Bulge in inner tube: Reuse? Mendable?

[Cycology]

Hi! Newbie here!

('Newbie', that is, to this website, not a newbie to cycling! But that being said, that after 20 years of riding every day, since then I haven't ridden my bike in over 15 years, so....actually a relative RE-learner!)

Re: Bulge in inner tube: Safe to reuse? Or mendable? Or should be replaced?

Problem is: I went to get bike out at weekend for a bit of a spin, only to find both tyres were flat. The front tyre pumped up OK, which is great, & has stayed that way; but the back tyre was totally flat & bike pump did nothing. We just about remembered how to mend a puncture (I hadn't mended a puncture in over 15 years!) so took off wheel & tyre, put inner tube in bowl of water etc. But there is no puncture - slow or otherwise - that I can see. Having taken inner tube out of tyre, we re-tried pumping up this inner tube & NOW it pumps it OK (thus far it has lasted anyway!).

But the weird thing is that there is a foot-long bulge in one part of the inner tube, that remains even after pumping up inner tube. The cause of this is, I think, explained below. But I am still not sure what I can actually DO to solve this problem.

Is it safe to be put this inner tube back in the tyre? How do we mend the inner tube, or does it have to be replaced?!

Bit of bike history: We last got the bike fully serviced - all tyres & inner tubes replaced too - 2 years when I LAST planned to 'take it out for a spin' - which for one reason & another never happened! Prior to that I didn't need to cycle (got a car! sorry, have to admit it!), but had also got it serviced by another bike shop c.15 years ago, after a bike accident trashed it somewhat. Only did a few cycles after that, very little. So the bike has had no real use for about 15 years.

Also, for the past year I have had the bike standing on a metal cycle stand (1 for each wheel). I noticed at the weekend that both tyres - where they had been resting on the flat metal slats at the bottom of the cycle stands - were severely flattened. Obviously the weight of the bike had caused this over time as the tyres were gradually getting flatter!! (I have learnt from THAT mistake for next time!) (Will probably cover the slats in thick styrofoam, or summat like that.)

Fortunately the tyres themselves seem OK (undamaged) by this flattening-over-time, though I fear they are probably weakened. (And perhaps I am wrong & the tyres WILL need replacing, too?!)

This re-shaping of the tyres seems logically to be the cause of the similar-shaped bulge in the inner tube. But as I have never (vague memories of flat tyres years ago nothwithstanding!) seen anything like this before, it's a bit of a quandary.

I hate to have to replace/buy anything for the bike as the tyres/inner tubes/etc. are effectively brand new & have not been used at all since the last service (& not much since the service before that!). But I need the inner tube both working & safe if I am to get it out on the road again!

Any & all advice would be much appreciated!

[ Phew, what a long posting! but I wanted to make sure I got all probs down in 1 message! ]

~ Cycology

 

[Tynan]

hard to be sure but most inner tubes will deform when inflated past not very much outside of the tyre, a bit like a snake that's eaten something I always think

once inside the tyre it'll be constrained

tubes will cost no more than £5

tyres can age, watch out for cracking in the rubber, 15 years is a very long time, check the brake pads/blocks and make sure the cables all run freely

that all said, get the tyres hard and ride it and see what happens

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

hard to be sure but most inner tubes will deform when inflated past not very much outside of the tyre, a bit like a snake that's eaten something I always think

once inside the tyre it'll be constrained

tubes will cost no more than £5

tyres can age, watch out for cracking in the rubber, 15 years is a very long time, check the brake pads/blocks and make sure the cables all run freely

that all said, get the tyres hard and ride it and see what happens

+1 on the bulge - it's normal - fit tube and inflate - it'll be fine. Reason it wouldn't pump originally was probably due to a stuck valve. Now the valve seems to be OK it should all be OK. Apart from the obvious 15 yr perishing as Tynan suggests.

 

[e-rider]

normal

 

[02GF74]

it does happen - I seem to see quite a lot of it at the moment having never seen it at all since I got into cycling many years ago = lightweitght tubes ,especially butyl or latex are prone to it but the tyre will keep it all in place.

only drawback is that the bulge is a reservoir for air so reducing the air pressure in the rest of the tube that can make finding a puncture more difficult.

 

[Crankarm]

15 years is a long time. Materials deteriorate. Rubber is no different. Tyres will crack and harden. For the relatively low cost of tubes and tyres I would buy new. Buy Schwalbe tubes as these are the best IMHO. Tyres you have no end of choice for which I guess you will want further advice.

Great that you are returning to cycling. Why such a long break?

 

[Cycology]

Hi all - Thanks for all your various advice everyone! I had no idea inner tubes could bulge like this.

The bike has at least been kept good & dry over the past 15years - in various sheds/garages. But I definitely think a check-over will be good advice to take! It's back to the bike shop then!

Thanks Crankarm for that advice. I will look into the Schwalbe inner tubes then. Can I buy them cheaper online than in a bike shop? & of so, any advice which websites are best/cheapest? And yes, do you have any advice re good tyres too?!

BTW, it's a ladies cycle, made by Townsend, made in approx. early 1980s, with c.26inch wheel. It's a family 'heirloom' so has sentimental value, which is why even a bike accident wouldn't make me part with it! I think - from memory - it's got the OLD-style (not mountain bike) of valve. I think it's 5-gears, not 3.

Just out of interest: I didn't cycle for years because as a child/teenager we cycled everywhere as a family - to school, etc. etc. (we had no car! & healthy-minded parents!) We went everywhere by bike: up to central London, Waterloo, around Hyde Park Corner even (oh the folly of being 12 years old!). So it was nice to have a break for a few years from 'utility/necessity' cycling.

I had also hurt my back (& my bike!) in a road accident in the mid-90s. Which affected my health; & my nerves somewhat too, for a while.

Plus I was living in a built up area; & anyone who has cycled along anything like the harried Uxbridge Road in West London will know what this busy road means to cyclists (!) Mad bad & dangerous to know, is an understatement! & I say this about motorists though I am now a driver myself; though I hasten to add not an inconsiderate one. In fact I even remember my driving instructor advising me years ago that I didn't need to give cyclists such a wide berth. I disagreed!! ,-)

Anyway, as I was living in London for years the public transport service is fairly well serviced to all areas I needed to get to. Then I got a car, so that was great for getting to out-of-city areas. Now though I am out of London, so use the car for most necessity-trips; but want to return to cycling just for fun/weekends. Looking forward to it.

Thanks again

~ Cycology

15 years is a long time. Materials deteriorate. Rubber is no different. Tyres will crack and harden. For the relatively low cost of tubes and tyres I would buy new. Buy Schwalbe tubes as these are the best IMHO. Tyres you have no end of choice for which I guess you will want further advice.

Great that you are returning to cycling. Why such a long break?