Friday News And Views

Sour Bikes Pasta Party 32"er (Image courtesy of Sour Bikes)

The 32" Watch: Sour Bikes, TPU Tube News:

The hype and number of bikes surrounding the 32" wheel continues to grow. This week Sour Bikes, a German based company, released news concerning their Pasta Party 32"er. This is a production frame which you can order now. 

Interesting bits on the bike shown on Sour's site include a Manitou fork modified for 32" wheels having a claimed 120mm of travel, Schwalbe Rick Race XC tires, and Reynolds aluminum rims in 32" size. 

Sour claims this bike has only marginally longer chain stays and stack height over the similar Pasta Party 29"er model. They used a very short tapered head tube and a curved seat tube to achieve this result. I think it is very reminiscent of Gary Fisher's early 29"er prototype which also sported a modified Manitou suspension fork, a very short head tube, and a curved seat tube.

Also, a press release was sent out by Tubolito saying they are going to offer TPU tubes for 32" wheels. Tubolito is a German based concern as well. It would seem the Germans are really pushing 32" wheels then as all the companies represented in today's 32" Watch are German based companies. 

Image courtesy of Teravail.

Teravail Launches Component Range:

Teravail is getting into the components game with a range of handle bars in carbon and aluminum, stems in aluminum, and seat posts, including a dropper post. 

News released on Tuesday of this week revealed a few flared drop bars of interest to gravel riders, some MTB flat bars, and  they also dropped news on some grips and handlebar tape as well. 

Comments: The QBP owned brand seems to have a bit of redundancy now considering QBP's Whisky Parts Co. also has similar products. The drop bars look fine, and carbon is good for gravel, so I suspect the products will be good performers. But why double up on product offerings with two different brand names? Curious move.... 

Image courtesy of Castelli

Castelli Announces Unlimited Pro 2 Jersey:

Gravel racing is pushing apparel design into new territory. This Castelli jersey is evidence of a new trend in gravel racing jersey design which combines the function of a jersey with that of a basic hydration pack. 

The jersey is designed for hot weather. Castelli recommends this piece for anything from 64°F - 95°F temperatures. The jersey has a close fitting, race cut. The design features shoulder fabric treatment which is intended to enhance aerodynamic efficiency. The pocket on the upper back of the jersey will hold a 1.5L bladder, (not included) and there is fabric loop to hold the drink hose down across the shoulder and upper chest area. 

The jersey is available in three colors. Paprika, (shown), Elmwood, (a tan hue), or black. Price ius set at $230.00 USD. You can view more details and images of the Unlimited Pro 2 Jersey HERE. 

There is also a matching bib short called the Pro Aero Race S Kit which you can check out HERE. 

Comments: I was offered a chance to test this jersey but since I am built like a linebacker and not a Pro level cyclist I declined the offer. Sizing runs small, by the way. What is shown as 3XL comes out to an American XL, and I'm being generous there, I think.  Suffice it to say that this is a serious bit of kit for anyone who wants to glean every marginal gain they can in competition at unpaved events. 

The price is a bit dear, but if you are attacking the pointy end of the gravel racing scene, you probably already are caught up in the "arms race" and a 230.00 dollar jersey for race day is maybe no big deal. I have it on good authority that Castelli gear is well made and does the job it is intended for well enough that the price seems justified. I'll leave it at that. 

Berd spoke (Image courtesy of Berd)

Berd Offers Light XC MTB Wheels:

Berd Spokes now offers complete wheels for XC racing which tip the scales at barely over 1000 grams. Featuring a carbon, hookless deign for a rim, and Berd branded hubs, these wheels should be some of the lightest wheels out there for XC MTB.

The inner rim width is listed at 30mm, so these are legit MTB racing width rims. The rims are backed by a Lifetime warranty as well. The Berd wheels are dubbed the Hawk30 Gold. A set of the Hawk30 Gold wheels runs $2,395.00 USD and can be purchased direct from Berd HERE. 

Comments: The Berd spokes are picking up steam with racing teams and people looking for the best, lightest, and most comfortable riding spokes. I've been using a set of wheels since 2020 with Berd Spokes and they have been solid wheels with no issues for me. I would imagine these Hawk30 Golds would be fantastic riding wheels, if mine are anything to go by. 

Guitar Ted Podcast Episode #97:

Another podcast dropped this week since N.Y. Roll has made it back from Mexico where he had a little vacation time. 

On this episode we discuss a wide variety of topics beginning with series events and why we like them and don't like them. We also get into the news which came out yesterday concerning those new Conti racing tires and the new Singular Albatross 32"er.  

We also discuss how some event directors are bowing out now who had been producing events for several years. We discuss this within the context of the Raputitsa event, because it has been garnering a lot of attention on Facebook with their recent posts, but this is just a high profile example from what I have noted as being a small exodus of event directors from the gravel scene of late.  

If you'd like to listen to this latest episode, please click THIS LINK to go to the Spotify home page, or find the Guitar Ted Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Pleas like, subscribe, and leave a review. It sure helps us out on our end if you do. Thanks!

That's a wrap on this week. Get out and ride those bicycles!
 

The State Of Tubes: Vittoria White Paper Report

Pirelli's "Smartube" is a TPU based innertube.

 Recently I came across a White Paper from Vittoria tires that spoke to the differences in inner tubes for bicycles and why a new technology for those inner tubes is now the best choice for anyone using that technology to ride with. 

This post is more of a "book report" on that White Paper, but if you want to read the entire thing, you can download the PDF file from this page. 

I will only hit the highlights and things that impressed me. then I want to comment on the findings of that paper and how I think it fits into today's bicycling world. 

The first impression I got from this paper was that traditional, "butyl" tubes are not rubber at all. I think if you asked most riders and even bicycle techs, they would be surprised to find this is the case. The paper says that butyl tubes are a combination of "isobutylene and isoprene". (Note- emphasis is mine) So what is that? 

 According to "Wikipedia", (I know.....not the greatest source, but bear with me) isobutylene is:

"Isobutylene is a hydrocarbon with the formula (CH₃)₂C=CH₂. It is a four-carbon branched alkene, one of the four isomers of butylene. It is a colorless flammable gas, and is of considerable industrial value"

And for "isoprene": (From ScienceDirect Projects)

"Isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) is the smallest terpene unit. It is a colorless, volatile liquid with a boiling point of 34 °C. Although isoprene is produced by many plants, it is also a by-product of the thermal cracking of oil and a side product of ethylene production."

Umm......eeeew! But, butyl tubes are the standard of the industry and they do what they do rather well. I think it is important to know what those actually are, because, as I stated earlier, I bet most people would guess that inner tubes are rubber. That they are a synthetic concoction now makes more sense as some inner tubes feel really plasticky, and slick, which their make-up would give them, I see now. 

I ran TPU tubes in my Raleigh last year with good success.

The next tube type, Latex, is rubber. And it has better characteristics than butyl tubes do, but for air retention. So, that's why they are not a big deal, because, as many of us mechanics know, people don't know bicycle tires need air pressure maintenance, and many think that they shouldn't have to do that. 

Imagine a world where latex tubes were all you could get! No one would want a bicycle except the nerdiest-nerds. 

So, while latex tubes are cool and all, they are not really all that practical, although the White Paper kind of glosses over that fact. The next tube type seems poised for dominance though, and that type is the TPU based tube. These are best known now as "Tubolito" tubes, since they were the first well-marketed TPU type tubes I am aware of. I reviewed a set here last year. (Standard Disclaimer)

But what is "TPU"? Check out this site for details, but it is another chemically based concoction used widely throughout our current society. You could also say "eeeew!" here, but the big difference is that butyl tubes are very difficult to recycle and TPU is not hard to recycle. Plus, there are efforts to make TPU-type plastics from plant based materials, so there is hope that this might actually be a way towards a better-for-the-Earth tube in the future. An example of this is already in the cycling market in the form of biodegradable water bottles.  

The obvious advantages of TPU tubes is not debatable, but their costs to buy are, and that will put these sorts of tubes on the back-burner for many cyclists. However; with the future efforts for a more earth-friendly world, I can see where TPU tubes might end up becoming a bigger deal in the near future. especially if they can be derived from plant-based materials.

The State Of Tubes: Vittoria White Paper Report

Pirelli's "Smartube" is a TPU based innertube.

 Recently I came across a White Paper from Vittoria tires that spoke to the differences in inner tubes for bicycles and why a new technology for those inner tubes is now the best choice for anyone using that technology to ride with. 

This post is more of a "book report" on that White Paper, but if you want to read the entire thing, you can download the PDF file from this page. 

I will only hit the highlights and things that impressed me. then I want to comment on the findings of that paper and how I think it fits into today's bicycling world. 

The first impression I got from this paper was that traditional, "butyl" tubes are not rubber at all. I think if you asked most riders and even bicycle techs, they would be surprised to find this is the case. The paper says that butyl tubes are a combination of "isobutylene and isoprene". (Note- emphasis is mine) So what is that? 

 According to "Wikipedia", (I know.....not the greatest source, but bear with me) isobutylene is:

"Isobutylene is a hydrocarbon with the formula (CH₃)₂C=CH₂. It is a four-carbon branched alkene, one of the four isomers of butylene. It is a colorless flammable gas, and is of considerable industrial value"

And for "isoprene": (From ScienceDirect Projects)

"Isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) is the smallest terpene unit. It is a colorless, volatile liquid with a boiling point of 34 °C. Although isoprene is produced by many plants, it is also a by-product of the thermal cracking of oil and a side product of ethylene production."

Umm......eeeew! But, butyl tubes are the standard of the industry and they do what they do rather well. I think it is important to know what those actually are, because, as I stated earlier, I bet most people would guess that inner tubes are rubber. That they are a synthetic concoction now makes more sense as some inner tubes feel really plasticky, and slick, which their make-up would give them, I see now. 

I ran TPU tubes in my Raleigh last year with good success.

The next tube type, Latex, is rubber. And it has better characteristics than butyl tubes do, but for air retention. So, that's why they are not a big deal, because, as many of us mechanics know, people don't know bicycle tires need air pressure maintenance, and many think that they shouldn't have to do that. 

Imagine a world where latex tubes were all you could get! No one would want a bicycle except the nerdiest-nerds. 

So, while latex tubes are cool and all, they are not really all that practical, although the White Paper kind of glosses over that fact. The next tube type seems poised for dominance though, and that type is the TPU based tube. These are best known now as "Tubolito" tubes, since they were the first well-marketed TPU type tubes I am aware of. I reviewed a set here last year. (Standard Disclaimer)

But what is "TPU"? Check out this site for details, but it is another chemically based concoction used widely throughout our current society. You could also say "eeeew!" here, but the big difference is that butyl tubes are very difficult to recycle and TPU is not hard to recycle. Plus, there are efforts to make TPU-type plastics from plant based materials, so there is hope that this might actually be a way towards a better-for-the-Earth tube in the future. An example of this is already in the cycling market in the form of biodegradable water bottles.  

The obvious advantages of TPU tubes is not debatable, but their costs to buy are, and that will put these sorts of tubes on the back-burner for many cyclists. However; with the future efforts for a more earth-friendly world, I can see where TPU tubes might end up becoming a bigger deal in the near future. especially if they can be derived from plant-based materials.

Friday News And Views

Fox AX TaperCast fork (Image found on Internet)

 Fox To Update Gravel Suspension Fork?

According to several social media accounts and some endemic cycling media, Fox is set to announce a successor to their original gravel suspension fork, which came out in 2017. 

Reportedly this fork will have a three position damper setting, 40mm of travel, and Kashima coated stanchions. Price is rumored to be $1400.00 or so. 

Comments: Pffft! Really?! This seems like a big miss to me. I've covered this ground here before, but for those in the back, or who are new to this....

Forty millimeters of travel does not a suspension fork make. In other words, why have an expensive, heavy fork with minimal amounts of travel when you could be riding a trail bike, you know....an XC hard tail MTB? get you 100mm - 120mm of suspension travel that actually doesn't bottom out when set to be supple? I don't know, maybe I'm the crazy guy here, but a drop bar bike with a measly 40mm of constantly overwhelmed travel (if it is set to work all the time) is not sounding too ideal to me. 

Especially when you can bolt on 20mm of really effective vibration eating travel that doesn't claim to be anything else but just that. That fork may have 40mm of travel but how much does it weigh? And what will it cost me to maintain that fork? And does all that disappear during the other 80-90% of the time I don't need it? No? Yeah....well then.... 

If we are going to ride drop bar bikes with suspension, here's one great option that has been around for years. Quit trying to make a gravel bike something it is not. 

More Bike Parts Thievery In The News:

According to a "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" article posted on Monday, March 21st, there was a theft of PNW branded bicycle parts from a truck on March 16th somewhere in San Bruno, California. The parts were valued, according to the story, at $500,000.00 USD and were headed to PNW's warehouse. 

Authorities and PNW ask consumers to be on the lookout for PNW components at suspicious pricing and to report any suspicious product offerings to PNW Components. PNW makes dropper posts, dropper levers, stems, and other service parts. 

Comments; Supply chain shortages, the increase in demand, inflation, and the ease of internet sales makes piracy of bikes and bike parts a potentially lucrative criminal activity. We're seeing it again now with this latest report of PNW stolen bike parts and the recommendation to look out for "suspicious pricing and product offerings". 

This really hurts the niche brands like PNW who have had shortages for over a year while demand outstrips supply due to several issues out of their control. When they finally get a resupply, then this happens to them. It could be a devastating blow to a smaller company like this. 

Tubolito Announces X-Tubo CX/Gravel Tubes:

Tubolito announced Monday that they have a new re-engineered Tubolito CX/Gravel tube, (which I reviewed last year here) and have named it the "X-Tubo CX/Gravel. 

Tubolito tubes are made from thermoplastic polyurethane, and so they do not have the same traits as a butyl rubber tube, like a susceptibility to punctures, and they do not have the same weight issues as butyl rubber tubes. 

The Tubolito can therefore have very similar low rolling resistances as would your latex rubber tubes, and very nearly that of tubeless set ups without the hassles of tubeless sealant. Now with the X-Tubo, Tubolito is offering those who purchase and register their Tubolito X-Tubo tubes a one year replacement program. If you were to puncture an X-Tubo tube within that year, you could mail in the tube for a replacement from Tubolito. 

X-Tubo CX/Gravel Tubolito tubes can be purchased online here for 29.95 Euros/$35.00USD each. 

Comments: I don't have a lot more to add to the Tubolito opinions that I have already expressed here, but this new version might be a great alternative solution for those who cannot get into tubeless tires for whatever reasons. The one year replacement policy is a pretty decent deal, in my opinion. Again- I am a tubeless guy through and through. After nearly fifteen years of doing the tubeless dance, I have the processes down and I've done hundreds of tubeless set ups on more tires than I can count. So, my experience leads me to success more times than not. You may be new to tubeless, so if it doesn't feel like something you want to mess with, these Tubolito tubes are "next level" tube technology. I would strongly recommend that anyone in that situation take a look at them.

From my perspective I would probably rely on these most as a bail-out solution when and if I had a catastrophic tubeless failure in the field. These Tubolito's weigh next to nothing and pack up to slightly larger than a golf ball in size, so they do not take a lot of room in your repair kit.

Ashton Lambie (center) and MG at the '19 Solstice 100.

Ashton Lambie Joins Jukebox Gravel Racing Team:

World record holder and track cycling champion, Ashton Lambie, is set to join the Jukebox Cycling Team. 

On the team's page for Lambie, it says, "And this season, he plans to focus more on gravel racing, one of his first loves in cycling, while giving his track bike a break "

Comments: Lambie is kind of a hero to us here in the Mid-West. Generally speaking, cycling champions of the World don't come from here, or from America, really. So, he's kind of a "big deal". In fact, Lambie says in a "Nebraska Public Media" story that he is held in high regard in Europe where people ask him to autograph his hero cards for track cycling. 

What I found really interesting about this development is what Lambie says about the future of cycling team organization. He claims that the old ways won't work anymore. Jukebox Cycling employs a rather individualistic approach to sponsorship and racing programs for their athletes. Riders can bring in their own sponsors and focus on events to their liking rather than have to be a part of a multi-member team and ride according to team tactics. (Not that Jukebox Cycling couldn't employ team tactics in an event) 

So, with that I want to wish Ashton Lambie all the best. There are reasons Lambie is highly regarded that go beyond his obvious physical prowess. He happens to be a really nice, down to earth kind of person, and I think this contributes greatly to his popularity. 

Well, that's a wrap on this week! Get out there and ride and thanks for reading G-Ted Productions! 

Friday News And Views

Fox AX TaperCast fork (Image found on Internet)

 Fox To Update Gravel Suspension Fork?

According to several social media accounts and some endemic cycling media, Fox is set to announce a successor to their original gravel suspension fork, which came out in 2017. 

Reportedly this fork will have a three position damper setting, 40mm of travel, and Kashima coated stanchions. Price is rumored to be $1400.00 or so. 

Comments: Pffft! Really?! This seems like a big miss to me. I've covered this ground here before, but for those in the back, or who are new to this....

Forty millimeters of travel does not a suspension fork make. In other words, why have an expensive, heavy fork with minimal amounts of travel when you could be riding a trail bike, you know....an XC hard tail MTB? get you 100mm - 120mm of suspension travel that actually doesn't bottom out when set to be supple? I don't know, maybe I'm the crazy guy here, but a drop bar bike with a measly 40mm of constantly overwhelmed travel (if it is set to work all the time) is not sounding too ideal to me. 

Especially when you can bolt on 20mm of really effective vibration eating travel that doesn't claim to be anything else but just that. That fork may have 40mm of travel but how much does it weigh? And what will it cost me to maintain that fork? And does all that disappear during the other 80-90% of the time I don't need it? No? Yeah....well then.... 

If we are going to ride drop bar bikes with suspension, here's one great option that has been around for years. Quit trying to make a gravel bike something it is not. 

More Bike Parts Thievery In The News:

According to a "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" article posted on Monday, March 21st, there was a theft of PNW branded bicycle parts from a truck on March 16th somewhere in San Bruno, California. The parts were valued, according to the story, at $500,000.00 USD and were headed to PNW's warehouse. 

Authorities and PNW ask consumers to be on the lookout for PNW components at suspicious pricing and to report any suspicious product offerings to PNW Components. PNW makes dropper posts, dropper levers, stems, and other service parts. 

Comments; Supply chain shortages, the increase in demand, inflation, and the ease of internet sales makes piracy of bikes and bike parts a potentially lucrative criminal activity. We're seeing it again now with this latest report of PNW stolen bike parts and the recommendation to look out for "suspicious pricing and product offerings". 

This really hurts the niche brands like PNW who have had shortages for over a year while demand outstrips supply due to several issues out of their control. When they finally get a resupply, then this happens to them. It could be a devastating blow to a smaller company like this. 

Tubolito Announces X-Tubo CX/Gravel Tubes:

Tubolito announced Monday that they have a new re-engineered Tubolito CX/Gravel tube, (which I reviewed last year here) and have named it the "X-Tubo CX/Gravel. 

Tubolito tubes are made from thermoplastic polyurethane, and so they do not have the same traits as a butyl rubber tube, like a susceptibility to punctures, and they do not have the same weight issues as butyl rubber tubes. 

The Tubolito can therefore have very similar low rolling resistances as would your latex rubber tubes, and very nearly that of tubeless set ups without the hassles of tubeless sealant. Now with the X-Tubo, Tubolito is offering those who purchase and register their Tubolito X-Tubo tubes a one year replacement program. If you were to puncture an X-Tubo tube within that year, you could mail in the tube for a replacement from Tubolito. 

X-Tubo CX/Gravel Tubolito tubes can be purchased online here for 29.95 Euros/$35.00USD each. 

Comments: I don't have a lot more to add to the Tubolito opinions that I have already expressed here, but this new version might be a great alternative solution for those who cannot get into tubeless tires for whatever reasons. The one year replacement policy is a pretty decent deal, in my opinion. Again- I am a tubeless guy through and through. After nearly fifteen years of doing the tubeless dance, I have the processes down and I've done hundreds of tubeless set ups on more tires than I can count. So, my experience leads me to success more times than not. You may be new to tubeless, so if it doesn't feel like something you want to mess with, these Tubolito tubes are "next level" tube technology. I would strongly recommend that anyone in that situation take a look at them.

From my perspective I would probably rely on these most as a bail-out solution when and if I had a catastrophic tubeless failure in the field. These Tubolito's weigh next to nothing and pack up to slightly larger than a golf ball in size, so they do not take a lot of room in your repair kit.

Ashton Lambie (center) and MG at the '19 Solstice 100.

Ashton Lambie Joins Jukebox Gravel Racing Team:

World record holder and track cycling champion, Ashton Lambie, is set to join the Jukebox Cycling Team. 

On the team's page for Lambie, it says, "And this season, he plans to focus more on gravel racing, one of his first loves in cycling, while giving his track bike a break "

Comments: Lambie is kind of a hero to us here in the Mid-West. Generally speaking, cycling champions of the World don't come from here, or from America, really. So, he's kind of a "big deal". In fact, Lambie says in a "Nebraska Public Media" story that he is held in high regard in Europe where people ask him to autograph his hero cards for track cycling. 

What I found really interesting about this development is what Lambie says about the future of cycling team organization. He claims that the old ways won't work anymore. Jukebox Cycling employs a rather individualistic approach to sponsorship and racing programs for their athletes. Riders can bring in their own sponsors and focus on events to their liking rather than have to be a part of a multi-member team and ride according to team tactics. (Not that Jukebox Cycling couldn't employ team tactics in an event) 

So, with that I want to wish Ashton Lambie all the best. There are reasons Lambie is highly regarded that go beyond his obvious physical prowess. He happens to be a really nice, down to earth kind of person, and I think this contributes greatly to his popularity. 

Well, that's a wrap on this week! Get out there and ride and thanks for reading G-Ted Productions! 

Review: Tubolito Tubes: Final Word

The Tubolito Tubes were run on my Tamland Two.

 (Note- The Standard Disclaimer applies here. Please familiarize yourself with that disclaimer if you have not already so you understand the situation with this product review. Thank you!) 

 This review of the Tubolito Tubes will be my final take on these orange hoops of wonder for the time being. I will have an update here first, then I will close out this series of posts. If you missed my last update, you can reference that here. I'm going to start things off with an update to what I stated in that earlier linked post, so it may be a good idea to check that out first. 

The Update: After I posted and related my experience with the S-CX Tubolito, the marketing rep reached out and discussed my problem with me. I ended up getting a replacement Tubolito S-CX because it was thought that I may have received a defective Tubolito. So, I waited until I received that, installed it in the front wheel of the Raleigh Tamland Two, and re-tested that. 

Initially I had gone with 40psi, so that's where I started again and the test ride went well. 24 hours later and the tire was not flat! This was definitely better! Now, all along the rear Tubolito has done very well in regard to air retention. Now I would be able to compare the two types of Tubolito tubes without dealing with the defective front that I started out with, which led me to a false conclusion on that Tubolito. 

So, it has been a solid week since I have had the new front Tubolito installed and I have ridden the bike a few times. Air retention on the front is as good, if not perhaps a little better than, the rear Tubolito which is the 'heavier-duty' one of the pair. Okay, so I think I've put that issue, and any questions about air retention, to bed now. 

Final Words: I think these Tubolito tubes are a definite option for anyone that isn't going to go tubeless for whatever reasons, or that maybe has a bike that isn't going to get used enough to make tubeless worthwhile. This might be a bike you only ride occasionally, or for a short season. Tubes make a lot more sense in these situations. Just air up and go when you want to ride. A tubeless set up will cause issues eventually with dried up sealant, coagulated sealant puddled in one spot of a stationary tire, and cause more headaches with maintaining/correcting issues that arise due to sporadic bike riding and tubeless usage. 

Obviously, if you live in an area where punctures are commonplace these might not be the best option. However; if you have a tubeless set up and want a back-up option in case of catastrophic tubeless failure or for a puncture/tear that won't seal? Tubolito tubes could be a very compact, lightweight, reliable option there.

I liked the way that they rode. The interesting thing about this review for me was that I had ridden the front wheel with a typical tube and then with the new Tubolito. I could notice a difference if I focused on it. The Tubolito allowed the front tire to act better over bumpy ground, like a grassy dike I rode during the test. I've no doubt that the rolling resistance is better with Tubolito tubes vs regular butyl tubes. Better than tubeless? Meh..... I'm not willing to go that far, but these Tubolito tubes feel pretty nice. 

If you puncture a Tubolito, there is a specific patch kit for that.

Would I run Tubolito tubes exclusively? No. I'm a tubeless guy for sure, but with that said, I am keeping the Tubolito tubes in the Tamland Two indefinitely. This is a bike that I have an attachment to, but a bike that I don't get to ride a whole lot anymore. So, tubeless tires don't make any sense for this bike since it sits long periods of time between uses. 

That the Tubolito tubes have air retention equal to, or better than regular butyl tubes, in my experience, that makes sense then to leave the Tubolito tubes in there. That way whenever I can ride this bike I only have to air up the tires and go. I lose little to nothing compared to a tubeless set up, at least on the gravel roads around here. 

I would also strongly consider a Tubolito spare for longer gravel events, bikepacking, or touring where space and weight concerns make carrying regular tubes a nuisance. You can easily pack two Tubolito tubes in the same space it takes for one butyl tube, and the weight is astronomically lighter. 

Downsides? Yes, they are expensive. They don't come in every size out there. Yes, they could be punctured or pinched. (There is a patch kit especially for Tubolito tubes, so that might assuage the puncture fears a bit) But Tubolito tubes, in their standard weight, are more puncture resistant than standard tubes are, so..... It's a gamble, but perhaps one worth taking.

I wasn't 100% convinced these were a good idea when I heard about them. Now that I have seen these and dug in a bit deeper, I can see what they do that tubes and tubeless do not do well. So, there is a place for a Tubolito in my kit from now on. You? Perhaps the price and the fact that you may never use tubes again would make this a not-so-great idea. I get that. These are not for everyone, but they are an interesting and viable option for many.

Review: Tubolito Tubes: Final Word

The Tubolito Tubes were run on my Tamland Two.

 (Note- The Standard Disclaimer applies here. Please familiarize yourself with that disclaimer if you have not already so you understand the situation with this product review. Thank you!) 

 This review of the Tubolito Tubes will be my final take on these orange hoops of wonder for the time being. I will have an update here first, then I will close out this series of posts. If you missed my last update, you can reference that here. I'm going to start things off with an update to what I stated in that earlier linked post, so it may be a good idea to check that out first. 

The Update: After I posted and related my experience with the S-CX Tubolito, the marketing rep reached out and discussed my problem with me. I ended up getting a replacement Tubolito S-CX because it was thought that I may have received a defective Tubolito. So, I waited until I received that, installed it in the front wheel of the Raleigh Tamland Two, and re-tested that. 

Initially I had gone with 40psi, so that's where I started again and the test ride went well. 24 hours later and the tire was not flat! This was definitely better! Now, all along the rear Tubolito has done very well in regard to air retention. Now I would be able to compare the two types of Tubolito tubes without dealing with the defective front that I started out with, which led me to a false conclusion on that Tubolito. 

So, it has been a solid week since I have had the new front Tubolito installed and I have ridden the bike a few times. Air retention on the front is as good, if not perhaps a little better than, the rear Tubolito which is the 'heavier-duty' one of the pair. Okay, so I think I've put that issue, and any questions about air retention, to bed now. 

Final Words: I think these Tubolito tubes are a definite option for anyone that isn't going to go tubeless for whatever reasons, or that maybe has a bike that isn't going to get used enough to make tubeless worthwhile. This might be a bike you only ride occasionally, or for a short season. Tubes make a lot more sense in these situations. Just air up and go when you want to ride. A tubeless set up will cause issues eventually with dried up sealant, coagulated sealant puddled in one spot of a stationary tire, and cause more headaches with maintaining/correcting issues that arise due to sporadic bike riding and tubeless usage. 

Obviously, if you live in an area where punctures are commonplace these might not be the best option. However; if you have a tubeless set up and want a back-up option in case of catastrophic tubeless failure or for a puncture/tear that won't seal? Tubolito tubes could be a very compact, lightweight, reliable option there.

I liked the way that they rode. The interesting thing about this review for me was that I had ridden the front wheel with a typical tube and then with the new Tubolito. I could notice a difference if I focused on it. The Tubolito allowed the front tire to act better over bumpy ground, like a grassy dike I rode during the test. I've no doubt that the rolling resistance is better with Tubolito tubes vs regular butyl tubes. Better than tubeless? Meh..... I'm not willing to go that far, but these Tubolito tubes feel pretty nice. 

If you puncture a Tubolito, there is a specific patch kit for that.

Would I run Tubolito tubes exclusively? No. I'm a tubeless guy for sure, but with that said, I am keeping the Tubolito tubes in the Tamland Two indefinitely. This is a bike that I have an attachment to, but a bike that I don't get to ride a whole lot anymore. So, tubeless tires don't make any sense for this bike since it sits long periods of time between uses. 

That the Tubolito tubes have air retention equal to, or better than regular butyl tubes, in my experience, that makes sense then to leave the Tubolito tubes in there. That way whenever I can ride this bike I only have to air up the tires and go. I lose little to nothing compared to a tubeless set up, at least on the gravel roads around here. 

I would also strongly consider a Tubolito spare for longer gravel events, bikepacking, or touring where space and weight concerns make carrying regular tubes a nuisance. You can easily pack two Tubolito tubes in the same space it takes for one butyl tube, and the weight is astronomically lighter. 

Downsides? Yes, they are expensive. They don't come in every size out there. Yes, they could be punctured or pinched. (There is a patch kit especially for Tubolito tubes, so that might assuage the puncture fears a bit) But Tubolito tubes, in their standard weight, are more puncture resistant than standard tubes are, so..... It's a gamble, but perhaps one worth taking.

I wasn't 100% convinced these were a good idea when I heard about them. Now that I have seen these and dug in a bit deeper, I can see what they do that tubes and tubeless do not do well. So, there is a place for a Tubolito in my kit from now on. You? Perhaps the price and the fact that you may never use tubes again would make this a not-so-great idea. I get that. These are not for everyone, but they are an interesting and viable option for many.

Fall Views: Mournful Sounds

It was a beautiful looking day at least!

 Wednesday was to be a showery, cooler day by the afternoon. In fact, a few showers blew through the area early, just after Sunrise, and then it cleared off by about 9:00am. I wasn't going to wait to find out if the weatherfolk were wrong or right. I went and got my things on and grabbed the ol' Tamland Two for a ride South of town. 

The wind was stiff. Something above 20mph and at least a bit more out in the open, straight out of the Southeast. I decided to use my standard Southern jumping off point of Prairie Grove Park to go South and East a bit until I ran out of time, then turn around for a short, fast trip back to the truck. 

I had to be back shortly after noon to join my daughter for lunch, then I had other stuff to do for the rest of the day. So this little window had to work out or I was going to end up with nothing. Fortunately the day appeared to be beautiful, despite the constant wind coming in my face to start with. 

This ride was all about testing the Topeak Gravel Bag and the Tubolito tube I have still in the back tire. (More on that at the end of this post.) I don't much ride tubed tires anymore, and riding into that headwind, it was easy to blame my work on tubed tires which I perceived as 'holding me back'. The fact was that it was the wind. As I have said many times, 'Never judge a tire's performance on a windy day!' 

A field with freshly installed drainage tile near the corner of Orange Road and Ansborough

Some hints of Fall color on Ansborough South of Schrock Road

Going South on Ansborough wasn't too bad. Sure, I was working against a pretty stiff wind, but at least the gravel had been pulverized by the big harvest machinery and semi-tractor trailers which had obviously been doing their jobs recently by the looks of the fields. Every field down this road had been harvested, both corn and soybean fields.

The Raleigh Tamland I was riding has always had this odd quirk. Whenever I ride into a wind, or sometimes a crosswind, it begins to moan and whistle at a low pitch, varying with wind speed. I suspected that this was wind blowing across the opening at the bottom of the steer tube, and when I swapped over to the current Fyxation carbon fork, it didn't go away. It was just a bit different tone was all. 

Anyway, none of my other bikes really do this at all or with any consistency. Only the Tamland. So, as I went East, I got this mournful low tone going and it kind of fit the scenery and the time of year. Then when I turned away from going East- poof! That sound was gone. But the landscape was the same. Barren. Devoid of crops now. This laid bare the nature of this part of Iowa. It is a rolling prairie. A vast, mostly treeless plain. We usually don't think of our state in this way, but it is easier to do so once the harvest is in. 

A partially harvested corn field on Aker Road

A little further up the road, this combine sits idle, its job mostly done.

This is the time of year when the sky looks bigger, the land broader, and the sound of wind is the only thing that accompanies the grit of tires on gravel. The animals are all gone with the exception of a hawk or a few crows who fly silently on the wind. The 'neeker-breekers' are all silent now. Their life cycles completed for the year. It's coming up on "Brown Season" when everything falls silent and an eerie presence falls over the land until Winter covers that up with a white blanket of snow. 

It was a quick ride back to the park, and my truck, with that stiff wind at my back. The tubed tires didn't hold me back any, and in fact, had I not known a Tubolito was in the back, I would have thought that I had a rear tubeless set up. It rides that smoothly with that tire. Even despite the few miles of fresh, deep crushed rock on Aker Road on the way back. It was gnarly loose! I am really glad I didn't decide to roll out that way! 

This ride was supposed to help me with my final take on the Tubolito tubes, but I received an email from my contact which stated that maybe my ultra-light Tubolito which kept going flat within 24 hours was perhaps defective. I am expecting a new replacement soon. So, stay tuned on the final say on those orange things soon. 

Note: See the Standard Disclaimer page to understand my relationship and philosophy on products and services I receive and use for riding and which I talk about here on the blog. 

Fall Views: Mournful Sounds

It was a beautiful looking day at least!

 Wednesday was to be a showery, cooler day by the afternoon. In fact, a few showers blew through the area early, just after Sunrise, and then it cleared off by about 9:00am. I wasn't going to wait to find out if the weatherfolk were wrong or right. I went and got my things on and grabbed the ol' Tamland Two for a ride South of town. 

The wind was stiff. Something above 20mph and at least a bit more out in the open, straight out of the Southeast. I decided to use my standard Southern jumping off point of Prairie Grove Park to go South and East a bit until I ran out of time, then turn around for a short, fast trip back to the truck. 

I had to be back shortly after noon to join my daughter for lunch, then I had other stuff to do for the rest of the day. So this little window had to work out or I was going to end up with nothing. Fortunately the day appeared to be beautiful, despite the constant wind coming in my face to start with. 

This ride was all about testing the Topeak Gravel Bag and the Tubolito tube I have still in the back tire. (More on that at the end of this post.) I don't much ride tubed tires anymore, and riding into that headwind, it was easy to blame my work on tubed tires which I perceived as 'holding me back'. The fact was that it was the wind. As I have said many times, 'Never judge a tire's performance on a windy day!' 

A field with freshly installed drainage tile near the corner of Orange Road and Ansborough

Some hints of Fall color on Ansborough South of Schrock Road

Going South on Ansborough wasn't too bad. Sure, I was working against a pretty stiff wind, but at least the gravel had been pulverized by the big harvest machinery and semi-tractor trailers which had obviously been doing their jobs recently by the looks of the fields. Every field down this road had been harvested, both corn and soybean fields.

The Raleigh Tamland I was riding has always had this odd quirk. Whenever I ride into a wind, or sometimes a crosswind, it begins to moan and whistle at a low pitch, varying with wind speed. I suspected that this was wind blowing across the opening at the bottom of the steer tube, and when I swapped over to the current Fyxation carbon fork, it didn't go away. It was just a bit different tone was all. 

Anyway, none of my other bikes really do this at all or with any consistency. Only the Tamland. So, as I went East, I got this mournful low tone going and it kind of fit the scenery and the time of year. Then when I turned away from going East- poof! That sound was gone. But the landscape was the same. Barren. Devoid of crops now. This laid bare the nature of this part of Iowa. It is a rolling prairie. A vast, mostly treeless plain. We usually don't think of our state in this way, but it is easier to do so once the harvest is in. 

A partially harvested corn field on Aker Road

A little further up the road, this combine sits idle, its job mostly done.

This is the time of year when the sky looks bigger, the land broader, and the sound of wind is the only thing that accompanies the grit of tires on gravel. The animals are all gone with the exception of a hawk or a few crows who fly silently on the wind. The 'neeker-breekers' are all silent now. Their life cycles completed for the year. It's coming up on "Brown Season" when everything falls silent and an eerie presence falls over the land until Winter covers that up with a white blanket of snow. 

It was a quick ride back to the park, and my truck, with that stiff wind at my back. The tubed tires didn't hold me back any, and in fact, had I not known a Tubolito was in the back, I would have thought that I had a rear tubeless set up. It rides that smoothly with that tire. Even despite the few miles of fresh, deep crushed rock on Aker Road on the way back. It was gnarly loose! I am really glad I didn't decide to roll out that way! 

This ride was supposed to help me with my final take on the Tubolito tubes, but I received an email from my contact which stated that maybe my ultra-light Tubolito which kept going flat within 24 hours was perhaps defective. I am expecting a new replacement soon. So, stay tuned on the final say on those orange things soon. 

Note: See the Standard Disclaimer page to understand my relationship and philosophy on products and services I receive and use for riding and which I talk about here on the blog. 

Review: Tubolito Tubes Part 1.5

 Just this past Tuesday I posted my first review of the Tubolito tubes I received. (See post here) Since the beginning of this week I have noted an issue which has prompted me to make an early call on one of the two Tubolito tubes I have in hand.

As you may recall, one of the Tubolito tubes is the standard 'weight' one with 2X's the puncture resistance of a standard butyl tube. The other, which is supposedly about the same strength as a standard butyl tube, is the S-CX version which weighs about half as much as the standard Tubolito. That is to say it is not just light, but it is crazy light. So, the issue was with the lighter weight, S-CX Tubolito. 

I found that air retention is not very good. I went down to retrieve the bike I have that tube installed on to ride it Monday and the front tire was flat. Hmm..... I pumped it back up to 40psi and heard no immediate issues, nor noted a drastic drop in pressure within a few minutes. So, not a catastrophic leak. Then I did a 24hr leak down test. The result the next morning was another flat front tire. I did not have time to dig into this until Wednesday when I removed the Tubolito and did a dunk tank test to see if I could ascertain whether or not I had a puncture or failure so small it allowed the tube to leak down slowly. I found no evidence whatsoever of a slow leak or failure on the part of the Tubolito. 

The dunk test found no defects in the tube and no punctures either.

 So, my hypothesis is that the lighter, S-CX version of the Tubolito is much like a latex tube in terms of air retention. The Tubolito site does not seem to refer to any S-CX air retention data, not that I could find, so this may actually be intended. It would make sense here as Tubolito calls the S-CX the "ultimate spare tube" solution. So, I'm taking a cue here and pulling that Tubolito and packing it as a spare for now.

It is interesting to note the way the Tubolito tubes are joined together at one point as shown above.

Interestingly, the rear mounted Tubolito, the standard one, has retained air as stated by Tubolito. That is to say much like a standard butyl tube. Which, as you might recall from your experiences, is very good. So, as far as using a Tubolito for a 'daily use' situation, I already have decided that the standard version is the way to go here and that a S-CX, or any lightweight Tubolito, is best used as an emergency spare. A way to 'get you back to the start', and then to change that out as soon as can be done. 

A Kenda 700 X 35mm-42mm tube on the left, the Tubolito S-CX on the right. Note the size difference.

The Tubolito came out of the tire round, and somewhat thinner. Great care is necessary in handling the S-CX!

Also- the question of whether a Tubolito is a 'one-and-done' product seems to have been answered by one of G-Ted Productions' readers in the comments on Tuesday's post, (Thank You!), but I can now confirm that with careful handling, an S-CX Tubolito can be salvaged and re-used again. Big emphasis on the 'careful handling' bit though! This tube came out feeling very fragile and thin-walled. Like a stretched balloon for a child's birthday party, only maybe even a bit thinner! I imagine a slight tug on the valve stem, or even if one folded the Tubolito incorrectly, that this could permanently damage the S-CX Tubolito very easily. So, yeah.....be careful in how you handle this thing!

More soon....

NOTE: Please read the Standard Disclaimer page for an understanding of my relationship with products reviewed on G-Ted Productions. Thank you!

Review: Tubolito Tubes Part 1.5

 Just this past Tuesday I posted my first review of the Tubolito tubes I received. (See post here) Since the beginning of this week I have noted an issue which has prompted me to make an early call on one of the two Tubolito tubes I have in hand.

As you may recall, one of the Tubolito tubes is the standard 'weight' one with 2X's the puncture resistance of a standard butyl tube. The other, which is supposedly about the same strength as a standard butyl tube, is the S-CX version which weighs about half as much as the standard Tubolito. That is to say it is not just light, but it is crazy light. So, the issue was with the lighter weight, S-CX Tubolito. 

I found that air retention is not very good. I went down to retrieve the bike I have that tube installed on to ride it Monday and the front tire was flat. Hmm..... I pumped it back up to 40psi and heard no immediate issues, nor noted a drastic drop in pressure within a few minutes. So, not a catastrophic leak. Then I did a 24hr leak down test. The result the next morning was another flat front tire. I did not have time to dig into this until Wednesday when I removed the Tubolito and did a dunk tank test to see if I could ascertain whether or not I had a puncture or failure so small it allowed the tube to leak down slowly. I found no evidence whatsoever of a slow leak or failure on the part of the Tubolito. 

The dunk test found no defects in the tube and no punctures either.

 So, my hypothesis is that the lighter, S-CX version of the Tubolito is much like a latex tube in terms of air retention. The Tubolito site does not seem to refer to any S-CX air retention data, not that I could find, so this may actually be intended. It would make sense here as Tubolito calls the S-CX the "ultimate spare tube" solution. So, I'm taking a cue here and pulling that Tubolito and packing it as a spare for now.

It is interesting to note the way the Tubolito tubes are joined together at one point as shown above.

Interestingly, the rear mounted Tubolito, the standard one, has retained air as stated by Tubolito. That is to say much like a standard butyl tube. Which, as you might recall from your experiences, is very good. So, as far as using a Tubolito for a 'daily use' situation, I already have decided that the standard version is the way to go here and that a S-CX, or any lightweight Tubolito, is best used as an emergency spare. A way to 'get you back to the start', and then to change that out as soon as can be done. 

A Kenda 700 X 35mm-42mm tube on the left, the Tubolito S-CX on the right. Note the size difference.

The Tubolito came out of the tire round, and somewhat thinner. Great care is necessary in handling the S-CX!

Also- the question of whether a Tubolito is a 'one-and-done' product seems to have been answered by one of G-Ted Productions' readers in the comments on Tuesday's post, (Thank You!), but I can now confirm that with careful handling, an S-CX Tubolito can be salvaged and re-used again. Big emphasis on the 'careful handling' bit though! This tube came out feeling very fragile and thin-walled. Like a stretched balloon for a child's birthday party, only maybe even a bit thinner! I imagine a slight tug on the valve stem, or even if one folded the Tubolito incorrectly, that this could permanently damage the S-CX Tubolito very easily. So, yeah.....be careful in how you handle this thing!

More soon....

NOTE: Please read the Standard Disclaimer page for an understanding of my relationship with products reviewed on G-Ted Productions. Thank you!