Heavy Duty tubes and Slime

[NJBikeGal]

My personal 2 cents...take it or leave it!

Heavy Duty Tubes - Sure, why not...better than ultra-lite racers!
Slime - BIG NO!!!! I would not suggest using this stuff in your tires. It can cause more headaches than its worth in many cases, eg. the slime can pool, making your tires rotate unevenly.

My opinion is...fixing a flat on a ride like that is not a huge deal...lots of support vehicles on the road if you need help (at least there was in Philly).

Good luck by the way...our ride was much fun...hope yours is the same!!!

[Cassandra_Cain]

Hi Pooks - how exciting about your upcoming ride.

Back to the topic at hand...I've been using slime tubes on my bike from the get-go and have mixed feelings about them.

The good: last sunday for instance, I heard the distinct, unmistakable sound of a goathead going through my tire while on a bike path. I was a good 2.5 miles from home and was able to ride back with no problem - there was enough air to get me home.

The bad: they are messy!!! prepare to have green, cliche I know, but slime-looking stuff all over your wheel and tire, not to mention tube and your hands! Thus I have been taking a rag in by bike bag because it is really messy otherwise. Then you have what BikeGal mentioned about tire rotation, plus the simple fact that it is a heavier tube as well as more expensive.

My inclination now is to switch to kelvar tires, ala specialized armadillos, tape, and maybe some Thom thorn-resistant tubes (which are not like the slime ones).

Good luck with your event

[pooks]

Kelar tires? That's interesting. I'll check that out.

[Kano]

I had slime in my tubes when riding my knobby tires that came on the bike. When I changed to slicks, I put on Specialized Nimbus Armadillos. If you're considering "puncture proof" tires, Pooks, and you don't ride dirt trails, you want to consider these smooth tires, REALLY! Maybe it was all in my head, but I'm SURE that I went faster and had a much better ride from day one with the new tires.

I didn't put slime in with these armadillo tires.

Karen in Boise

[Cassandra_Cain]

Kelar tires? That's interesting. I'll check that out.

Sorry Pooks – me no spell!!!

I meant Kevlar tires, and yeap, the specialized armadillo’s are a good example of such a tire.

Here's another example of the same idea:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=5420

[mtkitchn]

I had a set of armadillos on my bike until yesterday, when I must have caught something metal and ripped a 3 inch gash in the tire. Up until then I had almost 2000 miles on the tires without a flat. I plan to go get another armadillo. They're heavier, but I'm not racing, and I like not dealing with flats. I think I paid $30/tire.

[pooks]

Okay, so the armadillos are smooth but tough, sound great. Now to get on the phone and see if I can locate some in Dallas!

[Kano]

Okay, so the armadillos are smooth but tough, sound great. Now to get on the phone and see if I can locate some in Dallas!

They're not all smooth, Pooks, but I think you'd like smooth ones if you're riding mostly pavement rather than dirt. I've taken my bike on really hard packed dirt roads since putting the slick tires on it, but I tend to ride more slowly, since there's less traction!

Armadillos are made by -- or marketed by -- the Specialized bike people, so look for a Specialized bike dealer, and you'll probably find them!

Karen in Boise