everettbugg1443 thank you and thank you for viewing. Just as a brief follow up, I am using the Cyclami Tubes only now, as they seem to be a bit better built than the Ridenow tubes. Once I started to air up before every ride I have had no issues with pinch flats. Happy Riding.
Wow what a great videp thank you so much for sharing I am at the juncture of deciding whether to go TPU or tubeless and I too do not want the added faff of tubeless.
@@lostboy8814 thanks for viewing. So a year plus in I am still using them. I am just using Cyclami 80mm stem tubes. Once I got used to checking tire pressure every ride I have had no problems. And I agree I do not want to deal with tubeless on the road bike where flats are more common and tube replacement usually takes 10 minutes or less.
I used ridenow for a few months then also had a double, front & rear pinch flat. I found I couldn't corner as hard as the tyre would skip on the surface. I'm back on tubeless now.
Thanks for viewing and sharing!
@Kenneth Toscano The problem with keeping air could be connected with the valve, not the tube itself. I think I spotted a similar comment from a user of a TPU tubes somewhere.
Yes agreed there is some talk here and online else where that the early versions of these ride now tubes hade valve issues. Supposedly that has been resolved. Having run these for a year now and mixed and matched between TPU and butyl. The TPUs definitely do not hold air as long. For a bit I had a butyl in one tire and a TPU in the other and could clearly see the change in pressure daily. You have to check or air up every ride, if not your risk of puncture goes way up compared to butyl. Thanks for viewing and sharing.
Very informative video on personal experience with TPU tubes. Thank you!
I have found that tpu tubes, especially in wider tires makes the ride more plush and less harsh, versus what you experienced. Plastic is less pliable, but the tpu tube is multiple times thinner than butyl. This allows for the tire to flex more, due to there being less material overall, similar to tubeless.
@@jimiwexler1260 thanks for viewing and sharing your experiences!
They hold air better than LATEX tubes. With nearly the same rolling resistance.
Thanks for sharing! Very helpful. I bought a cheap two pack off of Amazon. I also bought the Pirelli patch kit on your recommendation. I’ll be carrying them as insurance during the Kenai 250 bikepacking race in Alaska!
Cheers,
Christian
Sounds like an epic trip! Happy riding and thanks for viewing!
Thanks Kenneth, great honest review .
Best TPU tubes review I was able to find. Great job.
Thanks for viewing! If you haven’t already look through the comment section. Lots of good info and shared experiences posted
Great video. Thanks for your description of your experiences. Of course everyone will have a comment, just like a belly-button (everyone has one). This being said, ... we switched to 28 ... 29 ... 30 mm (c) tires over the past few years and have reduced our flats to almost zero. Also, our comfort has increased by a factor of 100 (at least) given our tire pressure is now reduced significantly. Are they slower or faster? Who knows? Who cares? ... because I am not beat to smithereens at the end of a ride. PS: yes, I too added TPU tubes to my wife's bike and love the smaller size.
Thanks for sharing and viewing. I am also going to make the change next season to 28s and I suspect the same. I have not had any flats since posting this mainly because TPU forced me to be much more diligent about my tire pressure. I air up almost every ride and it has been fine. With butyl’s I could get away with airing up once or twice a week with out worry.
I notes too, ride is little harsher. Next ride will lower pressure little below recommended.
Drop a reply in here and let everyone know of that works out for you. Thanks for sharing.
I have been using Schwalbe Aerothon tubes & Tuboloto tubes for over about 1 1/2 years. I also use tire liners. I inflate to 85 psi.
The Aerothons have had NO flats. I got one flat on one of my Tubelito’s. I used Tubelito’s adhesive patch kit and it worked. I have not had an issue with the patched tube for the past 3 months. I have never tried patching my Aerothons.
I was extremely skeptical about the cost……..but I have changed my mind and am pleased with my experience with BOTH brands of tubes.
Thanks for the insights on those two brands!
@charlesmansplaining so the Pirelli patch kit comes with glue. I am pretty certain it is not rubber cement. I did they same and tried to find just the glue. Seems any pool floaty type patch kit might work. Here is one I found that might work. Just Google Kokopelli PVC or TPU Glue
@charlesmansplainingsomeone mentioned using inflatable swimming pool glue so maybe possible to cross use glues for other purposes
Very helpful piece of advise. Thanks for it!
Thanks for the info I appreciate you taking the time. 👍
Thanks for watching. Happy riding
Another point to note is that the TPU tepair patches need a completely clean surface so they can adhere to the tube properly, they sometimes come with alcohol wipes or you can always spray with isopropyl alcohol and wipe off
Thanks for viewing and sharing.
I've used both of those tpu tubes over the past 6 months. I've had only one flat which was a shard of Glass that protruded the tyre and the tube.
I have noticed that that my 50mm windpace hyper wheels there's a lot more Road noise passing through the tyre. But the rims now feel very lively from a a complete stop to go.
And with another set of thicker and heavier carbon rims the tpu's have definitely made the rims noticeably livelier. You're virtually riding on a cushion of air now made up of the tyre and the rim now.
Maybe Only anecdotal, that slight weight-saving may equate to energy saving at the end of the long ride?
I would be interested to see how you feel when you switch back to a butyl tube?
Thanks for viewing and sharing your insights! For now I am going to stick with the TPU tubes and monitor my tire pressures more closely. I will also switch back to 5000s after I use up the Hutchison Fusions. That too I suspect will make a difference as they are wider taller and thicker.
That's why they say always look where you want to go and not where you don't want to go.... this is taught in automotive defense driving... thanks for the video... I was thinking of getting them but don't think so now... maybe for emergency on the road....
Thanks for watching. Like I say I am going to stick with them now that I know I can order them direct on Aliexpress. And as I navigate how to best live with them, the size and weight are big wins. They are definitely worth a try at the right price.
And yes that was the phrase I was trying to think off as I was filming! haha
Thanks for the feedback, been considering
Appreciate the real life experience. Good presentation. I recently ordered a set from Amazon and waiting their arrival from China. So we'll see. Also, I agree 100% on your comments re tubeless. Tried it for a year and a half and went back to tubes. Too much messy set up and maintenance not to mention relatively high air loss.
Very informative and giving a lot of insight, thanks ao much!
Could the difference in ride quality be do to the new tire because I did notice the 5000s tires do ride much better. Great video!
Yes I agree that the 500s rode better than the Fusion 5s but they are also wider, taller and a bit thicker than the fusions. In this case though I started the season on the fusions and butyl tubes. Then switched to TPU and you could immediately feel the harshness. Nothing you don’t get over quickly but noticeable. Thanks for viewing.
My issues-
I stopped using C02 cartridges because C02 leaks through inner tubes 10x's as fast as air. Look it up if you don't believe me, this is a fact and documented quite extensively. I didn't know this until researching after a few flats and my tires would lose a ton of air after the repair.
I purchased a really nice Lezyne mini pro hand pump and roll with that from now on. It's very compact and works well. Although it does take some pumping, I love the size and carry it in my jersey saving room in my saddle bag.
Now my issue is that my fancy pump threads on to the valve and my expensive Pirelli TPU tubes don't offer a threaded option. So I wasted quite a bit of cash on nice Pirelli TPU tubes that I cant use because of my preference on using the hand pump.
I'll keep them around for a friend in need, but will continue to use my $6 Continental race 28 inner tubes. They are the most compact I've come across so far (Much smaller than the one Kenneth is holding @10:39)
Thanks for the video and your experience.
I looked it up. I'm a believer.
CO2 can get very cold as it enters the tube, which can crack the plastic
My 2019 Superlight Brompton is able to use Tubolito tubes, for a little less weight, but I luckily haven't had a puncture till now, so why change to anything else before that? My use of the bike is limited as it is mostly for travels and shorter, bring it with you in the car, transport, though I have spent much money to make it much/exceptionally lighter, for now the same weight as a double price T-line, just for the fun of it! I'm a tall 100+ kilo man by the way. Finn. Denmark
I ordered orange "Cyclam" ones a week ago for 26 mtb wheels .
Great honest review :) unlike some channels !!!
It makes sence for a rubber tube to be hold up on rough roads and pinch situations thicker more flexible...
Hard to dispute that they are lighter and take up half the space in your kit.
I just ordered 8 on AliExpress around 2 Euro each. I am still on the fence for tubless although I just taped the wheels today in case I go that way. As you find the time to change a tube not near as messy as sealant, and the weight and space savings make TPU a good choice for my dry road riding. Glad to see an honest user review!
@@NeilSnapePhotography thanks for viewing and sharing your thought!
I had to switch back to butyl tubes because my RideNow got flats from steep down heat from my rim brakes. I still carry them as my spares but only to get me home.
I tried a set of ride-now on 35 mm cyclocross tyres, butyl tubes weighed in at 300g and the TPU was about 60g. My perception was that were marginally quicker (totally unscientific), and my ride was less hash. Unfortunately I had the same experience with puncture repairs not holding, and because I had some glass that penetrated the tyre and I missed it when I replaced the tube, I ended up ripping two pairs.
I have now switched to tubeless and I am using the TPU as a spare in case this fails.
Exactly my set up for the cross bike. Tubeless with the TPU as a spare Thanks for sharing
300g? Are you sure? My 27.5x2.5-3" tubes weigh less. 700x45c Maxxis welterweights are like 125g.
Excellent video!
Beautiful bike!
What is the brand and model?
Also when mounting tpu tubes are they easy to rip with levers?
Thanks!
It is a Yoeleo frame built up from scratch. I have a video on it if you want to check it out. Standard plastic tire levers should work fine. Just remember to put around 5 psi in the tube when you mount it so it doesn’t twist or get pinched.
2 Ridenow exploded on my bike ! one during an ascent (I'd be on hospital for long if it happens on a descent), another one, while I was sitting nearby and drinking a beer (there was no sun!). there are some weaker spots at tube joints which expand/get thinner.
no probs with Tubolito though. (my mate rides Cyclami without problems as well)
Thanks for viewing and sharing your experience!
Park Tool do a self-adhesive patch kit that works really well on tpu. Have used them twice and both holding fine. I noticed the harsher ride with tpu vs butyl, but I also think I notice the weight reduction on climbs. Will probably depend on the weight of the tubes that you're switching from. My old tubes were around 120g each vs the tpu at around 28-29g each.
I have no idea about the rolling resistance side of things. I'm just assuming that any performance gain is mostly related to the reduction in the rotational weight.
Thanks for watching I will have to check out the Park tool self adhesive. Old tubes definitely much heavier.
I thought that rotational weight had been debunked. Could it be down to be better flexibility in the side walls - I know he said that they feel rougher, but maybe the thinner combined side walls of tyre and tube make the rolling resistance better. Has anyone tried the 'race' versions of butyle?
when you do get a flat on a rough road , the tube gets full of holes and the stick on patch kits dont work. also they do get snake bikes easily so you have to avoid any small pot holes and bumps
I currently use ridenow. they have been pretty good so far. Switched from latex. If i had to compare i would say you can run slightly higher psi in latex for the same comfort. That slight edge in suppleness is probably what gives an advantage in rolling resistance to latex. Latex 90 psi compared to tpu 85 psi. gp4k2 25mm rear gp5k 23mm front. 165 lbs.
Thanks for viewing and sharing!
Straight talking ,no bullshit ,I ve subscribed
Great commentary, thanks
I love my Schwalbe TPU tubes on all my bikes, race and commuter, 2 years on, no flats, no issues, and use all year, through the winter on my commuter...negative temperatures. Confused why this guy has problems?
Thanks for a really informative video with real experience using those! Just ordered couple of the pink and green ones from AliX :)
Thanks for viewing and happy riding!
Great video, Ken - thanks for sharing your experience! I’ve been using RideNow TPU for a while with great success, but still trying to figure out about patching them. you mentioned the Pirelli patch that comes with the camplast glue, but you didn’t say whether you put them back in to see if they held up. have you put any of the ones you repaired back in and how do they hold up?
my concern with any of the ones that use a glue is that you have to wait a while for the glue to set, so not practical for doing roadside repair. however, they’re small enough and cheap enough to keep a couple spares with you, which seems like the best solution overall.
Thanks for viewing. So I have used 1 patched tube with the Pirelli patch and glue system and it has held up fine. Yes doing it on the roadside would be time consuming for sure. I have not done a road side repair in a very long time. I usually carry 2 tubes, butyl in the past TPU now. Since I have been checking my tire pressure before every ride, I too have not had any issues with the TPU tubes. They simply lose air faster allowing them to pinch flat easier than Butyl in my experience. Thanks for sharing and happy riding!
I got lucky and found a guy selling a set of 3 Pirelli PZero Smartubes for $40 last year so I've been riding them. I do feel like they hold air better than butyl, I pump up before every ride anyway so no biggie, but after 3 days I usually only lose 10 or less psi each time.. I do find them more fragile, I've had pinch flats on 2 of them, one from hitting a lengthwise crack in the pavement and another from a big piece of gravel. At least they're easy to patch with that Pirelli patch kit. Would I buy them again? Probably not, and definitely not for full price, but I do like them.
Thanks for watching and sharing! Great info. I am going to stick with the cheap ones for now. I have forced myself to pump up before every ride and since doing that, no issues. Happy riding
Ive had good luck with the Victoria TPUs. It feels like the wheels spin up faster for sure.
Good review thanks. Have only just installed TPU tubes, and getting ready for first ride on them as I watch this video... fingers crossed 🙂
Good luck. I am sure they will be fine. Just stay on top of your air pressure unlike me haha
All good. I deflate the tyres after each ride anyway. Habit I had been doing for years to avoid bulge... ensures correct pressure every time. Not sure if just me but reckon there was a bit more road hum with these bad boys
Rolling resistance is real and can be felt! Butyl tubes are sluggish and slow. Latex and TPU have equal faster rolling resistance. Latex and TPU do lose air faster than butyl though....
bought 6 cyclami road tubes with patches delivered for £30, these things are amazing but yeah the road sound is very noticeable
U get really good at repairing flats
Nice review. Thanks.
When a patch is being pressed against the inside of the tyre it's more likely to stay put.
Thanks for viewing and yeah that does make sense. Another viewer mentioned that as well. I just never patch tubes on the fly so I hadn’t thought about that.
Truth.
I use them as emergency tubes for my tubeless tires. Light and small to carry two and a mini pump to get me home if I get a catastrophic puncture that won't seal.
Nice video. I use TPU tubes as spares for all the reasons you say. For now, I am sticking with tubeless to avoid your other problem: Pinch flats! With any type of tube, I get around 2 pinch flats a year. FWIW - my sample size: that's an average of 2 pinch flats per year over 52 years of riding. With tubeless - that I don't necessarily like thanks to the mess and inconvenience - I have had zero pinch flats (or any flats) in 3 years.
Thanks for viewing and sharing your experience!
What size tires are you running?
@@lenkomsa1399 70 psi for 28 mm tubeless. I must use 120 psi for 28mm clincher tubes to avoid pinch flats. I am not interested in any tire larger than 28mm.
Cool yhea I ride them also same problems pinch punches & sometimes they bubble round the valve & puncher there those you have to bin. Must say I have ridden many tires in my life, sponsored & not sponsored & those tires you riding they cheaper but much more punchers with them. I say go back to Conti I swear by them. Thx for the vid. And yhea they don't feel as nice rolling on them like Latex tubes or tubbies. I also ride the other type of tubes they lighter more puncher resistant I found & they don't pinch punch like those the light blue "Foss" tubes. I have even put a silk made tubular in my tire and rode it. lol Yes the ones you only ride like few km on the track with & cost a small fortune.
I missed this comment month back but just want to say thanks for sharing your insights and experiences. To your point I’ll be going back to Conti’s once I have used up these others.
@@kt31166 Can't go wrong with a Conti!!
I had a flat with these tubes twice
Once when I had the wrong valve stem basically and I had the screw in really tight where the tube and valve couldn’t move and eventually got a hole
The other time was some glass got through my marathon tires front tire
It was raining for days though…so I can understand because I sometimes get flats when it rains since my tires get soft
@@tharpeaddy thanks for viewing. Since being very sure to air up every ride I have not had any issue. Still using them. I like the Cyclami tubes a bit better but over all pretty happy with them.
I run Ridenow tubes for last year never had flat. On my other bike I had tubalitos and I had a flat. I have 3k miles on Ridenow tubes with no issues
Ken, I noticed you are riding on RIm brakes: Ride Now recommends not to use them s such due to the rim heating up therefore affecting the physical structure of the TPU (they don't say but this could lead to not so nice situations), have ordered them for my RIm bike as well but after reading the instructions I decided to install them on my other road bike which has disk brakes. Honestly I was thinking to installing on my Rim brakes bike as a test, what are your thoughts?
Hi and thanks for viewing. So it took me a while to find a source stating what you mentioned. I did finally and that only holds true for RIM brakes using their 19g ultralight ultra thin tubes. I have not actually seen these for sale anywhere but I am sure they are. The ones I bought from Amazon are 36g tubes, the heaviest they offer and several sites say they are compatible with rim brakes. So if you have the heavier ones you should be fine. They also make a 24g option which is also good with Rim brakes. The 36g tubes seem to be the most readily available from several sources. Until you brought it up I didn’t even know they made different options for the same size haha. Happy riding.
Hi Kenneth. I've switched over to TPU. I started with Tubolitos and have since bought similar looking tubes on ebay from China - $40 vs $8 (Australian). I can't say I've experienced harshness with them although I'd that latex is a little bit 'nicer'. WRT repairs, TPU's appear to be hopeless for an on the roadside fix but I've had a 100% success rate at home. I use a small spring clamp and 2 small, thin flat pieces of wood to clap the patch on after gluing for a bout 15mins. It's important to apply the glue and let it dry the suggested time before patching. My view is that the TPU's can be sourced cheaply enough and are so much smaller and lighter than butyl that any cons are far outweighed by the pros..Cheers. (I believe it is important to buy tubes rated for rim brakes if that's what you're using.+
Thanks for sharing your insights. I too had success with the glue over the self adhesive that come with them and I have not done a road side repair in years. Also agree with you that the weight and size savings are worth the learning curve for me. So I will be sticking with them for now especially getting the price point down to reasonable. Thanks for viewing!
I'm sorry, but I will not buy anything made in China IF at all possible, and since there are other places I could buy a tube from then that's where I'll go. Chinese hacking, stealing intellectual property, no regard for international rules and laws, making all sorts of counterfeit products, no warranty should something go wrong, or legal recourse should a product of theirs fail and cause injury, bullying their neighbors, child sex trafficking, illegally importing fentanyl, and the list goes on. I cannot in good conscience buy stuff made in China if at all possible.
I have been using aliexpress TPU tubes for about 6 months, the biggest issue I am finding is that the (non replacable) valves tend to not last too long over 100PSI. Other than that, once you learn how to get them installed easily they are great.
I purchased some Aliexpress TPU tubes as well earlier this year but have not tried them out yet. My biggest concerns are the plastic valve stems (which I have read can break easily if not careful when using a frame pump out on the road or out in the cold), the longer valve stems (which do not look good on shallow rims), and the valves themselves (leaking). Since I am old school and still run narrower tires at high pressures (over 100 PSI) that seems to raise another issue.
The TPU tubes are lighter and smaller but I have always used light butyl tubes (like Continental Race Lights) so the difference is not that tremendous. I can easily carry two spares and a patch kit in a small seat bag so I am not gaining much by switching to TPU tubes plus I like the valve stem options and easy repairability of the butyl tubes.
The valve is replaceable on the plastic stems. Heat it up with a hair dryer, grab it with pliers with a piece of rag in it, use a presta tool to twist the valve off the glue will snap easily. Then use some purple thread locker on the threads of the new valve and thread it in. Don't try it without thread locker or glue, it won't work.
The pink ride nows done same with my friend as what happened with your green one's plus he says always take an extra one with you ofnthe ridenow are you will more often than not have a definitive valve, his new ride now are flat every morning hes waiting on his usual coming and dumping these things but not the first time ive heard this
Excellent video! I watched this video with four of these tubes in my Aliexpress cart. Going to go ahead and press the buy button.
@@EricBlair1984-i5d thanks for viewing. Still using them and now that I air up every ride, no issues
Apart from the obvious observation that the tyre is critical to all patches, not just self-adhesive versions, working. I recall learning to repair my bike back in the early 1970s that you always put a little air in the tube before you install them. I could even unstitch, patch and restitch the old singles, and even then I still put air it the tube before stitching them back up again. That's just basic tube installation 101. Evidently it's bow an optional step these days.
I don't share your TPU experiences in terms of rough ride quality and losing pressure. I *do* ride a wider tire setup than you (30mm Conti GP5000 on a Fulcrum Racing 5 wheel setup) at anywhere from 62-70 psi front, 65-75 psi rear (I weigh 176 pounds, bike weighs 17 and change, full bidons and tools are another 2.5 pounds or so). The ride is similar to latex (i.e. more plush than butyl) and the resistance to pinch flats is amazing - and I've slammed into some things, be they rocks, curbs, or potholes.
They also hold pressure as well as butyl per my experience - could it be around the valve area? Granted I'm running far lower pressure (which also likely accounts for the smoother ride, in combination with the wider tires).
Also: I install them flat within the tire and they don't twist. YMMV, but it's worked a charm thus far.
I agree about the uselessness of the patches with the green TPU tube - tho they worked well with a plastic adhesive (I flatted from a tire ply wire - an all-too-common problem in urban areas). I've been running either the Tubolito or the green models with zero issues.
Here is my experience with TPU Ridenow tubes (pink ones) in my Bontrager 32mm clinchers. Since it isn't rideable here in winter, I have tested them without riding and get to the conclusion that I will never get far outside with those tubes. Super lightweight is appealing for sure at 36g, that's 1/3 of a butyl tube. Saving 150g for both tubes is awesome but what about reliability? I installed 4 TPU's, none of them was satisfactory. 4 failed out of 4 ! Without pinching it at the installation, 2 got pinholes (so tiny, almost invisible) after inflating, the other 2 were leaking at the valve. Problems were observed not instantly but overnight or several days after with dramatic lost of pressure. I wouldn't go out with such unreliable tubes and probable lack of pressure through a 2-3 hour ride. I didn't test other TPU brands but the ones with metal stem may be better, I don't know?
I had the same experience when I ordered two of them for my gravel bike. I have two of the ride now TPU is in my rim brake road bike , size 25c , so far so good they hold the air and I like them. The problem is the gravel bike. I decided to buy another brand that’s a little bit heavier of a TPU material from Australia.. I installed those yesterday. I haven’t really rode the bike for a normal gravel ride yet. My big problem is trying to fit and see the bead with tubeless tires. That’s the time wasting struggle. I dread having to get a flat with any tube with a very tight fitting Continental gravel tire, and a hook, carbon rim, and then trying to see to be out there I’m gonna have to get 20 g CO2 cartridges. that’s my concern. I just am using the TPU tubes in the gravel bike because the tubeless sealant is drying up because I’m not riding enough otherwise I’ll go back to tubeless sealant that way. I don’t have to unseat a bead . What a pain
@@shirtlessGraveler305 Riding shall be fun not pain in regards to equipment. I got back to tubes because valve was always stuck with sealant making it very difficult to add air. Continental tires are a pain mounting them to most rims. Why doing complex when you can easy ;) TPU reliability is like tossing a dice: sometimes fine, sometimes bad.
I did have this same issue of a pin hole on first inflation, but it was because I didn't clean the tyre and tube before installing, once I put a new tube in after cleaning was able to ride without out issues. It seems these tubes require a steep leaning curve and a change in ways. As Ken points out, if you install these wrong they are less forgiving than rubber tubes. That said I am new to TPU we will see how it all goes. As for speed they are so much faster.
I still stick to butyl tube because they are so affordable and easy to patch when they are punctured. It is true their size is bigger when pack in the saddle bag but i usually don't need to carry more than 1 when i ride.
I ran the Cyclami tubes for 6 months on my rim brake bike. they were great til we went into summer and after a long decent I left my bike in the sun at a coffee stop. Suddenly we heard a tyre blow and it was mine. Surely enough the tube failed. I went tubeless the next week and they now live in my saddle bag… probably not a problem with disc brakes
Great review and good you pointed out the size saving, until you get them in your hands next to a butyl tube can you appreciate how small they are. I had a snakebite flat after around 1000km, but it was my fault as I hadn't checked the pressure before I went out. I now religiously top them up, even if its just one day. Having the right tyre pressure is the easiest way to avoid most flats. I'll repair mine once, but do watch out for that ballooning that happens if they twist or are squeezed, they look like one of those party balloons that magicians turn into animals....
Thanks for sharing your experience! I too not check those pressures every time I head out. Part of my learning curve
Nice review, but the rider needs to use proper tire pressure,, may I recommend Silca pro tire pressure calculator to give you an exact tire pressure to avoid snake bites
Agreed. I use silica and SRAM has one as well. I am still using these tubes. The key for me was to fill them to pressure every ride. No real issues since
The patch needs tire inner wall pressure to seal effectively, if you just stuck it on there of course it’ll go flat over time unlike butyl cemented patches.
I’m not sold so I just use latex tubes-no issues there.
Thanks for watching. Excellent point! I’ll have to try that. I generally do not patch tubes on the fly so I hadn’t thought about that.
Love TPU tubes. Uphill you feel the lesser weight. And sprinting against your teammates, you feel the faster acceleration. But yes, way to expensive. For my gravel with tubeless setup, the TPU tubes are light easy to put in a pocket or saddle bag, if your tire suddenly wont seal after a puncture.
My first mtb ride on Ridenow tubes ended with rear tire developing slow leak. Not sure how. No pinch flat. No puncture. Patched it with Lezyne stick on patch and it is holding air but havent ridden on it yet.
Thanks for viewing. Interesting, I bought a ride now MTB tube but just as a spare in case I can’t get the tubeless set up to seal up. Good luck. I hope it holds up after patching.
@kt31166 it ended up being from debris in tire wearing a small hole. Using them in new clean tires I've been good.
I bought same brand and for same reason, which was space saving. For me one noticable difference was handling. I didn't felt difference in ride quality, but what I felt immediately was that they are way lighter then normal tubes and as such wheel have less mass to rotate, therefore my bike feel more agile, more nimble. I don't have a clue whether they are faster though..
The combination of a medium weight tire (Conti's Gatorskin) that has great puncture protection and these very light weight 28 gram polyurethane tubes have worked well for me and the deflation rate is far slower than my old Conti 5000's.
If i were racing my carbon rim profile allows me to go tubeless.
But putting sealant in apparently isn't much fun.
Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you
@@saurabhdas7724 thank you for viewing.
Seems a good balanced review, thanks