Rene Herse TPU Tubes: Final Verdict

 Note: The Rene Herse TPU tubes were purchased for use by Guitar Ted. Rene Herse is not aware of this review, nor do they sponsor this blog or Guitar Ted in any way. All opinions are Guitar Ted's.

This will be my final take on the Rene Herse TPU tubes. If you missed previous posts on these, you can find the introductory post HERE and the first update HERE. 

In my last update I stated I wanted to do a bit more riding on these tubes to see what I was really feeling with them in my SOMA Cazadero 700 X 50mm tires. Honestly, I still don't know what it is, besides the obvious, which is that it is these tubes. They ride differently. They sound different on pavement than tubeless tires. They feel different. Not "bad" different, just not like anything else I've ridden.

I do not think these tubes are slower than tubeless. I found the coasting abilities and resistance while climbing to be pretty normal. (I am basing my opinions from a tubeless perspective here, by the way) Maybe the tires are not quite as forgiving and supple. I will say that much. But this makes sense as you have an extra layer of material in there against the casing. A butyl rubber tube would be on an order of magnitude worse, at any rate.

I ran my air pressure at the same psi as I would run the tire tubeless, by the way, so I might have tried something a touch lower to gain a bit more compliance, but I wasn't feeling the need to go lower than I was at during my final rides leading up to this review.

I found these tubes to be not as good at retaining air pressure as some of the other brands of TPU tubes which I have tried and still am running. These Rene Herse tubes are billed as "ultra-light", so this may account for their less than stellar ability to retain air pressure. This ability these tubes have to retain air pressure was definitely worse than a standard butyl rubber tube and a bit worse than most tubeless set ups I have run over the years. I had to check air pressure for every ride, and if I waited a couple of weeks between rides the air pressure was about half of what I would want to see for a ride. Considering I am using around 30psi, that's pretty telling. 

Things I Liked: 

• These tubes are crazy light. Definitely lighter than a tubeless set up. At 48 grams each, including the valve stem, I think this makes a strong case for using these for a hilly course. 
• Aluminum valve stem: I like the aluminum valve stem. It doesn't feel as flimsy as other TPU valve stems and I feel better about putting a pump on these. 
• The Ride: These ride 'okay', but this is a positive in my view. I wasn't thinking the TPU tubes made my bike ride worse, and it would ride worse with standard tubes.  

Things I Did Not Like:

•  Air Retention: I was a bit disappointed these did not retain air pressure like other TPU tubes I have. 
• No threading on valve stem: While the aluminum valve stem is great, why not finish the job and thread the thing? Having a Presta Valve nut is eschewed in some circles, but when I stick a pump on a tube I kind of like the valve stem to remain in its position, and not poke backward into the rim cavity. This might be "just me", but I found this lack of threading on the stem to be odd.  
• They Feel "Weird" To Ride: I've tried to describe this, but I think it may just come down to it being that TPU tubes have their own thing going on with ride quality, and I am not used to it yet. 
• Expense: These Rene Herse tubes are very expensive. With more competition, TPU tube prices have been coming down. I will admit the aluminum valve stem TPU tubes are all about the same price, but I expect this to change somewhat with all-TPU constructed tubes getting down near 20 bucks a piece or less in some cases. 

 

Final Verdict: Would I buy the Rene Herse Ultralight TPU tubes again? Eh....probably not. I'd go with something else next time. Maybe those Panaracer tubes with threaded valve stems. Maybe I'd just save the money and get more TPU tubes from Bike Tube, (gravel sized all-TPU tubes for right at 20 bucks each).

I think the TPU tube offerings will only increase in the future. These make a ton of sense. They are light years better than butyl rubber tubes, they are recyclable, and easily found for most bicycles in the performance sector now. They are great for the bike(s) you may have set up tubeless now which you barely use, and have to redo the tubeless set ups on without getting the benefits from before the sealant dries out. In this respect, a TPU tube has the same advantage as a butyl rubber tube: You just pump it up and ride. No ,maintenance required. 

The TPU tube may not work great in places where punctures are commonplace, or to get the best performance characteristics out of a tire, if it is a tubeless ready tire. However; in a folding bead tire not meant for tubeless, the TPU tubes may be really just fine in this respect. Finally, the expense of TPU tubes should get better. In some instances, as with these Rene Herse TPU tubes, the price is prohibitive. We'll see if competition brings the prices down to Earth in the future.  

Rene Herse TPU Tubes: Review Part 2

 Note: The Rene Herse TPU tubes were purchased for use by Guitar Ted. Rene Herse is not aware of this review, nor do they sponsor this blog or Guitar Ted in any way. All opinions are Guitar Ted's.

This is the second installment of my look at the Rene Herse TPU tubes. My first installment can be seen HERE. I know I promised an update sooner than this, but the weather, specifically the wind, has been awful here over the past month. So, the update is here now. Let's get on with it....

I have done a few neighborhood test rides on the bike and a longer gravel ride finally happened this past weekend. I ended up going with 30 psi in each tire after fiddling around with various settings. I could go lower, and I have, down to the upper 20's. The best balance, in my opinion, between ride feel, resistance, and traction was had at the 30psi setting. This is for my weight, and your mileage will vary.

Initially I thought the tubes in the Cazadero's felt similar to tubeless, In fact, it was indistinguishable from when I ran these tubeless. Pressures were similar as well. It wasn't until I did the gravel ride that I felt something different.

I'm not sure how to describe this, as this feeling is new, and not like a tubeless tire or a butyl tubed tire. It wasn't bad, but it did not feel like most of my bikes which are set up tubeless.

I noted the Cazadero's were conforming over rocks and bumps pretty nicely. This was similar to tubeless. If anything, the TPU tubes made the ride ever so slightly less supple, which makes sense to me.

It was something else which I was picking up on though, and I still cannot quite put my finger on it. I would say now it almost sounded different at times when I was hitting bigger rocks, bumps, and the like. It was the sensation of the plastic TPU making a sound inside the casing, like it was slapping or something, but this wasn't quite what I was feeling/hearing. It also struck me later that it could be the aluminum valve banging off the rim's valve hole. Since you cannot affix a Presta valve nut, I could see this happening.

Like I say, it isn't something I've felt before, nor something I am 100% sure what it is yet. And again - It does not affect the performance aspects of these tubes. But out on the gravel, I could tell these tires were not tubeless. I'd like to try these in other tires first, but.....

I'm not sure I can reuse these with good results in a different tire once they have conformed to the size the TPU has stretched to. Maybe another 50-ish millimeter tire would be okay. And if so, I'd need to get those tires. Otherwise I would need a new pair of tubes. And here is the crazy part, a pair of Rene Herse TPU tubes cost as much or more than one good tubeless tire. So...

I'll keep these in the Cazadero's for the time being and keep rolling on to see if I can get a bead on what it is I am feeling here. Stay tuned....

Rene Herse TPU Tubes: Review Part 1

Note: The Rene Herse TPU tubes were purchased for use by Guitar Ted. Rene Herse is not aware of this review, nor do they sponsor this blog or Guitar Ted in any way. All opinions are Guitar Ted's.

The TPU tube buzz is getting louder and for good reason. Or reasons? Yes, reasons. Of course, the main selling point is their light weight, which rivals tubeless set ups and in many cases, is actually lighter than tubeless. 

However: there is more to it than just being light. TPU also lowers rolling resistance versus traditional butyl rubber tubes. Nearly analogous to the levels tubeless tires provide, and that is a really important point. 

Speaking of tubeless, TPU won't require maintenance of sealant, it won't build up on your tire's carcass, and you will not have to deal with clogged valve stems and messy sealant.

Finally, TPU has the ability to hold air over time better than both butyl rubber tubes and tubeless set ups. So, there is a lot to like with TPU. 

Negatives Of TPU Tubes: Now, of course, there are drawbacks. One of those is the fact that many TPU tube offerings have plastic/TPU valve stems which are flimsy, cannot be affixed to a rim with a nut, and can be bent and damaged easily when trying to put a pump head on for inflation. 

This is why I was keenly interested in these Rene Herse TPU tube offerings as they feature an aluminum valve stem with a removable valve core. Now I don't have to worry so much about inflating the tubes when necessary or if a rock might ping up and take out a valve stem. 

TPU tubes are still tubes, of course, and as such, one could pinch flat them. So, there is this to consider. Also, TPU is not rated for use with current sealants, and while this may change at some point, this may put you off from considering TPU as an option for your tires. 

The last negative for TPU is their expense. I spent $72.00 on two tubes. That seems pretty over the top, but if these last long enough they will pay for themselves in sealant refreshes that I won't have to do. Let's see if that works out, shall we.....

The Rene Herse TPU tube has an aluminum valve stem

What It Is...

The Rene Herse TPU tubes are available in 700c sizes for gravel tires and two valve stem lengths of 50mm or 70mm in black anodized or silver anodized. There are three size ranges to choose from, all in 700c. 20mm - 32mm, 30mm - 48mm, (on test), and 45mm - 60mm. 

Prices range from $29.00 each to $33.00 each. The Rene Herse TPU tubes are made in Germany (Schwalbe? I would guess so.) NOTE: C02 inflation delivery systems are NOT recommended due to their ability to split open TPU tubes by way of their sudden volume introduction and cold temperature while delivering the gas. 

Handling Tips: Careful handling of a TPU tube is also wise. They are somewhat fragile if handled roughly and will split open if inflated too abruptly, so no air compressors either! It is best to use a hand/floor pump and take it easy which allows the TPU material to stretch evenly and consistently to conform to the inner casing of the tire and inner rim cavity. I would recommend inspecting tires and rims for any sharp or potentially damaging irregularities which could also damage the TPU material. Finally, I always use a dash of talcum powder to help the TPU tube not get hung up on the tire or rim while inflating and to reduce rolling resistance. 

First Impressions: Okay, so these clear TPU tubes are a bit of a trip to look at. Ironically these remind me a lot of something similar which was around in the late 1990's. Were those TPU tubes? I don't remember, but they were thicker and they did not stretch, really. At any rate, these clear TPU tubes reminded me of those older tubes which were not butyl rubber. 

Notice how you can see bits of talc right through the tube!

How about those aluminum valves, eh? Well, they are not threaded, which I hope is not an issue. They look nice and won't bend when I put a pump head on them, so there is that. It appears to my eyes that the aluminum stem is held on mechanically to the TPU tube, but I cannot verify if this is a kind of "O" ring-pinched TPU against the stem thing or what. It doesn't look like it is glued or "welded" together there. 

Each tube weighed in at a crazy light 48 grams. That's just insane given that a 700c X 40mm butyl tube weighs three times that or more. I decided to mount some SOMA Cazadero tires which are listed as being 700 X 50mm. However; they really are not quite that wide.

Mounting The Tubes: Rene Herse gives detailed and specific steps for mounting these tubes up which I would highly recommend be followed. Additionally, the fact that TPU doesn't stretch at the same rate as butyl will become quite apparent when mounting these tubes. In fact, they fit into a rim's inner well like a tube that is slightly too small in diameter. Stretching them over a rim should be done gently, but it is really no problem once you have done one tube. Subsequent installations will be rewarded by the learned experience of the first install. 

I always put a little talc powder in the tire as well, although it is not something which is mentioned by Rene Herse. My feeling is that the talc will help with lowering rolling resistance and help the tube stretch into the casing of the tire without hanging up. 

The Black Mountain Cycles MCD with 700 X 50mm SOMA Cazaderos using the Rene Herse   TPU tubes.

 Once aired up to about 50 psi to set the tires correctly on the HED Eroica wheels with their 25mm inner rim width I measured the Cazaderos at 47.8mm wide. So, right within the upper width range limit for these tubes.  

Since I have gotten these TPU tubes from Rene Herse I have had two friends tell me they have been running them and that they really like them so far. I plan on running these all season for a long-term look at how they will hold up and how they will ride.

Besides the quirks with TPU, it was really no problem to install the tubes. Next up will be a few rides to ascertain how these TPU tubes feel compared to what I am used to. Look for an update in a few weeks.

Friday News And Views

 Rene Herse TPU Tubes On Test:

I went ahead and took shiggy's suggestion in the comments last week and ordered a set of Rene Herse TPU tubes for testing here. These will be going into a set of wheels with tires which will remain constant throughout this riding season to see how TPU tubes hold up. 

The Rene Herse TPU tubes, besides being clear, have the distinction of having aluminum valve stems with removable cores. So no flimsy plastic/TPU stems here! Hooray! 

However: I am going to ding Rene Herse's shipping department. They threw these two boxes into a bubble interior paper envelope and shipped them USPS. This flimsy envelope allowed the boxes with the tubes inside to get crushed. The boxes looked a bit beaten up coming out of the envelope. I actually adjusted this one seen here for the image to make it look not so sad. 

Hopefully the tubes are none the worse for wear! I'll be finding out soon enough. I'll have a full opening review on these soon. I expect these will work out well. I've been having pretty good experiences so far with TPU tubes and I am considering swapping over a few more bikes to these tubes. They are radically light, ride like tubeless, but do not need topping up with sealant after six months and these hold air even better than a tubeless tire typically does. 

So, I expect "great things" with these tubes. Stay tuned... 

Image courtesy of J. Zuniga

Running Back The R.A.G.?

N.Y. Roll and I are thinking about running back this t-shirt design I call "R.A.G." It was inspired during the last recon for the last gravel event I ever did.  We saw a lone Bald Eagle in a field alongside the road during the Spring time when everything was brown and dead. 

I was inspired and spouted out something about "Real American Gravel" which ended up on this t-shirt design because N.Y. Roll wanted to have the event we were putting on be for, and inspired by, veterans of the military. 

I had a few left overs of this shirt and since the event in question never happened and that was four years ago, I decided to donate the remainder to the Collective and sell them there. One of our board members, Joe Zuniga, a veteran himself, picked one up and gave it to his friend in Texas who wears it proudly. (The image is of Joe's friend) 

This inspired N.Y. Roll to ask me if we should run this back again, and to be honest, I've been thinking about this as well. So, what do you think? Let us know in the comments. 

Image courtesy of SRAM

Gravel Bike Tech Infiltrates Classics Bike Set Up:

The Spring Classics are beginning now over in Europe and all the cobble-specific tricks are being trotted out for those Pro riders to gain whatever advantage they can with them.

One of the more recent developments comes from the world of gravel bikes. Recent online purveyors of Pro race bike set up articles are ballyhooing the usage by some teams of 1X "mullet" set ups which have pie-plate sized rear cogs for the lower gearing necessary toi climb some of those steep Belgian hills.  

That is neat. However, the cobbled classics are their own beast and if we are honest, these races have always demanded unique and sometimes unusual solutions to provide the riders with their best possible outcomes. Drive train solutions for these races have always been a bit different due to their mostly flat profiles, with a few notable exceptions. 

I'm not going to get too excited about Pros using gravel gearing. It is not a big deal, really. But it is ironic, in a way, because roadies used to make snide remarks about gravel riding and racing back in the day, and here they are using stuff which grew out of the discipline. Nice. 

Welcome To Iowa Weather:

Wednesday we had a blizzard, Today it snowed, and this coming Monday it might be a record warm day here in Waterloo, Iowa. 

That's Spring in this area for you! It makes it rough to plan for rides and sometimes it can be downright disgusting.  Furthermore; it can really play havoc with the gravel roads. 

Fortunately - or maybe unfortunately - we are pretty dry and need the moisture, so the roads won't be too awful with frost heaves and big muddy patches, at least I don't think so. But yeah....roller coaster weather is always a treat. 

Things should smooth out soon enough, but when you are itching to get out, setbacks like we had this week are no fun. On the flip side, Iowa's cycling season should kick into high gear next week. Bike shops beware!

Where We Came From: The Lincoln Scene -

I had the honor and privilege of having two genuine gravel cycling pioneers as guests on the "Guitar Ted Podcast" Thursday. N.Y. Roll listened as Matt Gersib and Matt Wills unfolded the tale of their cycling journeys. Their stories intertwine since the two are friends and have been for decades. 

Their stories are informative and will show how several facets of cycling, technology, and the times had to come into focus at the right time to foster a community of gravel cyclists. Cyclists who influenced gravel cycling in a significant way to the point - in my opinion - that gravel cycling would have not been what it has become without this scene. 

If you care about gravel cycling, and if you want to know a bit of the story regarding how it all got started, I cannot recommend this episode enough. Check it out HERE or wherever you get your podcast feed from.
 

That's a wrap for this week! It's a slow news week, but with Mid-South next weekend, you can expect more newsy stuff. Get out and ride those bikes!