Spare tub/ sealant options

[derekqueenan]

I have taken the plunge and moved to tubs on my tri bike thanks, in part, to the good advice on this forum.

So far I have only used the wheels on a couple of sprints and short TTs taking the risk of a DNF and a walk back if I puncture.

Thinking ahead to using them on longer events and taking a puncture repair option I was curious of what others use and experiences with sealants.

- Is it better to use a pre-stretched tub as a spare or after sitting on the back of the seat for months would it not return to it's original shape/size?

- I have decided to go for glue over tape. Should I apply a layer of glue to the spare tub?

- Do people tend to carry a less expensive/fast tub as a spare?

- What are peoples experience of sealants? I have only experienced them through MTBing and the green slime make wheels heavy. Most sealants I have seen need to be applied before by removing the valve.

Any advice appreciated.

Regards, Derek.

[Zacnici]

You can 'pretreat' with Vittoria Pit stop, I understand that the treatment lasts about 3 months but couldn't swear to that. Here is a link you may find useful:
http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/pitstop.html

In fact just did a search on the forum and came up with my own contribution a few months back
clinchers-or-tubs-t48981.html#p66235

Have a look at this Youtube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_BsT8D9JYY
Never heard of Stans, think its for MTBs though, not sure.

As Conhead says get the same tub, if you have a puncture that is not repairable by Pit Stop or similar I understand that it is such a pain to repair you may as well just replace.

If you pre glue your spare before a race remember to unpack it and inflate after otherwise it could just stick together. Not what you want when you need to replace it in a race you have a catstrophic flat on the rim and useless lump of rubber and glue in your hands as you try and pull it apart.

[derekqueenan]

So, with the advice so far and a bit of browsing I came across Tufo sealant and this web site on it's use.

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road- ... _1423.html

Anyone used this themselves??

Regards, Derek.

[Zacnici]

Not used the Tufo, have the Pit Stop but touch wood not used it yet.

Big caveat with Tufo, you need tubs with removaeable cores e.g. Continetal Competitions else it gets v messy as I understand. Also keep inflated if pretreated as once the innards touch, game over so no pretreating a spare that you are going to fold.

[welsh auditor]

I carry a light weight Tufo tub - saves weight and folds up smaller.

You need to prestretch the tub and give it one coat of glue.

If you don't use it the tub for a while it's worth stretching the tub again in my opinion.

I have used the Pitstop product for slow punctures.

If you need to change it in a race just take your time. It should hold firm if the pressure is high enough but becareful on fast desents and tight corners.

[shadowone1]

glue................ really?

Tub Tape works just as fine and is nowhere near as messy.

Tufo tubs are fine - to a point. Yes they are lightweight but nowhere near as good quality as Continentals. I've just quite a few tufo tubs - used for training only. In races then its Continental Competitions.

Always pre-stretch the tubs - as CH says. And perhaps remember that if using valve extenders to either remove the valve from the tub prior to fitting the extender or to ensure that its left open. You don't want to fit the new tub only find out you forgot to open the valve....

I'm generally finding that I can switch a tub over in similar time to changing a tube.....

If anyone wants to see the effects of sealer in a race/ sportive - Ask Hussler.... after seeing that stuff spew out his wheel then I'd rather just take a spare tub with me.

[hussler.]

Spare tub - same as the tub your running - ensure that its pre-stretched using CH's method above

Tape is just as good as glue without the mess

Just echoing what CH said above really.......

Sealant - vittoria pit stop = Shit.....complete waste of time if your gona use it on the fly if you have a puncture.....however pre treating your tub with prior to using then not sure as not done this so cant comment.

What I have done with the Tub on my Disc wheel is:

1) it had a slow puncture
2) I used specialized tub sealant and filled the tub, took about 30 mins to do and was a little messy but then inflated the tub and now the Tub has still maintained its pressure 4 months on and all I need to do is top it up prior to using it. Where as before I had to re-inflate every 60 miles! On a HIM I would start the race with 130psi and finish the race with about 60psi!!!

So in my opinion pre treat your tubs with the Specialized sealant and you wont have a problem ever again!

[Zacnici]

Re Continental Competitons, get the Continental valve extenders
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Conti ... 360042908/

No plumbers tape, extract the core from the valve, screw on the extenders, screw in the core, simples!

I thought Specialized had pulled their sealant? Have they relaunched? Head hurts, every sealant seems to have someone who doesn't like it, Tufo, Pit Stop, Slime all seem to have raves and detractors. Was put off Slime as there were comments about fiddly getting past the valve but with Continetal Competitions the valve core is removeable so will have to think some more on this ... mmmm ... no head stilll hurts.

[welsh auditor]

Used properly Pitstop works. I am sure used properly the sealants work too but I have only every used them when downhill MTB racing where weight is less important.

You need to give consideration to the type of tube in the tub. Conti Competitions are really the ones to go for in my opinion. Some of the lighter tubs like some of the Vittorias have latex tubes which don't hold air very well .

[hussler.]

I did exactly what it said on the tin for the Pitstop and all it did was make my tub inflate for about 2 miles before puncturing again...im an experienced cyclist and an engineer so its not that I know nothing about fixing things....like some of the guys who post on here and get things wrong when fixing things or simply just dont know what to do or how to do it....

Dont know whether Specialized had pulled their sealant, I bought mine from Evans a few months ago....

And I only use Conti Competitions, Both for training and racing and in 19mm too. No other Tubs compare for puncture protection and quality, yes they are very expensive but if you buy cheaper alternatives youll buy twice as many so it works out cheaper to spend the extra on the competitions.