Continental Race 28 Supersonic inner tubes?

[Milzy]

50 grams almost TPU level.
£5 at Bent fruit industries.
Worth a punt or too puncture prone?

 

[Sharky]

I rode 20mm supersonics for time trials for several years, without problems. Started getting snakebite punctures, as our 10 course has some rough sections.

Wouldn't use them for everyday cycling, although 28's might be ok.

But at £5, worth trying.

PS tried searching for that name, but nothing was found.

 

[Milzy]

These are the Conti innertube supersonics.

 

[AlanW]

Pre tubeless days, I used them all year round with zero issues

 

[DCLane]

I used to use them, but found them too puncture-prone.

These days I use Specialized Turbo inner tubes, which are also a fiver currently from Sigma Sports, and weigh 76g - https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/Turbo-Inner-Tube-Presta-Valve-with-Talc/LQO5

 

[Sharky]

These are the Conti innertube supersonics.

I thought they were cheap at £5!

 

[Milzy]

I used to use them, but found them too puncture-prone.

These days I use Specialized Turbo inner tubes, which are also a fiver currently from Sigma Sports, and weigh 76g - https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/Turbo-Inner-Tube-Presta-Valve-with-Talc/LQO5

Well they do an in between light race one. Still thin and puncture prone I guess.

I went on your turbo tubes solution thanks.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

I bought a few 5+ years ago, at least one split along seam when inflating for first time. Can't recall what happened to others.

Rolling resistance trumps weight savings for me, hence I usually use latex tubes, but I might finally give tpu a try in near future.

 

[super_davo]

I bought a few 5+ years ago, at least one split along seam when inflating for first time. Can't recall what happened to others.

Rolling resistance trumps weight savings for me, hence I usually use latex tubes, but I might finally give tpu a try in near future.

My experience was similar. Bought a pack of 5 from Wiggle. First one I damaged installing, second one exploded overnight in my house before I took it out on the road, I got a small amount of mileage in two but once I got the first puncture I started to lose faith in them. RideNow are the same sort of money, smaller, lighter and way less fragile. The mid level Race Light were very good mind (though I still prefer TPU now).

 

[andrew_s]

second one exploded overnight in my house before I took it out on the road,

Installation error: you got a bit of the tube pinched between the tyre bead and the rim.
When installing a tube, after putting a small amount of air in (0.5 psi?) you ought to go round the tyre pushing back the bead from the rim to check for trapped tube on both sides. Most people don't bother

It's not possible for a tube to explode unless it escapes from inside the tyre.
As soon as enough air has leaked past a rim pinch, the tyre bead gets pushed back from the rim by the tube bubble that starts to form, which leads to a faster leak, and it all runs away to a big bubble and a very loud bang as the bubble bursts. A trapped bit of tube is commonest, but a cut in the tyre will also let the tube out.

 

[super_davo]

Installation error: you got a bit of the tube pinched between the tyre bead and the rim.
When installing a tube, after putting a small amount of air in (0.5 psi?) you ought to go round the tyre pushing back the bead from the rim to check for trapped tube on both sides. Most people don't bother

It's not possible for a tube to explode unless it escapes from inside the tyre.
As soon as enough air has leaked past a rim pinch, the tyre bead gets pushed back from the rim by the tube bubble that starts to form, which leads to a faster leak, and it all runs away to a big bubble and a very loud bang as the bubble bursts. A trapped bit of tube is commonest, but a cut in the tyre will also let the tube out.

Well aware it was installation error but my point was more these tubes are phenomenally sensitive to it. For example it's so easy to damage them when trying to get rid of a pinch between the tube and the tyre. I would hate to have to try to do it at the side of the road
It's much easier to do this on TPU because not only are they more robust but they also slide easier. TPU have all the same advantages and aren't any more expensive.
For me, Supersonics were one of those 'juice not worth the squeeze' marginal gains.

 

[sevenfourate]

Well aware it was installation error but my point was more these tubes are phenomenally sensitive to it. For example it's so easy to damage them when trying to get rid of a pinch between the tube and the tyre. I would hate to have to try to do it at the side of the road
It's much easier to do this on TPU because not only are they more robust but they also slide easier. TPU have all the same advantages and aren't any more expensive.
For me, Supersonics were one of those 'juice not worth the squeeze' marginal gains.

I’m using Schwalbe XL (Extra light on my 27.5” wheels. And I’m I using 26” tubes to lighten the deal up a little more. The Tubes weight 130g. A standard thickness 27.5” item weighing 220g. So with 2 on the bike and the 1 spare i carry: that’s a saving of 270g. Not insignificant….

AND I’m aware how thin they feel when fitting. How easily they trap between tyre and rim etc etc.

And I have ripped a couple now installing ! Actually one was me - and with a large puff of chalk from inside: the other was my LBS. *I’ve had no issues in use mind 👍

My point of all this though - is the versions I’m using are 130g. You guys are using versions half that weight. And presumably somewhere around half ‘my’ wall thickness.

I can imagine treating them with kid gloves when fitting. Especially difficult if you’ve got difficult to fit tyres too - and it all becomes a bit of a battle involving some force along the way.

 

[super_davo]

I’m using Schwalbe XL (Extra light on my 27.5” wheels. And I’m I using 26” tubes to lighten the deal up a little more. The Tubes weight 130g. A standard thickness 27.5” item weighing 220g. So with 2 on the bike and the 1 spare i carry: that’s a saving of 270g. Not insignificant….

AND I’m aware how thin they feel when fitting. How easily they trap between tyre and rim etc etc.

And I have ripped a couple now installing ! Actually one was me - and with a large puff of chalk from inside: the other was my LBS. *I’ve had no issues in use mind 👍

My point of all this though - is the versions I’m using are 130g. You guys are using versions half that weight. And presumably somewhere around half ‘my’ wall thickness.

I can imagine treating them with kid gloves when fitting. Especially difficult if you’ve got difficult to fit tyres too - and it all becomes a bit of a battle involving some force along the way.

I don't feel too nervous fitting TPU. It's a very thin material but it feels a little plasticky, like it will survive the odd poke with a tyre lever. Never had an installation error, even at the side of the road.

 

[sevenfourate]

I don't feel too nervous fitting TPU. It's a very thin material but it feels a little plasticky, like it will survive the odd poke with a tyre lever. Never had an installation error, even at the side of the road.

I’ve got TPU in one other bike. And will be using them on the new wheels for the current build.

I’ve NOT had to change one on the side of the road yet though. Only plus side is - because TPU tubes are so light / small: I’m now carrying 2 tubes to have a go with 🤣