Trouble In TPU Tubeland. Pros and Cons and My Experience.

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I took a ride on a gorgeous day, among the wild flowers and thought I'd make a video explaining how I'm going to use TPU tubes for my ultra riding. Yet, before I got to the spot I was going to make the video - I got a flat! Not to mention, my first ride with TPU tubes, got a flat! Both pinchers, those snake bites from hitting an edge abruptly.
So here are my thoughts, pros and cons, from my riding experience with TPU tubes. I put up a chart to highlight them but watch on - as I explain it during my ride among the wild flowers.
I won't be riding TPU tubes. I'll carry a couple an use them for "emergency" riding, service. What's your take on them? Worth it?

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Опубликовано:

22 май 2024

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Комментарии : 15

@jayjohnson7594 Месяц назад

Just had my first puncture with a RideNow TPU tube. Switched it out and back home I patched it with a Parktool GP-2 patch. No need to use sandpaper (only use that on butyl tubes). Seems to be holding up very well so far. According to Parktool, the GP2 patch can be used on Schwalbe Aerothan TPU tubes, so I don't see why it wouldn't work on any other TPU tubes.

@nakedandalive Месяц назад

\Let us know if that patch holds up!

@herminio001 Месяц назад

My experience with TPU tubes was similar to yours, but the ones that failed were cheap, no name brands. But I've been lucky with the pink ones made by Ridenow. But they cost 2X more than a butyl rubber tube at $10 a piece but still cheaper than the name brands like Tubalito and Victoria. To me, it's worth it due to the space savings. You just have to monitor the pressure every time you ride. I switched to Panaracer Gravelking SS plus tires with better flat protection, and since then, I have never had a flat.

@lekobiashvili945 Месяц назад

Hi! TPU material don't work with cement (glue) & vulcanizing patches for butyl tubes. For patching TPU tubes, you only need 'polyurethane glue'. It is a pretty simple item, and you can find it in every hardware store. Just ask for glue for soft plastics and double-check if it says polyurethane glue. It should cost just a few bucks. Here are some examples: TechnicQll Soft Plastic Glue Rema Tip-Top 5522208 Camplast Cement But there are many generic substitutes. I am using the first one, but I don't know if it is available worldwide. For patches, just cut an old sacrificial TPU tube. Such a repair is, in my experience, pretty much permanent.

@nakedandalive Месяц назад

Thanks for the reminder! Yes, I did use the right adhesive (got mine at the dollar store here - Daiso). But both the included patch with alcohol cleaning pad and my own patch didn't work. But the holes were snake bite large - that could be the problem. Good to know others do have success with patching TPU. I'll keep trying.

@stuartdryer1352 Месяц назад

I have a lot of experience with TPU tubes. The ones that,weigh 36 g are good. But make sure they have white valve stems. Lighter ones and all of the ones with black valve stems are problematic. RideNow sells the 36 g ones. The 36 g recommendation is especially important for rim brakes.

@nakedandalive Месяц назад

I've heard about the heat issue. I don't ride a lot of steep descents so not problematic but heard heat buildup can be a problem for their use. I had the 36 g ones but not RideNow, another company XTiger. But they seem discontinued ... so maybe there was a reason?

@louisrafaelcom Месяц назад

My RideNow TPU's are going on 5000km without a puncture on my gravel bike, so that's 10000km if we're counting both wheels… What's especially awesome is the fact that I don't have to worry so much how many spares I take on multi-day adventures, because they weigh nothing and don't take up much space. I bought like 6 of them at once and paid around €5 each, so for my case, they're actually about the same cost as butyl.

@nakedandalive Месяц назад

Great to know. I might give them another swing. I'm not being definitive, just relating my own brief experience. But given that I ride at least 2x a week long rides (200k+), I just don't feel confident with them on the rear tire. They roll and feel ok. It also depends on so much else. But given the material, I just think sharp "bangs", when you hit a sharp edge, drop, rock will pinch TPU much more often than butyl. This is just my common sense, working class bike rider take. TPU does seem so much easier to change - that's nice.

@helidude3502 Месяц назад

Seems like these are best for carrying a spare tube when weight and space might be an issue. Or for someone in competition when every gram counts. I’ll probably try a couple as spares just to be familiar with them. I’m conscious of saving some weight here and there, but chasing grams isn’t a priority for my riding style.

@nakedandalive Месяц назад

Yes, that's basically the conclusion I came to. Not for the endurance cyclist or one that doesn't always ride on squeaky clean roads or rides longish 2+ hours. I have them as backup - might try my lucky again ... Agree too - I don't get the cycling fetish for aero and weighto unless you are really among the 0.00001 percent. However, this has become a cycling marketing meme.

@endtimeslips4660 Месяц назад

i personally only use TPU on the back for emergency. daily ride i use butyl on the rear wheel. but for front wheel TPU is not a problem.

@nakedandalive Месяц назад

I think that is a great approach especially when doing long rides.

@endtimeslips4660 Месяц назад

@@nakedandalive my hypothesis it because on the rear wheel we concentration the weight more plus we are pedaling on the rear drive wheel it got more force when we accelerate or do climbing. probably it cause the flat on TPU.

@nakedandalive Месяц назад

@@endtimeslips4660 Makes perfect sense. Also due to the thinness of the TPU material (though I'm no scientist, this too adds to the issue).