Tube Question

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Another thing I do is when the tube is inflated to ~25 pounds, I go around the sidewall & pinch it in, checking to make sure that the tube is not pinched between the rim & the tire. Be sure to check both sides.

My DH says that after doing that, you should also lightly bounce the wheel and tire on the ground while turning and rotating it at low pressure- this helps settle the tube inside evenly too, eliminating pinches or folds.

[KnottedYet]

I was under the impression that was the correct size. Tires come in gradations of every two mm or so, and tubes are in larger gradations. You get the tube with the range that suits the specific tire width.

(kinda like jeans come in sizes 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18, etc and underwear comes in S,M,L,XL)

I love my LBS, cuz they are willing to explain everything to me, even when all I'm doing is buying a tube!

www.recycledcycles.com

[uforgot]

I was under the impression that was the correct size. Tires come in gradations of every two mm or so, and tubes are in larger gradations. You get the tube with the range that suits the specific tire width.

(kinda like jeans come in sizes 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18, etc and underwear comes in S,M,L,XL)

I love my LBS, cuz they are willing to explain everything to me, even when all I'm doing is buying a tube!

www.recycledcycles.com

The tire was 35c, the tube was 29-32c. That is not in the range of the tire. That is why I was wondering why it seems to be normal to put a smaller tubes in larger tires.

[KnottedYet]

The tire was 35c, the tube was 29-32c. That is not in the range of the tire. That is why I was wondering why it seems to be normal to put a smaller tubes in larger tires.

Oh, got it now. Sorry.

[DebW]

Looking at some available tubes, there are 28-32 and 35-38 by Performance and 20-28 and 28-38 by Specialized, 25-32 and 35-40 by Michelin. So 34 is in between sizes in some brands. The guys at my LBS keep trying to get Specialized to change the labeling on their tubes because they use the 20-28s up to 32 (or something like that). Anyway, tubes are very stretchy and just expand to fill the tire volume, so the stated widths aren't exact. Better to use a tube labeled for a smaller tire than one labeled for a larger tire if your tire is in the middle.

[uforgot]

My DH says that after doing that, you should also lightly bounce the wheel and tire on the ground while turning and rotating it at low pressure- this helps settle the tube inside evenly too, eliminating pinches or folds.

Thanks Lisa! I installed another one, did what your dh said, and it worked. Tire is good to go. By the way, that tan Brooks saddle on your blue bike looks terrific! Every time I see your avatar, it makes me want to get my bike painted mint green (I've been thinking about this for awhile) and go with the honey saddle! Not something you see every day...I love it!

[Triskeliongirl]

I always prefer to install tubes a tad smaller than the width of the tire, just cuz they are easier to install without getting pinch flats as you experienced the first time.

[uforgot]

I always prefer to install tubes a tad smaller than the width of the tire, just cuz they are easier to install without getting pinch flats as you experienced the first time.

"easier to install"...AHA! I just KNEW there had to be a reason. If it's easier to install, then I'm in!

Deb, the guy at my lbs today showed me two brands of tires that were labelled different sizes, yet when he took them out of the box they were the same size.

Thanks Deb, Dogmama, Knotted, Veronica, Triskeliongirl, and Lisa. It's great that I have a place I can ask any question. Sometimes I feel like a total bike dork, but the forum always puts me at ease.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thanks Deb, Dogmama, Knotted, Veronica, Triskeliongirl, and Lisa. It's great that I have a place I can ask any question. Sometimes I feel like a total bike dork, but the forum always puts me at ease.

Hey I was a total bike dork only 4 short months ago! But now, thanks to this forum, my knowledgeable and patient DH, and applying myself diligently to the in-depth study of all things bicyclette for months, -I'm only a moderate bike dork!

I agree with you....I think a pale green bike with a honey saddle would be the most divine combination. Maybe one day I'll have to repaint my blue bike for some reason (the color of which I like well enough for now) and then I'll Go for it. I like a creamy pale green myself, sort of 1920's kitchen green...

[uforgot]

Hey I was a total bike dork only 4 short months ago! But now, thanks to this forum, my knowledgeable and patient DH, and applying myself diligently to the in-depth study of all things bicyclette for months, -I'm only a moderate bike dork!

I agree with you....I think a pale green bike with a honey saddle would be the most divine combination. Maybe one day I'll have to repaint my blue bike for some reason (the color of which I like well enough for now) and then I'll Go for it. I like a creamy pale green myself, sort of 1920's kitchen green...

Oh, but I LOVE the blue. I just didn't want to copy! I think that honey saddle on a Bianchi Celeste would look great also. Think we are reverting back to our childhood? My Sears & Roebuck bike was bright blue with a tan saddle and tan grips, and since I'm going to be 52 in a few weeks...maybe we have the same retro issues!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh, but I LOVE the blue. I just didn't want to copy! I think that honey saddle on a Bianchi Celeste would look great also. Think we are reverting back to our childhood? My Sears & Roebuck bike was bright blue with a tan saddle and tan grips, and since I'm going to be 52 in a few weeks...maybe we have the same retro issues!

Hey, you're going to LOVE being 52 on a bike! There is nothing finer!

The only other bike I ever had was when i was 12- my metallic blue Schwinn girl bike. I don't remember the saddle color, but it was some cheap vinyl thing.
Now I get to be a kid on my bike again, but this time with an AWESOME bike- and I can ride it anywhere I want whenever I want with nobody telling me what to do! Woo-HOOO!!!
Yes I do think a Celeste would look beautiful with honey leather "accoutrement".

Oops, sorry, I know this thread is supposed to be about inner tubes....
Well, when I was 12, riding my old blue Schwinn, I didn't even know I HAD inner tubes! I guess I thought the tires themselves just pumped up like balloons. I remember going to the gas station to pump them once in a blue moon when they looked flat.