5 ms·

I tried to buy bike inner tubes on Amazon and I just could not do it. I would do a search, go to a product page, and the thing I wanted simply was not on that p

by csours 5y ago

I tried to buy bike inner tubes on Amazon and I just could not do it. I would do a search, go to a product page, and the thing I wanted simply was not on that product page. I wound up going to a local bike shop and was in and out in less time than I had spent trying to find them online.

nicbou 5y ago
Amazon's search is completely useless if you're looking for specific things. It simply ignores what you typed and throws random sponsored products at you.
analog31 5y ago
Yeah, tubes are complicated by the fact that one tube size fits more than one tire size, plus there are two different kinds of valve stems, and some contemporary wheels need extra long stems. One favor you can do yourself is to start patching your tubes if you're not already doing so.
- convolvatron 5y ago
  is there a trick? when I first started riding I got a bunch of patch kits. I'm doing this in the shop so I have plenty of time to clean the area, rough it up. clamps to make sure the patch is firmly set, etc. after about..10 tries? I just gave up. I am religiously for wringing the last bit of functionality out of something before burying it...but it just wasn't worth it.
  - chedabob 5y ago
    Are you using self-adhesive patches or something that uses a tube of glue? I never got on with anything other than Rema's patches.
    - analog31 5y ago
      Indeed, the answer is Rema. There may be some other brands that are as good, but Rema forms an actual chemical bond between the patch and the rubber of the tire. The vulcanizing fluid prepares the surface of the tube so it will bond to the patch. Better living through chemistry. Everything else, check. Roughing up the patch area, waiting a few minutes for the vulcanizing fluid to dry, squeezing the patch for a few seconds after applying. I've never had a problem with the little sandpaper that comes with the kit.
  - kevin_thibedeau 5y ago
    The sandpaper used in most kits is near useless. The sheetmetal "rasp" rougheners work much better to get the mold release broken up.
- giobox 5y ago
  While I commend anyone who takes the time to patch a tube, if you have kids/job/life/etc it is so much quicker and easier to just replace the tube. They can be bought for very little and fitted before you've even tracked down the hole on the old tube. If you are out on a longish ride, you probably want to be carrying full size spare tubes tucked in a pocket or bag anyway - patching at the roadside is not fun, and again takes far longer than just popping in new tube and getting on your way. Tubes with no air in them are very small/compact. Over the past 20 years of riding a collection of ~10 bikes, I would be lucky if patching tubes would have saved me even 200 dollars. What your time is worth to you may be different, but for most working adults I don't think patching makes time-money-sense. Assuming you already have a pump, instead of ordering a patch kit to carry with you on rides or keep at home, just order one of whatever tube your bike needs (usually ~5-9 bucks), some tire levers (reusable, 5 bucks) and keep in drawer until day dawns you need it. The rare time I buy a new bike with a weird innertube I don't already have, I buy a couple of spares immediately with the bike.
  - analog31 5y ago
    That's fair, and you need a spare tube anyway because not all flats are repairable. I carry a spare tube and a patch kit, but typically patch the punctured tube at home. The patch kit is in case I get a second flat -- a vanishingly rare occurrence thanks to puncture resistant tires. Each person has to satisfy their own sense of time and money, which I suspect is partially subjective for most of us. For instance I actually have spare time, and am not paid for working extra hours on my day job. Admittedly, being self sufficient for bike maintenance is part of "life" for me, and even when my kids needed more attentive care, I was always able to carve out 15 minutes to patch a tube.
    - rtsil 5y ago
      > I carry a spare tube and a patch kit, but typically patch the punctured tube at home. Paranoid me always carry two spare tubes, a patch kit and a puncture repair spray (it's supposed to inject a product that reinflates the tyre immediately, allowing me to keep riding and then go home without having to repair or remplace the tube, but since I've never had the opportunity to use it I can't tell if it's really effective).
- sasawpg 5y ago
  Switched to tubeless last year, but prior to that I've patched a few as an emergency and tossed it when I get home. All of my patches held but I didn't trust a single one. $10/tube was cheap insurance against a potential disaster. I do run latex on my gravel/cx bike and those go into the trash immediately as they're far more difficult to properly patch. Hurts a little more when you pay 2-3x the price though :(
- moasda 5y ago
  You are right, for the first time it's confusing to find the right tube as they fit to several tire sizes.

by csours 5y ago

nicbou 5y ago

Amazon's search is completely useless if you're looking for specific things. It simply ignores what you typed and throws random sponsored products at you.

analog31 5y ago

Yeah, tubes are complicated by the fact that one tube size fits more than one tire size, plus there are two different kinds of valve stems, and some contemporary wheels need extra long stems. One favor you can do yourself is to start patching your tubes if you're not already doing so.

convolvatron 5y ago
is there a trick? when I first started riding I got a bunch of patch kits. I'm doing this in the shop so I have plenty of time to clean the area, rough it up. clamps to make sure the patch is firmly set, etc. after about..10 tries? I just gave up. I am religiously for wringing the last bit of functionality out of something before burying it...but it just wasn't worth it.
- chedabob 5y ago
  Are you using self-adhesive patches or something that uses a tube of glue? I never got on with anything other than Rema's patches.
  - analog31 5y ago
    Indeed, the answer is Rema. There may be some other brands that are as good, but Rema forms an actual chemical bond between the patch and the rubber of the tire. The vulcanizing fluid prepares the surface of the tube so it will bond to the patch. Better living through chemistry. Everything else, check. Roughing up the patch area, waiting a few minutes for the vulcanizing fluid to dry, squeezing the patch for a few seconds after applying. I've never had a problem with the little sandpaper that comes with the kit.
- kevin_thibedeau 5y ago
  The sandpaper used in most kits is near useless. The sheetmetal "rasp" rougheners work much better to get the mold release broken up.
giobox 5y ago
While I commend anyone who takes the time to patch a tube, if you have kids/job/life/etc it is so much quicker and easier to just replace the tube. They can be bought for very little and fitted before you've even tracked down the hole on the old tube. If you are out on a longish ride, you probably want to be carrying full size spare tubes tucked in a pocket or bag anyway - patching at the roadside is not fun, and again takes far longer than just popping in new tube and getting on your way. Tubes with no air in them are very small/compact. Over the past 20 years of riding a collection of ~10 bikes, I would be lucky if patching tubes would have saved me even 200 dollars. What your time is worth to you may be different, but for most working adults I don't think patching makes time-money-sense. Assuming you already have a pump, instead of ordering a patch kit to carry with you on rides or keep at home, just order one of whatever tube your bike needs (usually ~5-9 bucks), some tire levers (reusable, 5 bucks) and keep in drawer until day dawns you need it. The rare time I buy a new bike with a weird innertube I don't already have, I buy a couple of spares immediately with the bike.
- analog31 5y ago
  That's fair, and you need a spare tube anyway because not all flats are repairable. I carry a spare tube and a patch kit, but typically patch the punctured tube at home. The patch kit is in case I get a second flat -- a vanishingly rare occurrence thanks to puncture resistant tires. Each person has to satisfy their own sense of time and money, which I suspect is partially subjective for most of us. For instance I actually have spare time, and am not paid for working extra hours on my day job. Admittedly, being self sufficient for bike maintenance is part of "life" for me, and even when my kids needed more attentive care, I was always able to carve out 15 minutes to patch a tube.
  - rtsil 5y ago
    > I carry a spare tube and a patch kit, but typically patch the punctured tube at home. Paranoid me always carry two spare tubes, a patch kit and a puncture repair spray (it's supposed to inject a product that reinflates the tyre immediately, allowing me to keep riding and then go home without having to repair or remplace the tube, but since I've never had the opportunity to use it I can't tell if it's really effective).
sasawpg 5y ago
Switched to tubeless last year, but prior to that I've patched a few as an emergency and tossed it when I get home. All of my patches held but I didn't trust a single one. $10/tube was cheap insurance against a potential disaster. I do run latex on my gravel/cx bike and those go into the trash immediately as they're far more difficult to properly patch. Hurts a little more when you pay 2-3x the price though :(
moasda 5y ago
You are right, for the first time it's confusing to find the right tube as they fit to several tire sizes.