Bike Tubes
While Bike Tubes are fairly versatile in size, they are not one size fits all. In this article you'll find tips on how make sure you are getting not only the right size tube for your tire, but also the right kind of tube for your kind of riding.
Like Tires, Tubes are sized by diameter and width, with the first number being the diameter. The exception here is that tubes have a range of width's they can accommodate, hence the second number in the tube size is listed as a range (Ex. 26" x 1/1.25 means the tube fits a 26" tire that has a width anywhere from 1" to 1.25"). If your unsure what size Tire you have please refer to our article on Tire Sizes as well as this ISO Chart.
In addition to knowing what size tube you need, it's also helpful to keep in mind what kind of riding your doing when choosing a tube. If your commuting to work every morning you won't want a latex tube meant for the track- it simply won't hold up to the abuse. Standard Quality or Innova tubes will work for general purpose riding, whereas the Innova thorn resistant tubes are great for extremely rough conditions where you need all the puncture protection you can get. Slime Tubes also work well for those who need puncture protection since they come pre-filled with a sealant that fills small punctures in the tube as they occur. Obviously these heavier tubes aren't going to help the serious bike racer since the weight would only slow them down. For track and time trial racing we carry Michelin Tubes such as Latex and A1 Aircomp, both of which are extremely light with the Aircomp only 5 grams lighter than the latex.
Tubes won't last forever even under the best of circumstances but keeping in mind the use and making sure your getting the right tube for the tire can increase it's longevity and keep money in your pocket.
If you have any additional questions about tubes or are unsure what tube you need feel free to contact us here at BicycleTires at sales@bicycletires.com or (800)479-9350.