Slime Tubes ?

[J4CKO]

Bought some ages ago but didnt bother fitting them, a puncture the other day prompted me to give them a try, they weigh a tonne !

Today was the first commute since last Friday, used the bike with MTB wheels on at the weekend but today it felt really slow, dont know if it was me, the slightly warped front disc or the added weight to the wheels, it isnt that much but I was definitely slower, can a few grammes added to the wheel make that much difference ?

 

[hackbike 666]

Probably more than a few grammes?
I take it my heavier tyres and stuff slow me down.

 

[the reluctant cyclist]

I've got these on my road bike and my mountain bike - I've also got those puncture resistant tyres on my road bike.

The only thing I notice is that slime seems to clog up the valves and makes them really really hard to blow up. My hubby has to use the compressor on them for me!

I don't seem to know anyone else that has this problem though so it could just be me!

Surely the extra weight is better than being stranded with a flat?! I've had mine for 2 years now and no punctures* and I defo go through loads of glass etc etc - I used to get really regular punctures before!

(*I know I really shouldn't have said that I've get a few in a row now!)

 

[Twenty Inch]

I don't think they're worth it. A mate had them and whenever he got a puncture he got green goo all over the place, couldn't patch the tube because the goo was in the way, and they didn't seem to prevent punctures in any event. He had more punctures than me.

 

[Tynan]

stranded with a flat?

ten minutes to change a tube, perhaps 20 minutes to repair?

even those with M+ and slime tubes are going to flats sometimes

train hard fight easy

 

[the reluctant cyclist]

I can never seem to sort it out at the side of the road always have to walk home pushing the bike! I can sort it out at home in the house with the light on though!

 

[J4CKO]

I am just experimenting really, I think they may help as they are so thick compared to the ones I was using, I dont think the thorn that got me would have penetrated the thicker tube as it barely went through the thinner one and whether the slime makes any difference I dont know, I still carry spare tubes, tyre levers and a pump, like Tynan says, ten minutes job done, amazing how many people cant change a tube, lady at work is going to start commuting but just says she will call someone if she has a puncture !

 

[scaryant]

I went into <popular bike store> with a puncture and enquired about this stuff, he said they had a lot of complaints about the product and that often it doesn't work.

Anyway, before this gimmic slime stuff came out I've always used the original product (slime inserts) which are light, rubber inserts that go between the tyre wall and inner tube. They're easy to fit and don't weigh that much, maybe adding a few grams at most.

In Australia I was riding my MTB on road and started getting a tick, tick sound from my rear tyre. I stopped to inspect and found a dirty great big screw sticking out at a right angle.

The don't of course protect the tyre walls however in my experience, you rarely take a puncture there - it's usually somewhere on or in-between the tread. I always carry a repair kit and mini-pump anyway having learnt my lesson the hard way (several times).

 

[J4CKO]

I dont bother taking a repair kit, just new tubes, I save up the punctured ones and have a session repairing them, well actually I have about 3 years worth waiting to be repaired. If you only get the odd one its not that expensive to just buy new all the time, they are only a couple of quid each from Decathlon.

 

[scaryant]

Really? Why? Is it a time thing? A guy at work does the same thing and I never got it...

Not so long ago, I had two punctures in two weeks. Each time it took me about 20 minutes to repair and replace the inner tube and get going. I only wait 5 minutes after applying the patch before replacing the inner tube so it doesn't add that much time... the glues and patches they use these days are very effective.

Now I don't get punctures as I have Specialized Armadillo tyres and Slime inserts.

 

[Tynan]

5 minutes?

I stick in straight in, doing a bit of chalk perhaps makes 20 seconds, as I understand that stuff the join is instant

be plenty of people on here moaning about pushing home after using 'all their tubes/co2'

I've fixed in the dark in heavy snow at the side of the Green Man roundabout, I don't think it's gets much rougher than that, it was a genuine race against time before my fingers got too cold

 

[hackbike 666]

Yeah just bung a new tube in and on your way.

 

[scouserinlondon]

I'm dreading winter tyre changes actually. Then again, its about to piddle down over london so maybe I'm worrying about nothing.

 

[J4CKO]

With regards to fixing punctures at the side of the road I just take the tubes home and do it there, I wouldnt fancy patching a tube when its tipping down or dark, plus you can guarantee it works, then fix the tubes at home and put them back in the pannier to fight another day.