TCG Bicycle Bros Enter - V.inner tube woes

[blakbearddelite]

I have a Trek Verve 2 with H5 700/45 Bontrager tires. I've gone through 3 inner tubes in the last few months. The first one developed a leak on a seam, couldn't even see it with the bare eye. The 2nd tube had a visible pin hole, both leaks were on the inner wall, not tire side. And as I was replacing the 2nd one today, I start pumping it up and the tube blows at 40psi. It scared the shit out of me. I checked the wheel to see if there are any sharp pieces or rough points. I checked the tire too and there don't appear to be any issues with it.

I'm at a total loss, super annoyed that I'm going through these tubes so much.

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[guspech750]

Back during my riding days. I used to always wrap my rims with the cotton tape to cover the spoke holes and I always used Mr Tuffy liners. I hardly ever got flats with those products. Make sure you’re not accidentally pinching the tube when reinstalling the tube and tire. Sometimes it happens with the tire removal tool and you won’t even realize it. I always put a small amount of air in the tube just to give it shape so as to minimize pinching when installing a new tube.

Also check the seam where the two ends of the rim are fused together and check the valve opening. Once in a great while I’d find a small burr or sharp edge when working on customers bikes back in the day.


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[guspech750]

I forgot to post these above.

 

[guspech750]

Sometimes tubes are just junk. Could be old stock or just cheap and junky.

 

[blakbearddelite]

Back during my riding days. I used to always wrap my rims with the cotton tape to cover the spoke holes and I always used Mr Tuffy liners. I hardly ever got flats with those products. Make sure you’re not accidentally pinching the tube when reinstalling the tube and tire. Sometimes it happens with the tire removal tool and you won’t even realize it. I always put a small amount of air in the tube just to give it shape so as to minimize pinching when installing a new tube.

Also check the seam where the two ends of the rim are fused together and check the valve opening. Once in a great while I’d find a small burr or sharp edge when working on customers bikes back in the day.


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I think the bike shop that assembled it put that tape on the inside already.

As far as installing the new tube, I put some air in the new tube, but not fully inflated. I'd then put the tube into the tire and mount it to the bike. Maybe I should just fill the entire tube before I put it on to make sure I didn't pinch it somewhere. I also bought some tire patches. I can probably patch these small little holes and the tire patch is cheaper than a whole new tube. Of course if the patches don't hold, that's wasted money.

 

[DanJ]

Are you checking the inside of the tire for sharp things when you’re changing the tubes? Could be a thorn or piece of glass sticking through the tire.

 

[DanJ]

I personally am giving tubes a shot for a bit and then going tubeless if they annoy me.

 

[SpeedSpeak2me]

Bob Kazamakis

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I’m guessing it’s got nylon rim strips which always fuck up tubes. Also tubes in general are junk, I’d be buying something quality. Nowhere did he state brand of tubes.


I’d say the majority of things I work on these days are tubeless, there’s a reason

 

[blakbearddelite]

The tubes I bought are Schwalbe, on Amazon, they have good ratings....for what that's worth. And the leaks/holes have both been on the rim side of the tube.

 

[Terminator-Fux]

If it's rim side change your rim strips and check the wheel for burrs. I doubt it has any but you never know.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

The tubes I bought are Schwalbe, on Amazon, they have good ratings....for what that's worth. And the leaks/holes have both been on the rim side of the tube.

Does your rim strip look like this? Was the last hole on the rim side near the valve?

 

[blakbearddelite]

It's definitely some kind of red tape. Not sure about where it might have been located, I wasn't that careful in taking the tube out. I guess next time I will pay attention.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

It's definitely some kind of red tape. Not sure about where it might have been located, I wasn't that careful in taking the tube out. I guess next time I will pay attention.

I’d put a piece of duct tape over that section and poke your valve hole thru to be safe.

Or just get rim tape vs the strip.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I should say that’s my go to move for tubed bikes, gorilla tape.